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Paw Paw, MI 49079
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County Nears $25,000 in Savings with United Way's FamilyWize Prescription Card

Residents in Van Buren County using the FamilyWize Discount Prescription card now available through Van Buren County United Way recently surpassed the $10,000 mark in savings, according to Vera E. Tanier, executive director of the local United Way.

“We're really pleased to be able to assist local residents with these prescription discounts,” she said, “and we hope more residents will avail themselves of this free service. Approximately 1,000 people have been helped to date, saving an average of 50% on their medication cost.”
Van Buren County United Way still has a supply of free FamilyWize Prescription Discount Cards available for residents. FamilyWize cards are primarily for people with no health insurance or prescription coverage. However, they can be used by everyone in our community who needs to buy medicine not covered by their insurance, Medicaid or Medicare plans. There is absolutely no cost for the cards, and they are available to anyone who might benefit from them, regardless of income.
Most pharmacies here and throughout the United States accept the FamilyWize prescription drug discount cards. They have no usage or age limits, income requirements or registration forms, and can be used immediately. Each card can be used repeatedly and by any members of a family. Cards are available at local pharmacies, most human service agencies, or directly from Van Buren County United Way. They also can be downloaded from the FamilyWize website at www.FamilyWize.com .
Representatives of Van Buren County United Way will also distribute the cards at the second Project Connect, scheduled for Van Buren County from 1 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 at the Van Buren Intermediate School District Conference Center in Lawrence. During Project Connect local residents will be directed to a variety of helpful organizations that can help with housing, utility, legal, health and other services. It is free and open to the public.
“The FamilyWize program is proving to be very valuable for our local residents,” said Vera E. Tanier, executive director of Van Buren County United Way, who noted that the $9500 in savings were realized in just five months the cards have been available locally. “We want to provide these cards to as many people as possible to assist them with their constantly rising prescription medicine costs.”
For further information on the FamilyWize Discount Prescription program or on Project Connect, contact Van Buren County United Way, 269/657-2410.


Van Buren County United Way Announces $475,000 Goal


A 2008-09 fundraising goal of $475,000 was announced at the annual Kickoff Breakfast of Van Buren County United Way, held on Wednesday, Sept. 10. The breakfast, which was underwritten by Coca-Cola North America, was attended by nearly 100 representatives of local companies, organizations and partner agencies funded through the local United Way.
The 2008-09 campaign of Van Buren County United Way runs through November 30, 2008.
Vera E. Tanier, executive director of Van Buren County United Way.
announced that the campaign is beginning with $15,000 in monies raised through three summer Pacesetter events, the Family Day at the Kalamazoo Kings, the Artstravaganza with the Paw Paw Art Association, and “Raisin' the Green” Golf Ball Drop during the Wine and Harvest Festival.
At the Kickoff Breakfast, Lindsay Smith, coordinator for bank ticket sales for the Family Day at the Kalamazoo Kings, presented the traveling trophy to this year's sale winner: Fifth Third Bank in Paw Paw.
Van Buren County United Way supports 34 programs through the funds raised by the community partners' employee and member campaigns, plus contributions of all sizes from individual residents in the county. “Our goal of $475,000 is an ambitious one, especially in the current economic times, but it's crucial that we expand so that we can better meet the needs of the 34 programs that look to us for funding,” said Dr. Tanier. “We also plan to extend our new mini-grant program, which is open to any non-profit organization serving Van Buren County to fund new programs and help meet emerging needs.”
For further information on Van Buren County United Way, go to the agency website at www.vbcuw.org or call 269-657-2410.

United Way Campaign Begins With In-Store Collection


More than 100 coin collection canisters have been distributed throughout Van Buren County to kick off the 2010-11 fund-raising campaign of Van Buren County United Way, according to Vera E. Tanier, executive director of the local charitable campaign. Called “Each One Give One,” the fundraiser is encouraging each county resident to donate at least $1 to help keep critical support services in place.
“Although we raised nearly $700 last year with our first 'Each One Give One' collection, we hope to do much better this year,” Tanier said. “We have strategically placed our canisters based on last year's results, concentrating on convenience marts, financial institutions, hardware stores, gas stations, and informal restaurants. We hope residents will look for our blue and white canisters.” Some locations also are posting small “Live United” tags, which donors can sign when they give $1.
Monies collected will build on more than $6000 raised from the Family Day at the Kalamazoo Kings benefit baseball game in June. “Our summer Kings event brought in about the same amount as last year,” noted Vera E. Tanier. “We had hoped our economic recovery would have begun with an extremely successful benefit game, but we know that generous residents of Van Buren County will help us meet this year's critical campaign goal of $450,000. Demands for service from our charitable partners are at record highs, as unemployment benefits lapse and new jobs are still not available. Our United Way campaign must be successful this year to help meet these growing needs.”
Last year, Van Buren County United Way felt the full effect of the economic recession, failing to meet its campaign goal for the first time in many years. “Although we fell 14 percent short, we drew from our very limited reserves to continue funding the charitable agencies that depend upon United Way for all or part of their operating budgets,” Tanier said.
Van Buren County United Way supports 27 programs through the funds raised by the community partners' employee and member campaigns, which begin in September, plus contributions of all sizes from individual residents. Contributions can be sent to the local United Way at 181 W. Michigan Ave., Ste. 4, Paw Paw, or are also accepted on line through the agency website at www.vbcuw.org .