100 United Way Representatives Expected to March in Fall Foliage Festival Parade
United Way of Central Indiana volunteers, board members, donors and employees join forces to make a big splash in Morgan County in celebration of United Way’s centennial year. MARTINSVILLE — To celebrate 100 years, United Way of Central Indiana representatives will be making their rounds to each county the organization serves, beginning by marching in the 58th running of Morgan County’s Fall Foliage Festival Parade on Sunday, October 15 at 1 p.m. The group of 100 people will include United Way volunteers, staff, board members and donors. This year-long celebration aims to create aware awareness of and engagement with United Way’s efforts to fight for education, financial stability, health and basic needs of every person in Central Indiana. The theme, 100 Years of Hand Raisers and Game Changers, recognizes that it takes every person to address our community’s most critical problems. Ruth Rusie, one of United Way’s standout hand raisers, will join United Way in the Fall Foliage Festival Parade. Rusie, a lifelong Martinsville resident and longtime United Way ReadUP volunteer tutor, was featured in the 2010 United Way Worldwide advertising campaign as the “face of United Way.” Like United Way of Central Indiana, Rusie is also gearing up to celebrate her 100th birthday in 2018. “It is not only fitting, but truly an honor to have Ruth join us on this very special day for United Way,” said United Way Area South Director Diana Roy. “Ruth was the first volunteer tutor for the ReadUP program in Morgan County at Poston Road Elementary in 2013. To date, her spirit of volunteerism is inspiring more than 100 individuals to tutor in six elementary schools.” Rusie will be riding in a convertible from Hobson GM. The company has donated a car for United Way to use in this parade for the last eight years. The United Way float will highlight United Way’s ReadUP program, with students and tutors and other community volunteers riding and walking. South Central Indiana REMC is providing the trailer and a service truck for the float. United Way is in Division 2, Unit 12. Lineup is at Martinsville High School at 12pm. Join United Way at the Morgan County Fall Foliage Parade in downtown Martinsville on October 15 at 1 p.m. For more information about how to get involved during United Way’s 100th Anniversary year, visit uwci.org/100. Join the conversation on social media by using #uwci100.
Diana RoyArea South Directordiana.roy@uwci.orgTy SpisakMarketing & PR Managerty.spisak@uwci.org