Employees and Interns of State and Federal Communications spent the day at the United Way Day of Action on June 19, 2015. Along with the team from Omnova Solutions, each volunteer had their hands in the dirt beginning at 9:00 am.

The flower beds around the Lake Anna YMCA building looked more beautiful by the minute, with new mulch surrounding each one. A handful of people planted flowers around the fence of the YMCA garden. Halfway through the day, the YMCA staff provided us with a delicious cookout lunch.

It was rewarding to help out an organization that does so much for the community.

Enjoy this video created by our intern Elizabeth Scozzaro.

We were excited to see Laura Brelin from United Way of Summit County this morning. Laura dropped by to present a framed “Campaign Excellence Award” to State and Federal Communications.

The awards are presented to those organizations whose employees demonstrate outstanding excellence with at least 75% participation and either $100 per capita in giving or a 35% increase over last year’s campaign. We can proudly say our company had a $724 per capita giving in 2014!

State and Federal Communications is a proud supporter of United Way of Summit County. Aside from working hard each year on our annual campaign, we have had staff participation in the Board of Directors, the Corporate Volunteer Council, Day of Action, and the Corporate Derby Challenge.

Thank you, United Way! We look forward to many years of partnership.

It was a big day for the United Way of Summit County and State and Federal Communications had a big presence at the event. Many of our team were there to celebrate another record-breaking campaign. Elizabeth Bartz, our president and CEO was among the Board Members being honored as they finish their 6 years of amazing service, and she addressed the crowd on their behalf.

For the seventh year in a row, State and Federal Communications received an award for “Highest Per Employee Corporate Giving” in the category of 49 and fewer employees. We love the United Way of Summit County and look forward to more opportunities to Live United!

State and Federal Communications held its 5th Annual Halloween Donut and Cider Sale today in the lobby of our office. It was all for the good cause of helping our friends at United Way of Summit County.

We knew we couldn’t host a Halloween sale without a few wacky costumes, so our office party was “pay-to-play,” with a $5 entry to star in our costumes-of-choice.

Take a look at some of the office revelry:

 

Maryland State Flag

County Executive Ken Ulman gave to charity the $34,000 in campaign contributions he received from insurance executive Jeffrey B. Cohen, who was indicted last month on federal fraud charges. Cohen has been accused of misrepresenting the amount of cash his company had available to provide liability insurance to thousands of bars, restaurants, and strip clubs.

Although current Maryland election law requires political contributions to be used only for campaigns, the state Board of Elections issued a waiver. Ulman, who is Democrat Anthony Brown’s running mate for governor, donated Cohen’s contributions to the Maryland Crime Victims Network and the United Way of Central Maryland.

State and Federal Communications held its 4th Annual Halloween Donut and Cider Sale today in the lobby of our office. It was all for the good cause of helping our friends at United Way of Summit County.

We knew we couldn’t host a Halloween sale without a few wacky costumes, so our office party was “pay-to-play,” with a $10 entry to star in our costumes-of-choice.

Take a look at some of the office revelry:

 

On Thursday, October 31, State and Federal Communications is hosting its fourth annual Halloween Donut and Apple Cider sale. All proceeds will benefit the United Way of Summit County.

Drop in and say hello from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. and enjoy a delicious treat. We’ll be in the lobby of 80 South Summit St. in Downtown Akron, across from Quaker Square.

The Krispy Kreme donuts are $1.00 per donut or $7.00 per dozen. The apple cider will be $1.00 per cup or $8.00 per gallon.

To reserve your donuts, you can email Joy Cosgrove at jcosgrove@stateandfed.com or Nicolette Koozer at nkoozer@stateandfed.com, or call us at 330-761-9960.

State and Federal Communications was very honored this morning to be one of the recipients of the 2013 Pinnacle Awards of Summit County. The company received the award in the “Private Sector, Small Company” category.

According to the United Way of Summit County website, “The Pinnacle Awards of Summit County is Summit County’s exclusive opportunity to honor those individuals and organizations that are serving the greater good.”

The event was sponsored by Cohen & Company and Summa Health System and was hosted by Inside Business Magazine and United Way of Summit County at the Hilton Fairlawn.

Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications, and all of the company’s staff would like to thank everyone for this honor. We are very pleased to live and work in such a great community, and we consider it a privilege to get out into the community and work for the greater good as best we can!

Last week on Friday, June 21, 2013, fourteen of our State & Federal Communications’ employees, including five interns, visited the East Akron YMCA on South Main Street to celebrate United Way Day of Action. After a warm welcome from Director and Vice President of Community Development Tony Grimes, the State & Fed team brought out the rollers, paintbrushes, and cans of “Legendary Blue” paint and began the day of service.

Dressed in t-shirts that read “Live United,” each member of State & Federal Communications pulled his or her own weight in work; all participated in painting the gymnasium walls and doors as well as numerous hallways. However, the volunteers never felt the task to be daunting and instead thought of it as more of a privilege.

“Though I have lived in Akron my whole life, I am often introduced to places in this community that could use a little assistance. I am always eager to help in any way possible, and I am thankful for United Way Day of Action in giving me the opportunity to do just that,” recalls Research Intern Cristina Dickos.

State & Federal Communications has participated in United Way Day of Action for several years, and each year the company looks forward to spending a day outside the office, showing that our work reaches beyond the desk.

Marketing Intern, Joanna Kamvouris, shared her sentiments: “Day of Action gave me a chance to appreciate what I sometimes take for granted and help brighten the day of children and workers within our Akron community,” Kamvouris said. “The work we completed as a team went beyond applying bright blue paint to the walls along the East Akron YMCA. We came together and made a difference that the children will see every time they visit the YMCA.”

On Wednesday our office had some fun and raised money for a good cause all at the same time. On behalf of the United Way of Summit County, State and Federal Communications staff held a donut and apple cider sale. We sold dozens of donuts and ate a few ourselves.

To make things a little more interesting, we made the whole affair a Halloween costume party, which was pay-to-play, of course. For a $10 donation, we came in fancy dress – or not-so-fancy as the case may be – and as you can see Mae West, Rosie the Riveter, Paul Bunyan, and a host of Zombies, gangsters, sports fans, and assorted weirdos magically appeared.

Happy Halloween from State and Federal Communications!

In an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for “the greatest number of people playing cornhole in the same competition” the United Way of Summit County invited local area businesses and residents to Lock 3 Park in Akron to participate in a lunchtime event. With a reported total of 258 participants, the United Way estimates that indeed a new record was set and submitted the information to the Guinness World Record organization.

State and Federal Communications sent five teams to the tournament with hopes of bringing home a first prize of $100 and two custom made United Way Cornhole Board sets. State and Federal’s teams of Amber Fish-Linke and Sarah Gray, Myra Cottrill and Becky Campbell, Michael Beckett and Shamus Williams, John Cozine and Steve Quinn, and Jen Zona and Jon Spontarelli each competed alongside a deep field of Akron’s best tossers. While we were unsuccessful in our bid to win the tournament, State and Federal was proud to be a part of what could be a new Guinness World Record.

September 6-7, 2012   Practising Law Institute, Washington, D.C.

September 12, 2012   United Way of Summit County Cornhole Tournament, Lock 3, Akron, OH

September 19-21, 2012   PAC State and Local Government Seminar, Washington, D.C.

A scraper, a sander and a paint brush. Not your typical office supplies. But Friday, June 15, 2012 was not your typical work day as State and Federal Communications, Inc. volunteered its time to lend a hand to Akron Public Schools for the United Way’s Day of Action.

State and Federal President and CEO Elizabeth Z. Bartz—an avid supporter of the United Way—sent 15 dedicated employees to be a part of this year’s event.  Day of Action functions to improve the good of the community in education, income and health by uniting local corporate sponsors, volunteers and non-profit organizations with a common agenda – to better the Akron area.  This year marks the 4^th year that State and Federal has participated.

Our assignment was scraping and painting football stadium bleachers. We split into two teams; one went to Kenmore High School and the other to Ellet. Team Kenmore scraped bleachers while team Ellet scraped, sanded and painted the handrails.

I was on team Ellet. We arrived and were put straight to work. I gathered my supplies; a scraper, gloves, a sander and a water bottle. With the sun beating down and sweat dripping from our faces, we spent the hottest hours of the day refurbishing the handrails surrounding the bleachers.

Over at Kenmore, for I.T. assistant Ken Kelewae, the task was more meaningful; he was back to his alma mater. Ken and the rest of his team stripped the faded bleachers that have served Kenmore High for at least 50 years.

What seemed like such a simple task proved to be much more. After many hours in the sun, a lot of sweat and a few sunburns later everyone walked away from their site with a sense of accomplishment. The United Way and Akron Public Schools were grateful for the hundreds of volunteers that committed their day to bettering the Akron community and the bleachers were ready to go for a new football season.

Out with the old, in with the new!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day of Action video courtesy of Alexa Livadas.

Last year State and Federal Communications took part in The All-American Soap Box Derby and United Way of Summit County Corporate Derby. On a hot and sunny July day, we showed up with a fearless driver, a handy pit crew, and we built a car. I have to say it was a terrific car. Here is what happened:

Most of the staff from our office showed up at Derby Downs in Akron to cheer for Team State and Federal. We had an exciting time!

If any of our readers in the Summit County area are thinking about participating in this event, we encourage you to do it! It is a fun way to help out the United Way of Summit County and the All-American Soap Box Derby. And best of all, you get to keep the replica Soap Box car that you build! The big day will on Friday, July 15, 2011.

You can get your registration form for the event here.