SELF: News

	May 18, 2006 - Summer Crisis Cooling Program Begins June 1; SELF and Lowe's Teaming Up Again for Distribution
	February 8, 2006 - SELF Names Janet Clemmons SELF Community Service Award Winner at Annual Fundraiser
	January 23, 2006 - SELF Announces Nominees for Janet Clemmons Award; Annual Awards Dinner to be Held February 3
	2005 News Releases
	2004 News Releases

May 18, 2006 - SUMMER CRISIS COOLING PROGRAM BEGINS JUNE 1;SELF AND LOWE’S TEAMING UP AGAIN FOR DISTRIBUTION

HAMILTON – Supports to Encourage Low-income Families (SELF) is again offering eligible households a chance to decrease the health risks posed by harsh summer heat with the Summer Crisis Cooling Program. The program, which helps elderly, disabled, or other qualified low-income households to receive a window air conditioning unit and/or assistance with a current utility bill, begins June 1 and ends August 31. Appointments are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis beginning May 18.

For the second consecutive year, SELF is teaming up with local Lowe’s Home Improvement stores to obtain air conditioners at a reduced cost, allowing for more units to be purchased and more families to be helped. Lowe’s will also provide a basic window installation for air conditioners free of charge for up to 25 individuals with critical needs and no one else to assist them. Those who qualify for air conditioners will receive vouchers from SELF to pick up the units at the Hamilton or Middletown Lowe’s store.

“Local Lowe’s Home Improvement stores demonstrated a tremendous amount of compassion for families in need of help in 2005,” states Jeffrey Diver, executive director of SELF. “We are happy to partner with them again to assist low-income families who are struggling with health issues that are made more dangerous by the heat and humidity of summer.”

Households Needing an Air Conditioner: To qualify for an air conditioner, an individual must have documentation from a physician stating that an air conditioner will benefit the health of a household member. Individuals also must not have received an air conditioner from SELF within the last three years, and they must have household income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. For example, for a family of four, total household income cannot exceed $35,000 annually or $8,750 for the last three months. Individuals qualifying for an air conditioner are also qualified for help on an electric bill up to $200 without a notice of electric disconnection.

Households Needing Utility Assistance Only: Households containing a member who is age 60 or older may qualify for help with an electric bill up to $200 if that household has income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Residents of any licensed medical facility, publicly operated community residences, boarding/rooming houses, group homes or emergency shelters are not eligible.

Households with individuals under the age of 60 may also qualify for assistance with an electric bill, but they must have documentation from a physician stating that the health of a household member benefits from air conditioning.

SELF’s Summer Crisis Cooling Program is the summer counterpart to an Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program that assisted more than 3,100 families countywide last winter.

To get an appointment for assistance in Middletown, call 1-888-432-7022. For appointments in Hamilton or Oxford, call 868-9300.

SELF helps low-income individuals and families obtain employment, maintain employment and build assets to achieve self-sufficiency. SELF provided services to more than 11,000 Butler County residents in 2005.

February 8, 2006 - SELF NAMES JANET CLEMMONS/SELF COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD WINNER AT ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

BUTLER COUNTY – Supports to Encourage Low-income Families (SELF), Butler County’s community action agency, announced the winner of the Janet Clemmons/SELF Community Service Award at its Tenth Anniversary Awards Dinner on February 3, 2006 at Receptions Banquet Center in Fairfield. Officers and new members for SELF’s 2006 Board of Directors were also named at the event. Deb Silverman of WCPO Channel 9 News served as emcee, and Mayors Don Ryan of Hamilton and Jerome Conley of Oxford co-chaired the dinner.

The Janet Clemmons/SELF Community Service Award recipients were Roy and Pat Ickes of Middletown. The award, named in honor of the late Butler County Commissioner who founded SELF, was established in January 1997 to honor the Butler County individual who best demonstrates outstanding volunteer or community service efforts that empower and assist low-income individuals. Mr. and Mrs. Ickes serve as volunteer coordinators of SHALOM (Serving the Homeless with Alternate Lodging network Of Middletown), a temporary, rotating homeless shelter in Middletown. Since they first became involved with SHALOM three years ago, they have increasingly devoted more and more time to providing shelter, food and other support to Middletown’s homeless individuals and families. For more than a year, they have coordinated the entire SHALOM program as volunteers, making sure that the needs of the homeless are met.

Three other Janet Clemmons/SELF Community Service nominees recognized were: Sherry Holdbrook of Middletown, Jane Ripberger of Liberty Township, and Mary Vance of Hamilton.

Named as officers to SELF’s Board of Directors for 2005 were: President, Larry Mulligan, First Financial Bank; Vice President, Suzi Rubin, Monroe City Council; Treasurer, Laura Williams, Middletown City Council; and Secretary, Mike Johnson, Oxford Talawanda Community Services.

Other awards presented at the dinner were:
• Spirit of SELF Award – Given to an outstanding staff member chosen by his or her peers: Holly Rush-Earle, Mason
• Outstanding Partner Award – Awarded to an organization partnering with SELF to provide exceptional support for low-income individuals: Butler County Department of Job and Family Services.
• Agency Angel Award – Presented to a “front-line” worker at another organization who goes above and beyond the call of duty to assist SELF’s clients.
• Special Star Award – Special award this year presented to a Butler County firefighter and
paramedic who went to Mississippi to prepare for and assist with the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina.

SELF is a nonprofit organization and the state-designated community action agency for Butler County. SELF helps low-income families to obtain employment, maintain employment, and build assets for self-sufficiency. SELF’s programs and services touched the lives of more than 11,000 low-income individuals and families in 2005.

January 23, 2006 - SELF ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR JANET CLEMMONS AWARD;ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 3

BUTLER COUNTY – Five Butler County residents have been nominated for the Janet Clemmons/SELF Community Service Award for their selfless efforts to help the county’s low-income community.

The award, named in honor of the late Butler County Commissioner who founded SELF, will be presented at SELF’s 10th Anniversary Awards Dinner and Dance, Friday, February 3, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. at Receptions Banquet Center in Fairfield. The event is SELF’s annual fundraiser to support the agency’s mission of helping Butler County families reach self-sufficiency.

Honorary Co-Chairs of this year’s gala are Mayor Don Ryan of Hamilton and Mayor Jerome Conley of Oxford. Deb Silverman of WCPO Channel 9 News will emcee the event, which will include dinner, dancing, and a silent auction and raffle. Tickets are $35 per person and may be obtained by calling 868-9300 x 217. Major sponsors of the awards dinner are: St. Gregory Group Marketing Communications, Cinergy, Heritagespring of West Chester, the Butler County Department of Job and Family Services, Cincinnati Bell, Barney and Bonnie Riesbeck, Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area, and Dr. Jennifer Ridge of Middletown.

The nominees for the Janet Clemmons/SELF Community Service Award are: Sherry L. Holdbrook of Middletown, Roy and Pat Ickes of Middletown, Jane Ripberger of Liberty Township, and Mary Vance of Hamilton. Ms. Holdbrook is nominated for opening her home to children by starting a not-for-profit childcare center that is available to low-income families. Ms. Holdbrook also provides various volunteer services to her church, the schools, and the Middletown Community Center. Roy and Pat Ickes are nominated for serving as volunteer coordinators of SHALOM (Serving the Homeless with Alternate Lodging network Of Middletown), a temporary, rotating homeless shelter. Mr. and Mrs. Ickes make themselves available on a daily basis to ensure that the needs of the homeless are met, including providing physical necessities such as blankets and food. As a volunteer for various causes, including advocating for seniors and working to raise awareness of various health issues, Jane Ripberger is nominated for the many hours she spends on community service projects. Mary Vance, a member of Hamilton’s Weed and Seed Expanded Site Steering Committee and owner of Mary and Clyde’s Grocery, has been involved in numerous efforts to help the residents of her neighborhood, including providing Thanksgiving dinner for those in need and helping to organize a neighborhood community watch. (MORE INFORMATION ON ANY NOMINEE IS AVAILABLE).

“Each of these individuals has clearly given generously of their time to have a positive impact on the community,” said Jeffrey Diver, executive director of SELF. “The Janet Clemmons/SELF Community Service Award is meant to honor those who represent the compassionate spirit of Ms. Clemmons, our founder. The SELF Board of Directors is proud to honor each of the nominees, as each clearly demonstrates a caring and kind heart for those in need.”

SELF is a nonprofit organization and the state-designated community action agency for Butler County. SELF helps low-income individuals and families obtain employment, maintain employment and build assets to achieve self-sufficiency. In 2005, nearly 11,000 individuals benefited from one or more of SELF’s services.