Support Articles

by Laci Lee Adams, HUUC Director of Lifespan Faith Development

We are so excited to be running not one, but two summer camps this summer. Our first annual Pride Camp occurred in June and was supported by 50 hours of volunteer service by LGBTQ+ members of our community.  

Please consider supporting our summer camps one of the following ways:

1)  Offer financial assistance! The graphic below outlines some of the items that your financial assistance helps provide for our summer camps.

2) Consider volunteering your time for Peace Camp (July 7-11 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.)

Volunteers that are excited to assist campers in the kitchen are especially needed. Reach out to Laci, if interested.

3) Please promote Peace Camp online (as we still have a few open slots!). For more information access https://tinyurl.com/mue67apn

Images source: Laci Adams

Heritage UU Church created the Endowment Fund to support our religious mission and the work of our congregation. Historically, the fund has been used for some major church projects, and has helped keep our congregation going during tough economic times. The fund was re-established in 2007.

The Endowment Committee had a meeting on June 18, 2025 with the following members in attendance: Rae Jane Araujo, Rowley Elliston, Julie Kane, and outgoing member Donna Buckley. We discussed the need to inform the congregation about our committee and the way members and friends can contribute to the fund.

There are a wide variety of ways that people can transfer assets to the fund. Assets might include:

• Marketable and Investment Securities (including stocks, bonds, and publicly traded securities of all kinds.)
• Business and Real Assets (including real estate, closely held business assets, and tangible and intangible personal property.)
• Insurance and Retirement-Related Assets (including assignment of life insurance and retirement plans.)

Donations can be made to the fund either directly or using any of several mechanisms for philanthropy. Possibilities include charitable bequests in wills, charitable remainder and other trusts, charitable gift annuities, and pooled income funds.

We hope you included Heritage Church in your planned giving, and we ask that you document your wishes in writing so your loved ones know.

If you have questions, please see any committee member, or reach out to Rae Jane Araujo at:

Image source: https://tinyurl.com/58awx9td

Reid Hester, HUUC Stewardship Chair

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As with any pledge drive, we have a number of key priorities to fund in our new church fiscal year that will begin on July 1, 2025. But this year is different, and it is special. We have one, overriding priority that will guide our efforts and raise the bar for us as congregation. That priority is our ministerial transition, which we are kicking off just as we kick off the pledge drive itself.

We have sustained and grown this congregation during an era when other UU congregations in the Cincinnati area have struggled. We are now the second largest UU congregation in Cincinnati with if not the largest, then certainly the fastest growing Religious Education program in the city. We are the premiere representative of Universalism in the entire region. We have a lot to be proud of and a lot to be excited about as we seek to bring a new minister into our congregation.

From a financial standpoint, we also have much to celebrate. We have maintained a robust series of fund-raising efforts at the same time that we have successfully competed for grant money to improve our facility. But, there is no doubt that our pledged giving provides the vast majority of the financial support that sustains the daily life of our congregation.

As we initiate the process of recruiting a new minister to lead us in our spiritual journey, we must plan for a number of costs that are not usually in our yearly budget. We are hiring a transition consultant firm to guide us in our efforts, and we must anticipate possible expenses such as moving costs for a new minister joining our congregation from outside of our region. Of course, we would also like to give our existing staff raises to acknowledge their value to us in a time of rising costs. We would like to modestly increase our RE budget, and we would also like to expand our Children’s Music Director involvement in the life of our congregation from eight times a year to every month.

All of these elements taken together mean that we have a big ask for all of our pledging members and friends. We are requesting a 15% increase in pledged giving for the 2025-2026 church year. This increase will raise our total pledge income to $258,000.

If you are new to our congregation, you can learn more about our congregation and our pledging statistics, such as average pledges and Fair Share Giving, by visiting our Stewardship website at https://huuc.net/stewardship/. When you are ready to pledge, you will find the pledge form at the bottom of the Stewardship website or you can go directly to the pledge form via this link: https://huuc.breezechms.com/form/2025-2026-pledge-form.

Many thanks to those who have already pledged, and thanks to everyone in our congregation for carefully considering your level of pledged giving to support the continued growth and vitality of our congregation.

Yours in faith and service,
Reid

Image source: https://tinyurl.com/yum75pr2

Heritage Acres Memorial Sanctuary needs your spare cardboard. If you have any large boxes of at least 2′ x 2′ to donate, please remove the tape and labels, flatten the boxes, and drop them off at Heritage Acres, 796 Locust Corner Rd, Cincinnati, OH, 45245. Put the cardboard to the right of the shed, next to the trash cans.

If you have questions or need to arrange a pickup, contact Patrick Sanders at

Thanks for your support!

Image source: https://tinyurl.com/hn78e72

June 9 – 13, 2025

Discover a vibrant summer at our inclusive Pride Camp! This unique experience offers a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ youth aged 13-18 to explore their identities and be in community. Engage in daily yoga and mindfulness practices, immerse yourself in nature, express yourself artistically and foster a deep connection and a sense of belonging within your local LGBTQ+ community.

Key elements:

• Safe & Inclusive: A supportive environment free from judgment and discrimination
• Meditation & Yoga: Mindfulness practices, stress and anxiety reduction
• Social Justice: Learn about LGBTQ+ history and rights & Take action together
• Nature: Outdoor activities, nature walks

This camp provides a transformative experience where young people can celebrate their authentic selves and build lasting connections with others.

To register access the link below:

https://huuc.breezechms.com/form/369319513981

Image source: Canva