Program Update
Our two newest Play-and-Learn Groups are off to a fantastic start. The families are engaged, the curriculum is dynamic and helpful, and the teachers and administrators
are enthusiastic. We have 20 families consistently attending the groups. Your support of United Way and Women's Giving Network are impacting these children every day.
On behalf of the kids, their parents, and United Way, thank you.
Parents and kids enjoying learning at
the Women’s Giving Network Play and Learn groups.
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Women Make a Difference
On February 20, 2008, WGN members and guests gathered to hear Michele Griswell and Lynn Graves speak about the Women's Leadership Council (WLC) in Central Iowa. The WLC has raised $4.5 million for improving to early childhood learning and care in Des Moines. Women's Giving Network plans to use some of the WLC's best practices to realize similar results here in Central Texas.
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Sign-up for Danskin
Mark your calendars for the 2008 Danskin Triathlon!
Danskin Triathlon
June 7-8, 2008
To join a team of WGN'ers to run, bike, or swim, contact Susan Marler at (512) 225-0371 or
susan.marler@unitedwaycapitalarea.org. Please indicate whether you'd like to compete
(a) Individually in all three sports, or (b) As a team member, specifying swim, bike, or run.
We'll create teams once we receive preferences.
Whether you participated last year or are just ready to take the leap this year (newcomers welcomed and encouraged), please join us for this fun opportunity.
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Attorney Ad Litem?
For our WGN'ers who are (or are interested in being) Attorney Ad Litems:
Judge Darlene Byrne passed along the following information about her Brown Bag Lunchtime CLE sessions focused on child welfare issues. Each CLE session is held in Judge Byrne's Courtroom (4th Floor of the Main Travis County Courthouse (1000 Guadalupe)).
1. A Primer on Drug Abuse and Treatment
Thursday, April 3, 2008 (Noon - 1:00 p.m.)
Professionals from the Austin Recovery substance abuse treatment facility will provide basic information on substance abuse and substance abuse treatment. The information will help you better understand drug-related circumstances in Child Protective Services cases, which will help you better serve your clients.
2. "The New Travis County Family Drug Treatment Court"
Thursday, May 1, 2008 (Noon - 1:00 p.m.)
Information will be provided on the progress of the new Family Drug Treatment Court. More details on this session coming soon.
Additional Information:
There is no cost to attend and no need to RSVP to attend these sessions. Seating is available on a first-come basis. Unless otherwise indicated, each session has been approved for one hour of CLE Credit through the State Bar of Texas. A CLE reporting number will be provided at the session. Of course, you need not be an attorney to attend. Attendees are always welcome to bring a sack lunch and eat in the courtroom during the presentation.
Contact Katy Gallagher Parker, Staff Attorney for the Honorable Darlene Byrne 126th Judicial District Court, at (512) 854-4915 with questions.
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Creating Impact
Try this simple experiment:
Go to your bank. Withdraw about $1500. Now burn it.
Or even better: Take that money and, instead of burning it, offer it to a friend. Do they accept it, or do they toss it in the trash?
You probably get the point. It would suggest a serious lack of good judgment to willingly destroy your own money. And if someone threw away money you gave them, you might reconsider that particular friendship.
But every year, across Central Texas, thousands of families throw away money when filing their federal income tax returns. They, quite frankly, leave money on the table-money that is owed to them, money that can, in some cases, stabilize otherwise shaky financial situations.
The Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, is designed to support low-income working families. But plenty of working people simply aren't aware of the EITC or don't know if they're eligible.
But that's changing. Thanks to Community Tax Centers and United Way Capital Area, millions of dollars are staying here, in our community, instead of being sent needlessly to Washington.
The Community Tax Center-a program of local nonprofit Foundation Communities funded, in part, by United Way Capital Area-provides free income tax-preparation for low-income individuals and families. Paying special attention to EITC eligibility and carefully reviewing each case, the volunteer tax-preparers at the Community Tax Centers produce an enormous impact on both the local economy and individual families.
Consider these numbers. In the 2007 tax-filing season, Community Tax Centers:
- Completed 13,550 tax returns (an increase of 500% over 2004, the first year of the CTCs)
- Secured more than $17 million in tax returns and credits for their clients ($7 million of which was in EITCs alone)
- Saved clients approximately $2 million in tax preparation fees
- Returned an average of $1,661 to the low-income, working individuals and families
It's impossible to argue with the importance of the Community Tax Center program. For a working individual who makes under $20,000 per year, a return of $1,600 creates a huge impact. And for the overall economy of our region, $17 million is quite a "shot in the arm."
Which is why United Way Capital Area partners with the Community Tax Centers in a number of ways:
- Funding
In the upcoming funding cycle, United Way has provided Foundation Communities with a Community Investment Grant for their programs designed to increase financial stability, including Community Tax Centers.
- Access
United Way runs 2-1-1, the free dialing code for people looking for health and human service programs. Last year, 2-1-1 answered calls from 12,817 people looking for tax-preparation help and directed them to the Community Tax Center in their area.
- Volunteers
Hands On Central Texas, the volunteer hub run by United Way Capital Area, helps recruit volunteer tax-preparers for the Community Tax Centers, helping them increase capacity, improve quality, and reduce overhead costs.
We're proud of the work we do with Foundation Communities' Community Tax Centers, because they do the important, hard work of helping people not only survive, but thrive.
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Want to watch the Longhorns rip through the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament on your very own Samsung HPT5054 50" Plasma HDTV*?
Buy your raffle tickets now!!
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United Way and Truluck's proudly present…
Wine Lovers for Charity
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Truluck's Downtown (4th & Colorado) - Naples Room
Please join us for this very special evening of tasting exclusive cellar wines from Republic Beverage, paired with appetizes from Truluck's-all benefiting United Way Capital Area.
$55 (plus tax and gratuity)
Please email or call Kelly Barber to make your reservations at kbarber@trulucks.com or (512) 482-9000.
We look forward to seeing you on April 2nd!
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"The Most Important Investment"
On February 20, United Way welcomed J. Barry Griswell, CEO and President of Principal Financial Group, to Austin as part of a community conversation, "The Most Important Investment: Early Childhood Education."
In a morning event held at the Hyatt downtown, more than 100 community members and leaders listened to Griswell's recounting of his experience supporting early childhood education in Des Moines, Iowa (through their local United Way chapter). Griswell's insight into both the "why" and "how" of investing in early childhood education provided a model for the work of United Way Capital Area, Success By 6, and the entire Central Texas region. Griswell explained that the most effective way to create widespread, lasting impact is to bring together all interested groups-nonprofit agencies, city and county organizations, and corporate leaders.
Griswell's talk was preceded by a presentation from Jon Hockenyos, economist and President of TXP, on the highlights from his recently completed report, "The Economic Impact of the Early Childhood Industry." Among a variety of fascinating data, Hockenyos explained that the early childhood care industry was worth about $2 billion to the Travis County economy. The complete report will be available from United Way in the coming weeks.
Pictured: Jon Hockenyos, Sam Bryant, and J Barry Griswell
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United Way Capital Area's Spirit of Caring Celebration
Save the Date! Monday, April 28, 2008 for United Way Capital Area's 2008 Spirit of Caring Celebration. This annual event recognizes the
incredible volunteers and companies that exemplify the United Way vision: That Central Texas is a caring community where the opportunity to fulfill human
potential and build better lives is always within reach.
More information on the awards will appear in the April edition of “Community Matters.” But be sure to save the date. You do not want to miss this exciting evening.
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This Month's Features
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UWCA Events
Friday, March 28
Agency Workshop Series presents Issue Driven Volunteer Projects
At United Way Capital Area offices.
· more information
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Wine Lovers for Charity Reception
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Truluck's Downtown - Naples Room
$55 (plus tax and gratuity)
Please join us for this very special evening of tasting exclusive cellar wines from Republic Beverage, paired with appetizers from Truluck's -- all benefiting United Way Capital Area!
Please call or email Kelly Barber to make your reservations. kbarber@trulucks.com or (512) 482-9000
Wednesday, April 9
Echoes of Color Film Series presents UNNATURAL CAUSES
Week of April 21st
Austin Financial Fitness Week
April 25, 2008
Hands On Central Texas "Spring Day of Caring 2008"
Sponsored by Freescale
April 28, 2008
United Way Capital Area Spirit of Caring Celebration
...see all news & events
UWCA Leadership Giving
Member Events
Tue, April 15, 2008
Lunch with Leaders - Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo
2008 Board Summit
Presented by Greenlights for NonProfit Success and Leadership Austin
...see all WGN events
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Thank Yous
- J. Barry Griswell for speaking to Austin’s community leaders about the importance of early childhood education.
- Principal Financial Group, Wachovia, Bryant Wealth Investment and St. David's Community Health Foundation
- The inaugural class of the Public Innovators Lab
- All of the partners in our most successful MLK Day of Service yet
- The partners in the ongoing Echoes of Color Film Series
- Special thanks to the following individuals: Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, Reverend Joseph Parker, Sheriff Greg Hamilton, Police Monitor Cliff Brown, Austin NAACP President Nelson Linder, and State Representative Dawnna Dukes
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Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
The WGN Executive Committee
Women's Giving Network thanks our sponsors:
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Have a LinkedIn account and want to show your support for United Way Capital Area there? Become a Linkedin United Way Capital Area Supporter!
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Heather Brown - State Farm Insurance