Board Builders
March 4, 2008
Have you ever considered serving on the board of a nonprofit?
YLS is teaming up with Greenlights for Nonprofit Success to conduct a workshop on the fundamental principles and best practices that every nonprofit board member should know.
Dinner will be provided at 6:00pm and the program will begin at 6:30 pm.
To register, please click here.
Notice: There is no Lunch with Leaders in March due to Board Builders being held that month. It will resume on April 15th with Police Chief Art Acevedo.
|
Wine Lovers for Charity Reception
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
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. kelly@trulucks.com or (512) 482-9000
|
YLS Volunteer project with Austin Habitat for Humanity
Saturday, April 26th
Want to help build or deconstruct a home with other like minded YLS members and help eliminate poverty housing in Central Texas?
If you are interested, please contact Juhee Williamson, YLS Volunteer Chair, at Juhee.Williamson@ey.com.
Mission Statement
Austin Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to put our faith in action by building affordable, quality houses with families in need to eliminate poverty housing, one family at a time.
To learn more about Austin Habitat for Humanity, go to www.austinhabitat.org.
ARCH - Monthly Volunteering with YLS
Looking for a way to give time to your community and meet other like-minded young leaders? YLS has a standing volunteer event at Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) each second Tuesday of the month. We need 3 - 4 volunteers to serve dinner for Tuesday, March 11th from 6-8pm. Please contact Susan Gustavson at susan.gustavson@ni.com to sign up and for more information.
|
 |
Change is the Only Constant
by David W. Balch, President and Chief Professional Officer, United Way Capital Area
The word "change" has been flooding the cultural zeitgeist lately, and it's safe to say, we'll be hearing of a lot more about it in the coming months. But Central Texas can't afford to let change be just a political buzzword.
- The poverty rate has grown by 35% in the last seven years.
- The high-school dropout rate is staggeringly high.
- Emergency rooms are filled with the under- and uninsured.
- And for nearly half of the families living in our region, a single change to income or expenses threatens to send them sliding into poverty.
Across our 10-county region individuals and families are finding it difficult to survive, let alone get ahead. For a community as rich in compassion and resources as ours, this isn't an option. Change must happen. And it must happen now.
Which is why many United Ways' across the country, including United Way Capital Area, have undergone an ambitious-and necessary-transformation to how we help build a better community for everyone. Known as the "Community Impact Model," this new approach aims to engage more people, advocate for more issues, address the underlying causes of our troubles, and impact more lives for the long term.
We aim to be an innovative strategic agent of change across the region. It's about making sure everyone has the opportunity to create the lives they want. It's about continuing to feed that homeless person, but also trying to prevent them becoming homeless in the first place.
To do this, we've adopted three Focus Areas, which we believe are both major issues facing our region and the basic building blocks for a happy and prosperous life. Our Focus Areas are to:
- Create opportunities for children to succeed, from birth through graduation
- Foster individual and community health
- Provide families with the knowledge and tools to become financially stable
If we can do these three things, and do them for everyone, we all will reap the benefits.
Here's a great example of this new work in action: On February 20, United Way welcomes J. Barry Griswell, Chairman and CEO of The Principal Financial Group, to Austin to speak at the Success By 6 Business Forum, The Most Important Investment. Knowing about the astonishing economic impact of investment in early childhood development, we are bringing Mr. Griswell to Austin to speak to more than 150 business and thought leaders to share his insights. In addition, TXP (Texas Perspectives) economist Jon Hockenyos will unveil findings from the just-published Travis County Child Care Economic Impact Study. E3 Alliance executive director Susan Dawson will also speak on regional priorities around early childhood education.
The Community Impact Model is about more than investing and raising money; it's about utilizing time, energy, and expertise. It's about more than Austin; it's about all of Central Texas. It's about more than United Way Capital Area; it's about every one of us becoming an advocate for change, for opportunity, and about changing our community - for good.
It's about creating long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. It's about bringing together new people to create new partnerships. It's about collaborations that span every demographic group, every county, and every issue. It's about developing innovative solutions and then evaluating their success. It's about all of us, united.
We're proud of our long history and the lives we've helped. But Central Texas is changing rapidly. And because we love this community, we're changing with it. We hope you'll join us.
This commentary originally appeared in the February 18, 2008, edition of the Austin Business Journal. View the online version by clicking here.
|
|
Want to watch the Longhorns rip through the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament on your very own high-definition Samsung TV? Then set your calendars for March 3, when the United Way Spring Fundraising Giveaway --- "Giving Madness" --- cranks up. The more you enter, the better your chances of winning.
More details coming soon. Stay tuned.
Thanks to Samsung for the generous donation.
|
|
The Community Tax Center program, managed by Foundation Communities and supported by United Way Capital Area, is already showing some great successes in this young 2008 tax season. United Way supports the Community Tax Centers (CTCs) in numerous ways beyond the Community Investment Grant awarded to Foundation Communities. 2-1-1, the free dialing code that links people to social service resources, is the public “point of contact” for the CTCs.
Between January and April of last year, 2-1-1 handled more than 12,000 calls from individuals and families seeking options and education on filing their taxes. By early February of this year, 2-1-1 had already handled more than 3,300 calls about the CTCs.
To give you an idea of a typical day … On February 4th, the 2-1-1 Team spoke to 953 callers. Just under 400 were calling for information on the Community Tax Centers or rural tax prep options in Central Texas.
And Hands On Central Texas---the volunteer center of United Way Capital Area---helps find and recruit Volunteer Tax Preparers for the CTCs, which in turn expands service availability.
United Way is proud to support the Community Tax Centers, as they strengthen the financial reality of thousands of Central Texas families.
TOTALS AS OF 2/9/2008
Returns Prepared
4,464
Refunds:
$9,394,965
EITC Received
$3,987,916
2-1-1 Tax Calls:
3,302
|
Gifts In-Kind Announcements
One year ago, the United Way Resource Center opened its doors and began accepting in-kind donations from local businesses. This one-of-a-kind resource helps solicit office supplies for nonprofit agencies, helping them lower their overhead and allocate more money to the delivery of vital community services.
The Gifts In-Kind program started out with a lofty goal: Receive $1 million in donations by the end of 2007. Thanks to some very generous corporate partners, we reached that goal in September, months ahead of schedule.
And we're proud to announce that the 2007 Gifts In-Kind Corporate Challenge Winner is:
3M, a long-standing partner of United Way, donated more than $500,000 in items to the Resource Center. Everything from post-it notes to desk lamps to pens and copier paper.
Thank you to 3M!!!
And thank you to all of the businesses that contributed their items to United Way.
Gifts In-Kind Wishlist
The Resource Center can always use more. Here is a list of the most recent "Wish List" items:
- The Austin State School - Volunteer Services Council is seeking new books to create a library to improve the quality of life for the residents. Call 512-374-6070
- American Red Cross of Central Texas needs new blankets (any size) to assist individuals in need of emergency care. Call 512-929-1251
- The Austin Academy is in need of twenty bus passes to give to students who have no transportation. Call 512-326-8655
- The Theatre Action Project is seeking 2 laptop computers to promote and create socially relevant interactive theatre. Call 512-442-8773
- Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry is in need of 2 workstations so that staff can continue to serve people in Bastrop with basic hunger related services. Call 512-303-0033
- Boys and Girls Clubs of South Central Texas are in need of 20 basic calculators to help enable young people to realize their full potential as productive and caring citizens. Call 512-805-3000
- The United Way Resource Center is in need of blue and black ink pens to distribute to over 70 local area nonprofit organizations throughout central Texas. Call 512-225-0367
- Foundation for the Homeless needs new glasses, pots and pans, and silverware to assist individuals in transition from homelessness to independent living. Call 512-453-6570
- Framework Community Development Corporation need desk and wall calendars along with Certificate paper to help expand opportunities for low income families to obtain affordable housing. Call 512-385-1500
- The Literacy Coalition of Central Texas is in need of one business size copier to support and expand their literacy services. Call 512-320-4505
- The Wright House Wellness Center is seeking White Noise machines for sessions with people living or at risk of contracting chronic illnesses. Call512-467-0088
- VSA Arts of Texas is in need of Bilingual children's books and music cd's for children with disabilities. Call 512-454-9912
If you'd like to contribute, please contact Iris Graebner: iris.graebner@unitedwaycapitalarea.org.
|
2007 Campaign Cabinet
On behalf of everyone involved with United Way Capital Area, thank you to the 2007 Campaign Cabinet. Their dedication and enthusiasm for helping build a better Central Texas was unparalleled. Our 2007 campaign is shaping up to be one of the biggest and best in our history, and we couldn't have done it without the following people . . .
Name | Company |
2007 Campaign Cabinet Co-chair
Bill Wilson | Wachovia Bank, N.A. |
2007 Campaign Cabinet Co-chair
Tom Snead | Emerson Process Management |
Gary Nauert | DPR |
Kristy Ozmun | Kristy Ozmun Public Relations |
Kevin Blackburn | STG Partners |
Tommy Cowan | Graber, Simmons & Cohen |
Daryl Benkendorfer | Land Design Partners |
Dwayne Judice | Enterprise Rent-A-Car |
Howard Zaroff | Enterprise Rent-A-Car |
Teri Green | Texas Gas Service |
Stephen Watson | H-E-B |
Kyle Parks | Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP |
Don Kendrick | Wells Fargo |
Russ Sartain | Wortham-Austin |
John Nelson | Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP |
Glenn West | Guaranty Bank |
Kathy Bolner | Wells Fargo |
Chris Schell | State Farm |
Lee Hicks | Applied Materials |
Rick McGee | IBM Corporation |
Andy Greenawalt | n/a |
David Blanke | Vinson & Elkins LLP |
Ming Lee | Applied Materials |
Bryce Johnson | Vignette Corporation |
Jeff King | Haynes & Boone |
Lee Hicks | Applied Materials |
Heather Brown | State Farm Insurance |
Scott Hector | Freescale Semiconductor |
|
|
Hispanic Engagement Survey
We have launched a survey today that we hope will help us engage and attract more Hispanic volunteers.
"Austin's ethnic minorities have maintained a rich history of volunteering and philanthropy," Armando Rayo, director of the volunteer center of United Way, said in a press release. "This initiative focuses on the Hispanic community, and the insights the survey will provide will allow us to deliver a variety of signature projects designed to positively impact their lives."
To participate in the survey, click here. or call the survey hotline at (512) 498-4900.
|
UWCA in the News
Read Eugene Sepulveda's interview with David Balch, President of United Way Capital Area. They discuss the new United Way strategy and its impact on Central Texas.
Click here.
Check out this excellent story by KEYE-TV about Hands On Central Texas and importance of volunteering as a family. Click here to view.
|
Free Book Offer
In the March edition of “Community Matters,” we’ll be discussing the enormously successful Public Innovators Lab that took place at United Way recently, and which brought Richard Harwood to Austin to train and empower a new set of community organizers. In the meantime, though, you can get a free copy of Harwood’s fantastic book, Make Hope Real. Learn about five factors each of us must consider as we work to create change and make hope real in our communities. The essay provides tools and frameworks for thinking about your work and about what it takes to make hope real.
To get your free copy, simply click here.
|
|
This Month's Features
|
UWCA Events
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
"The Most Important Investment"
A talk to Austin by J. Barry Griswell, CEO and Chair of Principal Financial Group; and John Hockenyos, TXP Economist, on the "Economic Impact of the Childcare Industry in Travis County."
Click here to learn more.
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. kelly@trulucks.com or (512) 482-9000
Agency Workshop Series
· more information
...see all news & events
UWCA Leadership
Member Events
Tue, March 4, 2008
YLS "Board Builders"
Want to serve on a nonprofit board? Aren't sure where to start? Check out this Young Leaders Society event.
Complete info here.
...see all YLS events
|
Thank Yous
- Thank you to 2007 Campaign Cabinet volunteers. (See newsletter for more.)
- Thank you to all of the new Community Investment Grants recipients for their time and enthusiasm as we move forward with the new United Way approach
- Another thank you to 3M, the 2007 Gifts In-Kind Program "Corporate Challenge Winner" for donating more than $500,000 in materials and office supplies to Austin nonprofit agencies
|
Have a LinkedIn account and want to show your support for United Way Capital Area there? Become a Linkedin United Way Capital Area Supporter!
|
| |
|
