Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

The unlikely friendship between an art dealer and a homeless man began with an introduction at a soup kitchen. As the friendship grew, so did the recognition of similarities between the two men. In the face of hardship, the one who had been served became the one who was a source of stability. Everybody was changed.

Middle of Everywhere by Mary Pipher

Pipher tells the stories of various refugee families she meets in the heartland of America and what she learns about the challenges they face when they reach the States. Her desire to know their story leads to a desire to help them navigate the throws of government aid, the excessive selection of unfamiliar foods in American grocery stores, and which mail pieces are important and which ones are junk. Pipher's assistance helps the families and their stories motivate her.

Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne

Claiborne has strong opinions about how the outcasts of society should be treated. In this book, he shares stories about how he has chosen to live out those opinions by entering the world of those he seeks to serve and living there full time. It is in that context that he and those who join his cause experiment with a variety of ways to meet needs. From wasted food to urban gardens, from homemade clothes to a new way of paying for medical care, he tackles social justice issues head on.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

What began as a backpacking adventure morphed into a quest to build schools for children in remote villages of Pakistan. Mortenson had no experience as a teacher and no background in building schools, but conversations with village leaders over the traditionally hospitable cups of tea lit a fire in him that changed everything.

These titles are more than just good books to read, they are great stories to tell. The wonder of the stories cannot be adequately summarized without spoiling aspects of the account. Suffice it to say the books are motivational because they are true stories about real people making a difference. There are countless good books to read, but not nearly as many that tell true stories that do more than entertain. Let these books motivate you to get involved in your own community.

United Way has programs for volunteers and advocates in areas such as education, income, and health. There is something for everyone. The idea of helping is fulfilling to those who have the desire and drive to give of themselves for the betterment of humanity and, more specifically, for their own community. Volunteerism is the driving force behind agencies like United Way, where volunteers are relied upon to provide much needed services and support to children, adults, and the elderly.

If prospective volunteers have certain skills they would like to pass along to others, or are experienced in educating others, then joining an organization like United Way is an excellent way to become involved. United Way invites volunteers to LIVE UNITED by becoming involved with tutoring, reading, or mentoring children to provide skills to others that will last a lifetime and get or help keep people employed and self-sufficient.

To honor philanthropy, United Way celebrates those who work for the greater good with the United Way Tocqueville Society that was founded more than 25 years ago in order to deepen the understanding, commitment, and support of United Way's most generous and community-minded investors.

Although volunteering is a great way to get involved with programs, if this isn't a possibility for whatever reason, philanthropy can also include donating money, clothing, or supplies. United Way accepts donations as well as in-person volunteers. Both types of giving are necessary to keep the organization running.

Getting involved is easy. Once you decide what sort of help you can or wish to give, do a little research, speak to a volunteer coordinator, and apply. If donating, whether it's your time or money, is something you have thought about, there are many ways to get involved.

Organize a Fundraiser

Work together on a project outside of yourselves. Because different people have different areas of expertise and experience outside the office, coordinating a fundraiser for United Way gives your group the opportunity to try new things and change the usual hierarchy. An administrative assistant who is familiar with a specific population of need suddenly becomes the COO of the project. The IT personnel are able to show their creative sides. And the patriarch of the family shows a willingness to do menial tasks for the sake of others. In the midst of seeing different sides of people, you are serving the common good of the community.

Perform Community Service

One of the best team building activities for adults is community service. While there are many forms of community service and many venues in which to serve, there is something particularly unifying about manual labor. Help build a house for a lower-income family. Clean up graffiti in a nearby neighborhood. Spend a Saturday giving a local school a makeover by painting classrooms, clearing flowerbeds, and repairing playground equipment. When you and your team see the results of your collaborative effort, you will find satisfaction knowing you accomplished it together.

Do a Ropes Course

If there are trust issues within your company or family, there is no better resolution than a ropes course. Find a certified ropes instructor to take your group through experiences that teach the importance of trust. To amplify the experience, have each member of your group volunteer to take a local teenager with them. Be sure to allow time for everyone to discuss their experiences and encourage those who seemed to overcome the most. Trust is essential to teamwork.

Organize a Mentor Campout

There is a school in your community that needs volunteer readers, mentors, or tutors. Once your group has found a school to adopt, exceed the expectations of your mentees by going on a group campout together. Camping requires teamwork and puts everyone on a more even playing field. Team building activities for adults that provide new experiences for less fortunate youth are the best kind of team building.

Overcome an Obstacle

Whether it's an obstacle course, client expectations, or a family crisis, nothing promotes teamwork better than a challenge. Many families in your community are working to overcome obstacles. Work together as a team to tackle problems such as kids dropping out of school, illiteracy, homelessness, and teen pregnancy. If you can work together to make a company or family successful, you can work together for the common good and make your community a better place to live.

Email

Send an email to your entire database. That includes current volunteers, past volunteers, board members, staff, former clients, donors, and vendors. Use a subject line that entices readers to open the email. Be specific. For example, if you need some people to become tutors, make the subject line "Looking for volunteer tutors." On the other hand, if you are looking for volunteers to fill multiple roles, provide a very specific number in the subject line. "Do You Know Anybody Who Would Be Good At These 5 Things?" The subject gives people the freedom to volunteer themselves or to spread the word to friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Additionally, the finite number makes the challenge feel more attainable.

Inside the email, mention the specific needs, qualifications, time commitments, and instructions about how to sign up.

Let your website work for you

Keep your website updated with current volunteer needs as well as the steps required to become a volunteer for your organization. If people care about what you're doing, they will often visit your website to find out more. Give them the opportunity to get involved.

Other websites

There are websites out there that seek to match volunteers with needs for many organizations. Sites like United Way, Volunteermatch.org, and others give users the ability to search for volunteer opportunities in their area. Simultaneously, these sites help organizations looking for volunteers to get the word out and recruit people they might not otherwise encounter.

Network with other organizations

Communicate with organizations in your area that have a reputation for community service. Contact churches, schools, businesses, rotary clubs, and sports teams to inform them of your needs and your mission. This can often be the beginning of a long-term partnership that benefits both groups as well as the community.

Through United Way, lots of helping hands offer assistance in areas like financial and income stability and health education. Volunteers are always in demand to provide support to children, the elderly, or anyone who is in need.

Education

Education strategies are in place through United Way to give children the skills and abilities they need to succeed, from early childhood through high school and into college. Volunteers work with children, parents, and communities to make education a priority that leads to success down the line. Literacy programs make sure that children have a proficiency in reading by the fourth grade.

Finance/Income

Volunteers who wish to work with financial and income strategies will focus on the following main areas:

• Family-sustaining employment
• Affordable housing
• Savings and assets
• Manageable expenses
• Income supports

Providing tax assistance and financial education to adults and families is an essential part of this program.

Health Education

Volunteers can provide health education to people and communities to help reach United Way's goal of increasing by one-third the number of youth and adults who are healthy and avoid risky behaviors by the year 2018.

All of these programs require the dedication of lots of helping hands. Without volunteers and advocates giving their time, compassion, and knowledge, these programs wouldn't be around and individuals as well as communities would suffer.

Meet the Teacher

You can't foster a positive relationship until you actually meet the teacher in person. Attend the school's open house or schedule a brief appointment to introduce yourself, collect information, and offer to help through volunteering or donating items to the class. Showing you are willing to be active in your child's education sets the tone for the rest of the year.

Find the Right Time to Talk

Teachers are busy, and drop-off or pickup times are usually not ideal for chatting with parents. Set up an appointment when it is convenient for the teacher, and if you see them around town, resist the temptation to turn it into a parent-teacher conference.

Write Brief Notes

One of the best ways to communicate with teachers is through brief, concise notes. Clearly state your concerns and ask for guidance. Send them via email or directly to the school so your child does not become the messenger, and keep the line of communication open by following up.

Accept Differences

Foster a positive relationship by listening to the teacher, understanding their expectations and remaining calm if you have a conflict. Educators may have an approach or style that is different from yours, but that does not mean your child has a bad teacher.

Celebrate Successes

Teaching is far too often a thankless job. So this week (and every week), be sure to #THANKATEACHER for all they do to ensure a bright future for our communities.  

It's easy to feel powerless about the environment when we hear daily about giant corporations polluting our lakes and rivers, and supposedly progressive politicians traveling the country in fleets of gas-guzzling SUVs. Luckily, there are a number of steps you can take to promote environmental sustainability at home. The best part is that most of them only involve a few minor changes to your lifestyle.

• Eat less meat. Factory farming is not only inhumane, it's also one of the largest contributors to global warming. Many people eat meat with each meal simply because they don't know how to eat without it. In fact, it's easy to make healthy, balanced meals that don't include meat. Start by forgoing meat for just one dinner a week--think pastas and salads. You'll be surprised how easy it is!
• Shop responsibly. Spend extra money and buy products that will last. Learn how to tell the difference between things you need and things you want. Consider purchasing used items whenever possible. Living simply not only promotes environmental sustainability, it makes you appreciate the things you have even more.
• Start a garden. There are few things more rewarding that growing your own food. Even apartment dwellers can start a simple herb garden in their windowsill. You'll save money at the grocery store, and consume products that you know are pesticide-free.
• Conserve water. When it comes to conserving water, living more sustainably is a combination of many little things. Don't run the tap when you brush your teeth. Take shorter showers. Check your plumbing for leaks. Don't do half loads of laundry. There aren't many grand requirements when it comes to saving water: Simply being more aware of your usage and taking steps to limit it when possible is the best thing your can do.
• Take public transportation. Taking the bus or subway is a great way to save money and avoid traffic and the stress of driving. It is also a great opportunity to relax and reflect on the day. If you live in an urban center with a good transportation infrastructure, be sure to take advantage of it.

A green environment is a healthy environment. Luckily, making a commitment to environmental sustainability does not necessarily mean radically changing your life. Many of the best ways to make a difference are through small changes that can be implemented gradually.

The charitable campaign between the NFL and United Way used the 2013 NFL Draft to “draft” their own new members, getting a few hundred pledges closer to their goal of recruiting 99,000 volunteers by 2014.

“I’m so lucky to have grown up with loving, supportive parents, but I realize that not every kid is that lucky,” United Way TEAM NFL member Vinny Rey of the Cincinnati Bengals said. “I always keep that in mind and events like this really inspire me to pay it forward.”

Motivated by daunting statistics of illiteracy and truancy, Rey is one of many NFL players committed to recruiting 3,000 volunteers toward the 99,000 goal—a strategy to help cut the high school dropout rate in half by 2018.

Three of the squad’s player reps took time off for this weekend’s Draft event to help develop a game plan and use the event to recruit volunteers.  Rey, Antoine Bethea of the Indianapolis Colts and Calais Campbell of the Arizona Cardinals agreed that the weekend was the “ideal” way to stay engaged with the community in the off season.

“The whole weekend was really exciting because we got to meet people willing to give up their precious time for this cause,” Howard University grad Bethea said. “I left feeling re-energized and even more excited to see how easy it really is for ALL of us to obtain our goals for United Way TEAM NFL.”

This optimism and revamped energy is exactly the momentum the organizers were hoping would come out of the Draft weekend. After two days of planning, strategizing and working as a team on feasible solutions, the team’s leader, Tracey Holmes of United Way Worldwide said “I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be working with such a talented, driven group of individuals on this mission to change peoples’ lives.”

In exchange for pledges, Bethea, Campbell and Rey gave back to the avid fans that swarmed Radio City Music Hall on Saturday afternoon by signing autographs, taking photos, and doing interviews to publicize the cause.

Missed the Draft? Don’t miss your opportunity to sign up for United Way TEAM NFL and help our guys tackle America’s dropout rate. http://www.unitedway.org/team-nfl

How many volunteers are there in the U.S.? More than one quarter of the U.S. population (26.5 percent) or 64.5 million people volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2011 and September 2012.

Those are impressive numbers, but United Way is focused on getting even more people to volunteer so together we can make significant strides in helping kids graduate on time and improve families’ financial stability and health for their lifetimes.

If you are already volunteering on a regular basis, thank you!  Volunteers are the lifeblood of change in the U.S. and indeed around the world. 

And if you haven’t volunteered lately, National Volunteer Week is a great time to start.  United Way is recruiting one million volunteer readers, tutors or mentors to help improve the academic success of young people across America.  Pledge to help today and contact the United Way in your area to learn how to get involved with this initiative. Anyone with passion and commitment can help a young person achieve greater success.

Through the power of volunteering, we improve lives – our own and that of others.  Congratulations to you and to all volunteers who join United Way in mobilizing the caring power of communities.

On April 17^th, the group reunited in Indianapolis at United Way’s national Staff Leaders Conference to accept their award as the first United Way TEAM NFL squad to accomplish the challenge of recruiting 3,000 volunteer tutors, readers and mentors.

 “TEAM DAVIN really came out of nowhere with this win,” United Way Worldwide’s NFL Partnership Director Tracey Holmes said. “It was getting close to the end of the year and I thought I already had a clear winner. All of a sudden, I get word that Davin Joseph’s team had not only reached the goal of recruiting 3,000 volunteers, they had surpassed it. We were blown away by their effort and extremely proud.”

Clearly, Joseph’s competitiveness on the field transferred to his love for his community. “I’m not going to sugarcoat it and say I didn’t expect to win,” the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ guard said. “I knew I had the Buccaneers behind me, United Way, teammates, anything that I needed. And with all the resources here in Tampa, I knew we had a great chance of winning.” Joseph added that his team’s accomplishment is merely a reflection of their compassionate community, and as a result, “Tampa deserves it.”

Ashley Zarle of United Way Suncoast can attest to the fact that the Tampa Bay community not only deserves this kind of accomplishment, but that they need it, too. As a dedicated TEAM DAVIN member who works closely with the Tampa Bay community, she cited daunting statistics about the area’s education system, including the fact that almost half of students enter school with a reading deficit and that approximately 14,000 students dropped out of high school last year alone.

Sadly, stats like these are not unique. These numbers simply mirror pitfalls that plague the public education system across the country. Every year, 1.2 million students fail to graduate high school on time. To reverse this trend, United Way has challenged itself and its partners, like the NFL, to cut this number in half by recruiting dedicated volunteer tutors, readers, and mentors as extra resources for students.

So how did Team Davin pull off their victory in just a few short months? Zarle credits her teammates’ unique personalities and the fact that they simply “wanted to be there.”

“When every member is engaged and excited about it, it creates an environment that it’s going to happen,” Zarle said, noting that her team never wanted to “rely on social media” to get the job done, but rather employed old-fashioned, grass-roots techniques to drive volunteer sign-ups.

Fellow teammate Creedon, a student at the University of Tampa, took the initiative into his own (or rather, his classmates’) hands by leveraging one of America’s most influential groups – students themselves. Creedon organized 23 on-campus presentations and blew the effort out on any social media platforms he could, which he said helped TEAM DAVIN numbers spike on the spot.

Meanwhile, his team of Zarle, Joseph, Angel Williams from the Davin Joseph Foundation and Kevin Brown from the Buccaneers, were busy prepping pregame meet-and-greets and other events around the Tampa Bay community. They also dedicated a portion of the Buccaneers’ website to the campaign and encouraged sign-ups online. With competition brewing and a deadline looming, the team had to work quickly and effectively to accomplish their goal AND defeat all other United Way TEAM NFL squads by the end of the season.

And their efforts didn’t come without rewards. The winning team earned their local United Way a $10,000 grant and notable recognition from the United Way/NFL community. 

Although they already claimed the title of TEAM NFL winner and formally accepted their honor this week, members of TEAM DAVIN don’t consider this mission accomplished. In their eyes, the work is just beginning.

“The challenge may be over, but now it’s about taking TEAM DAVIN and growing it,” Joseph said. “We’ve recruited the volunteers, and people are ready to work, so now we’ve got to get them there.” 

By: Gabrielle Kay, Corporate Partnerships Manager, United Way Australia 

In this fifth blog on corporate volunteering, we discuss the impact the last ten years of our unskilled team volunteering program has had on ourselves, United Way Australia, and how we have used this to deepen our engagement with our corporate partners, their employees and our communities, to create greater impact for all these stakeholders.

Back in 2009 United Way produced a report with the Centre for Social Impact, Common Cause, looking at Sydney’s key social issues. Looking through the lens of United Way’s Community Impact strategy focusing on Education, Income and Health and building on this evidence United Way identified innovative and collaborative strategies.

In 2012, over 500 corporate volunteers told us they want to volunteer again. In addition, 56 percent told us they want to volunteer more and make a larger contribution. This desire fits in well with the new United Way Community Impact Strategy that is based on a collective impact approach , bringing collaborations of interested people and organisations together. United Way has built in opportunities for corporate volunteers to do more, engage more deeply and make greater impacts.

The new volunteering approaches United Way has developed to support the Community Impact strategy are Engaged Volunteering and Strategic Volunteering.

Engaged volunteering provides opportunities for corporate volunteers to use their personal and professional skills, to mentor and motivate Year 10 high school students. Focusing on our more vulnerable communities where many families don’t have a history of working, this exposure to professional working people is helping students to stay focused at school and plan for positive pathways after school.

Volunteers have told us after workshops, “we certainly got more than we gave today and it was a real privilege to be at the workshop.”

Early evaluations are showing that the impact goes two ways and students too are benefiting, with 93 percent of students who were unclear about their pathway post school had clarified their intention to go into secure, productive pathways by the end of the program.

Strategic volunteering, is another type of volunteering United Way has developed to enable executives to use their skills and influence to create Community Impact outcomes. Coalitions of corporate, community and government leaders have been formed to address the strategic issues affecting an identified focus area. A great example is the Homelessness Coalition, which we’ve previously written about – see blog.

Partners for Impact is another strategic volunteering program that provides executives from the corporate and community sector the opportunity to work together on a business issue posed by the community partner in a year long collaboration. As the first year winds up, there has been acknowledgement on both sides of the value of the program, “we’ve had really useful conversations. My corporate partner mentor asks “cut-through” questions to pull out the [employee] traits and she’s spot on with her assessments – she has a bit of a gift.’

With equally powerful feedback from the corporate partner mentors about their experience, we are set to offer this program for a second year in Sydney and also launch it in Melbourne in the coming months.

Community impact is a journey, just as innovation and collaboration is a journey, underpinned by the experience of all those involved. United Way’s role in gathering the evidence, getting the community projects going and harnessing the resources to achieve the outcomes is showing early wins in creating community impact.

That’s why United Way is pleased to partner with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in the first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service on Tuesday, April 9, 2013. CNCS is the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and other programs that engage more than five million citizens in service each year. 

Today, mayors are participating in a variety of activities, including visiting national service programs, hosting roundtables at city hall, issuing proclamations, and communicating about national service through social media. Throughout the country, mayors will recognize the impact of national service in their cities and thank those AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members who serve. 

United Way is proud to join in this nationwide salute that will highlight the importance of citizen engagement, recognize the dedication of national service members, and inspire more residents to get involved in their communities.

Get Involved

• Upload a badge as your Facebook or Twitter photo to show your support for national service. Badges and graphics are available at  http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/initiatives/resources.asp

• Recognize national service on social media. Use hashtags #liveunited and #Mayors4service. Check out the social media guide for sample tweets and Facebook messages.

• Go to Serve.gov to find a national service volunteer opportunity that matches your skills and interests.

For more information on the Mayor's Day, watch United Way's prezi or read the factsheet.

By: Gabrielle Kay, Corporate Partnerships Manager, United Way Australia 

When United Way first started organising corporate team volunteering projects back in 2003 it was about showing workplace giving donors the work our community partners were doing and helping them in other ways through unskilled team volunteering program.

This unskilled team volunteering program is now known as Corporate Connect and in 2012 worked with over 60 community partners across Australia.

In this fourth blog we reflect on the impact for our community partner, through a case study with a long term partner, Pathways Early Childhood Intervention, a small community organisation in Sydney’s inner west supporting families with children with disabilities.

The early Corporate Connect projects at Pathways ECI spruced the outdoor areas, creating sensory gardens and helping with other jobs the Pathways ECI staff and parents using their services just didn’t have the time to do.

Sylvana Mahmic, CEO, Pathways Early Childhood Intervention, says “the impact of the many Corporate Connect volunteering projects is more significant than the physical work that has been done. For the families who use Pathways ECI services, they are struck that businesses and their employees would choose to volunteer for an organisation they have no relationship with. This is powerful for these parents who are in difficult situations, as well as the staff members supporting the families.”

Sylvana describes the long United Way relationship as one that has provided practical, professional and emotional support. She thinks back to the start when they use to operate from a demountable building with an annual budget of $200,000. Today Pathways ECI is a $1.6m organisation with 18 full and part time staff, providing services to 150 families. Sylvana says, “you can’t develop an organisation by yourself. I count my lucky stars that United Way and their corporate partners have directly contributed to the organisations success. Everyone has a part to play.”

The impact of the community relationships goes further. Our community BBQs do more than feed residents in low income areas. One of our community partners working with residents in one of these  communities has shared what the locals say when the volunteers have left, “they now realise that behind those big brand names there are people just like them.”

This understanding of each other’s lives is the start of building trust, a key ingredient in building vibrant communities.  Hugh Mackay, wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald last year (18-19 May, p22 News Review) “experience is the great mind change, the great teacher. Our most significant attitudes and beliefs ... are based on lessons from life itself”.

Corporate Connect team volunteering projects have been building community trust a project at a time, breaking down the barriers that occur in our large cities. By building understanding, through working together, this work has demonstrated to clients and residents in vulnerable communities that others do care about them. This brings to life United Way’s mission which talks about the caring power of communities to improve lives.

These learnings by both corporate volunteers and the local communities they help, are leaving a legacy beyond the days work, a legacy that strengthens communities. In the fifth and final blog we’ll share how United Way is extending this volunteering journey to increase corporate engagement and create community impact.

More than 21 million children receive free and reduced price meals during the school year, yet only 2 million children access free meals from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Programs in the summer. United Way is raising awareness about where families across the country can find free and nutritious meals for their children during the summer months.

To close the summer hunger gap, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) partners with schools, local governments, and community organizations to provide free meals to children when school is out for the summer. The Summer Food Service Program was established to ensure that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. 

Any child age 18 and under may go to a designated summer meal site and eat for free. This summer, meals will be served at various locations around the country, and the USDA is always seeking new partners to help spread the word and participate in the program.

Help Support Summer Meals for Kids:

1. Host or Volunteer at a Summer Meal Site. Meal service sites may be located in a variety of settings, including schools, recreation centers, playgrounds, parks, and churches. Help set up a site, supervise activities, or volunteer to prepare meals. Learn more.
2. Advocate for federal anti-hunger programs that provide summer meals to children, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Read our SNAP one-pager and the USDA’s map on the economic benefit of increased SNAP participation.
3. Spread the word about how children and families can access summer meals on social media:

• Help @UnitedWay @USDA provide summer meals for kids. Learn more http://1.usa.gov/aLJ3zs #liveunited #kidswin
• Where can kids get summer meals in your community? Find @USDA’s summer meal sites http://1.usa.gov/aLJ3zs #liveunited #kidswin
• Did you know that there’s a nutrition gap in the summer? Get involved http://1.usa.gov/aLJ3zs #liveunited #kidswin

For more information about helping ensure meals are available to children in your community, visit the Summer Food Service Program page.

By: Gabrielle Kay, Corporate Partnerships Manager, United Way Australia 

In this third blog reflecting on the impact of ten years of United Way’s Corporate Connect team volunteering, we examine the impact for the businesses supporting their employees to volunteer.

With another 195 Corporate Connect team volunteering projects under our belt in 2012 we were keen to understand the impact of this program for the businesses supporting their employees to volunteer.

With responses from over 500 of the 3,000 corporate volunteers, an impressive 94% reported they are more willing to contribute to the business as a result of being given an opportunity by their company to volunteer. Whilst this one question does not substitute for a full employee engagement survey, it does give a strong indication that there is an alignment between corporate supported volunteering and employee engagement.

In the first two blogs in this series, we reported how United Way’s Corporate Connect program is aligning employee’s and business’ values to give back and make a difference in our local communities.

Whether it is engaged employees that volunteer or employees becoming more engaged when their company supports them to volunteer, we do not know definitely. What is clear is the global and Australian research reporting a strong relationship between employee engagement and business performance. The 2011 Macquarie Economics Research ESG report references global research findings of 16% higher profitability, 12% higher customer satisfaction ratings, lower staff turnover, fewer safety incidents, fewer quality issues, as well as similar trends in Australia. The business case on employee engagement is clear.

The companies United Way partner with make a commitment to ensuring their employees create an impact by working with United Way’s national team of corporate volunteering managers who identify community needs, put together a fully scoped project, so that volunteers have a safe, fun and meaningful volunteering experience. We know our project management works, as 100% of volunteers said again in 2012 that they would recommend a United Way team volunteering project to their colleagues. As well, 99% of volunteers rate highly their volunteering experience with United Way.

Corporate partners who work with United Way are doing more than giving their consent for employees to have a day off to volunteer. These businesses are investing in their employees and the communities in which they live and work. The evidence is strong that the investment in United Way’s Corporate Connect team volunteering pays off for the business.

In the final blog we explore how United Way has developed this volunteering journey to create greater impact for the employees, business and the community. Before we get there we will go back in our next blog to the community and share their perspectives on corporate volunteering.

That's my top 25 26 #SpringFix tweets but in reality I probably could have had a top 25 for each Spring Fix participant. I mean, I didn't even get into the Ne-Yo concert! I know others (I'm looking at you, Spring Fixers) may have opinions on their favorite tweets from the week. Post them in the comments below!

One of the beliefs that connects many Americans is the importance of academics, physical activity and nutrition during the school year, but because these defining assets are so limited in the summer for certain families and communities, part of that investment is lost. Known as the “summer slide,” low-income children, on average, lose more than two months in math and reading each summer and these losses are cumulative –contributing significantly to the achievement gap.  Along with the summer slide in learning, studies have shown a slide in health as well:  obesity and food insecurity for children in low-income communities go up disproportionately during the summer.

In recognition of National Public Health Week, United Way Worldwide is bringing attention to the importance of summer and specifically the importance of accessible, healthful food and beverages.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides financial reimbursement for meals through the Summer Food Service Program, but only about 1 out of 7 eligible kids currently receive the summer meals. That is why United Way, committed partners and volunteers work together to connect children who are particularly disadvantaged to a safe place to eat a healthy meal.

United Way of East Central Iowa, located in Cedar Rapids, convened community stakeholders to talk about the 12,800 children in their community who were food insecure and that only 6% of them were accessing the Summer Meals Program.  Thanks to collective action, more sponsors joined, more sites were opened and more children had the nutritious meals they needed. In two short years, they have expanded the program by 148%.

United Way’s Hunger Free King County Initiative is making sure no kid is hungry during the summer months by increasing participation in the Summer Food Service Program “Summer Meals”.  In partnership with community-based organizations, local government, and funders like Walmart, they increased the number of meals served by 24% over the last two years.  They have done this through investing in new food sites, participating in a multi-tiered outreach campaign to families and community members and increased volunteer mobilization. 

Together, we can make a difference. Whether it is advocating for better nutrition in summer programs, increasing the number of safe meal sites, volunteering our time to cook or serve meals, or donating to organizations like United Way to provide access to healthful food, we can not only fill empty bellies, but improve a child’s nutrition, health and educational success, which will benefit us all.

Many have been kind enough to share their experiences with us through social media. Check out the top 15 tweets from the world of #UnitedWayASB! Retweet and Favorite their posts to shout-out these change makers!

These are just 15 of over 450 #UnitedWayASB tweets (and counting) that have occurred over the last few weeks. You can see more Tweets on our Twubs page or by searching for #UnitedWayASB on Twitter. If you find your favorite tweet, link to it in the comments section below!

Patty has served the Pierce County community for more than a decade. She is more than a volunteer; she serves as an advocate for change. Patty has served on a wide range of regional and statewide leadership boards pertaining to labor, education and economic development. She dedicates her time professionally and personally to promote social and economic justice, education and training and works to ensure a safety net is there for those in need.

Patty is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 76, and is the President of the Pierce County Labor Community Services Agency, a program that provides emergency assistance through local union referrals, working in concert with UWPC's 2-1-1 referral human services call system. Countless families in need have received help, especially during the recent economic downturn. For four terms, Patty Rose has led by example, by serving on the UWPC Board.  When her local United Way moved to Impact areas to achieve greater results, she jumped at the opportunity to serve on the Advocacy Committee. She now serves as Co-Chair of this committee, whose efforts have included educating State Representatives when funding for the 2-1-1 system was at risk of crippling cuts in the State Budget. As a result, those cuts were avoided and thousands of people received desperately needed referrals.

Patty also co-founded the Tacoma Chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) youth scholarship program. This program awards 25 scholarships each year to provide financial assistance for high school students who need a summer school class to graduate to ensure economically disadvantaged seniors, youth, unemployed and others in need are kept on the pathway for success. The body of her work is the epitome of leadership by example, and she works every day to advocate giving back through volunteerism.

Patty has been a champion to the idea that education is a key to the success of everyone, and ties individuals back to the community. In her personal endorsement of Patty for this award, Governor Christine O. Gregoire stated that Patty truly embodies the spirit of this award.

Established in 1974, United Way’s Joseph A. Beirne Community Services Award honors the memory of Joseph A. Beirne, the first president of the Communications Workers of America and the first labor representative to serve as president of United Community Funds and Councils of America (now United Way Worldwide). The award recognizes union members for outstanding volunteer service with United Way.

On March 15th, 2013, nearly 300 women from all over the world gathered at the United Way Women’s Leadership Summit in Charleston, SC where Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole and Ann Stallard were honored as recipients of the United Way Women in Philanthropy award. They have been recognized for their humanitarian efforts and strong leadership skills in mobilizing women to drive lasting community change.

“Johnnetta and Ann personify power, promise and possibility in mobilizing communities. They are truly influential leaders. These women are inspiring and their proven hard work and dedication are exemplary,” said Juana Slade, Chair of United Way National Women’s Leadership Council. “They serve as role models for what women can accomplish when we work together.”

The United Way Women’s Leadership Council is a group of more than 55,000 women from all across the United States who support the work of United Way by focusing on the importance of grade level reading, leadership and advocacy. It is created and led by women rooted in the idea that when the most critical needs of the community are met—a better life for all is created. The United Way Women’s Leadership Council celebrates having raised $1 billion over the past 12 years. Both recipients of the Women in Philanthropy Award have served integral roles in nonprofit and civic engagement organizations, as well as, diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Dr. Cole, Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, is a graduate of Oberlin College. She earned both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in anthropology from Northwestern University. She has a distinguished career as an educator, philanthropist and author. She was the first African-American to chair the United Way of America Board of Trustees. She has also served on the board for United Way in Metropolitan Atlanta and later was the honorary chair of the United Way of Greater Greensboro’s African-American Leadership Initiative.

Ms. Stallard, CEO of Graphic Communications Corporation, is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. She is an active public speaker and published author on entrepreneurship, volunteerism and focuses on economic empowerment for women. She was a member of the United Way of America Board of Trustees and later elected as chair of the U.S. national board. In 2009, she served on the founding board of United Way Worldwide.

By: Gabrielle Kay, Corporate Partnerships Manager, United Way Australia 

In this series of blogs we share what we’ve learnt about the impact of corporate volunteering on three key stakeholders: employees as volunteers, the businesses that supports their employees to volunteer and our partner community organisations. In the final blog I’ll explore how United Way has responded to increase employee and corporate engagement in community to create great community impact.

In the last blog we shared how United Way’s Corporate Connect team volunteering projects impacted corporate employees as volunteers. We know employees are keen to volunteer when they do it as a team and their company supports United Way to organise and run the day for them.

We also wanted to understand how the cohort of corporate volunteers compared to the national volunteering statistics and try to understand what the impact of corporate supported volunteering was for the wider community.

The 2006 Census reports 35 % of adult Australians volunteer, yet in Sydney there is as few as 16% of adults reporting that they volunteer.

In United Way’s 2012 Corporate Connect survey results, 28% of corporate volunteers reported they volunteer in their own time. This represents results from over 500 volunteers from six capital cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra. The Census figures report that volunteering rates are lower in major cities than regional and rural Australia, so the United Way survey results are not too much lower than the aggregated national results.

What is interesting is that most of these Corporate Connect survey respondents reported they had volunteered sometime in the last year -58%. Only 16% reported volunteering in the last three months and as few as 9% in the last two weeks.

United Way’s survey results suggest that this low rate of volunteering isn’t driven by a lack of desire. Personal feedback from the volunteers suggest that there is a level of apprehension about getting involved in communities they know nothing about, a lack of awareness about how to volunteer and a need to manage the expectations and time commitments around volunteering.

With much written on the role of volunteering in building communities, there is clearly a role for corporate supported volunteering and community engagement to build links and relationships within our cities and communities.

In the next blog we explore the impact of volunteering for the business and in the final blog how United Way has developed the volunteering journey to increase corporate engagement and impact.

It takes everyone in the community working together to create a brighter future for us all, and corporate America is an important partner in that effort. GCL companies and their employees are leading this charge in communities across the globe through their commitment by contributing more than $1 billion annually and volunteering more than 26 million hours.

To create The Civic 50, Bloomberg Businessweek worked with Points of Light and The National Conference on Citizenship to design a survey measuring corporate civic engagement programs on seven metrics:  leadership, measurement and strategy, design, employee civic growth, community partnerships, cause alignment and transparency. Winning companies employed sophisticated tools to measure the impact of community engagement and alignment of these programs with their business' core competencies.  This Businessweek story provides great snapshots of what different companies are doing, as does this slide show.

Increasingly, corporate volunteer programs make good business sense. Corporate volunteer programs can attract and retain employees, and build their skills on the job.  For example, IBM’s Corporate Service Corps is a community service program that is also a leadership academy. Employees’ month-long assignments have included an online education program in India and modernizing Kenya’s postal service.  Program participants say the Corps has bolstered their job performance, skills, and desire to build careers at IBM. Plus, the Corps helps grow business and build expertise within the company. Created in 2007, thousands of employees compete for 500 spots each year. 

AT&T’s Aspire Local High School Impact Initiative provides support to high schools so they can increase on-time promotion to the next grade and reduce dropout rates. Its job shadow program, which has generated 270,000 volunteer hours, allows students and employees to team up for a couple of hours during the business day for project-based activities and problem solving.  If you are interested in helping keep kids in school, I urge you to join our effort to recruit one million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors, who do so much to help kids graduate on time.

The companies recognized in the inaugural Civic 50 contributed a remarkable amount of time and resources to improve the communities they serve. For example, the top five companies alone provide $1.5 billion in grant support to community organizations, 17.5 million volunteer hours valued at over $375 million, and $150 million in matching donations. United Way is proud to partner with 100 national and global corporations and nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 41 countries and territories, to provide expert advice and resources to support Civic 50 companies and others in their effort to improve lives and strengthen communities around the world.

I hope that this ranking of corporate civic engagement will spur companies throughout our country to understand the connection between volunteering and the bottom line: what’s good for our communities is good for business.  We’d love to hear what companies in your communities are doing to advance the common good.  In the meantime, here is the list of The Civic 50, with United Way GCL companies in bold.

1. IBM
2. Citi
3. AT&T
4. Aetna
5. Capital One Financial Corporation
6. Morgan Stanley
7. Campbell Soup Company
8. The McGraw-Hill Companies
9. GE
10. Hasbro, Inc.
11. Western Union
12. FedEx Corporation
13. Allstate Insurance
14. Microsoft Corporation
15. Bank of America
16. Target
17. Intel Corporation
18. UnitedHealth Group
19. Abbott
20. Southwest Airlines
21. Pacific Gas & Electric Company
22. Viacom Inc.
23. Apollo Group, Inc.
24. American Express
25. Cummins Inc.
26. Walmart
27. Comerica, Inc.
28. Hewlett-Packard
29. The Hershey Company
30. Altria Group, Inc.
31. McKesson Corporation
32. ConAgra Foods, Inc.
33. Raytheon Company
34. H.J. Heinz Company
35. The Goldman Sachs Group
36. Spectra Energy
37. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
38. Discovery Communications
39. Dr Pepper Snapple Group
40. Motorola Solutions
41. Devon Energy Corporation
42. Baker Hughes Incorporated
43. Starbucks Coffee Company (tie)
43. Ameriprise Financial (tie)
45. Harris Corporation
46. Weyerhaeuser Company
47. Adobe Systems Inc.
48. Sigma-Aldrich Corp. (tie)
48. Verizon Communications (tie)
50. Life Technologies

March is National Middle Level Education Month! This month, we will work with NASSP, the association for Middle Level Education, to promote the critical importance of the middle grades.

The middle grades are the “Bermuda triangle” of the education system. They are considered the educational stage when the competitive edge of American students is essentially lost.

They often suffer from low academic achievement, behavioral problems, teen alienation and disengagement from school. In fact, the process of social isolation that eventually leads students to drop out of high school often starts in the middle grades. 

United Way is working to ensure that middle grade success and transition to high school is a national priority and any efforts to reduce the nation’s dropout rate include policies and programs that help middle grade students stay on track to high school.

Join us in raising awareness about the importance of the middle grades. Take action. Become a middle grade advocate. Read our one-pager on how to get involved.

As a middle grade advocate, you can:

1. Contact your congressional representative about investing in the middle grades
2. Become a tutor for a middle grade student
3. Raise awareness about the middle grades on social media. Use hashtags #kidswin and #liveunited.

Sample Tweets:

• March is National Middle Level Education Month! Become a middle grade advocate http://ow.ly/iS5yc #kidswin #liveunited
• It’s National Middle Level Education Month! Help us support the middle grades http://ow.ly/iS5yc #kidswin #liveunited
• The middle grades matter. Join us in raising awareness about the middle grade years http://ow.ly/iS5yc #kidswin #liveunited

Facebook Post:

March is National Middle Level Education Month! Join us in raising awareness about the importance of the middle grades. Take action. Become a middle grade advocate. http://ow.ly/iS5yc.

Join us today.

In the Stone Soup story, a stranger enters a village. After being told by all the villagers that there was no food to eat, he put a pot of water on a fire to boil and put a big stone in the pot. The villagers grew curious. One by one, they began contributing one ingredient each, until they had assembled a hearty soup for all to feast on.

The United Way movement was founded on the same idea, that each one of us can give, advocate and volunteer to improve conditions in our communities. The story also provides an inspiring theme for a group of volunteers. Stone Soup events ask each volunteer to contribute an ingredient and participate in making meals – usually a casserole or hearty soup. United Ways have found that Stone Soup events are great for families, as they are fun, tangible, group projects that yield immediate results in a couple of hours. Children can readily understand why they are preparing a meal for someone who is hungry, and the activity may spark a long-term interest in volunteering.

United Way of Central Maryland and United Way of South Hampton Roads have mobilized many hundreds of volunteers to deliver hundreds of casseroles and sandwiches to soup kitchens, shelters and other organizations. Both United Ways are hosting Stone Soup events again this winter.

As you gather with friends and family for meals, I hope you’ll remember the Stone Soup story, and share it with others.  Perhaps each person at your gathering could bring a prepared ingredient for a casserole or soup, and you can assemble it while your meal is cooking.  Or each guest could bring canned goods to be donated.  Your local United Way will know which organizations would benefit from your family’s Stone Soup.  Just be sure to ask the organization receiving the meal what kind of food donation would be of greatest benefit.

Small contributions by many will mean a better life for all.  I hope you’ll let us know if you were inspired by the Stone Soup story, and how you brought the story to life in your community. 

By: Gabrielle Kay, Corporate Partnerships Manager, United Way Australia 

United Way has been running our Corporate Connect team volunteering program for ten years. Along the way we’ve learnt a few things that we think are worth sharing.

In a series of blogs I’ll explore the impact of corporate volunteering on three key stakeholders: employees as volunteers, the businesses that support their employees to volunteer and our partner community organisations. In the final blog I’ll explore how United Way has responded in order to increase employee and corporate engagement in the community - ultimately creating great community impact.

In 2012 United Way ran 195 projects, engaging 3, 000 corporate employees in their local communities. These volunteers helped over 16,000 people around Australia through a number of team volunteering  projects including community BBQs, backyard blitz’s, resource making, vacation care and family fun days.

The results from over 500 volunteers who responded to the post project surveys in 2012 reinforce the value that corporate team volunteering programs can create – and it just isn’t pretty gardens and people being fed. Collectively over the last ten years United Way’s corporate team volunteering has created impacts beyond the sum of the individual days.

We know corporate employees value the volunteering experience highly. Consistently 99% of volunteers report they value the volunteering experience, they have increased their understanding of community issues (100%) and would recommend a Corporate Connect project (100%).

This volunteering experience isn’t just a feel good for employees like a day out bowling or playing paint ball with the team. The United Way corporate volunteering experience leaves employees wanting to volunteer again. Even more impressive is that 56% of these volunteers tell us they want to not only volunteer again but do more to make a greater impact and 42% want to volunteer again when there is another opportunity.

Clearly, the volunteering experience is igniting something more. When we ask corporate volunteers to tell us what motivated them to volunteer:

• 34% told us corporate team volunteering provides them with an opportunity to give back to the community,
• 32% said that they were supported by their company, and
• 22% volunteered as they had the opportunity to volunteer as a team

These results tell us that people are motivated by their own personal values, those of the company’s they work for and the social norms of the workplace. This alignment of personal and business values around giving back to our local communities is impacting employees, with many wanting to volunteer again and an impressive 56% wanting to make a greater contribution – to continue their volunteering journey.

In the next blog, I’ll explore further the volunteer’s journey outside of the workplace.

Calcium

Everybody needs calcium, the critical nutrient that our bodies don't make but which is so important to healthy bones. A general range for recommended daily intake starts at around 1,000 mg. and increases to 1,500 mg. as women age. It is especially important to monitor calcium intake when lactating.

Where to find it:

Calcium is notably found in high quantities in various dairy products, like milk, cheese, and yogurt. Most basic diet plans place emphasis on providing appropriate levels of calcium, and there are certainly healthy alternatives available for vegans. Kale and spinach are both excellent sources of calcium, while tofu and various soy-based products may be enriched. Other sources of calcium include bok choi, broccoli, and okra.

Iron

Diet plans for women must be especially well tailored to provide sufficient amounts of iron. Required intake fluctuates naturally from woman to woman, but also with her menstrual cycle. Increased intake of iron will be necessary during menstruation to replace what is lost. Vegetarians and vegans may need to increase their daily intake of iron in comparison to women who eat meat. Vitamin C is necessary in combination with any iron-balanced diet plans for women, because it helps in the body's processing of iron.

Where to find it:

The most obvious source of iron is meat. Vegetarians and vegans can find iron in various beans, like lima, pinto, or kidney, and dark leafy vegetables. Lentils are a common source of iron as well, in addition to tofu, soybeans, and chickpeas.

Folate

Folate is an especially important nutrient for childbearing women. Diet plans for women in any stage of pregnancy are always sure to emphasize proper intake of folate because it is critical in the formation of new cells. A general daily intake range is between 400 to 800 mcg, with fluctuations depending on the stage of pregnancy.

Where to find it:

Folate is commonly found in such grains as enriched cereals and oatmeal, which makes it easier to incorporate into diet plans for women through breakfast. Meat, various types of beans, as well as chickpeas and lentils also make for an excellent source of this nutrient.

There are naturally many other essential nutrients and vitamins that form an integral part of women's diet plans, include Vitamin A, Vitamin B-12, and magnesium. Women have different dietary requirements from men, for reasons which vary from menstruation and pregnancy, to basic daily routines. Taking all the aspects into consideration makes it easier to manage a budget and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Take advantage of helpful tools such as calculators, error checkers and online chats, plus a free help line if you have any questions. Software provided by H&R Block, plus MyFreeTaxes.com is available in both English and Spanish.

If you prefer to file in person with an IRS-certified tax preparer, just visit MyFreeTaxes.com or call 2-1-1 to find a location near you – still free if you make $50,000 or less. MyFreeTaxes is a great way to maximize your return and ensure you receive all the tax credits you’re eligible for, all while saving you money because you don’t have to pay a tax preparer. 

Thanks to the Walmart Foundation, in collaboration with Goodwill Industries International, National Disability Institute and United Way Worldwide, for making MyFreeTaxes.com available. The MyFreeTaxes partnership has helped more than 4.5 million families earn almost $6 billion in refunds and tax credits since 2009. So even if you don’t file using MyFreeTaxes, help spread the word with your network! 

This is affirming in so many ways. It underscores that when Americans come together to advance the common good, we can make things happen. And it reminds us that everyone can play a meaningful role in creating opportunities for all children.

Boosting high school graduation has been a concerted focus for United Way since 2008, when we put a stake in the ground and challenged our network and partners to do the same. Today, some 88% of the 1,200 United Ways in our U.S. network are investing dollars, energy, and leadership to improve high school graduation – whether that’s through school readiness, early grade reading, middle school success or cradle to career efforts. United Ways are leading Promise Neighborhood and Social Innovation Fund work, and driving collective action that’s making a difference.

No single organization – or sector – can do this alone. That’s why our partnership with the America’s Promise Alliance, a national coalition of 400 nonprofit groups, businesses, communities, educators and policymakers, is so critical.  And that’s why it’s so important for organizations to work together - aligning around common goals, using common metrics to facilitate a shared community vision and coordinated action across a diverse coalition, along with mutual accountability, sustained effort and measured results. 

Improving education impacts more than an individual’s success in school, work or life. It impacts health, life span and even voter turnout in a community. Check out United Way’s interactive Common Good Forecaster to see how different your community could look if high school graduation rates increased.

In any community, education, income and health are the building blocks for opportunity. Education is essential to getting and keeping a job with a wage that can sustain a family, and has health benefits.  An income that can cover today and save for tomorrow builds a family’s solid foundation. Good health helps children stay on track at school and adults be productive at work. Remove any of these building blocks and the other two topple. Build them all up and you have a solid foundation for individual and community prosperity.

Together, we’ve made a good start, and we’re heading in the right direction. All of us should take a moment to celebrate this education progress, and celebrate the collaborative nature of this success. But there is so much more to do. Let’s redouble our efforts to make sure every struggling student is getting the support needed to graduate.