United Way Capital Area Partners with Businesses to Raise $16.5 Million

Each year, United Way Capital Area (UWCA), raises money to address the root causes of poverty in Central Texas. This year, UWCA has set an ambitious annual campaign goal of $16.5 million.

Recognizing their campaign goals this year, and every year in the past, can only be met through the support of the many businesses that participate in the Workplace Giving Campaign, UWCA kicked off its season by thanking the employees of more than 300 Austin area companies for their loyal and continued support of the community.

“We are so grateful for all of our community support and want to celebrate the successes of our donors and volunteers,” said UWCA President Debbie Bresette. “The companies that participate in our campaign are the ones who raise the money needed to fund the programs that have had a profound impact on the lives of people in our community.”

UWCA hosted the kickoff event in the parking lots of five Central Austin H-E-B stores, whose own workplace campaign exceeded $1 million last year. The employees who stopped by one of the five locations, all near companies that participate in the Workplace Giving Campaign, were provided with breakfast items and beverages on their way to work as a token of gratitude.

“It’s important that as a company we contribute to our community, but it’s also important to the people who work at Texas Gas Service that they are able to be actively engaged in affecting change in the communities that they live and work in, it’s a powerful thing to give back,” said Paul Wilson, Regional Vice President for Texas Gas Service, one company participating in the Workplace Giving Campaign.

In addition, companies across Central Texas participating in UWCA workplace giving campaigns, include Samsung, Wells Fargo, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Austin American-Statesman and Flextronics.

The $16.5 million raised this year would fund UWCA programs, services and grants made to 49 local partner agencies with programs in the areas of education, income and health, including:

·        Success By 6 program services including Born Learning, early literacy programs and early childhood education training for parents and teachers.

·        The 1 Hour for Kids mentoring program, improving out-of-school time programs and increasing awareness of opportunities for higher education are all part of the Middle School Matters initiative.

·        Bank on Central Texas, a program that connects people to low and no-cost financial products; job training and financial education programs are just some of the Income focus area initiatives.

·        Health focus area services include helping low-income seniors live independently, improving access to health and dental care and health education programs and providing mental health services to children and youth.

The co-chairs of this year’s Workplace Giving Campaign are Ben Bentzin, a UT lecturer at the McCombs School and former Dell executive and efjf Thomas, Senior Vice President and General Manager, H-E-B Central Texas Region.

Celebrating Austin mentors

January is National Mentoring Month and United Way Capital Area wants to celebrate our 1 Hour for Kids local mentors.

Meet David Robb, a correspondent at the Austin American Statesman, who has mentored through Big Brothers Big Sisters since November 2009.

Here's what Big Brothers Big Sisters is saying about him:

"David has developed a good bond with his Little (Angel) through their mutual interest in sports.  Most days, you can find them at the park playing basketball or football. Over the last few months, Angel has been feeling more comfortable and confident around his Big brother and likes to joke around and talk about things going on in his life.  David not only encourages Angel to do well in school, he is a good role model on how important education is, as he is taking classes to become a teacher.  He also takes him to UT sporting events, a great way to introduce Angel to an aspect of college.  David goes above the 1 hour a week, often spending 2 to 3 hours on outings developing a strong foundation that is a positive influence on Angel’s life."



Make a difference in your community by becoming a 1 Hour for Kids mentor today!

MLK Day of Service provides more than 7,500 volunteer hours to the community

The rainy forecast didn't stop approximately 700 volunteers from participating in the UWCA MLK Day of Service on Saturday, January 15. The volunteers, of which more than half were middle and high school students, participated in more than 20 projects across Austin and the surrounding area.

"I think it's really exciting to be with a whole bunch of people who are just dedicated toward one goal. Everyone woke up early and are here to give back and celebrate a wonderful day," said Lacey Allen, who works with College Forward through AmeriCorps State.

Allen's group braved the weather to help clean and beautify Audubon Nature Trails. Most of these projects were outside and focused on landscape, garden and greenbelt beautificaton projects.

Northwest Hills United Methodist Church didn't let the rain cancellation of its project stop them. Its members joined other volunteers at Any Baby Can to help prepare materials for the upcoming 3M Half Marathon.

"To have a community that is best for everyone, it takes everyone giving back and volunteering their time," said Sue Abold, who helps coordinate volunteer projects for the church.

The nonprofit organizations sponsoring projects are grateful for the efforts and time given by the volunteers. Christin Alvarado with Feria Para Aprender led volunteers in sorting donated Spanish-language books that will be given to children at an education fair on January 29.

"We really needed the help with this annual event," Alvardo said. "We usually have about 10,000 or so books that need sorting before the event, and this day is a great way to get the help."

The MLK Day of Service is unique to UWCA's other annual days of service in that it falls on a weekend and provides more flexibility for families to volunteer together.  Visit handsoncentraltexas.org to see dates for our Spring Day of Service and find other volunteer opportunities in the Austin area.

Special thanks to our partners: Huston-Tillotson University, Austin Area Heritage Council, Ala Carte and State Representative Dawnna Dukes. And thank you to our sponsors Batter Blaster and Sunflower Market for providing a wonderful breakfast for our volunteers.

Mentor Month Spotlight: River City Youth Foundation

As we enter the final week of National Mentor Month, we'd like to share this video entirely created by students at the River City Youth Foundation.

RCYF provided details of the project:

During the winter of 2009, River City Youth Foundation "My Hero!" mentoring program held a holiday camp that included a music portion. The children who had a desire to write positive lyrics about mentoring and Dove Springs were coached by River City Youth Foundation mentors and Jason Birdwell. Through encouragement from adults and other children, they were empowered to rap to their own lyrics in the studio, play instrumental tracks (guitar, bass guitar and percussion), create loops from software, and record video tracks that make up the entire content of "Come Mentor Us."

Make a difference in your community by becoming a 1 Hour for Kids mentor today! 

Celebrating Austin mentors

January is National Mentoring Month and United Way Capital Area wants to celebrate our 1 Hour for Kids local mentors.

Meet Alix Floyd, Director of Leadership Giving at United Way Capital Area who has mentored through Big Brothers Big Sisters since June 2009.

"I mentor because a small commitment on my part can mean a huge difference in the life of a young person. I’ve been granted every advantage in life and it is my duty to pay it forward. I had the blessing of having parents, grandparents, teachers, and friend who were all invested in my success. Without their guidance my life would have been very, very different. I want all kids to have the advantage of supportive, caring, invested adults." 

Make a difference in your community by becoming a 1 Hour for Kids mentor today!

Celebrating Austin mentors

January is National Mentoring Month and United Way Capital Area wants to celebrate our 1 Hour for Kids local mentors.

Meet Janet Calhoun, an MBA student at UT Austin who has mentored a student through Breakthrough Austin since Aug. 2009.

" I don’t have a lot of free time in business school, so volunteering at Breakthrough has been a perfect way for me to utilize my passion in education and working with students. I have learned that just a few hours a week is a very rewarding experience for both the students and me."

Make a difference in your community by becoming a 1 Hour for Kids mentor today!

President Obama recognizes Mentoring Month

President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation recognizing January 2011 as National Mentoring Month. Did you have a mentor growing up that made a significant impact on your life? Many of Austin's youths are in need of a responsible, caring adult to help them succeed. You can make a difference by visiting unitedwaycapitalarea.org/1hourforkids/ to learn about opportunities with seven Austin organizations. Make a difference today!

You can read the Presidential Proclamation below or visit whitehouse.gov.

Across our Nation, mentors steer our youth through challenging times and support their journey into adulthood. During National Mentoring Month, we honor these important individuals who unlock the potential and nurture the talent of our country, and we encourage more Americans to reach out and mentor young people in their community.

The dedication of mentors has helped countless young men and women succeed when they might have otherwise fallen short of their full potential. Mentors can provide a steady presence and share their valuable knowledge and experiences. Even brief amounts of quality time set aside by these compassionate adults can have a lasting impact on the development of a child. Mentors can also support the lessons of parents and teachers by encouraging students to complete their schoolwork and by instilling enduring values of commitment and persistence. From coaches to community leaders, tutors to trusted friends, mentors are working with today's youth to develop tomorrow's leaders.

We know the difference that a responsible, caring adult can make in a child's life. Effective mentoring programs can result in better school attendance, positive student attitudes, and a reduced likelihood of initiating drug and alcohol use. Across the Federal Government, we have provided resources to expand mentoring opportunities for America's young people. We are increasing mentoring efforts in Native American and rural communities and are working to ensure our investments are coordinated, effective, and focused on those most in need. To help build healthy families and communities and provide our youth with strong role models, I launched the President's Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative. First Lady Michelle Obama and I have also established mentoring programs within the White House, pairing staff with young men and women in the Washington, D.C., area. For information and resources about mentoring opportunities, I encourage all Americans to visit: www.Serve.gov/Mentor.

Many Americans have realized their promise because a mentor encouraged them to reach for new heights and guided them along the path to achievement. The contributions of these engaged adults extend beyond the lives they touch and have a lasting impact that strengthens our country and our future.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 2011 as National Mentoring Month. I call upon all public officials, business and community leaders, educators, and Americans across the country to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

United Way's Fall Day of Caring 2010

On Friday, September 10 over 950 volunteers joined forces with United Way Capital Area for their Fall Day of Caring event. Day of Caring is an opportunity for people from the community to come together to create change in Central Texas.

Volunteers were given the opportunity to take part in meaningful activities that focused on the education, income, health and environment of our community. Together, community volunteers worked alongside United Way Capital Area to create long-lasting change in our community, leading to a better life for all.

Volunteers came from over 28 companies in town and worked to complete 41 projects in and around Austin. Total volunteer time equated to $122,379 in service back to our community. Teams volunteered because it was a great way to team-build, because their company wanted to support a specific impact area and some because volunteering was a great way for their employees to see where dollars donated during their workplace giving campaigns are being put to work.

Random quotes of kindness…

“IBM was a great group - small but mighty. They worked extremely hard and completed and exceeded all the tasks we had outlined. It ended up being fairly messy work but they did it joyfully and kept great spirits (as they were dripping wet from power washing).”—Brett Barnes, Lifeworks

“I really enjoyed the presenters of the “Learn how to help middle school students in math” project. They were very knowledgeable about the subject matter and they had amazing guides to assist us as volunteers in succeeding with math students. It was an amazing opportunity, and if I could do it again, I most definitely would.” –Maryum Mitchell, Grad Student

" I recently helped at Top Drawer Thrift store in Austin for the United Way Capital Area Day of Caring and it was a wonderful experience! The staff and other volunteers were amazing and I had so much fun helping out!" -Becky Liendo, Community Volunteer

One-third of the projects hosted at Day of Caring were led by trained United Way Capital Area Volunteer Project Leaders! The Volunteer Project Leader training is a national initiative and aims to transform casual volunteers into active community leaders by equipping participants with the leadership skills and tools they need to make meaningful and lasting change in their communities. For more information on how to become a Volunteer Project Leader, or to have this course offered to your employees on the worksite, please contact Nikki Krueger at 512-386-8211.

We invite you to “like” United Way Capital Area on Facebook and view photos of our outstanding volunteers in action!

A special thank you to our event sponsors: Freescale Semiconductor (presenting sponsor), The Long Center for the Performing Arts and Coca-Cola. Our sponsors continue to support the work of United Way year after year and for this we are eternally grateful!

If you participated as a volunteer during Day of Caring or if you were unable to attend but still want to participate in the spirit of the day and would like to make a donation to support United Way Capital Area’s work in education, income and health, please click here.

Thank You, Samsung.

UWCA’s Success By 6 (SB6) program just received its largest corporate donation ever – a $1 million gift from Samsung Austin Semiconductor. Samsung made the gift to celebrate their recent announcement of a $3.6-billion expansion to its 12-inch semiconductor fabrication plant in Austin. “We are pleased to commemorate our growth in Austin with a gift that benefits Central Texas in such a meaningful way,” said Dr. Oh-Hyun Kwon, president, Semiconductor Business, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

UWCA’s SB6 initiative ensures 40,000 of Travis County’s youngest and most vulnerable children will be ready to learn and succeed by the time they enter kindergarten. The program works to:

• improve the quality of childcare serving low-income children
  
• educate parents on ways to support their children’s development
  
• provide mental health consultation to help with children’s social and emotional development
  

SB6 addresses children’s educational needs by identifying barriers and implementing proven strategies in cooperation with more than 30 nonprofit organizations, community and educational leaders and businesses.

“We are honored and deeply appreciative of such a generous gift and look forward to all of the possibilities and opportunities this will continue to create for our youngest and most vulnerable students,” Kevin Cole, UWCA Board Chair said. “This investment will increase our ability to make strategic program investments that will increase the number of vulnerable children who succeed in school.”

We gratefully acknowledge Samsung's $1 million commitment to ensure all Central Texas children will enter kindergarten happy, healthy, and prepared for school success.

Click here to learn more about the work of Success By 6.

Click here to read all of the coverage of this important gift.

UWCA and E3 Alliance Work Together To Improve Educational Systems

To create better opportunities for Central Texas’ youth to learn, grow and engage the community, UWCA has teamed up with the E3 Alliance, a collaboration involving Austin Community College, Austin Area Research Organization and the University of Texas.

“E3 is a great catalyst for quality education in Central Texas,” says Sue Carpenter, UWCA Senior Director of Education. “Our education goals deliberately align because we both recognize the importance of having children start school prepared to succeed and, once they get there, find an outstanding educational environment.”

Shared leadership binds UWCA and E3 together and, as a result, they each take advantage of what the other has to offer. For example, UWCA education experts are on E3’s Goal 1 Championship team, which develops school readiness action plans, and E3 team members can be found on UWCA’s Success By 6 Leadership Council, which strives to make sure that every child is happy, healthy and prepared to succeed in school when they enter kindergarten.


This partnership produced the Central Texas Guide to School Readiness, the first student standard in the history of Texas. Meant for all 4-year-olds completing pre-kindergarten and entering kindergarten, its purpose is to assess their progress during the year and to offer teachers strategies to help them develop. It also helps Central Texas gauge how many of our children enter kindergarten prepared to succeed. It served over 3,600 students in its first year and is currently receiving excellent feedback from teachers and parents alike.

“We take the best lessons and learn from each others’ experiences to put forth the best programs we can,” says Susan Dawson, President of E3. “We follow a strong collaboration model, which is exemplified by our work with United Way Capital Area. It’s a great partnership that has proven to be very powerful.”