Blog United with United Way of Pierce County

Lessons from the Frontlines: Local Funding in Human Services

2012-01-25T13:48:00.000-08:00

Rick Allen, United Way of Pierce County in Tacoma, WA
Posted January 23, 2012, The Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity (http://www.spotlightonpoverty.org/)

We have hundreds of effective early learning programs around the nation, yet many kids start school unprepared to learn and succeed. Millions of dollars are spent on programs to end homelessness, but the scourge remains. Affordable housing groups toil across the country, yet many families struggle to put a roof over their heads.

The problem is that while individual human service programs may succeed in helping those they serve directly, as a society we are often unable to achieve collective success.

That doesn’t mean progress is impossible, and part of the solution belongs to funders. It’s time for local funders to move beyond program-level thinking to a true system-wide approach focused on communities.

As someone who has spent two decades as a local funder, it’s clear to me how far the funding community has come—and how far it still has to go.

If you work in human services, let me begin by posing these questions, using early learning as an example: what is the overall community plan in your city or county to advance the early learning effort? For those who now fund early learning efforts, how does the program you fund fit into the overall community plan? Is the work of those you fund known and supported by the larger network of early learning providers in your community?

If you are a funder, my bet is you can’t answer the above questions. If you are a provider, you probably haven’t engaged in those conversations with your service area compatriots, whether that service area is early learning, affordable housing, domestic violence prevention, improved graduation rates, or some other area of human services.

Yes, you all know each other and talk together. That doesn’t mean you’ve collectively agreed to the same priorities in a community plan to advance your particular area of service.

We are all working independently or in small collaborative efforts, often around a grant. We are funded in program silos, with little ability and few resources to leverage a broader community plan that identifies key needs in a larger service area system, or key strengths upon which to build.

We have lots of random acts of useful kindness, but few community plans to advance a collective effort in a particular service area on a larger scale.

There are undoubtedly numerous dynamics in play, some beyond anyone’s control.

Yet some of the vital areas for improvement rest squarely on the shoulders of those who fund human service efforts, including governments, foundations, United Ways, and even individuals. Until some things change at the funder level, little else will.

What could funders begin to do differently? A few ideas I’ve seen work in my area include:

If you’ve been funding programs, give serious thought to better understanding the larger network of providers related to those programs, and what the strengths and weaknesses are in that network of services.
When asked to fund a program component in a particular service area, ask, “How does your program fit into the overall community plan in this area of service?”
Consider funding a series of meetings bringing together all of the players in a focused area of service, such as early learning; help to fund the development of an overall community plan to advance the collective effort. That plan might include identifying strengths and weaknesses, a common set of advocacy priorities, potential natural funding partners, and system evaluation.
Be willing to fund priorities identified in a collective plan that you do not currently fund, or better yet, be willing to fund all of the actual plan.
Allow your current grantees to spend some of your money to work collectively with others in their network of providers; provide more funding flexibility.

These are just a few ideas, and I’m sure there are others.

For those who say that funders will never change, just look at the last 30 years. The requirement to measure and report outcomes in human services is now widespread, yet this was not nearly as prevalent in the 1970s and 1980s and even into the 1990s.

We have moved from “How many are you serving?” to “What difference did your service make to these individuals in their lives?”—largely because funders decided to change from an “allocation” mentality to a “return on investment” mentality. The expected return includes a concrete assessment of how lives have been genuinely improved.

In this time of obvious austerity, and in what many suggest is a near-crisis in human services, it seems an opportune time to take the next step in getting smarter about our human service investments. It’s time to move from thinking exclusively about programs and to begin working to establish and strengthen true human service systems in our communities.

Economic Return on an Investment in Education

2011-08-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

Why It Matters

Rigorous research demonstrates that children who participate in high-quality early learning programs are significantly more likely to enter school with the underlying skills needed to succeed in school and later in the workforce. These programs have been shown to increase language skills, lower the need for special education, and increase graduation rates.

Providing quality early learning is a key factor in attracting skilled workers and new business to Washington State. Unskilled workers cost the United States $319 billion annually in lost wages, productivity and taxes. Businesses spend $3.7 billion each year teaching basic skills to employees.

In addition, research shows that investments in early learning will save Washington businesses millions of dollars lost every year due to employee absenteeism because of child care problems. On average, parents miss five to nine days of work every year dealing with child care arrangements.

In Washington State, research shows that investing in quality early education creates new jobs immediately and grows the economy. In these tough economic times, businesses look at their bottom lines every day and analyze how to generate the most return for each dollar invested.

These investments pay big dividends to businesses both today and tomorrow. They strengthen communities and get children ready for school and work. These investments have a higher return than investments in all other major sectors, including manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, utilities and transportation.

Every dollar invested in early childhood programs will generate more than $2 in additional employment and spending on goods and services. Moreover, every two early education jobs created will generate enough spending to support another job.

George Le Masurier, publisher of The Peninsula Gateway wrote, “If we just provided high-quality preschools for our state’s 4-year-olds, we could save public schools 10 percent of the special education budget, about $120 million a year.”

All of this is just another way of saying that what happens before kids start school really counts.

Introducing LU

2011-07-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

This is LU. LU is a long-time friend of United Way and is beginning a tour of Pierce County. Along the way, LU would like to show you some of his favorite spots and introduce you to his close partners. He'll share a photo and tell you a little about each one as he goes. If you can guess where LU is in Pierce County, there is a prize in it for you! Watch for LU on our Facebook page at...

http://www.facebook.com/unitedwayofpiercecounty

Partnership Makes New Eatonville MultiCare Clinic a Reality

2011-03-04T14:33:00.000-08:00

People in rural areas have limited access to health care. For residents of southern Pierce County, like Eatonville, Ashford and Elbe, accessing health care meant driving more than 20
miles away. Residents recognized the area was underserved and could be one of the worst affected in the event of a disaster on Mount Rainier. That’s when they contacted United Way of
Pierce County. The UWPC Health Impact team brought together key partners from MultiCare/Good Samaritan and local leaders who later built a new health care facility. The new facility will serve more patients and provide x-ray and lab services, making accessing health care easier for those in outlying areas of Pierce County.

United Way of Pierce County convenes partners to make an impact on the most critical issues affecting our community, including access to healthcare.

South Sound 2-1-1: A Lifeline for Those in Need

2011-02-11T11:37:00.000-08:00

Evidence of the recession is everywhere. At United Way of Pierce County, nothing reveals the affects of the economic downturn more than the demand on South Sound 2-1-1.

South Sound 2-1-1 is a service of United Way of Pierce County that provides callers with referrals for non-emergency resources, like shelter, food banks and utility assistance. In 2009, over 76,000 callers from Pierce, Thurston and Lewis counties reached out to 2-1-1. In 2010, that number grew to nearly 84,000 callers. They served a record number in December including, 9,062 calls for the month and 626 calls in just one day. The increase in need was obvious.

Yet, only 36 percent of the callers who contacted the agencies they were referred to actually received help. Most were turned away because the agencies simply didn’t have the resources available to serve the number of people in need.

The need has grown while funding has decreased, leaving many nonprofits trying to do more with less. South Sound 2-1-1 experienced this for themselves in 2010. State funding limitations and staff reductions made it difficult for Information and Referral Specialists at 2-1-1 to respond to every call. Nearly 9 percent of callers were not able to get through.

However, those who did get through and did contact their referrals found the vital hope they needed. Utility assistance and rent and mortgage assistance accounted for 38.3 percent of the calls to South Sound 2-1-1. Verna, an elderly woman, living alone, was one of the many who contacted South Sound 2-1-1 seeking utility assistance. Another caller sought help after her husband was injured on the job and they found themselves unable to pay their mortgage. She was referred to a number of agencies that helped her pay the bills until her husband’s injury pay came in.

Shelter and affordable housing are also frequently requested resources. Melissa was a single-mom fleeing a domestic violence situation. Thanks to referrals from South Sound 2-1-1 and United Way’s Affordable Housing Guide, she was able to find a home for her family.

South Sound 2-1-1 also helps people with food, health issues, transportation, legal counsel, clothing and household needs and holiday and seasonal assistance.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Volunteer as an Information and Referral Specialist at South Sound 2-1-1, answering phone calls and providing referrals

Advocate for funding from our state leaders for WIN 2-1-1 to help support the 2-1-1 system locally and state wide

Participate in this year’s Community Campaign and help United Way of Pierce County provide funding to more than 100 local programs struggling to serve those in need. This year all new and increased gifts will be matched, multiplying the difference your donation can make.

Cold, warm, balmy, or freezing weather … it’s always full at area shelters.

2011-02-03T11:01:00.000-08:00

The line starts at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon for the 153 sleeping spots available at the Rescue Mission’s Downtown Tacoma Campus. Irrespective of the weather, all of the beds are filled every night. On average, 35 men are turned away because there is no room. Every day, in the cafeteria after the evening meal, the tables and chairs are moved out of the way and the 50 plus sleeping mats are laid out for the night. In January, 58 new clients were enrolled, up slightly over January 2010’s numbers.

Additional need does not translate into more staff says Frank Jackson, Rescue Mission’s Downtown Tacoma Campus Director. More people with the same number of staff create management difficulties. When staff was stretched to the limit, he reached out to volunteers and interns to fill those needs.

A warm place to stay overnight is just one component of services provided. Over the past four years, the Downtown Tacoma Campus has seen a 25 percent increase in single moms with young children coming to eat at the campus. No one is turned away at meal time.

When asked how the cold weather has affected their campus, Frank said there is a constant need for coats, hats, gloves and scarves to help protect against the elements.

Jan Sonntag, Adams Street Family Campus’ Capital Campaign Director, echoed the constant need for coats, hats and gloves.

“What is the bare minimum for you is not the same as someone on the street.” Homeless people live with the barest of minimum. For most, their lives are contained in a plastic bag. In December, over 11,000 pieces of clothing were distributed through the Rescue Mission’s Campuses.

Sonntag said the Rescue Mission works hard to meet the basic needs of its clients.

“We’re doing our best to stop the revolving door.”

Special Thanks to our funded partners who are serving those in need of shelter - Tacoma Rescue Mission and Catholic Community Services.

United Way Continues to Support Local Programs Despite Economic Challenges

2011-01-26T14:30:00.000-08:00

United Way of Pierce County announced funding amounts for more than 100 local programs. The decisions seek to sustain the heavily-burdened human services community but also reflect ongoing challenges created by a tough economic climate.

While 18 new programs will receive funding, some programs funded by United Way in the last cycle were not funded or received cuts from 5 to 90 percent.

“Workplace and corporate contributions to United Way have declined for the third straight year,” said United Way of Pierce County President Rick Allen. “This trend is consistent with campaigns across the nation. The cutbacks we have had to make have very little to do with program success, as outcomes being produced by many of these nonprofits are substantial and impressive. It is all about the economy.”

Local nonprofits have been faced with a dual challenge as funding continues to decrease while demand for human services continues to rise. More than 160 programs applied for funds amounting to over $5.5 million in requests. United Way’s Community Solutions Fund, which is used to support local programs, has seen more than a 50 percent decrease over the last three years, putting the fund at its lowest amount in nearly a decade.

To help offset the impact of the funding results, United Way of Pierce County’s board of directors approved a process that will adjust funding for those programs being cut or decreased gradually. These programs will receive a portion of their current funding for the next nine months to help with the transition. At the same time, programs being funded will increase over time to the full amount.

“It’s not the perfect scenario,” said Allen, “but most of these programs are administered by long-standing partners and we want to assist them in whatever way we can.”

Russell Investments and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have partnered with United Way of Pierce County on a $1 million matching grant intended to help alleviate the dramatic affect the recession has had on the nonprofit community. New gifts to the Community Solutions Fund will be matched by the grant and could raise an additional $2 million for investment in Pierce County.

“We are hopeful that those new companies and new donors that join us as a result of the match will see the value returned on the dollars they have invested and stay with us in future years,” explained Allen. “That gives all of us hope that we will start to turn this around and provide more opportunity for those in need to move toward stability and self-sufficiency.”

Additionally, changes to United Way’s funding process also affected funding decisions. In 2007, United Way began discussing with its direct-service partners and others a new strategy that would align more closely with its work in Education, Income, Health and Emergency Services and address emerging issues.

“We revised our funding strategy to create stronger, more sustainable outcomes to meet the needs of our community,” explained Pamela Duncan-Pierce, director of community assessment and investment at United Way of Pierce County. “The decrease in funding dollars combined with process changes made for a very competitive process. There were fewer dollars to address a phenomenal increase in need.”

Applications for funding are submitted to United Way and evaluated by a team of volunteers comprised of local community members. Volunteers looked for applications that offered services which resulted in the strongest outcomes in United Way’s priority areas of Education, Income, Health and Emergency Services.

The funding recommendations are presented to United Way’s Board of Directors for approval. Applicants were notified of the 2011-2013 funding decisions December 15, 2010. United Way funds on a three-year cycle with current funding set to end December 31, 2010.

Have You Earned More Money Than You Think?

2011-01-25T13:42:00.000-08:00

It may not be April but many people are already starting to think about their taxes. Many local families are eligible for a tax credit that could put more money in their pockets but very few of them are aware of it.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax break for people who work but do not earn high incomes. Taxpayers who qualify and claim the credit could pay less federal tax, pay no tax or receive a refund.

People eligible for the EITC must meet the following criteria:

Have earned income either by working for someone else or working for a business they own

Have a valid Social Security number

Cannot file as married filing separately

Generally cannot be a nonresident alien

Cannot be a qualifying child of another person

Cannot be filing Form 2555 or Form 2555-EZ

Investment income amount is limited

If you earn less than $48,362 and you have a child, brother, sister, grandchild, niece, nephew, stepchild or adopted child living with you, you may be eligible. If you earn less than $18,470 and you have no children and are at least age 25 and under 65, you may be eligible.

Tax preparers, both paid and volunteer, can help you determine if you are eligible and file your taxes properly to ensure you recieve the credit. Not sure it is worth the bother?

If your earned income and adjusted gross income (AGI) are each less than:

$43,352 ($48,362 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children , your maximum credit could be $5,666.

$40,363 ($45,373 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children, your maximum credit could be $5,036.

$35,535 ($40,545 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child, your maximum credit could be $3,050.

$13,460 ($18,470 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children, your maximum credit could be $457.

Don't miss this opportunity to put more money back in your pocket. Visit www.irs.gov/eitc to find out if you are eligible and how to recieve this credit when you file this year.

Visit one of these sites to have your return prepared by volunteers for free.

Why Do You Volunteer?

2011-01-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King Jr. was a man who knew the importance of community. We celebrate him every January for the remarkable things he did and what he stood for. This January, more than 120 youth gave their day off for the Martin Luther King holiday back to the community by volunteering.

Now some people might wonder why a teenager would choose to spend their day working when they didn't have to. We wondered that too. So we asked several of the students who volunteered. Their responses?

"It feels good to give back."

"I want to help the community like Martin Luther King Jr did."

"I like to help others with my friends."

"It's cool to volunteer!"

Find out what other volunteers said by visiting our YouTube page at www.youtube.com/UnitedWayofPierceCo or at our Youth United Facebook page at www.facebook.com/YouthUnited.

Broken Water Pipes Temporarily Close Historic Building

2010-11-29T11:11:00.000-08:00

The historic Betye Martin Baker Human Service Center building at 1501 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma, owned by United Way of Pierce County and home to several other nonprofits, is temporarily closed due to substantial damage caused by a series of broken pipes following last week’s winter storm. While the building is closed until further notice, United Way and the South Sound 2-1-1 hotline will continue to serve the community through remote operations. A few unaffected offices operated by other nonprofits will continue work at the building site, as the structure itself is sound.

Late Thanksgiving night, pipes burst in the building as frozen water began to thaw, causing damage throughout the four-story site. Flooding on the top floor also damaged interior walls and some offices below. The Human Service Center was one of many buildings in downtown Tacoma that suffered damage as a result of last week’s snow and frigid temperatures. Despite the damage, United Way of Pierce County and fellow human service providers located in the building are committed to continuing service for those in need.

“At United Way, we operate by the motto of LIVE UNITED,” said Rick Allen, President of United Way of Pierce County. “The same is true in this situation. We have problems of our own that we are dealing with but our number one priority remains, and always will be, to help those in our community who need it most. We will do whatever it takes to make sure that continues.”

South Sound 2-1-1 is a call center that provides non-emergency resources to the community. The Monday after Thanksgiving is usually the highest call volume day of the entire year for people seeking human service assistance. Call center hours will remain the same and staff is available by simply dialing 2-1-1. Over 75,000 calls for help came to the local call center in the last year.

Updated information on the building closure will be available at 253-272-4263.

Will Pierce County Citizens Rise to the Challenge?

2010-10-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

by Rick Allen, Phd, President & CEO, United Way of Pierce County

Most Americans are still struggling to make ends meet in this economy. Thousands of Pierce County citizens can be counted among those who are struggling. Over 40 percent of the residents of Pierce County are now receiving service from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). That's over 300,000 people.

Calls to South Sound 2-1-1 for human service assistance went up by 28 percent from 2008 and continue at unprecedented levels. Over the last year, the call center received over 76,000 calls, many from people desperate for help. Unfortunately, reports showed that only 39.8 percent of them were actually able to get the help they needed because the nonprofit programs had been overwhelmed and no longer had funding to provide the needed service.

We can all share stories of neighbors, friends, loved ones and family members who have lost jobs, lost their homes and are fighting just to stay afloat in this negative economic storm. Unfortunately, due to painful cuts in the budgets of almost all funders, it is likely the nonprofits who provide services to those in crisis are about to receive another round of deep cuts.

There are those who are stepping up to help and some of the sources of this extraordinary generosity might surprise you.

Young people in our local high schools are stepping up by increasing their community service through volunteerism. Over 400 high school students from more than 30 Pierce County high schools are expected earn a Varsity Letter in Community Service by volunteering more than 145 hours each during the year. Ten years ago, only seven students earned the honor.

Another example is that staff in numerous nonprofit organizations, including United Way, has taken salary freezes and cuts over the last two years. They have cut other internal costs which have helped to get more services into the community. For most nonprofits, these cuts are far too deep to sustain over time.

Russell Investments is also a great example of stepping up. Russell has pledged a $500,000 challenge matching grant to the community through United Way, pledging to match every new undesignated dollar donated to United Way’s community campaign. What that means is, if you add a new dollar to your past gift or if you make a new gift and pledge it to the community safety net, Russell Investments will match your gift with an additional dollar.

When was the last time someone gave you free money to help those in need in your community? It is impressive to see Russell’s social commitment to the area in which many of their employees reside.

However, the phrase “challenge match” is real. What that means is that Russell Investments will match each new dollar to the community safety net through United Way, up to $500,000, but only if you and others like you decide to take the challenge and increase your gift. In these difficult economic times, there is certainly no guarantee that will happen.

Will companies not currently participating in the community-wide campaign also step up? In those companies, every single new dollar to the community safety net through a new United Way campaign would be matched by Russell Investments. In a time of community crisis, we are hopeful that leaders in these companies will rise to the challenge, step forward and say, “Count us in. We will join the community-wide campaign in this time of obvious crisis.”

To do so, just email the Vice President for Community Education and Resource Development at United Way, Jay Thomas, at jayt@uwpc.org.

Bethel Senior Shares Passion for Volunteering, Football

2010-08-15T10:55:00.000-07:00

Many seniors set goals for their final year of high school. For Bethel High School senior Christian Booth, those goals included volunteering enough hours to earn his fourth Varsity Letter in Community Service from United Way of Pierce County’s Youth United program. Yet just earning another letter wasn’t enough. So Booth extended the challenge to his teammates on the Bethel football team.

The team began volunteering this summer, working toward the 145-hour minimum necessary to earn the letter. They did environmental rehabilitation and participated in monthly service projects through Youth United. One of the most meaningful projects tackled by the team was volunteer work at the home of a Bethel teacher who lost her life to cancer. The boys did yard work and helped around the family home. By summer’s end, more than 50 members of the team were working toward the minimum goal to earn the letter.

In July, Booth’s efforts were sidelined when the Youth United leadership team member fell 200 feet while exploring on the Washington coast. Booth suffered multiple fractures and broken bones. His injuries were severe and not only halted his volunteer efforts, they also put the Braves’ co-captain on the bench for his final football season.

Despite his injuries, Booth continues to serve his community by sitting on the United Way of Pierce County Board of Directors, participating in the Bethel chapter of Youth United’s leadership council, helping arrange volunteer projects for his teammates and volunteering at Phoenix Housing with his family.

Christian Booth doesn't just wear the shirt, he lives it.

Red Hot Leaving Their Mark on Hot Dog World and Local Community

2010-07-02T10:51:00.000-07:00

The Red Hot and their Tacoma-inspired hot dogs are grabbing national attention. A few weeks ago they were featured on the Food Network’s Chef vs. City and Yahoo Travel recently named their dogs one of the best in the nation. However, it’s their work right here in their Pierce County community that really turns heads.

Shortly after opening nearly their eatery on 6th Avenue three years ago, the staff at the Red Hot came to United Way of Pierce County looking for an opportunity to give back. They got involved in their seasonal giving programs, providing school supplies for low-income kids going back to class and gifts for single-mother families at the holidays.

In 2009, they decided to get their patrons involved. With the additional donations from their customers, the Red Hot was able to build a backpack for a girl and another for a boy in every grade. They also bumped up their holiday giving to include two families.

In honor of their third anniversary, the Red Hot is celebrating August 15, 2010 and raffling off a vintage Rainiers cooler with all the proceeds going to United Way of Pierce County. Tickets go on sale Monday, July 5th and will be sold through August 14th and are just $1.

Owner Cynthia Miller and her team at Red Hot believe in community and have developed a family of patrons who join them in making a difference.

“We have the greatest clientele,” said Miller. “It is like a community within a community, not an establishment.”

Visit the Red Hot at 2914 6th Avenue in Tacoma to purchase tickets.

Children’s Museum Has a New Home, Long-Term Partnership with United Way of Pierce County

2010-03-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

United Way of Pierce County and the Children’s Museum of Tacoma entered into a potential 25-year partnership today with the signing of a ten-year lease, with options for three five-year extensions. As of March 26, 2010, the Museum will lease approximately 8,700 square feet on the first floor of United Way’s historic Betye Martin Baker Human Service Center at 1501 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma. Museum administrative offices will take up part of the second floor.

The Museum is outgrowing its current storefront location and has, under the leadership of John Folsom, been looking for a new home for over two years. Folsom was chairman of the Museum’s Site Selection Committee. The Committee reviewed several opportunities for the Museum, guided by criteria influenced largely by community input. The United Way location met the majority of the Children’s Museum of Tacoma’s search criteria, including a favorable long-term lease, increased space, potential access to outdoor play space, adjacent parking, easy access and safety in a downtown location near cultural districts and amenities.

“We are thrilled about this partnership,” said Tanya Andrews, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of Tacoma. “Given the current challenges that all of us are facing, this is really an affordable solution for the Museum, for funders and for families. This allows us to focus our resources on playing with families, be it in our new, enhanced space or in their own neighborhood through our expanding Play to Learn program. It means our supporters are funding more direct services rather than just bricks and mortar.”

The new location will further enhance United Way and the Children’s Museum’s partnership in education. The pair have been working with other local partners to increase the number of Pierce County children who are ready to learn upon entering kindergarten. The Children’s Museum’s Play to Learn program has been a key component in the community’s efforts. Play to Learn offers free opportunities for children birth to six years old and their adult caregivers. In its first 18 months, the program spread to eight sites throughout Pierce County and now serves over 400 individuals each week. Play to Learn is projected to serve 10,000 people this year: a growth of over 68 percent since its inception.

“We are excited to have them on board,” said Rick Allen, President of United Way of Pierce County. “Not only are our interests closely aligned, but their move here now makes them a part of the Museum District, a nice enhancement to an economic driver in the city. We think the fit is right in many ways.”

The Museum expects to open the doors at 1501 Pacific Avenue in late 2011. The building, built in 1889, was dedicated as the Betye Martin Baker Human Service Center in 1995. United Way purchased the property in 1992 with the intent of providing affordable space to local nonprofits and organizations with closely related interests. The building is home to several organizations including the Boys and Girls Club administrative offices, Safe Streets, The Nonprofit Center, Cares of Washington and United Way of Pierce County.

The Children’s Museum is interested in continuing its conversations with the community about services and museum amenities; a survey is available at www.ChildrensMuseumofTacoma.org/capital-campaign. Community members can also sign up for email updates about the new space and the Museum’s Capital Campaign at www.ChildrensMuseumofTacoma.org/newsletter-sign-up.php.

The Museum’s Capital Campaign for a new home will be reactivated in the upcoming month. Campaign co-chairs are Jacquie Boyd and Joanne Bamford will meet with their leadership team in early May to determine project needs and campaign goals.

UPDATE: The Children's Museum announced they will open at the new Pacific Avenue location January 14, 2012.

The Spirit of Pierce County

2010-03-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

The highest honor bestowed by United Way of Pierce County is the Spirit of Pierce County Award. This award is given to the local company that demonstrates consistently strong performance in the conduct of their United Way workplace campaigns, diversity and depth in their community service and energetic and bold leadership in addressing community issues and needs. Recipients exemplify the highest standards of civic engagement and community-based philanthropy. And the nominees are…

Columbia Bank – This amazing organization is very committed to this community. Its employees not only support United Way’s community campaign but donate financial and technical support and volunteer time at more than 150 nonprofits throughout the county. Their fundraising efforts are lead by their management staff and recorded their best campaign ever as a result.

Comcast – This organization gives generously of both their time and treasure. This year, they helped the entire Puget Sound area, working with local United Ways to run the Give $10, Tell 10 Friends social media campaign. They also saw significant increases in their campaign and ran another success Comcast Cares volunteer event.

Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children – This partner has worked alongside United Way of Pierce County for years, working to provide vital dental care to children. This year, their campaign grew from 20% participation to 100% and as a result, their donations increased as well.

Moss Adams, LLP – This company knows what it means to volunteer. They support a number of local nonprofits with their time and through generous sponsorships. In addition, they consistently support the community with financial donations.

MultiCare/Good Samaritan Hospital – This committed organization runs a model campaign. Numerous events, leadership involvement, appreciation events and a hard-working coordinator team have helped MultiCare/Good Samaritan become one of the most successful campaign in the county.

Parametrix – This small company is fueled by an energetic and enthusiastic team of people. Their campaign is known for its fun events but this group understands the importance of supporting the community as well. This year they not only ran a campaign, but provided turkeys for local food banks that were hurting during the holidays.

Pierce Transit – The commitment to community runs year-round for Pierce Transit. They run a stellar campaign but also volunteer close to 2,400 hours of service. They have great leadership support, even putting their CEO to work washing cars.

The winner will be announced April 27th at United Way of Pierce County’s Community Celebration. Congratulations to all of our nominees!

2010-03-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

It's time to meet another group of award nominees. The third category of nominees is the Campaign of the Year for Companies in the Public Sector. Campaign awards recognize outstanding companies who demonstrate excellence in the conduct of their workplace campaigns. And the nominees are...

City of Sumner – This organization of caring and giving employees saw their most successful campaign in five years in 2009. Participation continues to grow annually as well.

Eatonville School District – A community-minded organization, the School District has been working to increase participation in their campaign for the past few years. They are succeeded, multiplying their participation rate every year.

Sumner School District – One of the most giving school districts in the community, Sumner continued to generously support the campaign this year. Despite staff cuts, they increased their participation and maintained giving.

Tacoma Public Utilities – Just when they think they’ve maximized giving, TPU employees raise the bar. Volunteering, food drives and fundraising events are just part of what made their campaign a success as they exceeded donation and participation goals once again.

The winner will be announced April 27th at United Way of Pierce County’s Community Celebration. Congratulations to all of our nominees!

Coming Next week…The Spirit of Pierce County Award Nominees!

Campaign of the Year - Companies with More than 100 Employees

2010-03-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

The second category of nominees is the Campaign of the Year for Companies with more than 100 employees. Campaign awards recognize outstanding companies who demonstrate excellence in the conduct of their workplace campaigns. And the nominees are…

Concrete Technology Corporation – This company rose to the occasion despite the economic conditions, running one of their best campaigns ever. They raised more this year than in 2008 even though they lost one third of their staff.

Costco Wholesale – Puyallup – Costco ran an outstanding campaign in 2009, incorporating agency tours and presentations that helped employees truly understand the needs of our community. The result, the most significant increase in giving the organization has seen.

Mutual of Enumclaw – Another organization that saw big increase was Mutual of Enumclaw. A very active company in the Enumclaw community, they gave generously this year, increasing their campaign 148 percent.

Umqua Bank (formerly Rainer Pacific Bank) – A dedicated group of coordinators made this year’s campaign an active one. Fundraisers from breakfasts, raffles, doughnut sales, restaurant take-overs and auctions helped this company achieve success.

Toray Composites America – After laying off a quarter of their staff, Toray had their work cut out for them. Yet, their fundraising remained steady and they gave an additional donation to the Gifts in Kind program.

The winner will be announced April 27th at United Way of Pierce County’s Community Celebration. Congratulations to all of our nominees!

Campaign of the Year - Companies with Less Than 100 Employees

2010-03-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

Each spring, United Way of Pierce County acknowledges the outstanding work of companies and individuals in our community. These partners are critical to the advances being made in Pierce County through their financial support, volunteerism and advocacy.

The first category of nominees is the Campaign of the Year for Companies with less than 100 employees. Campaign awards recognize outstanding companies who demonstrate excellence in the conduct of their workplace campaigns. And the nominees are…

Altrom America Group – a leading distributor of import car parts and alternatives, Altrom chooses to give to United Way of Pierce County despite their location in King County. They support the community where they live through their campaign and by donating to the Gifts In Kind program.

APA – The Engineered Wood Association – APA was one of the many organizations that saw a reduction in its workforce but that didn’t stop this company from supporting the community. In addition to running a strong campaign, APA also supports the community year-round through food drives, back to school support, holiday giving and volunteering.

Baxter-Hobart Manufacturing Systems – This company‘s leadership sets the tone for their campaign, giving a remarkable corporate match to encourage employee giving. In addition to their outstanding campaign, Baxter-Hobart gives their time at an equally generous rate, supporting several organizations in their Orting neighborhood.

NuStar Energy – This company proudly boasts a 100% participation rate in their campaign. They also give through Gifts in Kind, volunteer their time and support families through seasonal giving.

Pilkey Hopping & Ekberg – Another company with 100% participation, this organization decided to focus on increasing their giving. They did just that by tripling their donations for 2009.

Salvation Army – Tacoma Corps – Over the last several years, this organization has increased its giving substantially, going from 12% participation a few years ago to 100% in 2009.

Ted Brown Music Company – This company took a fun approach to their campaign this year and it paid off. Exciting events combined with education to make this year’s campaign a success.

The winner will be announced April 27th at United Way of Pierce County’s Community Celebration. Congratulations to all of our nominees!

ADVOCATE - A Day on the Hill 2010

2010-02-19T10:57:00.000-08:00

Part of United Way of Pierce County’s efforts in Advocacy includes spending a “Day on the Hill” in Olympia. This year, UWPC was well represented in Olympia on February 11. Our delegation was led by Jamey McCormick and Patty Rose, board members who co-chair UWPC’s Advocacy Committee. Other Community Champions who attended were Jeffrey Vernor, Board Member, Russell Investments; Cheryl Jones, Allen Renaissance; Ria Johnson, Metropolitan Development Council; Matt Levi, Franciscan Health Care; and Nathe Lawver, AFL-CIO. Funding partners from Boeing, Gina Breukelman and Shyla Miller, also joined the team.

The group gathered at the Capitol and spent the day meeting with legislators discussing our board- approved legislative agenda, primarily focusing on support for developing a private/public funding partnership for home visiting (3SHB2687), a critical resource for the First 5 FUNdamentals early learning system and preserving state funding for 2-1-1. Highlights of those meetings include reassurance from Representative Bruce Dammeier (25th District) that early learning is one of his top priorities which was echoed throughout the day in meetings with Senator Derek Kilmer (26th District), aide for Representative Jan Angel (26th District), aide for Representative Tami Green (28th District), Representative Jeannie Darneille (27th District) and aide to Representative Dawn Morrell (25th District). We brought much needed attention to the value of 2-1-1, particularly with Representative Dennis Flannigan (27th District), Representative Al O’Brien (1st District – not in Pierce County, however a prime champion for statewide 2-1-1) and Senator Jim Kastama (25th District).

Early learning was definitely creating a buzz in the hallways of the legislative building, with lots of discussion swirling around about a variety of related bills which are alive and moving through the process. During the luncheon, provided by UWWA, Representative Ruth Kagi (prime sponsor of the home visiting bill), mentioned how much she appreciates the advocacy by Pierce County in relation to home visiting. Also during the lunch, President Rick Allen engaged in an interesting back and forth with Representative Roger Goodman who believes that early learning should be included in the definition of basic education.

All in all it was a very successful day that the Champions agreed made a significant impact. Now we must keep that ball rolling so that when the legislative session ends on March 11, our agenda items will be winners! Most importantly, the community we serve will be able to continue to access the invaluable service of 2-1-1 and young parents and their babies will start life out right due to having a trained professional visit their homes regularly providing child development and bonding insight.

You can help by writing a letter to the editor or contacting your local legislator. Use your voice, make a difference.

WE WANT TO KNOW…What issues do you think our state government needs to focus on?

THANK YOU 2009 Loaned Executives

2010-01-11T11:31:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe I just typed “2010”!

It seems like just yesterday that we met our 2009 class of UWPC Loaned Executives (LEs); there they were, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with no idea what they had just gotten themselves into. So, what had they gotten themselves into? Fifteen weeks of hard, but rewarding, work. Fifteen weeks of making connections, meeting new people, planning campaigns, tallying pledge forms, educating the community, and – eeek! – public speaking (insert dramatic music here).

We had 11 UWPC LEs who raised funds for the UWPC Community Campaign. We also had the great privilege of working alongside five Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Loaned Executives. The CFC LEs are loaned from the military and United States Postal Service and work specifically raising money for federal accounts.

We could not be more proud of the work that these 16 brave individuals accomplished during their time at UWPC. We simply could not run the campaign without them. And the LE program would not exist without the generous organizations that loan or sponsor the individuals. We work with hundreds of accounts, and our tiny team is physically unable to give every single one of those campaigns the time and attention they so richly deserve. However, when you add 16 talented, hard-working people to the mix, well, the game completely changes!

A huge thanks to our 2009 class of Loaned Executives and to the companies who loaned/sponsored them!

UWPC LEs: Luther Rimorin, loaned by Puget Sound Energy; Mark Kawabata loaned by State Farm Insurance; Shelley Roberts loaned by Tacoma Public Utilities; Cristina Celani, Malcolm Russell, Liz Stanton, Michelle Spruell and Michelle Smith, all sponsored by The Boeing Company; Patricia Hart sponsored by Russell Investments and Columbia Bank, Megan McFarlane sponsored by Group Health and Pediatrics NW; and, Sinh Nguyen sponsored by Regence and KeyBank.

CFC LEs: MSgt Christopher Yando loaned by McChord Air Force Base; DeeDee Emmett loaned by theUS Postal Service; 1Lt Passion Julinsey loaned by WA National Guard, MSG Tito Vazquez loaned by Madigan/Warriors Transition Battalion; and, SSG Morris Anderson loaned by Fort Lewis.

Loaned Executives, A Coveted Post

2009-11-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

by Mark Kawabata, State Farm Insurance Loaned Executive

I’d like to share about my experience as a Loaned Executive (LE). Being an Auto Claim representative for State Farm I have been given the opportunity to temporarily leave my position to work directly for the United Way of Pierce County for 16 weeks. My time at the United Way is half way over, it has been an adventure that I will always remember and I wish everyone could experience. It has been humbling to say the least.

The LE position is highly thought of and coveted within State Farm. Not only does one get great exposure and experience but also the fulfillment of helping others. I must point out that State Farm has been very gracious while I’m on loan. They have made sure that my work responsibilities are covered so that I can dedicate all my energies to the United Way without having to worry about managing work at State Farm too. Not all LEs have been as lucky.

Many ask what exactly does an LE do? Well, my main goal is to raise donations for the United Way of Pierce County. There are 116 funded programs that depend on funds from the United Way to keep providing services the community. These can be shelters for women of domestic violence, dental care for children whose parents can’t afford it, or food banks, just to name a few. I also educate people on what the United Way is and why it is so very important.

I have been given a book of various companies and organizations. I meet with a coordinator at each company, plan out their United Way campaign, set up guest speakers, make sure they have pledge form, give presentations, collect money raised, and do everything else possible to make each campaign a success. I spend a good deal of my day meeting with people, delivering materials, and helping with events to show support. The work can be challenging as there just does not seem to be enough time in each day to accomplish everything. But like with most jobs, I prioritize the best I know how.

Having visited many companies, one reoccurring concern I see consistently is that everyone is worried for their jobs. Factory worker’s hours are being cut, raises are not being given, and people are scared about the economy. (On a side note, in the midst of all their financial worries, that is where I come in to ask them to donate money.) People’s Holiday parties are being cut from a catered luncheon to cookies and coffee, for many, times are getting tough.

I have been very lucky at State Farm as I have never needed to worry about being laid off or if I would be able to support my family. Working at State Farm, it is easy to become immune to many concerns. In my time at the United Way, I have met people who need basic services as well as those who are afraid they will need those services in the near future. I stated before that I have been humbled by my experience. It can be easy to complain, but seeing what I have, I realize just how lucky I am.

My intent is not to preach, but I do feel obligated to share what I have learned. If you have a job, whether you like it or not, be thankful. And if you can help, be it with donating money, gently used items, or your time, please do.

In closing, I wanted to tell about one company I work with that knew it would be tough for employees to give cash donations. So we came up with the idea of doing “Birthday Rescue Packages.” If a family is going to a food bank, it probably means things are tight. This company decided to have each workers donate one Birthday item; cake mix, plates, balloons, party napkins, etc. Then they put together and wrapped up care packages to take to the food bank so if a family had a child who has a Birthday, they could just take the pre-made box of goodies and the child could still have a party. It is looking like there will be 100% participation from all the factory workers! Even when some do not have a lot, they still find ways to give.

Loaned Executives, A Closer Look

2009-11-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

by Liz Stanton, 2009 Loaned Executive

Twelve Loaned Executives (LEs), 16 weeks on "the campaign trail" and 290 accounts. There is a ton of work to be done. At first, it sounded daunting but immediately after I started my job as a loaned executive my outlook changed.

As a loaned executive, or in my case "sponsored executive"—my position is sponsored by the Boeing Company—I am assigned approximately 30 company accounts in Pierce County. My role is to visit each one and ask every employee to consider giving their time and money. Now, I don't consider sales to be my strongest attribute and yet, somehow, I found myself in a sales position. However, when I saw the type of facilities the United Way supports and the people who are served, my perspective shifted.

While touring the Good Samaritan Hospital's Children’s Therapy Unit, I had a moment where I began to see beyond the forthcoming to-do lists, appointments and presentations. It was here I saw firsthand the dedication, optimism and compassion of the staff. They provide therapy options created specifically for kids, who are born with physical disabilities that limit their day-to-day life. If a child cannot ride a big-wheel because of a physical disability, a staff-person will alter the big-wheel so the child can ride it. After seeing the piles of customized equipment that has built for the kids, I had "the moment" I spoke of above. I cannot take my ability to do good work for granted.

We are in week 7 and my time at United Way is going by too fast. I am truly having fun with my fellow LEs. They are all fascinating people and I love getting to know them. More on that in another post... Until then, I look forward to more experiences and meeting more people and sharing more stories.

Along with my delightful LEs, I visited:

L'Arche Farms
Washington's Women in Employment & Education
Bridges
Lindquist Dental Clinic
Tacoma Community College's Childcare Center

Additionally, we each participated in United Way's Day of Caring where local businesses collaborate in volunteer group projects at local non-profits. I went to the Boys & Girls Club, Gonyea Branch.

VOLUNTEER - Day of Caring, A Staff Perspective

2009-10-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

September 18, 2009 was an absolutely perfect autumn day in Pierce County - a day whose crisp, chilly morning transformed into an explosion of gorgeous warm sunshine by 10 a.m.

I made my way through the twisty, winding path to the FISH Food Bank in Edgewood, excited to meet my fellow volunteers for the day! I pulled into the parking lot and met three incredible women from Puget Sound Energy: Janet, Jennifer and Rayme. They were decked out in LIVE UNITED t-shirts and ready to roll. We were warmly welcomed by Pat and Steven who were working at FISH that day.

They took us on a tour of the beautiful facility and talked to us about the need for basic food assistance. We talked about how families who never pictured not being able to buy their own food are now standing in line, asking for help.

We also talked about solutions: FISH staff members look at their clients’ needs holistically – in fact, the Edgewood site (one of seven FISH sites in Pierce County) is piloting a partnership with South Sound Outreach Services – check out this great article in The News Tribune about it.

The four of us performed many tasks the staff have been wanting to work on, but just hadn’t had time to get to. Perfectly understandable, considering they’ve gone from serving 800 people to 3,000 people a month! Who has time to refinish wood when you can barely keep up stocking the shelves?

It was an honor to help – and Janet, Jennifer and Rayme were wonderful! Huge thanks to them and Puget Sound Energy for LIVING UNITED, and to Pat and Steven for the incredible work they do every day.

Pierce County Hunger Facts
More than 140,000 children, seniors and adults seek help finding food in Pierce County. Of these individuals:

• 52% are children and seniors (38% children under 19, 14% individuals over 55)
• 98% fall below the national poverty line
• Almost half are families with at least one adult working

During 2008 there were a total of 844,551 visits to Food banks and 833,230 visits to Hot Meal Sites in Pierce County. (Source: Pierce County Community Indicators Website)

VOLUNTEER - Day of Caring, A Volunteer's Perspective

2009-10-05T14:36:00.000-07:00

by Guest Blogger Len Ganduglia
Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber & Day of Caring Volunteer

September 18, 2009 was a glorious day to be outdoors at the Tacoma Nature Center at Snake Lake. The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Team volunteered to do something outdoors like gardening, but I don’t think any of us expected what eventually transpired.

Terry from the Nature Center was our facilitator and informed us that we would indeed be “trail-blazers”: we would be going to the most northern part of the area and begin a new hiking trail. So, armed with the necessary tools (and a little red wagon to convey them), our trusty band of six (plus Sarah from UWPC) took about a 20-minute hike up the northern rim to a clearing. The next thing we know, Terry pulls out wire clippers and opens a hole in a chain-link fence, leading to a fairly densely overgrown area. Undaunted, with clippers and branch cutters in gloved hands, the Chamber’s intrepid crew managed to clear a path of about 100 feet in less than two hours. After hiking back to the Lodge for lunch, pulling weeds in the shrub nursery afterward seemed literally like “a walk in the park”!

So why did we volunteer? Because the United Way does a lot of good and it’s important for those or us who “have” to “pay it forward”, that is, show that we know we are blessed and to share what we have. In this case, it was time, energy and enthusiasm.

We want others to know that we “got” as good as we “gave”; the level of appreciation from Terry and Sarah was incredibly warm and genuine. We felt we could have done more but they made us feel like world-beaters. Also it was a joy for the members of the Chamber Team to get out and work together and enjoy the camaraderie.

Photo Courtesy of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber. Photographer: Christina Kitchens

VOLUNTEER - Day of Caring, A Host's Perspective

2009-10-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

By Linda
Day of Caring Host

A little bit of this and a lot of that goes into serving 1,200 meals-a-day at the Hospitality Kitchen on Yakima Street. Five days a week, breakfast and lunch are served to anyone who shows up. It doesn’t matter who you are, as long as you respect the rules, you can eat, have a cup of coffee and rest in a safe environment.

Besides the regular volunteers who help prepare and serve meals, do dishes and unload donations, about twenty folks from Rainier Pacific Bank, DaVita and Fred Meyer came ready to do whatever was needed during United Way of Pierce County’s Day of Caring, Friday, September 18th. We were divided into work teams and off we went to paint the outside of the Catholic Community Center building, do landscaping, prep and serve lunch and organize the storage room.

Myself and three gentlemen from Rainier Pacific spent the day organizing the storage room unloading pallets, moving canned goods, unpacking thousands of coffee packets – I now know what inhaling coffee grounds can do to a person – and scrambled up and down ladders. I used muscles I hadn’t used in a long time. We were fast, efficient and funny. Bill, our supervisor, was happy to give us more to do whenever we asked, “What’s next, Bill?” At the end of the day, the Fabulous Four went back to their usual jobs counting their blessings.

VOLUNTEER - Day of Caring

2009-09-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

If you had a day off from work, how would you spend it? Stocking shelves at a food bank? Washing windows at a daycare? Carving a new trail at a local park? I'm sure few of us would answer this way. But for 1,000 volunteers who had a day away from the office Friday, September 18th, a Day of Caring was the answer.

Nearly 1,000 volunteers took time away from their busy schedules to give back to the community. Many banded with co-workers to clean up parks, pull weeds, paint a shelter, rip up carpet and organize storage. Others worked with patients to create artwork for a new clinic or helped conduct an art fair for seniors. The work was varied and at the end of the day, many had worked harder away from the office than they would have if they'd stayed at their desks.

But no matter what they did on September 18th, they made a difference. For those agencies focused on feeding the hungry and sheltering those without homes, landscaping their property is low on the list of priorities. There are agencies who want to provide more for their clients, but don't have the money to pay for labor for small repairs. Many nonprofits are working hard to serve our most vulnerable neighbors and don't have the time to put on a new coat of paint. Thankfully, Day of Caring volunteers did have the time and were able to help our community warriors continue to focus on their mission.

One team summed it up best, "We were sweaty and dirty and tired, but it was a great day."

Thanks again to all who participated in this year's Day of Caring.

Check out more photos from the event on our Flickr page.

WE WANT TO KNOW...Did you volunteer for Day of Caring? Tell us about your experience.

VOLUNTEER - ACT NOW!

2009-09-22T14:39:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to volunteer, but not had the time to make a long-term commitment? Do you want to get more involved but aren’t sure where to start? Do you want to learn more about the challenges facing our community and the agencies working to make a difference? Interested in meeting new people who care about Pierce County and making an impact?

On September 11, 2009, the Volunteer Center at United Way of Pierce County launched ACT NOW, a volunteer initiative that connects individuals and groups with meaningful, short-term volunteer opportunities. ACT NOW coordinates “done in a day” projects at a variety of organizations that can be accomplished by a team of volunteers within a few hours. We choose projects that make an impact on the volunteer and on the community.

ACT NOW is a great way to meet people and network, as well as providing leadership opportunities. Each project requires a volunteer leader called a Project Captain. Project Captains act as a liaison between the volunteers, United Way of Pierce County and the host agency. They make sure the event is running smoothly and the project gets accomplished.

We are also trying to make ACT NOW as easy as possible for the digital age. All volunteers have to do is go to our website and click on the link for our opportunities calendar. Once you find a project you want to participate in, just click on the event, and follow the links to register online. Everyone will be contacted before the project to confirm details and participation.

We are all extremely excited about ACT NOW. We hope that our volunteers will have a positive experience giving their time while they make a difference in our community. We have projects coming up throughout the month of October. For example, we’ll be helping out at the Edgewood Food Bank on Saturday, October 10th. Check out our website at www.uwpc.org/actnow.html and click on the calendar link to find a project that works for you. We hope to see you soon!

Youth Engaged in Service

2009-09-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

What would you do if you wanted to change the world? Our young people have no shortage of ambition when it comes to changing the conditions around them. Thanks to the Youth Engaged in Service (Y.E.S.) program, they also have the tools to make a difference.

Y.E.S. is designed to encourage greater civic engagement and to cultivate a culture of service among youth. It targets 8th and 9th graders, but is open to any high school student interested in participating, in order to give these students the tools and knowledge to make a positive impact during their high school years. It is an innovative service learning program that provides students with the skills and confidence necessary to become active citizens able to make a difference in their school and community.

In the summer of 2009, 33 students from 16 different school participated in day-long sessions and subsequent volunteer projects as part of Youth Engaged in Service (Y.E.S). During this year's sessions, there were two different issue areas students could choose, homelessness and environmental issues. On the days where homelessness was the focus, Deborah Cozzetti from Youth Resources come in to speak with the youth and teach them first hand about the issue as it relates to teens in Pierce County. Some students were so moved to get involved that they independently set up time to speak with Deborah on engaging in community service with Youth Resources.

On the days where environmental issues were the focus, United Way partnered with Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) who taught students about the mission of CLC and covered some environmental statistics and ideas not typically covered in school.

After their focused sessions, students had the opportunity to get involved and spend some time volunteering.

Attached is a brief video shot on the last 2009 session day where students learned about homelessness. The kids in this video had never met before YES and had spent their morning learning about leadership, United Way of Pierce County and homelessness. Their task was to create a brief informational presentation for the group and were given only 15 minutes to create their skit.

INCOME - Helping Our Families Become Money$mart

2009-08-31T14:46:00.000-07:00

Money doesn't buy happiness. But it sure seems like it makes life easier.

If you know what to do with it.

Many of us don't. And for some families, not knowing simple money management techniques can be devastating.

In early August, United Way of Pierce County brought together community leaders who have been working on economic self-sufficiency to discuss the development of a system to help local families become more financially stable. Money$mart is a concept that focuses on five elements of self-sufficiency. Using a budget, savings, career development, affordable housing and responsible decision making are just some of the things this system would teach local families.

For a family living on a fixed income, learning how to develop a budget could be the key to paying all the bills AND having enough left over for groceries. Money$mart is about helping families in a different way. Rather than providing them with the things they are lacking, Money$mart teaches them how to provide those things for themselves by making better choices.

Leaving a Legacy Tells Your Family What Matters Most

2009-08-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we tell ourselves we can’t leave a legacy because that’s only for seriously wealth folks.

In fact, most legacy gifts to charity come from people with modest means. They do this by creating a scholarship in memory of a family member. Or they fund the purchase of a piece of equipment that helps nurses serve patients better at a hospital. They create a donor-advised fund through a community foundation or stock broker.

For anyone thinking of making a modest endowment, United Way of Pierce County may be the most practical way to do that. We already have an endowment fund of more than $700,000, created by gifts from individuals like you. Gifts to that fund may be restricted to meet specific needs (like child care, youth services, early learning, health care) or left unrestricted. In that case, our board will decide when and where to invest the gift in local programs.

Your endowment gift can also be named for a loved one, and you can add to it as you wish during the remainder of your life or through estate gifts. In other words, you can watch your gift grow, ask for a tour of Pierce County programs where it has been invested. Family members are welcome to join you in those visits.

The tours include question and answer moments which provide insights about how your gift is helping. This creates the legacy that matters most of all, in the hearts of your offspring.

Then you can rest assured that your kindness will be faithfully focused on things you care about most.

Happy Birthday 2-1-1!

2009-08-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

On August 15, 2006, United Way of Pierce County’s HelpLine became part of the statewide 2-1-1 system, providing information and referrals for health and human service providers. In just three years, 2-1-1 has gone from a valuable community resource to a lifeline for those in need.

Since the local launch of 2-1-1 three years ago, call volumes have increased on average 36% each year from 34,000 calls in 2006 to a projection of more than 75,000 calls in 2009. United Way of Pierce County’s 2-1-1 call center is the most cost-effective center in the statewide system. Our unique staffing structure combines full-time paid staff with work-study students from local colleges and universities, interns and volunteers. This structure has allowed us to ramp up quickly and easily to meet increasing demands for 2-1-1 services, such as the addition of Thurston and Lewis Counties to our service area in July 2008.

Now South Sound 2-1-1, the call center also partners with local community coalitions and emergency management to help meet emerging community needs. The call center is funded in part by the State of Washington and through a grant from the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) to provide special needs transportation services.

How Much Does It Cost? Back to School Part 4 of 4

2009-08-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

by Mary

Evan is a 14 year old going into the 9th grade. I remember the first few days of high school and it was exciting and frightening all at the same time. I wanted Evan to have new clothes to look nice and fit in to make the transition easier.

Not having children I was oblivious to the costs associated in getting a young man reading for his first day of high school. Going into high school, Evan needed more than just the basic school supplies. He also needed a ruler, protractor, compass, scientific calculator, graph paper and more…..

I virtually shopped at various stores and compared prices. Most of the items I bought were on sale. I can’t even imagine what you have to pay when they aren’t on sale.

I bought all of the supplies that Evan needed and spent over $79.00. My next task was to purchase a first day outfit for Evan to wear to school. I bought a nice pair of jeans, a shirt, a package of socks, underwear, a nice pair of tennis shoes and a coat. The total came to $72.00 for just one outfit!

In total, I spent about $152.00 for Evan to get ready for school. I was stunned! Sure, this gets school supplies but they can’t last all year. And it only buys one basic outfit for the child to start school. Without children, I still struggle to make it from paycheck to paycheck. I can’t even fathom having one and most times, multiple children to get ready for school. In Evan’s case, he lives with a single parent, two siblings, a disabled grandmother and additional extended family in a 3-bedroom home.
I really appreciate United Way’s Back to School program much more than I did knowing the benefit and joy it provides to the children and also the burden that it lessens on the parents of the children.

How Much Does It Cost? Back to School Part 3 of 4

2009-08-11T14:12:00.003-07:00

by Molly

My assignment seemed simple enough – school supplies and one outfit for a high school boy in the Tacoma School District. With list in hand, I headed to the Tacoma Target. I thought that I would try to purchase everything I needed in a single location. Target is on the bus line, and for a family without a car or with limited means to purchase gas, I wanted to see what the cost would be if you didn’t have the option to shop around for the best deals on each item.

Headed into the store, I guessed that my total would be around $100. There weren’t that many items on the list, and I couldn’t imagine that the school supplies themselves would cost all that much. Target is a pretty reasonably priced store and they always seem to have sales, so I figured I could get out of there without spending more than $100. As I shopped, I realized that this was much more complicated than I originally bargained for. I shopped for the best deals I could find that were still quality products and wouldn’t fall apart in a week. It was really difficult to make the choices between the least expensive option and one that looked like it would last. I found myself having to decide between quality and cost and weighing which was more important for many of the items. I most often went with the cheaper option, which was difficult, as I knew the products wouldn’t hold up. However, I tried to put myself in the shoes of someone with extremely limited resources, and I suppose that a cheap backpack is better than no backpack at all. I checked where I stood on money, and I had spent $64.60 already on supplies alone!

When the time came to shop for clothes, it didn’t get any easier. It is so important for high schoolers to feel like they fit in, and so finding clothes that still had a “cool factor” within a limited price range was tricky. Again, quality came into play. Some t-shirts only cost $10, but will they last as long as the ones that cost $15? These are difficult choices that face so many families.

My grand total came to $160.23. I included shoes, shirt, jeans, socks, boxers and a belt as well as a backpack and all the supplies on the list. I could easily have spent twice this amount, even at Target, and I didn’t even include a jacket! I never imagined that shopping for school supplies could come with so many complications and choices.

How Much Does It Cost? Back to School Part 2 of 4

2009-08-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

by Linda

It’s been a long time since I went shopping for school supplies. Some things never change like #2 pencils, wide ruled paper, Elmer’s glue … clothes styles have changed, yet the 80’s look seems to be back in vogue. Prices are reasonable, if you can sweet talk your student in line with your budget. I shopped for two virtual students and here’s what I found.

Elizabeth is a third grader at Firgrove Elementary, home of the Hawks! Her school list was relatively short and some items were easy to find and cost just pennies to buy. Elizabeth’s school supplies came to $48.74, without tax. I was surprised at the cost. I thought I was being frugal. I can still remember the first time one of my sons came home with Kleenex on his school list. The next year, you supplied scissors, pencils, pens, etc. and the teacher gathered all of the supplies and doled then out as needed. I learned not to spend too much to individualize their supplies.

I had fun shopping for an first day outfit for Elizabeth! I bought a pair of jeans, leggings, socks, shoes, underwear and a cute top for $45.00, without tax. I looked for a warm coat for her, but, they’re not available yet. I picked up a heavy, hooded jacket for $24.99, bringing my grand total to: $69.99, without tax. For Elizabeth to walk into her third grade class this fall, I would have paid $118.73 – with tax, about $130.00.

Chris will step into the halls of Stahl Junior High, home of the Storm, this fall. It’s critical to look cool in Junior High. Your peers judge how you look that first day – so, finding the right backpack and right jeans were my first move. The right size backpack, able to hold almost all of your books, requires spending a little more. Often, you don’t have time to stop at your locker, so you cram all of your books and stuff into your backpack and lug it around all day. P.E. uniforms, scientific calculator, graph paper … the dollars add up quickly. If you play an instrument, then there’s the monthly rental and possibly private lessons. I figured Chris would need a thumb drive to take his work from a study lab to the library where he could print out his finished work. Even if Chris did not have a computer at home, he could store most of his homework on his thumb drive. I found a 4 giga-byte, USB 2.0 drive for $12.99 at Office Max. That’s a great price! Chris' school supplies came to $137.98, without tax.

Jeans, socks, a cool shirt and tee, athletic shoes, heavy, fleece, hooded jacket came to $85.97, minus tax. Chris' first day at Stahl Junior High would cost $223.95 – with tax, about $245.00. I found out that the first day Chris will have to pay $20 for his ASB/Yearbook package and if he plays in any sport, there’s another $30 athletic transportation fee that his family will have to pay for each sport. That doesn’t include the cost of school pictures or the Annual/ID card. If Chris wants to play a sport, he needs to have a sports physical.

Let’s see, for Elizabeth – $130.00. For Chris - $265 PLUS. Wow!!! In all of this, I haven’t forgotten that Elizabeth needs an emergency kit. Both Albertson’s and Safeway sell emergency kits for about $8.00 during September and October. Her total goes up to $138.00.

I’m exhausted … my virtual shopping eyes are tired and I’ve spent $403.00.

How Much Does It Cost? Back to School part 1 of 4

2009-08-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

by Nicole

This weekend I got to shop for a 5th grade girl. When I saw her supply list, I was quite surprised. I knew the list would be long and I expected the basics...pencils, notebooks, glue, but what surprised me most was the quanities she needed. Two dozen pencils. Four notebooks. Two glue sticks AND a bottle of glue. I remember buying some supplies as a child, but those were more to show my individuality rather than by necessity. It was obvious to me by the quanities I needed to supply that the days of schools being able to provide need supplies was gone. By the time I got through the list and added an inexpensive backpack, I was surprised to learn I had spent $56.53. It is decieving when crayons are a quarter and you can get so many items under a dollar each. But when you need several of each item, it really adds up. In addition, every elementary school child also needs an emergency kit. These kits contain trash bags, soup, snacks, water, etc. - all the things a child might need in the event of an emergency that strands them at school. Some stores do sell these kits as do many PTAs at the schools. The store I was shopping at, however, did not. When I weighed the option of buying these individual items myself, I chose to by it from the school at a cost of $7.00 bringing our supply total to $63.35.

Knowing that families on a tight budget wouldn't have the luxury of shopping around, I headed to the clothing section of the same retail store where I bought the school supplies. On this list was a complete first-day outfit...a top, jeans, shoes, socks, unmentionables and I threw in a jacket. The first day of school is the great equalizer. Everyone wears their favorite new outfit and brings in fresh supplies. On this one day, everyone is the same. I was concious of this as I shopped but also kept in mind the circumstances of limited resources. I shopped the sale items, buying things that were trendy and cute but not pricey. I thought I was going to come out pretty cheap but was surprised to learn that despite my efforts, I still spent $81.39.

My grand total was $144.74. For a family watching every penny, that can be quite a burden. That could be a couple of weeks groceries. Or the difference between keeping the electricity on and being unable to pay the bill. As a mom, it was hard to think about the choices I'd have to face just to send my child to school with the basics. I hate to think what a family would have to do without in order to send one child back to school.

How Much Does It Cost? Back to School 2009

2009-08-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

If you have been to a retail store in the last two weeks, you have undoubtly seen the back-to-school displays. Among the pencils and glue sticks are lists from each of the schools detailing what each child needs to bring with them on the first day of school. And the lists aren't short.

Can you imagine being one of the many families who suffered a layoff during the last year or being a single parent? You are already struggling to make ends meet and keep up with the bills. Now you have the burden of school supplies to add to the list.

United Way of Pierce County's Back-to-School program helps struggling families provide for the first day of school by connecting them with sponsors or providing supplies from supply drives. We are going to show you what those families face each fall by shopping for some actual kids in the program. Stay tuned to see what we learned.

Complimentary Cataract Surgery Restores More Than Sight

2009-07-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

For some folks struggling to scrape money together each month to pay for their high-blood pressure medicine or insulin, having blurred vision just doesn’t seem like an emergency.

Blurred vision can mean anything from a detached retina to a cataract slowly clouding the window each of us peers out from every day

A detached retina needs medical attention, now. Cataracts sneak up on you. One day you strain to see clearly and notice that your vision has changed. People without health insurance go to the Emergency Room. Having no health insurance and going to the ER won’t get your cataract removed.

Uninsured people in Pierce County can, however, get their cataracts removed through the Cascade Eye & Skin Centers, P.C. Complimentary Cataract Surgery Program.

United Way of Pierce County recognized the extraordinary health care access opportunity for uninsured people in Pierce County to experience the life-changing event Cascade Eye & Skin Centers, P.C. offered. Sitting down at a table last fall with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health department and Community Health Care, a plan came into being.

Someone needing cataract surgery can call Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s Healthcare Access program or CHC directly. If an uninsured client is referred to Community Health Care, it takes about two to three weeks to get an appointment with a primary care doctor. All CHC’s doctors know they can refer their patients to Cascade for a complimentary surgery. If a patient qualifies, the referral is sent to Cascade within two days for surgery. An appointment is made and the surgery and follow-up care is scheduled.

Just this week, the first of these surgeries was completed. We hope it will be the first of many.

Thanks to donations from service providers and pharmaceutical companies - and the generosity of Cascade Eye & Skin Center - blurred vision goes away. With no expense to the patient. Another person in Pierce County can keep their job, remain independent and see their loved ones smile.

READ MORE about this program from Kathleen Merryman at The News Tribune

Adult Volunteers Lend Life Experience

2009-07-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

More than 160,000 people over the age of 55 live in Pierce County. What a tremendous source of human resources! Their experience, talents and skills are an incredible asset to our community. With the incoming Baby Boom generation, this group promises to grow exponentially in the upcoming years.

At United Way of Pierce County, we believe in the power of people to make positive change. That is why we are proud to sponsor RSVP of Pierce County. RSVP engages adults age 55 and over in quality volunteer experiences that enrich the lives of both the volunteers and those they serve. RSVP volunteers are people just like you with the experience, energy and passion to make a difference in Pierce County.

In 2008, 874 RSVP members volunteered at non-profit and service agencies throughout the county. They serve in many different capacities and environments. Some advocate for abused and neglected youth through the Pierce County Juvenile Court system. Others prepare and serve hot meals for low-income seniors or tutor elementary school children. Still others support local arts organizations or act as volunteer docents at local museums. The possibilities are only limited by the imagination and interests of our volunteers. Last year alone, these dedicated RSVP members contributed a staggering 173,874 hours of service to this community.

Through RSVP, we seek to connect people with an opportunity to give back that matches their interests, talents and schedules. Whether you’re looking to use your life experience in a new way or learn something completely new altogether, RSVP is here to help you make that connection. However you choose to help, you’ll be making a real difference in our community.

Project:U - Social Good

2009-07-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

People in their 20s and 30s are very social. They enjoy going out and meeting new people. What if they could do good in their community by simply attending happy hour or going to a Rainiers game. They can, through Project:U.

Project:U is a group of people in their 20s and 30s looking to support and serve the Pierce County community through events that benefit United Way and volunteer projects at local nonprofits that need help. They are using monthly happy hour socials to connect with new people, build their networks, see old friends and learn about the community. They added a barbecue to a volunteer project of sorting donated food items for a fun way to support the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive. And they conducted an education fair at the Point Defiance Zoo for local kids, teaching them about the things they love, like cooking and art.

Young adults are tuned in to the issues and are often young professionals with the ability to make a real difference through donations of time and money. And what better way to do it than with a group of friends at your local hot spot. From supporting local causes and events to donating time and money, the members of Project:U have figured out that there are a variety of ways you can lend a helping hand to those who need one.

Are you in your 20s or 30s and looking for ways to get more involved in your community and more connected with your peers? Join Project:U. It is a great way to socialize, network and show your support for Pierce County. Find out more about Project:U at www.projectu.org or by finding them on Facebook.

Connect. Act. Be heard. Project:U.

Upcoming Events

7/23/09 -- Project:U Night at the Tacoma Rainiers
Come cheer on the Rainiers as they go up against the Sacramento River Cats and support the community too! Tickets are $10 with $4 going back to the United Way of Pierce County Community Fund. Bring your friends and family and meet some new people. To reserve your tickets, email Kirsten Willis at kirstenw@uwpc.org.

8/12/09 -- Monthly Social Event at the Top of Tacoma 5:30 p.m.
Project:U is teaming up with the Top of Tacoma this month to bring you some delicious food and drink specials – plus a portion of the proceeds will benefit United Way of Pierce County Community Fund.

How Do You LIVE UNITED? Kenna Little

2009-07-09T11:24:00.000-07:00

One dirty shirt. It was the source of much amusement and an inspiration for many jokes over the course of my two weeks in Bolivia this past October with the non-profit Etta Projects. A few days into the trip, I realized that many of my once white t-shirts had turned a light shade of brown in certain spots. Everyone else in the group seemed so clean in comparison while my clothes were getting darker by the day. At first, I was embarrassed by my uncanny ability to attract dirt until I realized where it came from.

My mom and I had the opportunity to work in a small town called Betania, about an hour from our home city of Montero for two days. The first day a young boy named Lili ran up to me, grabbed my hand, and wrapped me in an amazing hug. His head came up to my stomach and as he let go and I looked down to talk to him, I noticed that his little dirty head had left an imprint on the front of my shirt. Lili became a constant companion and remained by my side for the rest of my time in Betania, leaving smudges of dirt all over the bottom of my shirt.

Those two days changed my perspective on the dirt. Instead of something to be embarrassed of, it was something to be treasured. It was a tangible reminder of all the memories from the trip. There was the ring of dirt around the bottom of my shirt to show the countless number of hugs I received from the children. A spot on the back where one of the teachers from Betania gave me an appreciative pat on the back to say thank you for teaching the children of the village, as well as their parents, for a day. The light coat of brown that covered the entire shirt came from sitting on the ground joking with the children in Spanish as dust storms covered us. A few spots of paint to remember the day the kids painted carved wooden cars. And the dirty sleeves are a result of the many taps I received on my shoulders as kids proudly showed their artwork. Each speck of dirt held more meaning then I could have ever imagined and once I realized this, whenever I would look down at my shirt I would start to smile.

Although my shirt was absolutely disgusting by the end of the trip and I received some well-deserved teasing from the group for still wearing it, it became a symbol of the experience. It is covered in memories that I will never forget. During the time in Bolivia, I imagined how nice it would feel to slip into a pair of jeans and a clean t-shirt. But now back in my clean clothes, I miss that dirt and where it came from. I cannot wait until I have the opportunity to return and dirty another shirt.

Kenna is a recent graduate of Curtis High School, a Willie Stewart Scholarship winner, a 4-time Varsity Letter in Community Service recipient and just one example of how youth are LIVING UNITED.

The Power of Youth

2009-07-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

Youth are one of the most powerful demographics in our society. They are major consumers. They dictate current trends. And last year, they were one of the most demonstrative voices in the Presidential election. Youth are making a huge impact on everything they touch. That is just one reason their involvement in the community is so important.

Youth United is a youth engagement program run by United Way of Pierce County. Founded in 1994, the program has connected thousands of teens to their community. Youth volunteer days have put junior high and high school students on the front lines serving food, clearing trails and reading to younger children. Every summer, many teens come together to learn how to get things done around the issues they are passionate about. They are learning how to advocate for the things they want to change and making strides to do something about what’s important to them. They are leaders through Youth United’s Leadership Council, reaching out to three local communities (Tacoma, Puyallup and Bethel) and leading by their example.

But with their service also comes reward. In 2001, United Way of Pierce County launched the Varsity Letter in Community Service in conjunction with Youth United. To date, 766 students have received a varsity letter, just like those given to athletes and musicians, for their volunteerism. This unique program requires a minimum of 145 hours split between school-related and non school-related activities. What’s most remarkable about the recipients is that many of them blow that 145-hour minimum away.

Local youth are making a significant difference in our community through Youth United. Young people are taking the opportunity to discover and develop skills, to apply their academic knowledge through service learning activities and to receive recognition for their volunteer efforts. Youth United is just one way for young people to help others, have fun and learn something new.

ADVOCATE - My Name is Cheryl and I LIVE UNITED...

2009-07-02T13:25:00.000-07:00

ADVOCATE - 10 Ways You Can Advocate

2009-06-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

Tell your family and friends about United Way of Pierce County and what we do.
Make a point to learn about and discuss local issues with family and friends – then get involved.
If you're passionate about Education, Income or Health, write a letter to the editor or post a comment on a local blog.
Wear a LIVE UNITED t-shirt.
Call, email or visit your elected officials.
Encourage a person in need to call 2-1-1.
Register and vote in the next election.
Request a speaker for your workplace or social club and learn more about how United Way helps build lasting opportunities for a good life for all who live in our community.
Volunteer for a committee or advocacy team.
Volunteer for an agency that serves your community.

GIVE - My Name is Charley and I LIVE UNITED...

2009-06-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

GIVE - It's Not Just About Money

2009-06-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

When asked to GIVE to the community, most people assume charities want their money. Financial support is one of the most powerful ways we can help our community but it is not the only way you can GIVE through United Way.

Did you know…

United Way operates the Gifts in Kind Distribution Center where people can donate gently used items to be “recycled” to those in need. Each year, the Gifts In Kind program redistributes $1 million worth of goods to the community, everything from men’s suits and children’s clothing to appliances and office furniture.
You can help kids go back to school with the needed supplies that can burden many low-income families. When times are tough, purchasing school supplies and new clothes can force families to make tough choices between paying bills or buying groceries. By sponsoring a child through the Back-to-School program offered through the Volunteer Center, you can provide these kids with what they need.
The holidays can be a very difficult time of year for struggling families. You can sponsor a family or host a toy drive or giving tree to help every family have happy holidays through Season of Caring.
You can give your time by volunteering. Whether you’re a teen looking for something to keep you busy this summer, a retiree who has a special skill to share or a group looking to build relationships and help those in need, volunteer opportunities exist for any age or skill level.
You can participate in social events like those hosted by Project:U where a portion of the proceeds go back to the community.
You can give your time to serve on the board of a nonprofit or volunteer committees like those that make key decisions at United Way of Pierce County.
You can write your local leaders about a cause you are passionate about or help further an initiative by spending time advocating.
You can include a charity in your estate planning.

There are so many ways you can give to your community. WE WANT TO KNOW…how will you GIVE this year?

United Way of Pierce County Rated “At the Top” by National Organizations

2009-06-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

by Rick Allen, President, United Way of Pierce County

Unfortunately, I’m old enough to remember when cigarette companies were advertising that their cigarettes were “recommended by doctors.” So, like many, I have a very skeptical view when it comes to organizations telling me how great they are.

For me, and I suspect for you, that means that independent third-party analysis and ratings are much more valuable than self-proclaimed excellence.

It’s in that context that I’d like to brag a little about what other people, independent of us, are saying about United Way of Pierce County.

In December, 2008, for the fourth consecutive year, United Way of Pierce County has received the very highest rating from Charity Navigator, a rating of “4 Stars”. Two things stand out about this rating from Charity Navigator, which is an independent firm that evaluates ten times more charities nationwide than their nearest competitor, and attracts more visitors to their website than all other charity evaluators combined.

First, of the thousands of charities Charity Navigator evaluates, only 6% have received 4 Stars over the last four consecutive years. That’s pretty rare air. And secondly, when you look at United Ways all across the nation, and there are about 1,300 independent United Ways, only a total of five United Ways (one of them us) have received the 4-Star rating over the last four consecutive years. So among United Ways in America, United Way of Pierce County is rated in the top half of 1%. I hope you just said “Wow!” in your head on that one.

As Charity Navigator puts it, this means United Way of Pierce County “outperforms most other charities in America” when it comes to fiscal accountability, fiscal transparency, and efficient use of funds.

This is a wonderful affirmation of our work from independent, outside evaluators. I hope sharing information such as this with you helps to give you even more confidence in United Way of Pierce County’s ability to help produce good results for people in Pierce County with the donations you invest.

VOLUNTEER - My name is Clint and I LIVE UNITED...

2009-06-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

VOLUNTEER – Getting as Much as You Give

2009-06-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

Volunteering is a vital part of the health of our community. When people we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. Whether it’s reading to children or delivering meals to homebound seniors, there are hundreds of volunteer options available every day.

For many people, volunteering is about giving back. But did you ever stop to consider what you get out of volunteering?

Sure, there’s the practical things…meeting new people, learning new skills, teaching others your skills, enhancing your resume. But did you ever wonder if the life you were changing by volunteering might be your own?

United Way of Pierce County sent 75 volunteers out into the community as part of the Leadership Day of Caring. Some signed up as a team building opportunity for their office. Others joined in because “it’s the right thing to do”. While others, just wanted to help. But many of them found that they walked away with something unexpected.

Volunteers who worked side by side with developmentally disabled clients at L’Arche Farm and Gardens, found joy dancing in the greenhouse and chasing the chickens around the yard. They ended their morning exhausted but learned from their co-planters that great satisfaction comes from a job well done, no matter what your abilities.

Others arrived to help English as a second language students perfect their speech at Tacoma Community House and left educated about new cultures and reminded that all of our ancestors made the same trip to the United States in search of a better life. They made new friends and gained new appreciation for the freedoms we often take for granted.

Every day, ordinary people are accomplishing extraordinary things by volunteering. They build houses. They beautify parks. They complete repairs that would otherwise not get done. And sometimes, they take away a little more than they gave. Take a chance to experience something unexpected. Volunteer.

WE WANT TO KNOW…Tell us about a volunteer experience you had where you came away with something unexpected.

Check out the rest of the photos from Leadership Day of Caring at http://www.flickr.com/photos/uwpc_liveunited/sets/

Community Indicators Measure Our Quality of Life

2009-06-10T16:07:00.000-07:00

For years, it was part of United Way of Pierce County’s job to know what the needs of the community were. It is essential to making sure we, the community, are making the most impact. In 2007, United Way began compiling the information and data necessary to not only gauge the needs, but focus our work and monitor our progress.

The Community Indicators web site (www.indicators.uwpc.org) is an online catalog of the information pertinent to life in Pierce County. Foreclosures, poverty rates, unemployment. All of these factors affect the quality of life in our community. For those of us working to resolve the toughest issues in our area and create a good life for all, it is important for us to be aware of the needs and make sure we are working together to make a difference in those areas.

Did you know…

First quarter 2009 foreclosure filings were up nearly 60% compared to first quarter 2008.
Fair Market Rent - the estimate of what a family, moving today, can expect to pay for a modest rental home - increases have outpaced the Median Household Income growth by almost 5%.
Pierce County’s unemployment rate outpaced the state by almost a full percent in March of 2009 – 7,320 people became unemployed in first quarter 2009, compared to 690 in the same period for 2008.

A few minutes clicking around the Community Indicators site would have told you these stories and many more. The Community Indicators site is a comprehensive vault of data but it is also much more. It is a map to identify the community’s toughest issues, how they relate and how we can partner to bring resolution

It is a tool with unlimited capabilities. Do you have a student in school? Use the Community Indicators site as a resource on your next term paper or presentation. Are you the Executive Director of an agency trying to make sure you are working in the areas where our community needs the most help? The Community Indicators site can tell you what those areas are. Are you the owner of a company trying to figure out where to direct your philanthropic efforts? The Community Indicators site can help.

One look at the data will tell you that, in some areas, things are not good. But if knowledge is power, just think of the difference we can make given what we know.

WE WANT TO KNOW…Visit the Community Indicators web site at www.indicators.uwpc.org and tell us what data surprised you.

Our Work - Health

2009-06-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

We believe education, income and health are the foundation for a good life. Good health is critical for everyone, especially families with children. United Way has always supported this area by funding a safety net of essential human services. Now we want to also address some of the systemic issues and achieve long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place.

Here in Pierce County we’re focused on improving access to health care, in particular increasing enrollment in state and federally-funded healthcare programs for those who may not have other coverage. One of the keys to improving people’s health is access to quality medical services.

Our goal is to improve people’s health by improving access to critical health care services and by increasing the health of children and adults through education and prevention.

One in eight people in Pierce County does not have health insurance. Seventy percent of children who are uninsured are eligible for coverage but their families don’t know how to get access.

Here are a few ways United Way is addressing the problem:

United Way partnered with the Client Outreach program to help uninsured apply for and receive the benefits they are eligible for. These efforts have resulted in thousands accessing coverage and millions in health care costs being recovered.
United Way also partnered with dentists in the community to launch the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program, which provides low-income families access to dental care. Since its inception, the program has served 18,000 children.
Free cataract services worth several hundred thousand dollars to be provided by private and public entities to individuals unable to afford such care.
United Way of Pierce County launched the annual Tacoma City Kids Marathon, in conjunction with the Tacoma City Marathon, to encourage kids to engage in healthy activities and community service.
In addition, United Way helped convene the people needed to improve health care access in rural communities that would be most affected by a natural disaster, like the eruption of Mt. Rainier.

WE WANT TO KNOW…What health issues do you think affect children the most?

Our Work - Income

2009-05-26T16:20:00.000-07:00

We believe education, income and health are the foundation for a good life. An adequate income is important for economic stability. United Way has always supported this area by funding a safety net of essential human services. Now we want to also address some of the systemic issues and achieve long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place.

Our goal is to promote economic stability and independence by increasing the number of affordable housing units and increasing economic self-sufficiency for individuals and families.

Here in Pierce County we believe families that are financially stable are more self-sufficient and independent. One of our priorities is to increase the number of affordable housing units, which is an important component of family stability.

On any given night there are more than 1,500 homeless people living on our streets. Many are families. The average income for renters in Pierce County is estimated to be $11.70 per hour, well below the hourly wage necessary to afford a two-bedroom apartment.

Here are a few ways United Way is addressing the problem:

In 2007, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded $1 million to United Way of Pierce County to tackle the housing availability issue. Out of that gift, the Housing Trust Fund Demonstration project was created. The project partners with the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority (TCRA) to provide matching funds that leverage additional dollars to provide more affordable housing for Pierce County families. As of April 2009, the project has supported eight projects totaling 329 affordable housing units. In addition, a number of existing homes are being rehabilitated for sale to low and moderate income families.
In March of 2009, United Way partnered with cities, counties and private foundations from throughout our area to form a 10-year partnership to reduce the number of homeless children and their family members by 5,000 county-wide.
United Way of Pierce County also provided financial support for Project Homeless Connect 2008, which connected over 900 individuals to critical health and social services at a one-day event at the Tacoma Dome.
In 2009, United Way will develop partnerships with organizations in the county to launch a financial stability program that will help families learn the basics of economic self-sufficiency such as living on a budget, saving money and career planning.

WE WANT TO KNOW…What things do you think families need to be financially stable?

Our Work - Education

2009-05-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

We believe education, income and health are the foundation for a good life. A quality education is essential to getting and keeping a job. United Way has always supported this area by funding a safety net of essential human services. Now we want to also address some of the systemic issues and achieve long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place.

Here in Pierce County we’re focused on early learning initiatives to ensure all kids entering kindergarten get off to a good start. We also need to provide more safe places and enriching after-school activities for kids.

Our goal is to help children and youth achieve their potential through education. For us, this means increasing the number of children who are ready to succeed upon entering kindergarten and improving access to safe after-school programs that provide high-quality, enriching activities.

Ask any kindergarten teacher and you will hear that development prior to entering school is essential to a child’s success in the classroom. Research says that the same holds true for success later in life. Early learning is critical. In Pierce County, more than half of our children start school without the necessary social and emotional skills needed to thrive.

Here are a few ways United Way is addressing the problem:

United Way of Pierce County and a team of local partners collaborated to tackle the issue and the Pierce County Early Learning Consortium was born. In 2007, the Consortium developed a business plan with a primary focus of helping parents be the first, best and most important teacher for their.

Out of the Consortium, First 5 FUNdamentals was created and strives to improve school readiness throughout Pierce County, particularly among children in low-income families.

United Way is also partnering with local businesses and organizations to secure funding for the early learning effort. Eighteen organizations have made financial commitments totaling well over $1 million, many of which are multi-year commitments to this vital task.
In 2009, United Way of Pierce County also helped secure a $1.05 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand Pierce County’s home visiting program - Promoting First Relationships, part of the county’s First 5 FUNdamentals plan. By meeting parents and children in their own homes, Promoting First Relationships aims to reinforce the parent-child bond, a key indicator for school readiness and school success. The investment will make it possible for 400 more families to participate in the home visiting program, a key intervention that has been shown to promote early learning and help parents be the most influential teachers in their children’s lives.

In addition, United Way has provided funding to projects like the Annette B. Weyerhaeuser Early Learning Center at Tacoma Community College and the Play to Learn program ran by Children’s Museum of Tacoma in conjunction with the Pierce County Library System and is working to train families and care providers to help kids get ready for school.

WE WANT TO KNOW…What skills and characteristics do you think children need to start school ready to learn?

Where to Turn in Tough Times

2009-05-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

In this struggling economy, many have found themselves facing the loss of a job and financial trouble. Pierce County has many services available from help with employment and utility assistance to health services and food. But where do you turn when you need this kind of help? Let us lend a hand.

The easiest place to contact is United Way 2-1-1. By dialing 2-1-1, just like 9-1-1, residents can get help from trained information and referral specialists. Callers talk to one person and get referrals for multiple needs. Need shelter? They can help. Need utility assistance? They can help. Want to know where the nearest food bank is? You guessed it, they can help.

You can also go to the web. By visiting http://www.uwpc.org/WheretoTurn.html you can find tools to help you save money, evaluate your finances and take steps to cut your living expenses. You can also access local assistance programs and worker retraining information.

WE WANT TO KNOW…What information would you find most useful in this recession?

What Does It Mean to LIVE UNITED?

2009-05-08T14:31:00.000-07:00

You may have seen it on a poster or the back of a bus or on the t-shirt of that guy walking down the street. LIVE UNITED. What does it mean to LIVE UNITED? Does it mean to live in harmony? Is it about uniting for a cause? Is it an invitation or a state of mind? The answer is yes. It’s all of that.

It is about considering the condition of others and doing something to help everyone have the opportunity for a good life. Each of us wants to create a better life for our neighbors. Each of us wants to see our community thriving. It takes everyone in the community, working together to create a brighter future.

Each and every person – regardless of what role they play – is significant in making Pierce County a better place to live. And together, we can accomplish more than any single group can on its own. Each of us plays a part. We are all united in this effort to change lives.
LIVE UNITED is an invitation for everyone to be part of the change.

Many of us are already LIVING UNITED. Whether you donate through your workplace campaign, lend your voice to the issues you care about the most or contribute your time through your church…in your child’s classroom…in the community.

You GIVE. You ADVOCATE. You VOLUNTEER.

You LIVE UNITED.

Making a difference in our community is less about helping one person at a time and more about changing systems to help all of us. It’s the idea that we are all connected and interdependent. It’s the idea that we all win when a child is ready to learn and succeeds in school …when families are financially stable…and when people are healthy.

Together, united, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow.

That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED.

WE WANT TO KNOW…How do you define LIVE UNITED?

20 Things You May NOT Know About United Way of Pierce County

2009-05-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

United Way of Pierce County has been part of the local community for nearly 90 years. During that time, the work United Way has done to make measurable improvements in the lives of the people that live here has evolved. You might think you know United Way but did you know United Way of Pierce County…

1. Raises money for the community through workplace campaigns
2. Funds more than 100 local programs at 60 organizations
3. Convenes local partners to work toward resolving the toughest issues - Education, Income and Health – in Pierce County
4. Connects callers to resources such as housing, utility assistance and food banks through the United Way 211 Call Center
5. Collects new and gently used goods and redistributes them to those in need through the Gifts In Kind program
6. Engages youth in leadership and community service through Youth United
7. Unites 20- and 30-Somethings to Develop, Support and Serve the Pierce County Community through Project: U
8. Links individuals and groups who wish to volunteer with opportunities to serve through the Volunteer Center
9. Mobilizes volunteers 55 and over who are looking for recurring volunteer roles through the RSVP program
10. Honors high school students for their commitment to the community with the Varsity Letter in Community Service
11. Helps administer two community service Scholarships
12. Trains community champions and works with local government to advocate for issues like early learning and housing availability
13. Engages local companies and partners with their employees through the Loaned Executives program
14. Executes federal (Combined Federal Campaign) and state (Combined Fund Drive) campaigns
15. Pairs sponsors with kids who need a little help getting supplies for the start of school through the Back to School is Cool program
16. Secures Grants for special projects and long-term strategies
17. Coordinates the Tacoma City Kids Marathon, encouraging better health in our kids
18. Manages the Community Indicators web site which monitors the conditions affecting Pierce County
19. Organizes the Days of Caring – one-day volunteer events that send more than 1200 volunteers out into the community
20. Provides Holiday meals and gifts to families in need through Season of Caring

Find out more about United Way of Pierce County and how you can get involved. Visit www.uwpc.org