Newsletter Highlights
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| Explore United Way's current Grant Opportunities, find out how to become a Volunteer Grant Reader, and join us in welcoming United Way's newest staff member, Tara Contino. Also, find out new ways to get involved and make a difference in your community with the Opportunity Exchange. |
 Volunteer with United Way! |
As part of the Community Impact Fund process, each year we receive numerous grant applications from local nonprofits. Because we do not have enough funds to accommodate all the requests we get, we must make the often difficult decisions of which programs to fund. Community volunteers play an important role in this: some 40 volunteers objectively read, score and discuss the applications, and make funding recommendations to our Community Impact Committee.
If you are interested in health and human services and making the community a better place, we want you to volunteer! Grant readers attend a two hour orientation and one to two panel meetings (as needed) during the month of April; most time is spent individually reading and scoring proposals. To learn more and get involved, download the grant reader job description and interest form on our homepage. For questions, please contact Kara Edwall at (805) 541-1234 ext 16. or kedwall@unitedwayslo.org. |
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Children's Day in the Plaza |
Mark your calendars for the 31st Anniversary of Children's Day in the Plaza! Held every April in celebration of the National Month of the Child, Children's Day in the Plaza is designed to bring education, fun and families together in the community. The event, which takes place on Saturday, April 11th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the downtown Mission Plaza, is free of charge and allows children to learn about science, health, and art in a fun way, while providing adults access, information and resources to a variety of services and organizations within SLO County. There will also be a raffle, silent auction and farmer's market for kids, as well as entertainment and performances throughout the day. The SLO Blues Baseball team, Central Coast Gymnastics, the SLO Fire Department, and many others will join the festivities.
In conjunction with this year's theme, "Learn to Play. Play to Learn," United Way, an event sponsor, will be present with a Born Learning Trail featuring ten stations with activities that encourage everyday, teachable moments with young children. Based on the latest early childhood research and approved by national early learning experts, the Born Learning Trail is designed to help adults interact with children to boost language and literacy development and to help caregivers understand how to best support early learning in everyday, outdoor moments. Following the event, the Born Learning Trail will be installed permanently in a SLO County location yet to be determined for the entertainment and enrichment of children in that area. This will be UWSLO's second Born Learning Trail, with one already in use in Mitchell Park.
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United Way Welcomes Tara Contino |
We are pleased to announce that Ms. Tara Contino has joined the United Way of SLO County team as its new Resource Development Manager. Tara grew up in Pennsylvania and attended York College of PA. Prior to joining the United Way, she owned her own  marketing and public relations firm for 8 years and also spent over 10 years in the financial services industry advising individuals and business owners. She relocated to San Luis Obispo last Spring and has been a dedicated volunteer for various charitable causes throughout the years. She most recently served on United Way's resource development committee and is very excited about her new position with us. She looks forward to using her passion for making a positive difference in our community by planning, organizing and promoting local workplace giving campaigns, serving as a resource for individuals that want to volunteer or participate in special events, as well as assisting with the creation of the Emerging Leaders Circle. In her spare time she enjoys long walks, playing tennis, gardening and spending time with her partner, Adam, and other friends and family. Contact her at tcontino@unitedwayslo.org or (805) 541-1234 ext. 15.
The staff and Board at United Way send their warmest wishes to our former Campaign Coordinator, Cynthia Hostetter, who has relocated to Oregon with her partner, Bill Thomas. Best of luck in your new adventures Cynthia! |
United Way Earns $5,000 via FaceBook |
United Way of San Luis Obispo County came in second place for the 2008 United Way Challenge on Facebook Causes, earning $5,000 for campus and young adult engagement work from United Way of America. Those who participated in the Facebook Challenge online, along with those who volunteered for Cal Poly and United Way's Make A Difference Day in October, contributed to the win.
The 2008 United Way Challenge on Facebook Causes awarded United Ways with the most cause advocates, volunteer hours, and funds donated. In all, 69 participating United Ways raised $70,000 and over 20,000 people joined causes on Facebook.
Learn more on our Facebook Profile or Cause Pages. |
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Agency Advisory Committee Meets with Local Representatives
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 A meeting between Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee (R - San Luis Obispo) and approximately 20 representatives from United Way's Agency Advisory Committee was convened on February 27 at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. The gathering consisted of an introductory statement in which the Assemblyman was very frank about the current economic climate and the role of the Big 5 and other representatives, followed by an informal discussion. Participants communicated their concerns, informing Assemblyman Blakeslee and his team about the adverse effects various budget cuts will have on their ability to effectively serve the public, including its possible repercussions on SLO County. A similar meeting will be held with Senator Abel Maldonado in the near future. |
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$182,353 in Emergency Funds Awarded |
 San Luis Obispo County's local Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) Board has announced its funding awards for 2009. The local board was notified in January that it was awarded $182,353 to supplement and expand emergency food and shelter programs within the county. Eligible requests totaling $207,090 were received in February, with funding being awarded to the following eligible programs: AIDS Support Network, Atascadero Loaves and Fishes, Food Bank Coalition of SLO County, Loaves & Fishes and SLO ALPHA, Inc. received funding for food services; the Economic Opportunity Commission (EOC) of SLO County, El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO), North County Women's Shelter & Resource Center and the Women's Shelter Program of SLO County received mass shelter funding; Transitional Food and Shelter received funds for other shelter; Catholic Charities, EOC, and Salvation Army received rental  assistance funds; Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army received utility assistance funds. The first of two payments was disbursed in early March.
Newly elected EFSP Board chair, Beth Quaintance of Salvation Army, presided over the deliberation process. Outgoing chair, Lillian Judd of EOC, will remain on the Board to provide support and invaluable institutional memory. United Way of SLO County is the local fiscal agent for the program and local board convener. Local board members are representatives of constituencies and organizations as required by the national EFSP program, including Catholic Charities, a local Ministerial Association, a government agency, a homeless advocate, the American Jewish Federation, United Way, Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. |
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Thank You to a Loyal Contributor |
"The United Way and my company have a strong fund raising effort every year. I was able to visit local agencies and see how my contribution was making an impact in the community. It is a very easy, effective way to give back. It is such a good habit to get into, and United Way is a great agency to support because of all the agencies attached to it. You can help them all with one donation. When I donate to the United Way, I know my entire community will benefit. The United Way is an excellent steward for the community. Seeing the quality of services in San Luis Obispo County is hugely rewarding because I know that I make a difference."
Randall Hickok, of Dynegy, Inc.
Loyal Contributor to United Way for over 20 years |
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Save the Date! |
Join us for the first ever "Flavor of SLO" event on Sunday, May 31 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. in Mitchell Park with great food, music, and fun events for people of all ages. Sample some of the most flavorful food and beverages in the county at an unbeatable price - only $15-28/ticket! All proceeds of this event will be donated to Alpha Pregnancy Counseling & Support and the United Way of SLO County. Check back for more to come on our website and in our April E-Newsletter.
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| Opportunity Exchange |
You can help a SLO County nonprofit agency by taking a moment to read through the list of items needed, volunteer and employment opportunities, upcoming events, items available, and advocacy opportunities. If you can help by donating an item or by volunteering, or if you want more information about a job posting, please contact the agency directly using the information provided in each listing. Click here to view the Opportunity Exchange. | |
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United Way of SLO County
P.O. Box 14309
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
Office (805) 541-1234
Fax (805) 543-5317
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In Honor of Women's History Month, Thank You!
While the praises lauded upon women like Mother Teresa and Rosa Parks are well-deserved, we would like to honor some of the lesser known women whose efforts have changed our world, and encourage others to follow in their footsteps:
GIVE
Deaf by the age of 40 and the last of her immediate family by 65, Sophia Smith was determined to  do something meaningful with the small family fortune her family had accumulated. She decided to endow a women's college, which she hoped would provide undergraduate education for young women equal in quality to that which was provided at the time for young men. Since its humble beginnings in 1871, more than 60,000 women from around the world have attended Smith College!
ADVOCATE
 Gloria Yerkovich discovered the absence of a national system for locating missing/abducted children when her daughter was abducted in 1974. Amidst her turmoil, Gloria started CHILD FIND in 1981, and built the organization with volunteer labor, donated equipment, and skillful appeals to the media for help and support. CHILD FIND was the prototype for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and led to the l982 Omnibus Victims Protection Act and the Missing Children Act.
VOLUNTEER
As a teacher, nurse, humanitarian, and social reformer for the mentally ill, Dorothea Lynde Dix enjoyed nothing more than helping others. By the age of 54, she  had traveled half of the United States and Europe inspecting institutions and jails for mistreatment. She left her mark on society as to its current outlook on the mentally ill. Dorothea's achievements are still being felt today as we release more and more of the stigmata that have encompassed the mentally ill individual.
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