United Way of San Luis Obispo County Live United - United Way

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July 2009 eNewsletter





Newsletter Highlights
United Way of SLO County welcomes new Board President, Candy Markwith, and its 2009-2010 Board of Director's, learn about the impact of education with the Common Good Forecaster, and get ready to Stuff the School Bus!




CandyFrom the President's Desk

Candy Markwith, 2009-2010 Board President
 
Candy MarkwithWhat Is United Way Doing for Your Community?

This is a really exciting time for United Way as we reflect on the past year and look towards meeting the coming year's challenges and issues head on.  Times like these are why United Way is needed more than ever. 
 
Recently, through our Community Impact Fund, Innovation Award and Youth Board grants, we awarded over $59,000 to local programs that help children and youth achieve their potential; $55,000 towards increasing financial stability and independence; and over $62,000 to programs and initiatives that focus on improving health.  By focusing on education, income and health, we are prioritizing the most basic elements our community needs for a good life.
 
United Way launched Born Learning and the Youth Board this year, programs that provide educational resources and leadership opportunities, respectively. 
 
With the departure of Mervyns, we are working to return the ChildSpree event in 2010.  In the meantime, we invite you to continue your support of helping children succeed in school with "Stuff the School Bus".  You can volunteer, donate school supplies or organize your workplace to collect supplies and deliver them on August 21.
  
One of our most significant achievements was $75,000 in funding awarded to the Beginnings program, an educational collaborative that aims to ensure that every child in our community is born free from prenatal exposure to alcohol, tobacco and drug use. 

We also began the FamilyWize prescription discount program which to date has saved local residents $197,000 on their medications.
 
As a professional in the health care field, I am especially aware of the role prevention plays in creating a strong community of individuals and families.  This is what your local United Way works towards - creating long lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place.  Because people like you volunteer and give to United Way, we are able focus our efforts where the need is greatest.  We are currently looking for people that want to help us.  Call United Way to find out more at (805) 541-1234.





New Board Line Up for 09-10

UWSLO is pleased to announce its volunteer leadership for the 2009-2010 year.  

Candy Markwith, Chief Executive Officer for Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, has assumed the role of President. Immediate Past President Carl Dudley, Business Development Officer for Mission Community Bank, has taken the role of Secretary.

Treasurer Wade O'Hagan, Controller for SJL Broadcast Management Corporation; Vice President of Community Impact Monica Irons, Director of Human Resources for the City of San Luis Obispo; and Vice President of Resource Development Char Storlie, Central Coast Division Manager for The Mortgage House, will remain in their current positions as officers.

New Directors include Carla Berkefeld, CPA with Glenn, Burdette, Philips & Bryson Tax and Business Advisors; John Lindsey, Corporate Relations Representative and Meteorologist for PG&E; and Bill Morem, Journalist for The Tribune.

Returning Directors include Joy Harkins, Program Coordinator, The Community CENTER at Cal Poly; Barbara Heki, General Manager Network Operations, AT&T - California; and Linda McGregor, Executive Director, 211 SLO Hotline. Directors Emeriti are Frank Fertschneider and Thomas Sullivan.





GrantAwardsIt's Time to Stuff the School Bus!
 Stuff the School Bus
With summer underway and school just around the corner, local families are preparing their back to school lists.  United Way of San Luis Obispo County is looking to help students in our area by holding the first Stuff the School Bus drive, a community-wide effort to collect school supplies for children in need.  Businesses and the general community are being asked to donate school supplies at local donation sites. United Way will partner with local schools countywide to distribute these items.  To learn more about how you can donate supplies or help with the event please email Tara Contino at [email protected].




RecognitionThe Common Good Forecaster

Common Good ForecasterUnited Way of America and the American Human Development Project have created a tool to forecast how things might change in our community if educational outcomes were better. Use the sliders to forecast how key economic and social conditions would change and explore how education effects us all. Get started at http://www.liveunited.org/forecaster/.




WishListOpportunity 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 would like more information, please contact the agency directly using the information provided in each listing. Click here to view the Opportunity Exchange.




 

Contact Us

United Way of SLO County
P.O. Box 14309
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
Office (805) 541-1234
Fax (805) 543-5317
 Quick Links
Calling All Poets!
 
 
 
As part of a grant application for the CTK Foundation, United Way needs to submit a poem (4-8 lines) that expresses the heart of our mission. If selected, the poem will become the basis of a song, written and produced by Los Lonely Boys, and presented, along with a video performance of the song for community education and awareness. The selected nonprofit will also receive $10,000. Send your poem ideas to [email protected].
 
 
Check out the Youth Board, Emerging Leaders Circle, and other United Way programs on Facebook!
 

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