Now entering its fourth year, the United Way of San Luis Obispo County Youth Board is once again offering three $1,000 grants to local youth-driven programs. Individuals and groups are encouraged to create projects that have a positive impact on youth and increase developmental assets. Applications, due by 4:00 p.m. on December 8, are peer-evaluated by the 45-member board. Visit the United Way website for more information, including a grant seeker workbook, application guidelines and application form.

Partnering with United Way of San Luis Obispo County to establish a Workplace Giving Program provides over 100 local businesses and their employees with an easy way to help create lasting, sustainable changes that lead to better places to live and work in San Luis Obispo County.

Welcome to the following companies that recently started a Workplace Giving Program with United Way:
 

You can help local homeless individuals stay warm this winter by donating to Coats for Christmas Day. Organized by the Jewish Community with support from United Way, this annual drive invites the community to help the local homeless population by making donations towards the purchase of coats from SLO Camp N' Pack. A contribution of just $20 or $25 (for extra large sizes) will purchase a brand new adult jacket, suitable for the outdoors, while $6 to $10 will provide a new sweatshirt. Contributions can be made online from the United Way homepage or checks can be sent to P.O. Box 14309, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406. This year's goal is to raise enough funds to purchase 350 coats, and any donation amount helps! Coats will be distributed on December 25 at the annual Christmas Dinner for the Homeless.

Nonviolent Communication is a practical framework for acquiring skills and language tools that support positive, compassionate outcomes. This winter, United Way is offering an educational "Introduction to Nonviolent Communication" workshop session for teachers and parents of pre-kindergarten through 9^th grade students. Led by Bob Metz, a Center for Nonviolent Communication Certified Trainer, the course will help participants to prevent and reduce emotional stress, improve trust, strengthen student interest, and improve classroom teamwork to create a more effective educational setting for all. The six-week class begins on January 18, 2012; download a registration form to learn more about the program and sign up by January 5.  Partial scholarships are available for teachers.

If you happened to be one of 650 volunteers who came to Cal Poly on Saturday, October 22 for Make a Difference Day, you've seen what a group of community-minded people can do-and you made a BIG difference! Volunteers spent four hours helping local nonprofits build, clean, garden, organize, paint, plant, prepare, rake, repair, restore, sort, sweep, weed, and so much more! But just because you missed this national day of service sponsored locally by the Community CENTER at Cal Poly and United Way doesn't mean you can't still make SLO County a better place to live. Find us on Facebook and tell us how you make a difference all year long!