News from United Way of SLO County

United Way of San Luis Obispo County

April 2012 PSA

Flavor of SLO logo

Flavor of SLO, Just Around the Corner

In less than three weeks over 20 of SLO County's most renowned vendors will meet at the Jack House & Gardens on Marsh Street in downtown San Luis Obispo to present the finest food, beer and wines of the Central Coast. Family visiting? Planning a date? Gather your friends and experience this affordable tasting benefit, with pre-sale tickets at $45/public, $30/students. All proceeds support education, income and health programs in SLO County. Delectable tastes are accompanied by the tunes of local band History of Painters and jazz musician Dave Burns. The 4th Annual Flavor of SLO takes place on Sunday, May 6th from 1:00-4:00 p.m., rain or shine! Fees increase by $10 at the door so purchase your tickets now by visiting www.flavorofslo.com. Ticket holders must be over 21 and identification policy is strictly enforced. We hope to see you there!

Annual Recognition Event

Save the Date!

United Way of SLO County would like to thank its volunteers and involved partners from this past year. On Wednesday, June 6th from 5:00-7:00 p.m., United Way will be hosting its Annual Recognition Event at The Monday Club on Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo. Donors, event sponsors, workplace giving partners, agency directors, grant recipients, and all who have volunteered their time and funds toward support of our mission, look for your personal invite coming soon to enjoy this fine evening of celebration, thank you's, awards and refreshments!

Thank you to Cal Poly's Muir Hall Residents

Through an ongoing partnership with Cal Poly's Residential Life & Education department, Muir Hall residents donated their time and funds to advance the common good. 12 residents traded a free Saturday to help the community on Make a Difference Day in October. Through a hall coin challenge, residents raised $280.00 in two weeks and another $24.00 on "Pi Day", March 14th, all in the fun of purchasing a pie to throw at their hall council member. Thank you to dorm Resident Advisors, hall council members, and participating students for supporting your community programs.

National Volunteer Week, April 15th - 21st

During National Volunteer Week, we'd like to say thank you for volunteering to improve the education, income and health of your community. By giving of Make a difference day volunteers your time, you're creating opportunities for a good quality of life for all. By donating your valuable time to local nonprofits by helping at special events, raising money or providing your expertise on a committee or Board, you are helping make our communities better places to live and work. We salute you!

More opportunities to volunteer with United Way of SLO County are coming this summer! Assist children with back-to-school clothes shopping at KidSpree, Sunday July 22nd, and help Stuff the Bus with school supplies August 3rd-10th. Contact Jessica at jblum@unitedwayslo.org to sign up or for more information. And don't forget to visit Volunteer SLO all year round for other opportunities.

Flash Mob in Santa Maria April 27th

United Way of San Luis Obispo County, Northern Santa Barbara County and Santa Barbara County are inviting you, as one of our community partners, to participate in a special United Way live united flash mob event: a flash mob! The first few hundred guests will enjoy a tri-tip barbecue sandwich and get a "Live United" t-shirt to wear for the filming of this new public service announcement by KSBY. Volunteers and nonprofit agency representatives are also welcome to a giveaway of free, new books for family, friends or agency clients. Live on-the-air coverage and filming will be held at the Toyota of Santa Maria, 700 E. Betteravia Road. Call (805) 922-0329 x 114 or email susana@LiveUnitedSBC.org for more information and to RSVP.

How Does Your County's Health Rank?

Where we live, learn, work and play has a lot to do with how healthy we are and how long we live. So, have you ever wondered how healthy your county is and how it stacks up to the rest of the US?

To find out, take a look at the 2012 County Health Rankings, which were just released this month. This annual report, produced by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, compares health trends for more than 3,000 counties, plus the District of Columbia.

The report looks at several health factors, including low birth weight and poor physical and mental health, as well as health behaviors such as smoking, obesity and physical inactivity. The report also looks at socio-economic factors such as high school graduation rates, unemployment, children in poverty, violent crime, and factors affecting a county's physical environment such as the number of air pollution days and access to recreational facilities and healthy foods.

Click here to find out where your county ranks.

April Opportunity Exchange

we can do it Take a moment to read through the monthly Opportunity Exchange, a 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 most recent Opportunity Exchange.