Join us this Saturday, October 22, 2011, as volunteers across the Inland Empire lend their neighbors a helping hand. From cleaning up local neighborhoods and holding food drives to help needy families, to reading to kids and revitalizing a local school, there are plenty of projects located throughout the Inland Empire that you and your friends and family can participate in.

So what are you waiting for? Check it out the volunteer options on our website and join Inland Empire United Way at one of the many National Make a Difference Day projects in our community. Visit our volunteer website to find and sign-up for a volunteer project near you: www.handsoninlandempire.org. 

Questions? Contact Meghan Meade at (909)980-2857 x 227 or mmeade@ieuw.org.

United Way's Local Impact...
Teacher Resource Center Provides Critical Supplies to Low-Income Students
 

For John Naghshineh, the chance to "shop" for school supplies (free of charge) marks a welcome departure from the harsh reality of education funding shortages across our state. A 14-year veteran of Lehigh Elementary School in Montclair, Naghshineh cannot recall a time when budgets and supplies were stretched so thin. "Basic supplies are under lock and key," he says. "We can make requests, but they're getting rejected more and more." 

That's why the School Tools Teacher Resource Center (TRC) is so valuable. Operated by Inland Empire United Way, the TRC offers teachers from select low-income schools in the Inland Empire the chance to come in and select supplies for their students and classrooms at zero charge.  

Lehigh Elementary is one of those schools, and Naghshineh could not be more appreciative of the assistance. As he quickly points out, unless teachers are assigned a Teacher's Aide, the only assistance they typically receive is through volunteerism. "For the lower grades, that's okay," Naghshineh muses, "but for upper-grade teachers, there's not much parent volunteerism." As for ongoing service projects aiming to help teachers - Naghshineh believes those are even rarer. "This School Tools program is the only one I've heard of [in fourteen years]."

Naghshineh hopes that more projects will emerge to help teachers of all levels. "It'd be great if it happened more often, for companies and schools to partner up and help our kids and teachers," he says. For now, though, he's excited that Inland Empire United Way has offered Lehigh Elementary teachers temporary relief from the sting of budget cuts. "This year, they slashed our budget significantly. It's tough to get money for supplies, and that's part of why our teachers appreciate this Teacher Center so much."

Asked for his final thoughts on the program, Naghshineh kept his message simple and heartfelt.  "Keep up the great work," the teacher remarked. "And hopefully I'll see you next year!"

October 2011 Company of the Month...

We are pleased to announce that Nordstrom has been selected as our October 2011 Company of the Month!

Nordstrom began as a family business and while they are now publicly traded, family is still a very important part of their corporate culture and one of the reasons Nordstrom is a Hall of Fame member of Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For". The importance of family also trickles down to how they support and encourage their employees to give back to the community. 

This especially hold true on a local level with Nordstrom Montclair, Nordstrom Rack Ontario and Chino, and Nordstrom Distribution Center Ontario. Each of these Nordstrom teams have done an impressive job getting their employees to participate - whether it is by donating through a simple payroll deduction, participating in year-round fundraisers, or volunteering out in the community.

It is for the above reasons and more that Nordstrom has been chosen as Inland Empire United Way's Company of the Month. Read more about why Nordstrom was chosen.

Congratulations Nordstrom and thank you for helping to support children and families in need in our community!   

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