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Barry Lessow, Tom Crean, and Heidi Schulz at the United Way Campaign Kick-Off.
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Campaign Kick-Off!
On Friday United Way of Monroe County celebrated the start of our annual fundraising campaign at our Kick-Off luncheon. IU Men's Basketball Coach, Tom Crean, was the keynote speaker and spoke passionately about the importance of United Way in our community. Crean remarked, "Our number one responsibility on this is earth is to help others. Begin with the end in mind...Follow United Way's lead... Get up there and make a difference. You never know the impact you're going to have on one to 100 to 1000." He was joined by United Way Executive Director Barry Lessow, UW Board Vice President Kevin Osborne, and Campaign Chair Heidi Schulz.
During the Kick-Off Luncheon held at IU's Henke Hall of Champions, Campaign Chair Heidi Schulz announced the
2011-2012 campaign goal of $1,410,000.
We invite you to transform lives and create opportunity in the coming year. With support from individuals, area businesses, and local nonprofits, the campaign will positively impact the lives of those in need. Focusing community resources on the building blocks of a better life -- education, earnings, and essentials -- we will improve the lives of Monroe County residents of all ages. Get ready for another energetic campaign year!
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  Fall Day of Action on Saturday! United Way hosted a Fall Day of Action on Saturday. This event brought together IU students and members of the community to engage in a variety of volunteer projects for United Way member organizations. More than 30 volunteers from 6 organizations helped with cleaning, painting, and gardening at 4 local social service agencies. With help from these volunteers, agencies will be better able to serve the needs of the community.
Volunteers from Kelley Cares, the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, Alpha Xi Delta, Alpha Phi, Theta Phi Alpha, and Alpha Gamma Delta worked on projects at Boys & Girls Clubs, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, Middle Way House/The Rise, and Shalom Community Center.
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 Hoosiers United Soccer Game Sunday! On Sunday, United Way partnered with the IU Women's Soccer team to raise awareness of United Way and provide fun and excitement for those served by member agencies. Guests from member agencies enjoyed free admission, received a free IU t-shirt and IU Women's Soccer poster, had the opportunity to meet with players and coaches after the game, and also had their t-shirt and posters signed by the players.
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 Double Your Donation!
We have a special matching opportunity this year. Through a grant from the Indiana Association of United Ways and the Lilly Endowment, our community can receive a dollar-for-dollar match for all new and increased workplace campaigns, new Vanguard Leadership Givers who pledge $1,000 or more as individuals or partners, and new Young Leadership Givers who pledge $500 or more as individuals or partners.
Every contribution is greatly appreciated and will help the community meet its goal.
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Campaign Leadership
Join United Way in thanking the following individuals for their hard work in ensuring the 2011-2012 campaign will be a success! |
- Heidi Schulz, Campaign Chair,
IU Hutton Honors College - Jim Grandorf, Vanguard Chair,
IU Kelley School of Business
Schulz and Grandorf are joined by these outstanding 2011-2012 Loaned Executives:
- Jeff Baldwin, Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington
- Fern Bonchek, People and Animal Learning Services
- Julia Karr, General Electric
- Dayleen Ragains, German American Bancorp
- Tony Rastall, Old National Bank
- Ilene Schaeffer, Fifth Third Bank
- Elizabeth Thompson, Volunteers in Medicine
- Kelli Wesley, IU Health
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 How Do I Donate?
It's easy! You can contribute in the form of cash, check, credit card, automatic bank withdrawal, stocks and securities, or can choose to be billed. Just visit monroeunitedway.org and donate securely via PayPal or credit card or download a pledge card and return it to our office.
If your workplace holds a United Way campaign, be on the lookout for your pledge card -- you can also donate through payroll deduction!
And, if you'd like for your workplace to hold a campaign, contact Resource Development Director Lori Garraghty by e-mail or call her at (812) 334-8370.
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 United Way Focused Initiatives
Introducing the Born Learning Play Path at Clear Creek Trail.
Look. Laugh. Play. Learn. The Born Learning Play Path officially opened on Friday, July 15 in a kid-friendly ceremony. United Way of Monroe County, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation, and Monroe Smart Start partnered to bring Born Learning to the Clear Creek Trail.
The Born Learning Play Path is part of the United Way's Born Learning initiative, designed to help parents, caregivers and communities support early childhood development. Born Learning provides research-based ways to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities for young children.
Featuring 10 fun, outdoor games on signs, the Born Learning Play Path will engage children and their families. The Play Path is located immediately south of the That Road trailhead on the Clear Creek Trail.
Monroe Smart Start Birth-to-Five Coalition
Every child deserves a strong start in life. United Way, in partnership with the Community Foundation, launched the Monroe Smart Start Birth-to-Five Coalition to benefit all babies and young children in Monroe County.
This initiative is bringing families, agencies, and communities together to make sure children enter kindergarten healthy, happy, and ready to succeed. Research shows that positive early experiences can lead to increased success in school, workforce readiness, and community engagement. Funds for Monroe Smart Start come from our campaign matching grant.
Financial Stability Alliance
The Financial Stability Alliance for South Central Indiana (FSA) promotes collaboration and information sharing among the financial stability partners and service providers in Brown, Greene, Monroe, and Owen counties. FSA publishes a monthly e-newsletter, hosts events and trainings, and works with partners to expand financial stability programs in our region. Last year, FSA expanded the Free Community Tax Service by adding two new locations and launched Bank On Bloomington, a program that helps residents open a bank account, an important step towards financial stability.
2-1-1 Infolink
2-1-1 is your link to community services. Available 24/7, our local 2-1-1 is staffed by certified call specialists that connect those in need with the appropriate services. Need help? Dial 2-1-1.
During the first half of this year, operators responded to 18% more calls. Most callers were seeking help with housing and utilities assistance, family and community support, medical care, income support, and food.
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 About your United Way
With your help, United Way is creating opportunity by focusing on education, earnings, and essentials. These are the building blocks for a good life -- a quality education that leads to a good job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and meeting basic needs such as sufficient food, stable housing, and access to healthcare.
Want to know more? Click here.
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Encouraging positive interactions with babies and kids helps build an educated workforce. And an educated workforce builds a stronger community. Read, talk, and play with the children in your life. Click here for more info and to download free materials. |
| Did you know?
Working to improve the lives of community members tomorrow begins with action today. United Way donors are helping local nonprofit agencies assist people in a variety of ways. Here are a few examples of how donations made a difference in the lives of Monroe County residents in the past year.
Education... At-risk kids in tutoring programs at Boys & Girls Clubs increased their reading scores between 53% - 89%.
Earnings... 46% more low- to moderate-income people filed their taxes this year through the Free Community Tax Service.
Essentials... Of the 211,322 meals and snacks served by Community Kitchen, 57% were provided to children. |
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