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Greetings!
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Americans have spoken and the consensus is out: improving education is a community responsibility. Today, fewer Americans are likely to earn a diploma than their parents, a distinction not shared by any other industrialized country. When schools improve, communities improve. That is a primary finding in a report by United Way Worldwide, the nation's largest, privately-funded nonprofit. Voices for the Common Good: America Speaks Out on Education was presented last Thursday at a National Education Town Hall in Washington, DC. Moderated by CNN's Soledad O'Brien, the event - both live and online - addressed the challenges we face in preparing our children for success.
In response to the report findings, local United Way's across the country announced a commitment to recruit one million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors for education.
Sometimes kids just need someone who believes in them. Join United Way and come together with friends, family, and neighbors to show the power of Living United. Volunteer reading, tutoring or mentoring one hour each week can change the life of a young person.
If one million of us do it, it will change America!
Here are the areas that you can get involved:
· Readers: Volunteer readers read stories to individual children, or to a group of children. To be a reader, all a person needs is to be able to read, to be able to commit to visiting a classroom on a regular basis, and to share the joy of reading stories out load to children.
· Reading Buddies: Reading buddies develop a relationship with students in the online space. Reading buddy programs connect students to adult pen pals, who read the same books that their buddies read, and then corresponds with them in the online space about the issues and major features in the books.
· Reading and Math Tutors: Volunteer tutors go into classrooms to build students' skills in the areas of reading and math. Unlike volunteer readers, tutors are almost always matched with students on a one-on-one basis, and there is often a specific curriculum that the tutor is asked to follow.
· Mentors: Mentors connect with students beyond building classroom skills. Mentors can provide advice on careers, college applications, job searches and more. At its most basic level, mentoring is invaluable because it demonstrates to students that are adults who care about them and want to see them succeed.
· Graduation coaches: Graduation coaches work in schools to identify at -risk students, and support them academically before they reach the point of dropping out. Coaches identify, recruit and engage parents and concerned adults to help as they are needed.
To sign up to volunteer, contact Chris Cotter at 732-9696 ext. 204 or at ccotter@uwmc.org. |
| United Way recognizing key volunteers | |
United Way of Marion County recently recognized four volunteers at the annual meeting of the membership event held Tuesday, March 29 at the Webber Center on the campus of the College of Central Florida.
Tom Falanga of Lockheed Martin, was awarded the Bonnie Heath Award of Excellence, which honors a volunteer each year whose leadership and commitment to the United Way of Marion County has stood out above others over a period of at least ten years. Tom has served as a great leader for our organization in many capacities including the United Way Board of Directors as Vice Chair of Administration & Finance, Campaign Cabinet Member, Allocations, Lockheed Martin's Employee Campaign Coordinator and a member of the Day of Caring Committee. He has great enthusiasm for volunteering and his positive energy and spirit is appreciated by the United Way! |
| Frances Thigpin Volunteer of the Year | |
Jim Alsobrook's involvement with United Way started shortly after he retired from being Dunnellon city manager. In 2003, he started as a member of the agency review team where he still serves as a member today. He even served on the 2006 campaign cabinet as the manufacturing chair. More recently, he has learned a lot about taxes and has been a volunteer tax preparer for two years helping United Way fulfill its mission of helping families be more financially stable. Responding to the request for help is this person's normal mode of operation! His words and actions always exceed expectations, inspires others to follow his lead and give back to the community. During 2010 alone, he volunteered approximately 1,000 hours at United Way. |
| Young Leader of the Year Named |
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Lisa Rice (left) presents Christy Jergens (right) with award. |
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Christy Jergens has been a member of Young Leaders Society for more than three years. She has been on the steering committee, been to countless Young Leader events as she has been dedicated to growing Young Leaders and the impact of young professionals within both United Way and Marion County. She works as the Public Information Officer for Marion County Board of County Commission, where she led the development of Marion County's award-winning County Connection e-publication, a tool used to build awareness of the county's programs and services. She has been a huge part of the success of Young Leaders and we are very blessed to have her as a member. |
| Young Leader Members give back and get together |
 | | Kerri Bradley from Belleview Middle School reads to a Head Start class. |
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Several Young Leader Society members participated in the Head Start Read-In sponsored by Childhood Development Services. Local Head Start classrooms throughout the county had a volunteer share a story with the children and then gave the book as a gift to the classroom. Head Start Read In happens three times a year, January, March and October.
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 | | Lisa Varner from Hospice of Marion County with her daughter |
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Young Leader Society members spent the afternoon enjoying family and friends at the University of Florida baseball game in Gainesville.
Click here to view more photos from the game.
The Next Young Leader's "Breakfast with Leaders" will take place on Wednesday, April 13 from 8-9am at the Marion County School Board office. Members will get to meet with top education officals to discuss the state of Education in our community. RSVP to lturner@uwmc.org. |
Now is the time to use your Caring Club merchant card locally or nationally
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If you are a Caring Club Card Member, and we have your email, you should have received a welcome e-mail from the Caring Club National Program. To qualify as a Caring Club member, donors contribute $3 a week/$156 a year to the Community Care Fund and provide United Way with their home address and email.
Members can enjoy even more rewards with national online discounts. Included in your Caring Club membership is access to all the local companies that sign on and the national online program offering benefits from more than 40 national merchants such as Barnes & Noble, The Sports Authority, 1-800-PetMeds, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Firestone, Meineke Car Care, Restaurant.com, Hickory Farms, Omaha Steaks, emusic, Blockbuster Online, Ann Taylor, Timberland, Champs, and many more! Learn more about the National Program.
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Free tax prep coming to an end | |
United Way of Marion County is offering FREE income tax preparation through a variety of VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) locations on Saturday, April 9 and April 16th. Walk-in appointments on Monday, April 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for FREE income tax preparation at the United Way office located at 1401 NE 2nd St, Ocala. Marion County residents are encouraged to get 100% of their return back.
Please call 352-732-9696 to make an appointment. |
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Prosperity Campaign volunteer recognized
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John Grant joined United Way's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) team in 2010 after volunteering previously for VITA in Maine. He has not only proved to have a wealth of information to share, he has also stepped up to the plate to take a lead role and was instrumental in the success of the 2010 VITA season.
He gave more than 500 hours of service for the 2010 tax season and beyond. He also assisted in opening a permanent tax site in Belleview at the Church of the Nazarene for this year's program. He always goes above and beyond not only for the tax clients he has served but also for the VITA program as a whole. |
Youth program looking for applicants
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Applications are now available for high school juniors and seniors to join Youth United Way.
Youth United Way is a program that provides a forum for local youth to develop leadership skills and demonstrate the importance of youth civic involvement as a key component of community change.
Applications are due
Monday, April 25.
Applications are available at any high school or can be downloaded at www.uwmc.org. For more information call 352-732-9696.
Youth 5K has a great turnout for first event
United Way of Marion County's high school youth program (Youth United Way) hosted a St. Patrick's Day 5K run/walk on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 4 p.m. downtown Ocala City Hall that benefited the United Way. More than 130 runners participated raising $3,500.
Youth of the Year
Kenneth Wade is a junior in the AICE program at Belleview High School. He is extremely active in school including the chess club, student government, Spanish Club, where he serves as President, Ecology club, Interact and is a varsity cheerleader. Kenny was also selected from his peers to attend The Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership conference in Tallahassee last year. Kenny's leadership in Youth United Way has been off the charts. In only his first year in the program, Kenny has more than 30 hours community service (where only 15 hours are required) and is always there to help at United Way events. Kenny was selected for this award once again from his peers within the program. |
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Powerful Parenting Class | |
United Way's Success By 6, early childhood initiative, in partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, is hosting a series of Powerful Parenting classes for Marion County residents Friday, April 8, 2011 from 5:30-7:30pm at Silver Springs Shores Presbyterian Church located at 674 Silver Road, Ocala. 
Read more |
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Citizens in Marion County have made 15,826 claims using this free prescription discount card resulting in $273,608 in savings. That's an average savings of $17.28. Anyone can use the cards to save on prescriptions not covered by insurance.
To get your card, call United Way at 732-9696 or contact Chris Cotter at
ccotter@uwmc.org.
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Want to have fun and raise money for the United Way at the same time?
CenturyLink will host a four person Best Ball Scramble format golf tournament on Saturday, May 21, 2011. All proceeds from the event will be donated to United Way of Marion County.
The tournament will be held at Eagle Ridge Golf Club, beginning at 8:00 a.m. The cost is $220 per team.
Deadline to register is May 11th.
Entry fee includes golf, cart, lunch, and grab bags. Contests include: longest drive and closest to the pin.
Sponsorships are available for $125 per hole without a team or $100 with a team.
For more information on sponsorship or registration, call Teresa Feather at 352-368-8825.
Click here to download the registeration form
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