A Letter from our President

This year marks the 40th anniversary of National Volunteer Week, demonstrating the enduring importance of recognizing our country's volunteers for their vital contributions.

National Volunteer Week, April 6-12, 2014, is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. It's about demonstrating to the nation that by working together, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals.

National Volunteer Week is about taking action and encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change - discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to make a difference.

In April our action council volunteers are starting their work reviewing all the RFP's submitted to Butler County United Way for programs which impact the lives of our neighbors. Our agency partners programs are making a difference each and every day. If we can help an adult find a job, help a youth move in a direction to become a successful adult or improve someone's health both mentally and physically then we are making a difference. The work our action and impact councils do is critical to BCUW. I want to thank the following volunteers who serve on our Self Sufficiency, Youth and Impact Councils: Youth: Rob Clevenger (Chair), Michelle Abraham, Sandy Drewes, Jerry Newell, Deb Lawrence, Karen Mill, Suzanne Prescott, Laura Sage, Carolyn Winslow Cari Wynne, Chris Klefeker, Sean Leary and Brian Chamberlain. Self Sufficiency: Christy Morris (Chair), Craig Clements, Jerome Kearns, Jackie Lankfer, Terry Perdue, Tami Langen, Tony Huff, Suzanne Klatt, Sharon Custer, Shelly Wallpe and Dave Yaeger. Impact Council: Mark Forry (Chair), Charles Chalupa, Dan Fitzgerald, Chris Flaig, Jill Gaynor, Terri Nau, Stan Stewart, Shelly Wallpe, and Lonnie Tucker.

Some of our long time volunteers are stepping down this year and they deserve a "shout out" for all of their tireless work with our Action and Impact Councils. They are Gary Darlage, Self Sufficiency, Jeff Center, Youth and Logan Stone, Youth and Impact.

I have had the privilege over the last 5 months to meet with some incredible volunteers. Not just volunteers for Butler County United Way but volunteers making a difference in people's lives all over this county and region. It has been a rewarding and eye opening experience to see just how many individuals in our community volunteer so much time to help others.

In recognition of National Volunteer Week I hope you will join us for Breakfast at the Fairfield Community Arts Center on April 11, 2014 at 7:30 A.M. We will be recognizing some of our special volunteers, thanking our Loyal Contributors and reveal our final 2013 Campaign results.

I hope you will join us to recognize the Companies and people who help us all "Live United".

Mag

JOIN US...

Volunteer Awards & Loyal Contributor Recognition Breakfast
Friday, April 11th, 2014 from 7:30AM-9:00AM
Location: Fairfield Community Arts Center

For more information and/or to Register CLICK HERE

Join Butler Tech + Butler County United Way for the Fourth Annual 5K Run + Walk

For more information or to Register Click Here

Each month, partner programs of

Butler County United Way are in the

spotlight. It is this work that brings

change to our community.

For April, the FOCUS is on the work of Parachute

Parachute CASA by Jim Reddy

"To speak for local abused, neglected, and abandoned children who are under the protective supervision of The Butler County Juvenile Court," this is the mission of Parachute CASA.

CASA's (Court Appointed Special Advocates) provide an essential link between the court and the home. These volunteers are appointed by the court to monitor the child's social environment. This includes the home as well as the physical and mental health of the child. They are "the eyes and ears" of the system.

CASA volunteers are special people. They train diligently for 35 hours prior to participating in the process. They must undergo the scrutiny of an extensive background investigation and they must provide numerous personal references. The commitment is for a year although many of the volunteers have been associated Parachute for much longer than that.

"Children deserve to know they are safe and loved," says Christine Schulz who directs a four person staff that administers Parachute from modest office space located just behind The Juvenile Court Building off of North Fair Avenue. Tonya Buchanan added "We bring common sense."

This program professionally staffed but remains severely undermanned. Christine reports that there are at least 300 cases "left on the table." That's 300 children right here in Butler County that need this help today. Recruiting for volunteers is an ongoing effort.

For further information or to schedule a speaker to address your organization, call (513) 867-5010 or email casa@parachutecasa.org.

VISIT: ParachuteCASA.org.

Join us for our Sixth Annual Trip to Chicago

For More Information or to RSVP

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

Friday, May 9th from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. @ Educational Services Center
For more information about these networking/volunteer opportunities and/or to RSVP contact Mitchell Willis @ (513)863-0800 or

mwillis@bc-unitedway.org

NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Fairfield City School District Hamilton City School District

Lakota Local Schools New Miami School District

Ross Local School District Stephen T. Badin High School

Deloitte Employees Step-up to Clean-up!

by Jim Reddy

_____________________________________

It was still a little chilly and the sun was peaking in and out of the clouds on Saturday, March 8th, but employees from Deloitte Tax, Audit, and Advisory Group headed up the West Chester Activity Center to benefit Every Child Succeeds.

Headed by Brian Chamberlain, Deloitte employees numbered over 25. They spruced up the Activity Center with a deep cleaning from the ceiling to the floor. Deloitt's Day of Caring happens a few times a year. "We are proud to be part of this community and all of us want to give back when we can", said Brian. He added, "We do something like this quarterly and we try to get everyone in the office involved." Brian was quick to point out that Deloitte employees could not pull this effort off without the organizational support of both Maddie Wiley and Rachel Adams.

Assembly of toys aimed at developmental play for the Every Child Succeeds program rounded out this noteworthy exercise in responsible community involvement.

GIVE ADVOCATE VOLUNTEER

Butler County United Way is looking for Volunteers to support our

day to day business operations.

For more information, please contact Krystal Tipton @ (513) 863-0800 or

ktipton@bc-unitedway.org

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