	United Way of Laramie County
	Our Mission: No One In Need Our Vision: A Better Laramie County	1st Quarter 2014

2013 Uniting Our Community Award

Every year United Way of Laramie County presents the "Uniting Our Community Award" to an organization that exemplifies the United Way spirit in Laramie County. These companies show us how to LIVE UNITED. The 2013 award recipient is Spradley Barr Motors, Inc.

Spradley Barr Motors contributions:

Annual Pacesetter campaign, providing a corporate gift as well as having a strong employee commitment with more than 70 employees participating in 2013.
Diamond level corporate sponsor.
Car voucher sponsor since the program's inception.
Partner in the annual community matching challenge the last two years.
Strong commitment to volunteerism. Bob Womack and Steve Secrest are past board members. Steve has served as co-chair of the Helping Neighbors in Crisis and Strengthening Families community investment team and plans to continue on that team.
Bob Womack accepted the award on behalf of Spradley Barr and his employees

2013 Outstanding Campaign Coordinators

The first annual Campaign Coordinator of the Year was awarded to Marsha Connour and Nicole Perez, employees of the City of Cheyenne. Employee campaign coordinators are the volunteers that assist United Way of Laramie County annually with workplace campaigns. The coordinator of the year is chosen for their efforts in bringing workplace awareness of United Way's work and for running a successful campaign.

Marsha and Nicole's efforts included FUNdraising (golf ball drop, movie and popcorn sales, and the purple potty!) Their efforts involved many City employees and resulted in a campaign increase over last year.

Nicole & Marsha accept their awards

Also recognized for their volunteerism as campaign coordinators were Sherry Salmon from The Align Team, Scott Noble from LCSD #1 South High, and Donal Mattimoe from the State of Wyoming's Department of Education.

2013 Car Voucher Winner

Lori Brand and Connie Sloan Cathcart

Through the generosity of four local car dealers, United Way of Laramie County was able to offer a $15,000 car voucher as incentive to 2013 donors of certain levels. This year's finalists were hosted at a Cheyenne Regional Airport hangar and by CBS News Channel 5 for the live drawing on January 28. The lucky winner was Lori Brand, Public Service Commission!

THANK YOU to the 2013 car voucher sponsors:

Meet our 2014 Campaign Co-Chairs

Continuing in their second year as campaign co-chairs are Renee and Pat Ashworth.

Pat and Renee own Express Employment Professionals in Cheyenne and Laramie. They moved here from Montana in 2007 when they purchased the franchise. Lifelong residents of Billings, they moved to Missoula in 2001 due to a job transfer. Renee worked for an Express Employment office in Missoula where her passion for helping people succeed grew. Before entering the staffing world she managed a women's clothing store and a fabric store.

Pat worked in the printing business for over 20 years. After leaving that world, he worked for a microfilming company establishing the eastern Montana market before transferring to Missoula to run that operation.

Renee and Pat immediately became involved in the Cheyenne community where they have served on boards and committees for Kiwanis, Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, the local SHRM Chapter, and United Way. Pat has previously volunteered as a loaned executive and on the speaker's bureau for United Way.

"Express is based on helping people succeed and this is a perfect alliance with United Way and its program partners. We feel it's important to give back to the community that has given so much to us. Cheyenne is a very caring community and a great place to live and we want to continue that tradition."

We are very pleased to announce that Brittany and Matt Ashby have agreed to serve as campaign co-chairs for the 2014/2015 campaigns.

Brittany and Matt moved to Cheyenne in 2002 and have been a part of the United Way family since shortly after joining the community. Brittany has served as a United Way loaned executive, a member of the speaker's bureau and as a facilitator for the community investment teams. Matt has served on the United Way board of directors and as a volunteer in the City of Cheyenne's campaign.

Brittany started with Wyoming Student Loan in 2003 and when Align was opened, jumped at the chance to help build the consulting business. She has worked as a Principal Consultant for Align since 2004. Brittany has a passion for helping organizations be more successful whether through planning or more efficient and effective operations. Prior to moving to Cheyenne Brittany worked for the University of Northern Colorado Foundation as a Development officer and as a fellow with the El Pomar Foundation in Colorado Springs.

Matt currently serves as the Planning Services Director for the City of Cheyenne. Since 2002 he has worked in all aspects of planning for the city and enjoys the challenges our growing community provides on a daily basis. Prior to moving to Cheyenne, Matt finished a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning and a Master's of Urban Design from the University of Colorado in Denver.

Matt and Brittany are highly active in the Cheyenne community. Between them they have been active with the Cheyenne Rotary Club, the Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, Wyoming Main Streets, the Western Planning Association, the Montessori School of Cheyenne and many activities with their two children Alana (8) and Aubrey (6).

Wyoming Free Tax Service

Many people don't realize United Way of Laramie County is often asked to be a part of programs or projects in our community for reasons other than fundraising. A good example of this is the Wyoming Free Tax Service.

In Laramie County, the Wyoming Free Tax Service is a collaboration between the Internal Revenue Service, Laramie County Community College and United Way of Laramie County. IRS certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing for people making $53,000 or less.

United Way assists in volunteer recruitment, marketing the site to the public and Rod Hottle is trained and volunteers at the site during the tax season.

The site will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays through April 14. More information

In this issue:

2013 Uniting Our Community Award

2013 Outstanding Campaign Coordinators

2013 Car Voucher Final

Meet Our 2014 Campaign Co-Chairs

Featured Program Partners: