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More event pictures can be viewed on our Facebook page and at UnitedWaySaginaw.org.
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Local high school students and college mentors partner with United Way to make the holiday season brighter in our community! | |
Students from the Great Lakes Bay Region Youth Leadership Institute adopted 8 families in Saginaw County again this year through our Holiday Wish List program. The students were in charge of raising funds within their communities, partnering with other students and purchasing the gifts. On Friday, December 7, the students came together to wrap all of their gifts and deliver them to their families. Pictures from the wrapping party can be viewed here.
Merrill and Hemlock High School students partnered together to adopt one family. They did can drives and set out tip jars to help raise money for their family. "Since I had never really been involved in anything like this before, this really helped me realize the true meaning of Christmas," said Hunter DeBeau. Hunter added, "It's true what they say, it is way better to give than to  receive. I'm so proud to be able to help others have a better Christmas."
Buena Vista High School students partnered with students at SASA and Bridgeport. They were not sure what they should do for a fundraiser so the students volunteered to purchase gifts out of their own pockets. "At first I didn't know what to expect since I had never done anything like this before. Now I realize that it makes me feel so awesome to give up my own money and know how happy others are going to be when they receive these gifts that I gave. Since I didn't have a lot of money to work with I became a Black Friday shopper to help get the family gifts they wanted," shared Lourenzo Caldwell.
Thank you to Dr. Mamie Thorns and all of her mentors and students for their support of the Holiday Wish List program. |
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Highlights, Updates and Success Stories from United Way Workplace Campaigns
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This year we welcomed Caravan Facilities Management to  our awesome group of campaign supporters. For it being their first campaign, their team did incredible. They offered the payroll deduction option to any contributor as well as an incentive/drawing for anyone who completed their pledge form, whether or not they decided to contribute. The winner walked away with a $25 gift card to Applebee's.
Each year the employees at Spence Brothers continue to go above and beyond. One way that they add fun to their annual campaigns is with their Blueberry Pancake breakfast (or lunch) incentive. To promote staff giving toward the United Way  campaign, Herb Spence prepares homemade pancakes and serves them himself with sausage, juice, etc. Herb does this at all three of their offices (Saginaw, Ann Arbor and Traverse City) as long as two members at each office qualify. Employees qualify for Herb's breakfast if they donate at least $5 to United Way and/or participate in one of their campaign fundraising activities (50/50 drawing, dunk tank, jeans day, donation jar).
They also use their annual Christmas party to host a drawing with proceeds going to United Way. Various prizes are given out to the 7 winners from the drawing. To qualify the new participants must pledge at least $1 per week or previous participants have to pledge at least at the same level for 2012. On top of it all, Spence Brothers created their own company match to help encourage new/increased gifts to the community. In total, Spence Brothers helped raise $20,438 for our community!
To see all the pictures from campaign events around the community please visit our website or facebook page.
We always look forward to highlighting the businesses, organizations and people who make our campaigns happen. If you have any pictures, success stories or fun campaign highlights, please email Kelly Johnson so we can feature your team in the newsletter. |
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Holiday Wish List Program - Thank You!
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Thank you so very much to everyone who helped make the holiday season brighter for others in our community through our Holiday Wish List program. It is because of your help that we were able to help 255+ families and individuals. We still have a few wishes that need filled. If you or someone you know would like to help just in time for the holiday season, please contact Henrietta before Friday, December 21 at (989) 755-0505, ext. 216.
A final program recap will be provided in January. |
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Volunteer START (Students Toward A Responsible Tomorrow)
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Once again this year, the Volunteer START program offers the opportunity to Saginaw County High School students to apply for grants so that they can create meaningful volunteer projects within the community. This program is funded by the H.R. Wickes Foundation and requires that each high school group collaborate with a nonprofit organization.
This year 9 schools have applied for $13,500 in grant funding to help them facilitate 11 projects. The students will execute these projects between December and May. Good luck to the students as they move forward with their projects. |
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VITA Sites Opening on January 28, 2013!
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Free tax assistance will be available to Saginaw County  residents who cannot afford to have their taxes prepared for them, starting on Monday, January 28. Please visit our website for a full list of VITA sites, dates and times. |
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5 Minutes with a UWSC Board Member
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Name: Ricardo Resio
Title: Principal of Human Resources at Rehmann (As of January 7, I will be the Director of Human Resources at Merrill Technologies Group)
Family: My wife, Stephanie, and I live in Saginaw with our four children (Kasandra, Derek, Chase and Rachel) Their support is so appreciated!
Interests: Anything my children have an interest in. I also enjoy coaching them in sports including soccer, baseball and basketball. Our family also faithfully attends Center Road Church of Christ where both my wife and I serve as Bible class teachers.
Favorite restaurant: We enjoy all the area restaurants! Date night, however, usually lands us at Famous Dave's or Genji's on Bay Road.
Where did you grow up? Although my parents were from South Texas, I was born and raised in Holt, Michigan. My parents, Roberto and Concepcion, raised us to always give back to others and to leave things better than you found them. I was the second of four boys.
Education: I received the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central Michigan University, majoring in human resources. I graduated Cum Laude and with honors in 1995.
What brought you to Saginaw County? Michigan Sugar offered me my first job out of college as an Employee Relations Specialist. I have the Flegenhemier family to thank for bringing me to Saginaw County.
How/when did you become involved with United Way? In 1995, I was asked by the President of Michigan Sugar, Dave Rocha at the time, to run our office's campaign drive. From there things took off. Nick Clifone got me involved in the Campaign Committee where I not only serviced the manufacturing sector but was also recruited to be one of the "Dough Boys". For two years straight, I donned a baker's outfit and was featured with Nick and others in a short video delivering the "dough" to area agencies. I was also privileged to serve on the Fund Distribution Committee for a few years before taking on an Executive Committee role as Personnel Chair, Secretary, Vice-Chair and now Chairman. Who would have thought 17 years would have flown by so quickly?
Favorite United Way Event/Program? I especially enjoy Project Independence, Campaign Kick-off, the Annual Meeting, Campaign Celebration and the Jason Richardson Golf Classic. I am also so grateful for the agencies that do such wonderful work in our community.
What is your favorite experience in your role as a Board Chair? We have a great staff who work tirelessly and with a passion to achieve the mission of the United Way. It is also exciting to work with a board that is so diverse and has so much to offer our community especially as we take on new approaches. It is certainly a privilege to work side-by-side with staff and volunteers in building a safe nurturing community where all families can thrive. |
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Easy Ways to Make CHANGE Happen | |
Thank you to Target - Saginaw for donating 6 trees to our Holiday Wish List program through their "Target Share A Tree" program. The trees have been redistributed to families in need thanks to your generous donation.
 Chemical Bank's 'Mittens for Michigan' campaign encourages others to lend a hand and help provide warmth for those who are experiencing difficult times throughout Michigan communities. Please join Chemical Bank this holiday season by donating new, homemade or gently used mittens, gloves, hats and scarves for Michigan individuals and families in need. Each Chemical Bank office will have a collection box for donations. 
Please help United Way receive $2,000 from Frankenmuth Credit Union. Simply click this link and vote for United Way. The four agencies with the most votes will receive $2,000 each. |
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Happy Holidays from United Way of Saginaw County | |
Thank you so much for supporting our organization.  We have a great community and are very thankful for each of you who LIVE UNITED every day.
The United Way office will be closed between December 24 and January 3, 2013. We wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday season!
Click here to view the holiday greeting card from United Way Worldwide. |
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Campaign Celebration | |
Please join us as we announce the results of our 2012 annual fundraising campaign at our Campaign Celebration event on 1.17.13. Invitations will be mailed early January.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
* Doors open - 7:30 a.m.
* Breakfast & program - 8 a.m.
* Hosted at Horizons
* Cost to attend - $12.50 each
* Click here to RSVP -
(must RSVP by January 11)
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| HealthSource Saginaw | |
We cannot thank the amazing team at HealthSource Saginaw enough for all their contributions this year. The campaign team looked at what they had done in the past and set their goals high. Not only did they surpass their goal, they more than quadrupled what they had done last year.
The group had different incentives, drawings and created a fun campaign to encourage group participation. They held early bird drawings for people turning their pledge forms in prior to the campaign. They had three weeks where employees could pay $1 to participate in "Casual Day for United Way" and had a grand finale drawing at the end of the campaign. For every $5 increment pledged, an employee would receive their name in the large drawing. One lucky winner even received a trip to lunch in a limo!
Their efforts clearly worked! Overall, the HealthSource Saginaw group raised $20,911 for United Way of Saginaw County.
(Pictured above is the 2012 Campaign team from HealthSource Saginaw, along with HSS CEO, Lester Heyboer and United Way President/CEO, Cherrie Benchley) |
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Kasandra Resio is currently in her second year at Saginaw Valley State University and is serving as a college mentor with the Great Lakes Bay Regional Youth Leadership Institute. When attending the Holiday Wish List Wrapping Party, Kasandra shared with us her experience as a young community volunteer.
"When I was in high school I was very active in giving back to the community. I decided to get involved in the GLBRYLI to continue giving back at the college level. This was my first experience helping with a Christmas program this size and with so many students. I have to say that the high school students have really impressed me and exceeded my expectations with how much they personally gave to help these families. I realize even more now, how much impact that the youth in our community can make. I also think that it's really good seeing all these schools, putting aside their rivalries and coming together for a common cause - just to make a difference."
(Kasandra is pictured above with GLBRYLI students from Arthur Hill and Saginaw High Schools) |
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Getting involved is fun! Here are a few highlighted volunteer opportunities in our community: | |
Office volunteers are needed to help create and maintain a local agency's website, organize monthly trainings and assist with administrative work.
Hospital volunteers are need to help brighten someone's day by performing and organizing random acts of kindness.
Are you handy with a hammer? Consider volunteer to help clean out and sprucing up guest rooms at a local agency. Volunteer handymen are needed.
If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities or would like to get involved in the community, please contact Henrietta Watson at (989) 755-0505, ext. 216.
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| Making the Season Bright | |
Our labor partners have been very busy making the season brighter for others in our
community. American Plastic Toys, an
American toy manufacturer, has donated almost 15,000 toys annually to the Michigan Association of United Ways for distribution. This year, United Way of Saginaw County was able to redistribute 800 of the toys to children in our community.
Labor partners from UAW Local 668, GM Powertrain and IAM-PM Local 2839 worked together to collect enough goods to create 95 food baskets. The food baskets will go to families in need through the Holiday Wish List program. 
Thank you to our wonderful labor partners for all that they do for the community throughout the year. |
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