United Way of Saginaw County
Empowering Passion * Maximizing Impact * Providing Hope * Creating Opportunity

February 2016
The new year is off to a great start thanks to all of our supporters, volunteers, contributors and dedicated staff.

Personally I am very excited about the opportunity the Executive Committee and Board of Directors entrusted me with last August. Although I have been involved with the United Way in various volunteer positions throughout the years, the welcome to the new role has been motivating.

However, 2016 will not be without its challenges. We will continue the implementation of the Community Impact Strategy instilling accountability and transparency into the process. Accomplishing the community goals set by our Community Change Teams is a collaborative effort. Having a relationship of trust and  understanding with our affiliated programs is key to success.

We will also continue growing our community investment while empowering the passion of the programs we support, maximizing our community resources, providing hope and creating opportunities for those we serve. We will talk more about this on May 3 at our Annual Meeting.

There is much to do but I am confident that we have an energized staff to accomplish our goals.

Thank you for your continued support,

Larry Sims, President/CEO
(989) 755-0505, ext. 202
Community Investment Update 
United Together for a Better Tomorrow
With your support, we are delighted to share that we have raised 70% of our $2,125,000 goal! Listed below are just a few of the many successes from local companies whose innovative ideas have advanced their community investment to the next level.

With a bit of friendly competition and cinnamon rolls as an incentive, Saginaw Township Community Schools increased their participation rates this year by 47.5%. This overwhelming response also led to a 26% increase in overall funds raised.

A great leader is one who leads by example and the team at Spence Brothers is no exception. Employees who contribute to the company's campaign can count on indulging in CEO Herb Spence's infamous and personal pancake breakfast. When leadership sets the tone of giving, employees are challenged to do the same.

Nexteer Automotive/UAW Local 699 is using a baseball theme to hit this year's goal out of the park! Kicking off their campaign during the first two weeks in February, there will be an increase in chances for employees to learn more about how their support impacts the community. In addition to United Way presentations, affiliated programs will be on-site to share information and a company-wide breakfast will help wrap everything up.

United Way would like to extend a very special thank you to all the companies, employees and individuals who have pledged their support. By uniting together, we can continue to make positive change. We still have a way to go to meet our goal. If you have not made your contribution, please visit UnitedWaySaginaw.org to help local children, families and individuals.


Community Impact Programs
SC-CHAP "Point In Time" Count
On Tuesday, January 26, Saginaw County homeless shelters and service providers participated in a state-wide "Point In Time" count of homeless persons. To determine the count, outreach workers were stationed at soup kitchens and other locations where homeless persons seek shelter during the day. Agency staff and volunteers counted both homeless persons in shelters and those living in places not fit for habituation, such as outdoors or in abandoned buildings. Information collected will be used by HUD for inclusion in the Annual Housing Assessment Report for the U.S. Congress to determine regional allocations of homeless funding. Thank you to all of our partners and volunteers who helped during the count.
Volunteers Complete VITA Training - Sites Now Open
The 2015 tax season is upon us, which means our VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program is ready to offer free tax preparation to eligible Saginaw County residents. Thank you to the 65 volunteers who completed extensive training and certification in order to offer this service to community residents. You can find more information about the five sites, including dates, times and what to bring on our VITA page. 
Fly Away with United Way
Win a trip to anywhere in the United States for just $5 a ticket!


United Way staff and board members have tickets available for sale or you can contact our office to purchase your ticket today!

Read More
Upcoming Events
Show Me the Money Day
Best Practices for Nonprofits
United Way Annual Meeting
Volunteer Opportunities
Give an hour. Give a day.
Labor News
Holiday Help
Check Off for the United Way Fund
Donate all or part of your state tax refund to the United Way fund!
 When filling out your state taxes, be sure to ask about Form 4642 (Voluntary Contributions Schedule), which allows tax payers to donate all or part of their 2015 tax return to their local United Way. This fund is set up to enable local families to gain access to continued education, job training and other services that can help them build lasting financial independence and success.

We encourage you to take advantage of this simple, quick way to donate resources.

Read More