‘United Way – Day of Action’

‘United Way – Day of Action’.

Happy Anniversary, Serve America Act!

Today marks the one year anniversary of the Serve America Act, signed into legislation on April 21, 2009 by President Obama.  The goal of this program is to make America stronger by focusing service on key national issues; expanding opportunities to serve; building the capacity of individuals, nonprofits and communities to succeed; and by encouraging innovative approaches to solving problems in our country.  (sounds similar to United Way’s Campaign for the Common Good? You bet!)

A quick check of their listing of volunteer opportunities provides a hearty range of opportunities for folks in Cascade County to lend their talents and make a difference to local organizations, including nonprofits, schools and our local parks system. Their United We Serve blog also provides some inspiring stories from those in the field working to make our country a better place.

We’d like to take a moment to thank all of those people working to make Cascade County a better place.  Mentors that work with youth every day, Meals on Wheels drivers, crisis line advocates and VISTAS are all vitally important resources in our community, and we can’t say thank you enough for all the benefit you provide to those you serve.

Advocate for Education

United Way of Cascade County endorses and supports the upcoming mill levy proposed by the Great Falls Public Schools.  Our donors, volunteers and partners have identified education as a shared value, indeed as the overwhelming chosen focus for our efforts to build a stronger community.

 A strong education system has been shown to influence so many factors in a community – not simply for the benefits of the students themselves, but the entire community.  With higher academic achievement – median household incomes rise; health risk factors decrease and life expectancy increases; incarceration rates fall; and employment rates increase.  Education is truly a key building block for a better life and a stronger community.

 It is because of this that our board of directors is pleased to announce full support of the upcoming mill levy the school district has proposed, and support of the Kids Education Yes (KEY) group.  By investing in our schools, we make a long-term investment in our youth, our families and our community.  We encourage the citizens of Great Falls to vote YES for our community.

 Sincerely,

 Steve Taylor, 2010 Chairman of the Board of Directors

Gary Owen, President, United Way of Cascade County

Support the 2-1-1 Act

‘Support the 2-1-1 Act’.

Inspiring video

We were just introduced to this at last week’s Staff Leader’s Conference through United Way Worldwide, and are loving the message.  Take a look!

VOLUNTEER!

As part of the Allocations process, UWCC asks community volunteers to serve as members of the committee charged with reviewing the proposals, recommending funding to the board of directors and monitoring results of funded services throughout the year.

Volunteers would need to be available to participate in the following activities:

• April 21, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for training and to receive written proposals;
• Either April 27, 28 or 29 (only one of those days) for a full day from approximately 8:00 – 4:30 to receive formal in-person presentations of the proposals;
• May 4 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. to determine final funding recommendations;
• Quarterly meetings as scheduled to review updates from funded services.

 

If you are interested in serving or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office at 727-3400 or by email at staff@uwccmt.org.

Education Update

United Way Education Impact Committee

Notes from 2/25/10.

Attendees: Jim Corrigan, Dr. Richard McDowell, Gary Owen, Heather Palermo, Hugh Smith, Drew Uecker, Becky Fisher Timmons, Lew Card, Char Bunker, Sue Warren, Tina Cubbage, Liz Lee and Ann Janikula.

After introductions, Gary briefly reviewed the committee’s work and previous meetings reviewing United Way Worldwide’s education goals, indicators and initiatives. 

Gary introduced Sue Warren and asked her to give an overview of activities at the GF Early Learning Family Center. 

• Sue explained that the effort had started approximately 5 years ago and was originally focused on mental health issues facing pre school children.
• One goal of the center was to house comprehensive services in one facility to serve families with children ages birth – 6.
• There are currently 2 classrooms with approximately 17 total students, all 4 &5 year olds and mostly from the Whittier and Longfellow areas. 
• Headstart is also present and Early Headstart will begin offering classes in mid-March.
• Quality Life Concepts will be there, along with parenting classes
• The main goals of the effort are to strengthen families, engage the community, provide care during early childhood and education.

 

Gary then gave some background on looking at how to impact the academic achievement of low income and Native American students in our community.  He had distributed materials on “Schools of Hope” an initiative used in Madison, WI to close the racial achievement gap.  He introduced Tina Cubbage, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters, to brief the committee on her organization’s work.

• BBBS has both a community and school-based mentoring program.
• Currently in 7 elementary schools, mostly use high school students to mentor and focus half the time on academics and other half is flexible.
• Currently have more mentors than elementary mentees due to circumstances in school district.
• They also have an OJJDP grant to focus specifically on Native American.

 

Liz Lee, coordinator of the GFPS EXCEL mentoring program, updated the group on her program:

• Program was started in 2^nd semester of the 2005/2006 school year as part of a small-communities learning grant the district was awarded.
• Focuses on matching community volunteers with high school students at high risk of dropping out.
• Mentors spend one hour per week with student.
• Goals are to reduce drop out rate, increase attendance, and increase post-graduation education.
• Has served 140 students since beginning and has 50 matches this year.

 

In further discussion about the “Schools of Hope” initiative, Gary asked about the concerns people had with the concept.  Those mentioned included:

• Quality and training of tutors that could be used.
• How would we scale or manage the scope of the project?
• Possible detrimental effects of an 8-week relationship that was then ended – would high risk students feel abandoned, yet again?
• All academic focused, no balance with social needs of student.

 

Gary will offer these questions to the program leaders in WI for feedback.  An excellent point for discussion was raised regarding our intent in moving an indicator (academic achievement of low income/Native American students) versus helping children.  I really like this question – would we be wrong (or naïve) to simply state our goal is to raise the academic achievement and ignore possible outcomes of self esteem, social skills, etc of our targeted population?

It was also suggested that we should have a representative for elementary education on the committee.

Dr. McDowell also offered to the group that UGF had secured a grant to provide training for early childhood educators.  One challenge they were facing was in finding qualified instructors.

-submitted by Gary Owen

Cascade County Awarded Emergency Food & Shelter Funding

CASCADE COUNTY HAS BEEN AWARDED FEDERAL FUNDS UNDER THE EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER NATIONAL BOARD PROGRAM

Cascade County has been chosen to receive $28,602 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

Organizations within Cascade County that provide emergency food and shelter are encouraged to apply for funding under this program.  Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) have an accounting system, 3) practice nondiscrimination, 4) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, 5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board, and 6) certify if they are debarred or suspended from receiving Federal funds.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds may download the application here  or can contact United Way of Cascade County at 727-3400 for an application.  The deadline for applications to be received is Friday, March 19, 2010

Allocations Training

Just a snap shot of our training session offered yesterday for organizations interested in applying for United Way funds this year…we had a GREAT crowd and unfortunately this photo only shows half of it!  We had an informative meeting with lots of fantastic questions, and are eagerly awaiting our requests for proposals to start coming in!

UW President Gary Owen fields questions from eager fund seekers

Of course, lots of interest in United Way’s allocations probably will mean an ever-increasing amount of requests for in-demand dollars for all very worthwhile programs. Our Allocations Committee will review proposals in April and make funding decisions accordingly.

If you’re interested in serving on the Allocations Committee, please drop us a line–we’re always looking for dedicated volunteers!  Similarly, if you’re interested in obtaining a copy of request for proposal guidelines, you can find those on our website.

Empty Bowls, Full Stomachs!

I had the opportunity to attend one of the YWCA‘s Empty Bowls seatings today with some friends and I just have to say that this is one of my all-time favorite nonprofit fundraisers in town (sorry to those of you that also do events this time of year–I’ve been to many and they’re always fun and always for a great cause!).  For those of you unfamiliar with Empty Bowls, local potters donate beautiful, handmade bowls to be given to guests with their bowl of soup.  I’m sure that one of the reasons I love this idea so much is that I of course get to keep my pretty little bowl, but the other reason is that there’s meaning behind the soup, and the fact that you walk out of the building with your own “empty bowl.”

Some people may not be too keen on the idea of paying $20 for watery soup, but the initial idea behind Empty Bowls was that guests experience a meal based on a poverty budget. Lentils, some vegetables and mostly broth make up the signature menu item, along with a little slice of bread on the side. I’m sure most of us are used to a bit more filling lunch, but to some, that may be the meal of the day.

Congrats to the YWCA on what appeared to be a very successful first seating, and if you haven’t had the opportunity to experience Empty Bowls, give them a call at 452-1315, as they still have some seatings available.

Proudly showing off our Empty Bowls.

UWCC board member Sara Becker shows off her bowl, handcrafted by an artist at Easter Seals.