Great Falls Teachers FCU & Stockman Bank Live United!

GF Teacher\’s & Stockman Bank LIVE UNITED

 

Great Falls credit union helps local United Way charity – Montana’s News Station – Fair. Accurate. To the Point. -

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Education Community Impact Update

Last week, the Education Community Impact Council met for the first time. The community impact councils are small groups of influential people in the field. So, for the education council, there were representatives from early education, the public schools, Indian education, higher education, and youth services. The group talked about many topics, but the main focus was looking at indicators in education and how to measure them. Currently, there is a lot of data out there. It is just a matter of putting it all together. The group was very enthusiastic and willing to meet in about a month to continue the discussion. The council members were asked to think about the current local efforts and how these efforts are working to achieve positive change in Education. This is just a first step by United Way to help facilitate change in Education to help improve the lives of everyone in Great Falls. Soon this conversation will continue, so watch for more updates.

Submitted by Heather Palermo, MSU Great Falls College of Technology and United Way board member

First Interstate Bank LIVES UNITED!

The local First Interstate Bank branches held our first LIVE UNITED Day on September 11. Their internal campaign coordinator did a fantastic job of planning fun events for the staff on Friday, including a lunchtime potluck and having everyone pitch in $5 to purchase a LIVE UNITED shirt to wear with their jeans on casual day. Look at all these happy, smiling faces…now that’s how you LIVE UNITED!

First Interstate Bank LIVES UNITED!

Watch for other local Pacesetter Companies’ LIVE UNITED Days in the upcoming weeks. Next up is the Great Falls Tribune and Great Falls Teacher’s Federal Credit Union. A special thanks to the United Way Communications Committee for all their effort and brilliant thoughts to make these days happen, and to committee and board member Kyle for getting his staff at the bank on board.

Suicide and Voices of Hope

Today’s Great Falls Tribune features a heartfelt story by Kristen Cates highlighting the loss felt by suicide.  The three family survivors’ stories are profoundly touching, as are the quotes from Voices of Hope’s  Angela Hansen.

Suicide rates continue to be exceptionally high in Montana, and this is one of the things our Allocations Committee toys with every year.  How do we know if United Way dollars are making a positive impact within this organization if Montana continues to have the 1st, 2nd or 3rd highest suicide rates in the nation?  Kristen’s article hints that, due to the ambiguity of mental illnesses, its hard to say.  What is easy to see is the breadth of people that Voices of Hope touches in their daily interactions.

Please weigh in on this topic–it always seems to spark some lively discussions with both our Board of Directors and Allocations Committee!