LIVE UNITED Y’All!

By Kate McNatt

Metro United Way wants to thank all the kind folks at General Electric, who just donated 4,600 portable space heaters to people in need during these cold winter months. Metro United Way will be the leader in distributing the space heaters, and the Salvation Army, a Metro United Way agency, is going to serve as the distribution site.

There are two opportunities to get involved (see below).  Volunteers will be handling boxes of heaters and should be able to lift up to 36 lbs.  Boxes may be dusty or dirty so please dress accordingly.  If you can help, please call Patty Belden at 502-292-6152 or email patty.belden@metrounitedway.org.  As always, thanks for your support!

Thursday January 14th – Distribution to Agencies

Location: Salvation Army

6709 Preston Highway

Louisville, KY 40219

Shift A: 1:00pm – 3:00pm         Volunteers Needed = 6

Shift B: 3:00pm – 5:00pm         Volunteers Needed = 6

Shift C: 5:00pm – 7:00pm         Volunteers Needed = 6

Friday January 15^th – Distribution to Agencies

Location: Salvation Army

6709 Preston Highway

Louisville, KY 40219

Shift A:  8:00am – 10:00am      Volunteers Needed = 6

Shift B: 10:00am – 12:00pm     Volunteers Needed = 6

Shift C: 12:00pm – 2:00pm       Volunteers Needed = 6

Events, General, Volunteering Community, Live United, making a difference, opportunity, Volunteer

By Kelly Hutchinson, Donor Relationship Manager

I will admit that I love how Hank can bellow….Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? And, I am. I am ready and excited about the hiring of Coach Charlie Strong for the University of Louisville so I will attribute this seemingly football inspired United Way blog to this fact. The recent press conference introducing the new Coach won me over when he shared his heart and emotion over the joy of attaining his career dream of a head coaching position and the opportunity to lead a program. It was so easy to feel his sincerity when he spoke and now it will be even easier to pull for his success both on the field and in the community.

It continues to be an exciting time of year in NFL football also as the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals continue to rack up the W’s. While these two teams are perhaps the closest we have in our region to a home NFL team, it doesn’t matter whether you are a Colts fan or on the “Who-Dey” train right now, the NFL is deserving of recognition for the longstanding partnership and support of the United Way movement. Did you know that for 35 years, thispartnership has been a shining example of the tangible good that can be leveraged into a powerful vehicle for real change in people’s lives and the community?  Check out how the NFL LIVES UNITED and see if you can find one of your team’s favorite players too!

Yes, Tis the season for football and also for giving thanks and sharing. The words THANK YOU are two of the most powerful words you can speak, share and that you can hear. Thank you for helping make our community a better place to live and work.  If you gave in your campaign at work for United Way, thank you for caring and sharing to help change the lives of those who pass by you every day. The change we strive to create at Metro United Way doesn’t happen without you. Don’t just take my word for it….take a quick look at our recent field trip. It was a LIVE UNITED thank you tour. Check it out and you will see how we surprised a few loyal donors while they were working. I think you can imagine their surprise and you can also see the strong feelings created with an in-person and heartfelt thank you.

Advocacy, Events, General, Giving, Volunteering Charlie Strong, Common good, community change, Football, Live United, Louisville, NFL, passion, thank you, United Way

So, I hesitate to write this appeal just after Kerri has explained how not to go into debt this year….but if you’re still looking for unique and ridiculously nice gifts at a great price (and from a local retailer!), come out on Sunday, December 12th to both Louisville area Two Chicks & Co locations:

- 409 Spring Street in Jeffersonville – right next to Come Back Inn

- 12121 Shelbyville Road in Middletown

They’ll donate 15% of purchases that day to Metro United Way. Go ahead, buy yourself something nice, too!

Events, Giving Giving, local partnership, shop for a cause

By Jim Littlefield-Dalmares, Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies

I wanted to write all my Metro United Way buddies and share a little story that hopefully moves you and might help you also as we enter that final push in the campaign.

Yesterday was a long day for me – up at 5:45, off to a business meeting at 6:50…back to back meetings til about 2, then a tour for 20 at 4 o’clock….raced through traffic to get my kids at 5:50 – just before the $1 per minute penalty to get them after 6..and off to Macy’s where over 60 of our clients were going for “Try on day” to get ready for our big Fashion show on Sat. Nov. 21st.

But just being there for 10 short minutes reminded me of what I already knew..and what makes long days worth it. For everyone with Metro United Way, it’s a reminder of what “productive people with disabilities” is all about.

You see, our kids are not usually the stars, captains of the team, class presidents, or the ones in the spotlight. But at our Holiday Fashion show, it is all about them.

And yesterday they were beaming. I learned of one little girl who had never had a dress before. I watched another boy (a kid who had half his brain removed due to extreme seizures) strut his stuff as he tried on a complete suit, vest and all.

And then I saw Emily, a little girl who captured hearts three years ago in her “Mrs. Clause” type red outfit using her walker, then last year used a cane, and was so excited last night because this year she plans to WALK in the Fashion show for the first time. I am not sure her exact age – but I think she’s about 9 or 10.   In her you have a short, mid-term, and long range “outcome” that was set, strived for, measured, and reached.   And of course to see her cross that stage in a few weeks on her own, will be priceless.

So I tell you this for two reasons:

1. You matter – I know in tough times the campaign can be hard.  But without Metro United Way funding, some of the kids I saw yesterday would not be coming to our Center.  This is the “end product” that the therapy donations to Metro United Way produces – kids out living active lives.   So never tire of working hard for them – the smiles I saw yesterday are what makes it all worth it.
2. Come – and bring others – if you ever wanted to re-inspire a donor, a volunteer, an Employee Coordinator, or anyone that might get behind Metro United Way in the coming year – or right now- what better way to show them why their gift matters. The event is just $5 to come – so it’s practically free.

But I can say based on watching it the past six years that I have never met a person who attended who was not so happy that they took the time to come. It’s even great for families, as many parents love to remind their “regular kids” how lucky they are. So please feel free to “utilize” our event as a tangible way to show those who support Metro United Way why their gifts matter more than ever.

In the past we’ve used church halls and venues that quite honestly we just about fill with all the “fans” of each model. This year we have 66 kids signed up! But this year we’re at duPont Manual High School and there auditorium holds 1,400 people – so I think we have enough room to invite as many people as we want.

Jim

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time from us at the Center, or at the door.

Thank you for what you do every day to help us discover the ability in every child!

(502) 635-6397, ext. 26.

www.kidscenterky.org

- Jim

Events, General, Giving fashion show, inspiration, Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies

It’s not too late to purchase a ticket to “Taste of Louisville” and here’s the best part-the event benefits Metro United Way!

Each year the Louisville Chapter of the Kentucky Restaurant Association sponsors Taste of Louisville to celebrate Louisville‘s excellent culinary community. Taste of Louisville will feature more than 50 of the Best Food and Beverage selections Louisville has to offer!

The 36^th Annual Taste of Louisville event is scheduled for tonight, September 29^th, 2009 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Crowne Plaza Hotel located near the Louisville International Airport. (Side note-the hotel is renovated and is absolutely gorgeous! I had my wedding reception there just are few short weeks ago!)

For more information or to purchase tickets, call Essential Details at (502) 499-6478.

See you there!

Events, General community events, Taste of Louisville

Who doesn’t love a big bowl of chili when the weather starts to cool? This year Metro United Way is planning a Chili Cook-Off to benefit our internal campaign. Metro United Way staff will serve as the chefs, and everyone is invited to join in the feast! Details are below:

What: Metro United Way Chili Cook-Off!

When: Oct. 16, 2009

Time: 11:30-1:30

Where: Metro United Way, Training Rooms A and B

Who: All staff are invited to participate in the competition, EVERYONE is invited to eat!

Why: To benefit the 2009 MUW internal campaign

How it will work:

· Staff interested in entering a pot of chili in the competition need to complete an entrance form and email it back to Angie NO LATER THAN October 1, 2009

· Each entrant is responsible for making enough chili to serve at least 8-10 servings.

· Each entrant is also responsible for providing their own “garnishes” such as: spaghetti, crackers, cheese, etc. to be served with their chili (optional), as well serving utensils.

· Entrants must have their chili set-up and ready to be served by 11:00 a.m. on the designated tables in TRA and TRB.

· Diners pay $5.00 at the entrance to try as many “tastes” as they want (small cups will be provided).  Diners can go back to purchase a whole bowl of their favorite chili for an extra $2.00 (large bowls will be provided).

· Before diners exit, they may cast a vote for their favorite chili (tickets will be provided).  All votes must be cast by 2:00 p.m.

· The Internal Campaign Committee budget will cover the cost of drinks.

· Those interested in participating, but who do not have a famous chili recipe at home can participate by bringing a dessert to share instead.  Please see Angie to get the form to complete for this, as well.

· Agency executives, MUW Board of Directors, volunteers, and MUW staff, friends, and family are invited to participate.

· The chef of the winning chili will win a much-desired prize (TBD)

Events, Giving campaign, chili, cook-off

The 2009 Metro United Way Community Campaign Kickoff is here, and we’re presenting it live and online from UStream.tv!

Join us on September 9, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. with M.C. Terry Meiners as we officially kick off this year’s Campaign, present our goal, recognize the many years of support from UPS and celebrate the successes of this year’s pace-setter campaigns.

On September 9th, all you need to do is visit our channel at UStream.tv or come back to this post to watch below at 10:00 a.m.!

Note – If you join us by viewing the stream on this post, be sure to hit the reload button (looks like a circle with arrows) at 10 a.m.!

Free TV : Ustream

Events, Giving campaign, community campaign, kickoff

By Priscilla Henken

How often do you read to your child? Many families in our community are unable to help their child in this way because they do not have any books to read to their child, either because they can not afford them or have no access to them. That is where Metro United Way and our various agencies come in.

Metro United Way, in coordination with Borders Bookstores, is holding a book drive for these families. From August 1 to September 7 you can go into any Borders Bookstore in Louisville and purchase a book to leave for Metro United Way volunteers to pick up and distribute through the agencies to young children throughout the community.

This takes little to no time for you, just a little extra money. Then, the next time someone asks you how you LIVE UNITED, you can tell them that you helped get books to children who would otherwise not be able to have any. For many of these children, these books will be their first books.

So, the next time you are wandering through the various shelves and rows of books at Borders, remember the book drive and pick up something for the children in your community because that’s just another way you can LIVE UNITED.

Education, Events, General, Giving book drive, Borders Bookstore, kids

by Kelly Hutchinson, Donor Relationship Manager

Working at Metro United Way is fun. That’s right, I really did say FUN. Yes, there are many days that are very challenging. It is a workplace with a very diverse and talented pool of driven people who have different personalities and skills while sharing in a collective desire to advance the common good and deliver significant impact and results for our community. As an organization, we seem to keep our individual eyes focused on mutually shared goals and objectives that will move us along in our work and accomplish the most good for our community.

While we are advancing the common good we do find the opportunity to laugh with one another. We celebrate the happy occasions in the lives of our co-workers like the recent and upcoming weddings of several. We are also an extended family that mobilizes and rallies around to help each other when someone experiences the loss of a loved one or a challenge is facing them in their personal life. Did you know we have a resident Birthday Fairy who makes sure that when you come to work on your birthday you are showered with email wishes from peers?

If you have been following along with our blog, then you know that in Resource Development we ring a bell whenever someone from our team wants to share good news. This simple act causes us to pause in our day, share in the good news and inspire each other when we hear how someone has grown the participation in a company campaign, a sponsor has partnered with us, a donor has informed us on their gift, or a company decides to run a campaign for United Way for the first time. We celebrate new members in our Giving Clubs like the Allen Society, Tocqueville, Young Leaders, Red Feather and the Women’s Initiative.

Since this post is about the lighter side at Metro United Way I will let you in on a couple. I have seen a royal blue, foam filled Superhero Suit that is Captain 2-1-1. I have not yet seen a co-worker wearing the suit but I am guessing it is only a matter of time. Or perhaps this is like Clark Kent and one will never know for sure who Captain 2-1-1 is. We have glamorous recognition awards for our Loaned Executives who are so important in our work. We couldn’t do what we do with out our volunteers and during the campaign season Loaned Executives come on board to work in the community. We want to make sure they know they are appreciated and that we celebrate their accomplishments also. So if you see a girl with one Golden Shoe, someone with a Pen the size of a baseball bat, or glitter-laden angel wings on the back of a desk chair, then you may have just passed a Metro United Way award winner who is on the campaign trail.

I hope as you are reading that you may think of some of the silly things that go on in your workplace or of simple ways that you can add a little humor to someone’s day because, life is really just too short to not learn how to roll with the punches, have a good time while doing some hard work and to flash your pearly whites and share a smile with those you work with.

If you need a little inspiration to help you loosen up your funny bone then you are encouraged to join us for a fun night out? Join us in your LIVE UNITED t shirt –or whatever shirt you like—we will host a night out at the Comedy Caravan in Louisville on July 30^th at 8 pm. It is a fundraising benefit for our employee campaign and each $8 ticket sold will benefit Metro United Way. RSVP by July 26^th via email to kelly.hutchinson@metrounitedway.org if you would like to get tickets. It would be great to see our event filled with YOU, our friends of Metro United Way who make a difference in our community by giving and volunteering.  There are simply too many people in our community right now that are struggling and that is no laughing matter.  But…the Metro United Way Comedy Caravan Fundraiser with Russ Nagel will be something to laugh about! Can you join us?

Events, General, Giving, Volunteering awards, Common good, Community, donor groups, Volunteer, workplace morale

Education is an essential building block that leads to a better life for all and is key to improving our community. In an effort to improve the quality of education in our community, Metro United Way and Success by 6 unveiled two new tools at a press conference this morning.

The first is the Common Good Forecaster. It allows people to look up any county in the U.S., shows them the current education levels for that county and state. Using a sliding scale, the Common Good Forecaster also shows the direct correlation between increased levels of educational achievement and improvement in that community.

The second tool is the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, a part of the Help Me Grow initiative. The questionnaires are age appropriate surveys that a parent/guardian can fill out concerning their child and send back to Metro United Way to be scored. This questionnaire allows you to see how your child is developing and if they are on track for all the major milestones they need to accomplish in their childhood. To request your Ages and Stages Questionnaire, please visit the Metro United Way website or call 502-292-6211.

Education, Events, General Ages and Stages, Common Good Forecaster, Help Me Grow, Metro United Way, Success By 6