LIVE UNITED Y’All!

I know I’m not the only one who loves a coupon, with rising prices and economic uncertainty. We all are looking for a deal and making tough choices.

A while back, I mentioned here that the LIVE UNITED Club would be a new feature to the 2009 campaign.

So many people in our community step up year after year and we not only want to thank you but make it a little easier to keep giving. You can be a member if you

• Give a minimum of $156/year (or $3/week through your workplace) to Metro United Way and
• Provide your home address and personal e-mail address.

If you don’t already, visit Metro United Way’s website to give $156/year (or $3/week through your workplace) and join the LIVE UNITED Club!

Beginning in January, you will be e-mailed a pdf of your own LIVE UNITED Club card for you to print and place in your wallet. Simply show this card at participating local businesses… like Wick’s, Fantastic Sams, Republic Bank and many more…. to receive your discounts.  Check out the LIVE UNITED Club web page to see the great offers we’ve already lined up for you from local businesses that want to thank you for helping your community.

You will also receive discounts from national partners when you provide your personal e-mail address. You will be sent an access code for mycaringclub.org to receive special offers from national merchants. These discounts will be available only through this web site. Depending on the retailer, discounts may be printable coupons for in-store use or a promotional code for on-line use. Current discounts will be good through February 2011 and will be continually updated.

General, Giving Economy, Giving, Live United, LIVE UNITED Club

Over the past few months my friends seem to ask me more and more how this organization can survive in this economy or whether there is any way that we can continue to provide many of our services to the community. To the surprise of my more pessimistic friends, typically my response is not the gloom and doom response that most expect in the current climate. People who do not work in non-profits or who do not work in the human and social services sector often times don’t understand. Of course we will survive, we don’t have any other choice.

While I would never dream of denying the challenges that our organization is going to face in the very near future, I am excited and invigorated by those same challenges. In order for any organization to survive, non-profit or otherwise, it must be flexible, willing to grow, and show an aptitude for innovation.  These are all qualities that Metro United Way has shown even in times of flourishing economies. Yes, we could sit back and say there is no way that we can continue to do what we do in the present climate, but I personally feel that would be the easy way out and completely irresponsible. It is my belief that in times of great challenge there is also great opportunity for those who are willing to seize it. This great community that we live in, I believe, is one of the most empathetic and caring in the nation, and now more than ever those “less fortunate” in our community need us — all of us. Now is our time to shine!

This year United Ways across the United States have adopted a new call to action, Live United. How does one Live United you may ask? Well, by Giving, Advocating, and Volunteering.

Give! We are in the home stretch of closing our 2008 Campaign, and our goal is within sight, but we still need your help. If you are able and would like to give please contact a Donor Relations staff member by calling the Metro United Way offices at (502) 583-2821 or going to our website.

Advocate! Tell others how you Live United and what you do to support the caring power of our community.

Volunteer! Share your time and talents with those who truly are in need. Again please visit our website for a list of possible volunteer opportunities.

And remember, “Together we are bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions.” (President Barack Obama)

Advocacy, Events, Giving, Volunteering Community, Economy, future, Live United, opportunity