Raise Your Right Hand and Repeat after me….
Barack Obama is not the only one being inaugurated on January 20th. We all are.
And that’s not just because Obama has promised to make a call to service “a central cause” of his presidency. It’s because this moment in history demands we stop waiting on others — especially other people who are living in Washington D.C. — to solve the problems and right the wrongs of our times. Now, more than ever, we must mine the most underutilized resource available to us: ourselves.
Excerpt from Arianna Huffington blog 1/8/09
I think this is a great way to look at what is happening in America, and how we can best address challenges ahead. America is at her best when individuals step forward and unite in common cause. The roots of the United Way movement are steeped in this very notion. Imagine in 1887, a Denver priest, two ministers and a rabbi who recognized the need for working together in order to address their city’s welfare problems. Rev. Myron Reed, Msgr. William O’Ryan, Dean Martyn Hart and Rabbi William Friedman put their heads together ( a.k.a. living united today) and created a volunteer driven organization to collect funds, coordinate relief services, refer clients to cooperating agencies, and make emergency assistance grants. It’s been 118 years and United Way today is the largest private charity and remains focused on mobilizing the caring power of communities and making a lasting difference in people’s lives.
I work on the Resource Development team in a hallway where you can find loads of energy, optimism and a diverse group of men and women who will ring a bell (a cow bell), offer up frequent woo-hoo’s and regularly share in celebrating with one another. Our rallying cry of late has been to turn it up and we are collectively focused on seeing the close of the 2008 annual campaign and to reach the goal. In doing so, we will be poised to meet ever increasing local needs, create lasting change and to strengthen our relationships with YOU – our donors, friends, corporate partners, agency network & volunteers. Together, we really can face challenges ahead, take care of those in need and create a better tomorrow.
Are you ready? I am.
My short oath: If it is to be it is up to me.
If you were taking office, what exactly would your personal oath say to our community? Would you pledge to get more involved? Do you want to be the change that you would like to see? Is now the time to donate an hour or two a week or a month? Could you mentor a child who needs a positive role model, visit with an elderly person, clean out a closet & take clothes to a shelter, tutor someone learning financial planning skills, provide transportation, help someone seek an education, or make a financial donation in honor or memory of someone? Give, Advocate, and Volunteer are ways that you can join with us at Metro United Way.
Kelly Hutchinson, Donor Relationship Manager