How do you LIVE UNITED? Grab the closest camera and make a short video explaining how you’re working to improve the education, income and health of people right here in Kentuckiana. Why?
1. It’s easy.
Record your story in no more than 2 minutes of video.
Upload the video (see #2) between now and September 30.
Get your friends to vote for your story.
2. You could be featured in United Way’s national ad campaign in 2010! Just submit your video to the LIVE UNITED Story Search, then get your friends to vote for you!
3. Your story can inspire others. When you share your passion with the world, that passion can spark the ideas and interest of others. What better way to LIVE UNITED than to fan the flames of the movement?
4. This cool video says so.
So what do you think? Are you willing to share your story?
A large part of my role at Metro United Way is to manage the traditional side of our business – the yearly agency reviews.My favorite part to read on their submitted documentation is their “Success Story.” This section of the application is the agency’s chance to put a face to the agency.The success stories also remind me that I’m working to serve these individuals, not just working to meet deadlines and attend meetings, and that this work really does impact lives in our community.When you read the following success story, you can take credit too, because as a Metro United Way supporter you also play a role.
The YMCA of Southern Indiana has been serving a very special family for many years. The mother of the family recently wrote a letter to the YMCA and her words best describe the story of the YMCA work thanks to the funding from Metro United Way:
“This seems like a good opportunity to write the letter that is long past due. My children have been attending YMCA camps for many years starting with a daughter who is now 29 and sending her 3 children to the camp. Even back then I was told not to pick her up until 5:59 pm because she was having so much fun. The camps fill a vital community need, reliable, educational, and safe child care. My adoption of the 3 children would have been very difficult if the Y camps and after school programs were not there.
It is also commendable that you take special needs children. They can really drain a counselor’s energy and patience fast, believe me I know, having 2 of them. Every morning both are greeted with enthusiasm (by name), their medication is given on time and both are worn out by the end of the day (hard to tell with Will since he never stops talking). Margy says she sometimes takes a nap because she gets so tired. I know Will can be a MAJOR headache (even to me) and yet no one ever seems to get upset or lose their cool with him when his medicine is not working and needs to be changed. How you get such great people to work there I will never know (I can’t even find a good sitter). I think Margy loves every counselor at her camp and Will wants to BE Lance, from hair style down to walk. I can’t thank you enough for taking my children and grandchildren and giving them a wonderful summer.”
The appreciation and gratitude felt here would not be possible without United Way. Even though this family does not directly receive financial assistance during the school year, her two special needs children are specially staffed with their own 1:2 counselor ratio at no additional cost to the family. Each of our special needs children are given this same consideration, which increases staffing costs at their after school site. Will and Margy are able to attend and enjoy the after school program and their grandmother (who has raised them as her own) is able to go to work without worry. This family is a true testament to how the YMCA helps to build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.