Capital Area United Way
Message from the CEO As we begin a new year, we look forward to the opportunities and successes ahead of us. We at Capital Area United Way are enthusiastic about our continuing efforts to impact early childhood education and development through the implementation of the Help Me Grow program and the Social Innovation Fund grant. Both of these programs will provide significant capabilities to create transformational change in the greater Baton Rouge area. Capital Area United Way is excited about leading change in early childhood education, income stability, and healthier lifestyles. These three focus areas are important for everyone to have a quality life in our community. As a Leadership giver, you are investing in programs that increase and support early childhood education, assist low income earners with managing their incomes, and promote healthy living. For every dollar, you invest in more than 120 programs in our 10-parish service area, producing a measurable return on investment. Only programs that are well managed and can generate demonstrable outcomes are selected each year. Leadership is defined by results, and as a Leadership giver, you are making a measurable difference in our community every day. The board members, employees, and volunteers of Capital Area United Way want to express our appreciation to all Leadership givers for your continuing generosity. The vision of Capital Area United Way is creating community solutions to advance the common good. Thank you for leading the way! Richard Williams, Interim President & CEO
Whitney Bank Leading the Way
Whitney Bank has been a long-time supporter of CAUW. During the 2012 campaign, Whitney strived to increase their leadership donors, and not only did they increase Leadership, their overall campaign increased significantly. Thank you so much for your ongoing support.
% Increase from 2011 to 2012 Total $ Raised
14%
Leadership Donors
42%
Number of Donors
38%
“It is important for Whitney Bank to give back to Capital Area United Way because we are a member of the community. While our bank spans the Southeastern region of the country, we are a part of our local community. We encouraged all officers to be leadership givers because we are leaders in our community outside the bank. As leaders and members of this community, we are committed to making sure Baton Rouge is a great place for everyone.” Verni Howard, Whitney Bank
Campaign Corner Remember to submit all your campaign information to your Campaign Manager. We are starting to nominate some of our outstanding accounts for their successful 2012 campaigns. Make sure you don’t miss out! For information on award criteria, visit www.cauw.org/campaigntools/Coordinator-Guide
225.383.2643 www.CAUW.org
25th Annual Jambalaya Jam The results are in for the Capital Area United Way Jambalaya Jam, and more than $60,000 was raised at the 2012 event, a 35% increase from 2010 and 2011. The event, in its 25th year, was held on Thursday, October 11 and hosted thousands of atAlden Gautrea & and Byron Gautreau - CAUW Jambalaya Jam 1st place winning team from St. tendees as well as Elizabeth Hospital 46 cooking teams in a new venue of the North Boulevard Town Square. Attendees, young and old, enjoyed live entertainment and a sampling of jambalaya from teams representing some of the top companies in the CAUW workplace campaign. The event continues to be United Way’s signature community event, and “was the best Jambalaya Jam,” as described by several attendees. Over 4,000 strolled through the North Boulevard Town Square and jammed out to live music from After 8, The Allison Collins Band, and Nashville recording artist Jana Kramer. Guests were encouraged to download the free “Jambalaya Jam” iPhone app developed by NewAperio to cast their vote for the 2012 People’s Choice Award.
Jambalaya Jam Winners 1st place – St. Elizabeth Hospital 2nd place – Turner Industries at Syngenta 3rd place – Champion Technologies Best appetizer judged by cooking teams: Performance Contractors, Inc. People’s Choice Award judged by event guests through the “Jambalaya Jam” iPhone app: The Dow Chemical Company Community Games Overall Champion: BASF Community Games Corporate Division First Place Team: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana
Jambalaya Jam Judges
Tee Wayne Abshire - Former Champion with Jambalaya Festival Association Sandy Breland - WAFB Channel 9 News Jay Ducote - biteandbooze.com Jody Elisar - Former Champion with Jambalaya Festival Association Shane Martinez - Krazy Kajun Sam McGuire - WYNK Wally Taillon - Jambalaya Festival Association Scott Varnedoe - Stroube’s
Paul Stratford, ExxonMobil and CAUW Board Member; Christy Reeves, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and CAUW Board Chair; Richard Williams, Interim President & CEO at CAUW; and Stacey Chiasson, Dow Public Affairs
225.383.2643 www.CAUW.org
MARCH FINISH to the
What is VITA?
As we begin to wrap up another great campaign season at CAUW, help us MARCH TO THE FINISH to reach our campaign goal!
Capital Area United Way (CAUW) and the Capital Area Asset Building Coalition are in full swing preparing for tax season with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
We are 79% there and need your help. To donate, please visit CAUW.org/give or call us at 225.382.2643.
The VITA program provides free income tax preparation assistance and primarily targets low-income workers, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. This program is part of CAUW’s Income focus area, which promotes financial stability for low-to-moderate income households. VITA also promotes financial stability by encouraging recipients to save refunds to start a savings account or help purchase a home or vehicle. The goal of the VITA program is to assist individuals and families earning up to $50,000 in receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Through the EITC, eligible families can increase their annual income by as much as 15% and return millions of tax dollars to the Capital Area. In order to better serve our community, the VITA program will host two tax events, seven temporary VITA sites, as well as 21 permanent locations. The temporary sites will be hosted at partner agencies and local businesses and will be catered to serve that location’s clients and employees who are in need of tax preparation and financial stability services. Last year, the VITA program prepared 4,235 returns and brought back $2.6 million in the Earned Income Tax Credit and $6.6 million in refunds back to individuals and families in our community.
225.383.2643 www.CAUW.org
Power of 9 Honors Local Volunteers On Thursday, January 24, Capital Area United Way and Volunteer! United hosted our annual Power of 9 Volunteer Recognition Luncheon. The purpose of the Power of 9 Honors program is to build the community by spotlighting the exceptional volunteer efforts that are being made by the people of the capital area. Capital One, WAFB-TV, Capital Area United Way, and Volunteer! United partner monthly to celebrate a significant story about an individual or group that is making a difference through volunteer service. Featured the last Thursday of each month, honorees are recognized in a 90-second spot on WAFB-TV. In addition to honoring these extraordinary volunteers, the program enhances the general public’s awareness of the need for and impact of volunteer endeavors. Capital One Bank, WAFB-TV, Capital Area United Way, and Volunteer! United salute the volunteer achievements of these individuals who tirelessly engage in service to their fellow man. Our community is a better place to live, work and raise our families because of the power that volunteering makes in solving our social issues. We appreciate the commitment of all volunteers who give the most valuable gift they have - the gift of self. To nominate a volunteer, visit CAUW.org/Powerof9
2012 Power of 9 Honorees January Gayle Smith LSU Mid City Pediatric Clinic February The Whitlow Family Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baton Rouge March Mae C. McGuffery RSVP Volunteer April ExxonMobil ExC!TE Community Wide May Clyde Johnson Volunteers in Public Schools June Girls on the Run Coaches Girls on the Run of Greater Baton Rouge July Emerald Roney Youth Volunteer Corps of the Capital Area August Laura Oubre Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank September Gloria Wall McClelland Volunteer Health Corps October Christian Sexton, Spencer Thomas, and Nathan Gilly Catholic Charities Adopt-A-Family November Blue Cross and Blue Shield of LA Community Investment Volunteer Group for Capital Area United Way December Downtown Baton Rouge Lions Club LA School for the Visually Impaired
The 2012 Power of 9 Honorees
225.383.2643 www.CAUW.org
Recent Events
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4 2 On Monday, January 21, the CAUW staff took part in a Martin Luther King Day of Service. Volunteers who participated worked at six schools and three houses, planting gardens, painting and sprucing up playgrounds.
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During our 25th Annual Jambalaya Jam, employees from our presenting sponsor Dow Chemical posed with country singer Jana Kramer before she took the stage to entertain the thousands of people who came downtown to support CAUW.
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During the month of December, Vounteer! United hosted a variety of volunteer activities in the community. Above is a picture of the work of the volunteers
spreading a little holiday joy with the Salvation Army of Greater Baton Rouge Christmas Assistance Program in Baker. At the Power of 9 Luncheon: Ric Kearny, Baton Rouge Market President, Capital One Bank; Donna Britt, Anchor, WAFB; Vicki Kellum, General Sales Manager, WAFB; Richard Williams, Interim President & CEO, Capital Area United Way
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225.383.2643 www.CAUW.org