communityIMPACT Fall 2012
Orange County United Way’s Quarterly Newsletter
message FROM max
It’s been a great year at Orange County United Way. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to help more than 160,000 people get back on the path to self-sufficiency by focusing on Education, Income, and Health—the Building Blocks for a good-quality life. As we move into the holiday season, it feels like the right time to express gratitude to you—our supporters—for all you do to strengthen Orange County. Thank you for your time, for your talent, and for your continued support of the LIVE UNITED movement. During this time of year, we are all reminded of the extreme needs in our community. The need for a hot meal, a warm bed, and someone to reach out and show they care. One of the simplest ways to show that you care is by VOLUNTEERING your time and talent. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer throughout our community, and we can help you find them. On November 7, we launched a new volunteer page on our website, www.unitedwayoc.org, under the VOLUNTEER tab. There, you’ll find plenty of ways that you can spread cheer, lend a hand, and warm a heart this holiday season.
CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF
ELEVATING CHANGE AND RESTORING HOPE: OCUW KICKS OFF FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN n September 6, OCUW kicked off our campaign year with an Awards Luncheon at the Lyon Air Museum to celebrate a successful 2011-2012 season and to acknowledge some of the outstanding efforts made by our corporate partners to improve lives. Joined by more than 175 Employee Campaign Managers and Orange County United Way corporate partners, Max Gardner (OCUW President and CEO) and Jerry Mattes (Board Member, Loyal Contributor, and 2012-13 LIVE UNITED Campaign Chair, as well as president of UPS' West Region) reminded attendees about the “danger zone” of poverty and homelessness that more than 300,000 of OUR neighbors, coworkers, and friends face, and the work that still needs to be done to create a stronger Orange County. Pacific Life received the Dimensions in Giving Award—our most distinguished honor—given to the corporate partner that truly impacts our community through dollars raised for United Way’s Community Impact Fund, active community service, and an overall commitment to helping people through contributions of time, leadership, resources, and a spirit of giving. The afternoon’s other honorees included the Automobile Club of Southern California, County of Orange, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Fluor, Nordstrom, and UPS. The event also looked forward by announcing the 2012-13 fund-raising goal of $19.6 million, with $10.6 million for Community Impact. Orange County United Way believes that together, we can reach this goal and collectively impact OUR community and create a stronger, healthier, more vibrant Orange County.
Happy Thanksgiving— and until next time, thanks for LIVING UNITED! With gratitude,
Max L. Gardner
ISSUE NO. 4, VOLUME NO. 2 FALL 2012
949.660.7600 | www.unitedwayoc.org
corporate CORNER OCUW WELCOMES OUR
2012-2013 LOANED EXECUTIVES
DONATION DRIVE
GEARS UP GIVING! rom August 17 to 25, eight local Chrysler dealerships teamed up with Orange County United Way for the first-ever “Summer Week of Giving” donation drive to accelerate change in OUR community. These dealerships revved up Orange County’s engine to donate 20 barrels of much-needed food items to working-poor families. On the eve of the back-to-school season, the drive collected backpacks, notebooks, and crayons, as well as healthy snacks, canned goods, and everyday necessities. To “drive” change even further, the Chrysler Business Center of Irvine employees dedicated time during the “Summer Week of Giving” to serve hot breakfasts and lunches to more than 600 of our hungry neighbors at our partner agency, the Southwest Community Center in Santa Ana. We thank the following dealerships who participated in the drive: Mc Peeks Dodge of Anaheim Orange Coast Chrysler Jeep Dodge (Costa Mesa) Orange Coast Fiat (Costa Mesa) Huntington Beach Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Tuttle-Click Chrysler Jeep Dodge Irvine Don-A-Vee Chrysler Jeep Dodge (Placentia) Orange Coast Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Capistrano Tuttle-Click’s Tustin Chrysler Jeep Dodge
SOCIALIZE WITH US
HAVE YOU JOINED OUR MOVEMENT— OUR SOCIAL MEDIA MOVEMENT? Stay up-to-date with what’s happening at Orange County United Way, our partner agencies, corporate partners, donors, and OUR community by socializing with us on the following sites: https://twitter.com/UNITEDWAYOC https://facebook.com/UnitedWayOC http://blog.unitedwayoc.org/ http://youtube.com/OCUnitedWay www.linkedin.com/company/orange-county-united-way
2 | FALL 2012
SUMMER 2012
or the beginning of our LIVE UNITED campaign year, our 2012-13 Loaned Executives (LEs) left the offices of our corporate partners to join the Orange County United Way team full-time, switching from supporters to advocates and getting actively involved educating the community about the needs of so many of our neighbors. While here, the LEs spend their time connecting with companies to educate them about the LIVE UNITED movement and how they can be part of the change and advance the common good. Working to improve lives and strengthen OUR community alongside our LEs is a SAGE Scholar during this three-month tenure from the University of California, Irvine, who also lends his/her time and talent to learn the heart of Campaign planning and bring awareness to the Education, Income, and Health needs in Orange County. We would like to thank our outstanding Loaned Executive program partners for LIVING UNITED this fall: AT&T, FedEx, Fluor, Hoag Hospital, State Farm Insurance, UPS, UCI Sage Scholar Program, Mohr Partners, and Redwoods Managers.
EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES
MADE A SLAM DUNK AT THEIR CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF n October 9, the Edwards Lifesciences’ Executive team challenged their colleagues in four “four-on-four” basketball matches to celebrate the LIVE UNITED movement, “October Madness” style. Edwards Lifesciences’ MVPs: Mike Mussalem (CEO), Tom Abate (CFO), and John McGrath (Corporate Vice President, Quality, Regulatory and Clinical) helped generate support, participation, and sportsmanship at the big game. To earn a ticket, the Edwards Lifesciences staff showed a receipt of their 2012-13 Campaign contribution, mobilizing the caring power of their employees to strengthen OUR community. A big thank you to Edwards Lifesciences for being LIVE UNITED all-stars!
BANK OF AMERICA−MERRILL LYNCH
HOLDS “DAY OF CARING” TO GIVE BACK n October 26, 200 employees on the Executive Leadership Team of OCUW corporate partner Bank of America−Merrill Lynch gathered for our “Days of Caring” series. For weeks leading up to the special Day, Bank of America−Merrill Lynch employees worked to donate more than seven barrels of necessary food items—from cereal to sandwich supplies—to Orange County children in need. On the 26th, the team sorted and packed these donations into backpacks for We've Got Your Back, a weekend nutrition program created by OCUW partner agency Giving Children Hope to help homeless students get on the path to self-sufficiency. Thank you, Bank of America−Merrill Lynch for helping to end the hunger going on in OUR community.
WAYS TO LIVE & GIVE UNITED: 10 WAYS TO LIVE UNITED THIS FALL
OUR MISSION:
TO IMPROVE LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF ORANGE COUNTY TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY
1. Now there’s one hub
where you can learn all the ways you can be active in our community. Visit http://getconnected.united wayoc.org today to find out how you can get started with improving lives and strengthening our community.
SPARKPOINT OC:
THE PATH TO FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR MANY IN NEED etting back on the path to financial stability hasn’t been easy for our neighbor Antonio. But with the help of the case managers at SparkPoint OC, our nine-month-old financial empowerment center, he’s making progress.
2. Go to a senior center
Imagine being in debt, having no job and then being the victim of identity theft. A bad dream for most of us, it’s a nightmare for those who, on top of all of this, struggle with transportation, housing and other issues related to financial stability. Getting back on track isn’t easy. But today, through the services of Westminster-based SparkPoint OC., a financial empowerment program run by Orange County United Way, there is help for those who need it most.
and pass out FamilyWize discount cards.
3. Volunteer to host a
fall-themed “Cornucopia of Canned Goods” drive.
4. Fall back into school with a school supplies drive.
5. Deliver Thanksgiving meal baskets to families in need.
6. Be your own elf. Give toys to children’s homes for the holidays.
“I was looking for help,” said Antonio Monge, a client of SparkPoint OC. “I needed help with my credit situation, and I wanted to file for bankruptcy. I had legal problems with child support and different kinds of situations. That’s why I went to them.” Monge, an electrician who was recently laid off, is married and cares for an elderly parent who lives with him and his wife in a one-bedroom apartment. Monge found SparkPoint OC while taking advantage of the free tax-filing services, another United Way program offered through Abrazar Inc.
7. In the spirit of college
“I started asking questions, and they said, ‘Maybe we can help you more,’” Monge explained. And they did, by referring him to the new SparkPoint OC facility that opened its doors adjacent to Abrazar in February. To date, some 65 clients have already been helped, and the program has a target of impacting 100 individuals within its first year of operation. The site has now become a one-stop center. SparkPoint OC Program Director Leslie Aguilar says it’s all about keeping services centralized.
8. Volunteer to help cook
“We created this one-stop financial stability center instead of sending clients to six different agencies,” said Aguilar. “Why not have everything here?” One of the barriers for clients receiving assistance, she noted, is transportation. The two facilities, located next to each other, eliminate that concern. “The whole purpose of SparkPoint OC,” Aguilar explained, “is that we’re looking for clients who need bundled services: clients who need help with housing, are in debt, need job placement. We do a lot of case managing.” Aguilar and her staff help start the often-confusing process to help individuals recover financially. “We have a client who comes in and is $20,000 in debt,” she offered as an example, “or has their credit card stolen; we’ll send all the letters that start the process.” It is, however, a 50-50 partnership, Aguilar said. “We’re on top of it, but there is only so much we can do.” This is something Monge now understands.
application season, host an “Alumni College Information Night” to talk about the importance of education.
and/or serve a holiday dinner at a homeless shelter.
9. Head over to The Armory to help set up, clean up, or pass out holiday donations.
10. Make a holiday pledge
to your favorite local charity—we suggest donating to our Community Impact Fund to support the Building Blocks for a self-sufficient life.
“I didn’t know how to manage or organize my money, and they’re helping me,” said Monge. “They give me a hand on each situation—a goal to fix my credit—and they tell me what I have to do step by step, working together. But I have to do my part, too.” For more information, visit: http://www.unitedwayoc.org/sparkpoint-oc.
949.660.7600 | www.unitedwayoc.org
FALL 2012 | 3
communityIMPACT recent EVENTS
[1] OCUW AWARDS DESTINATION GRADUATION PARTNER:
SAUSD RECEIVES HIGH HONORS range County United Way President and CEO, Max Gardner, recognized Dr. Thelma Melendez, Superintendent of Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD), with an Orange County United Way Education Partnership Award for SAUSD’s Destination Graduation collaboration in seven area schools. The honor was for the district’s dedicated leadership in the field of education, ensuring every child in Santa Ana receives a quality and relevant education, and opening the doors to brighter futures and healthier communities.
[2] TALE OF TWO COUNTIES
EVERY COMMUNITY HAS A STORY. OURS HAS TWO. n September 19, more than a dozen LIVE UNITED supporters took our “Tale of Two Counties” tour. We stopped by our partner Income agency, Women Helping Women (WHW)/Men2Work, and our partner Health agency, the Orange County Rescue Mission (Village of Hope), to see firsthand how they are helping people in our community get back on their feet, into the job market, and on the path to self-sufficiency.
[3] WLC EVENT AT DVF:
SHOPPING FOR A CAUSE n October 17, the “LIVE UNITED ladies” from our Women’s Leadership Council (WLC)—consisting of Women’s Philanthropy Fund and Women Looking Forward—enjoyed a private shopping event at Diane von Furstenberg (DVF) South Coast Plaza. The attendees enjoyed appetizers and a handbag raffle, and 15 percent of the evening’s sales were donated to Orange County United Way. Thank you to DVF and WLC for being part of the change!
[4] TOCQUEVILLE SOCIETY KICK-OFF: ROOFTOP RECEPTION
range County United Way’s 2011-12 Dimensions in Giving Award recipient, Pacific Life, generously sponsored the 2012 Tocqueville Society Kick-Off on their rooftop patio. This esteemed group of philanthropic leaders dedicated to strengthening our community enjoyed a rooftop reception while celebrating the impact of their efforts in providing the Building Blocks to a self-sufficient life. Members and guests also welcomed Dennis Parrott, managing partner of KPMG, as the incoming Chair of the Tocqueville Society and recognized and thanked Jackie and Steve Kelley for their leadership as Tocqueville Society Co-Chairs over the past two years. The evening’s guest speaker, an AVID teacher from Santa Ana’s Godinez High School supported by OCUW’s Destination Graduation Education Initiative, spoke about the significant impact of the program on the lives of her students.