communityimpact
summer 2011
Orange County United Way’s Quarterly Newsletter
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hope you are having a great summer. Since our last newsletter, two new and exciting things have taken place at Orange County United Way (OCUW). First, in June, I proudly accepted the position of President and CEO. I am honored to join an organization with such long-standing ties to OUR community. As a former OCUW Board member and Co-Chair of our Tocqueville Society, I have had a chance to learn more about the extreme needs that exist in Orange County. What I learned: despite the pristine neighborhoods and prosperity it’s known for, OUR community has more than 229,000 households that cannot meet their most basic human needs of food, shelter, and medical care. I think that is unacceptable, and I look forward to working alongside our 92 partner agencies, donors, community leaders, elected officials, and corporate partners to turn things around. Secondly, we recently revised our mission statement. While the goal is the same—to help our neighbors in need get on and stay on a path of selfsufficiency—we fine-tuned the way we communicate it. Our new mission is “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of Orange County to strengthen OUR community.” OUR community— from the heart of Santa Ana to the shores of San Clemente—OCUW will continue to invest in children, families, and individuals by focusing on the Building Blocks for a self-sufficient life: Education, Income, and Health. Orange County United Way has been improving lives for nearly 90 years. Together, we can build on that legacy by mobilizing the caring power of Orange County so we can continue bringing positive change to our community. Thanks for joining our movement to strengthen Orange County, and as always, thanks for LIVING UNITED. With gratitude,
Max L. Gardner
WALKERS begin the 5K trek around Angel Stadium to help overcome poverty in Orange County
A WALK TO REMEMBER
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n Saturday, June 25, 2011, 2,400 people hit Angel Stadium of Anaheim for the Third Annual WALK UNITED to raise awareness and funds for the more than 318,000 people in OUR community living below the poverty line. Sponsored by fifteen OCUW corporate partners, including Homerun Sponsor UPS, the familyfriendly 5K walk raised more than $150,000 to provide hope, help, and access to a better future for our coworkers, friends, and neighbors in need. Go Country radio host Ginny Harman kicked off the opening ceremony before introducing our new President and CEO, Max Gardner, who reminded walkers why they rose early: to help our neighbors who can’t meet their most basic needs of food, shelter, and medical care. Later, Mark Merhab, Chairman of the Angels Baseball Foundation introduced a surprise VIP guest, former Angels pitcher Mark Langston. George Willis, Chairman of WALK UNITED 2011 and UPS’ South California District President accepted the Corporate Challenge Award for
Issue No.3, Volume No. 1 Summer 2011
registering the most walkers: 762. The bronzedipped sneaker demonstrated that UPS ’s improving lives in Orange County just as much as they logistics! Joining our movement, Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait accepted the Mayor’s Challenge Award, mobilizing more than 125 walkers from the City of Anaheim to WALK UNITED. This year, the event included some new elements, including an Education Journey highlighting the faces and success stories behind the statistics of need, and a Kid-At-Heart Zone. Along the walk route, participants enjoyed music from six local bands, including employeebased groups from OCUW corporate partners Alcon (Ocutones) and Edwards Lifesciences (AlterEgo). After ‘walking the walk’ for a good cause, participants enjoyed treats from gourmet food trucks and learned more about some of our partner agencies at the Community Resource Fair. All and all, it was a Walk to Remember. WALK UNITED is organized by Orange County United Way and the Angels Baseball Foundation. 949.660.7600 | www.unitedwayoc.org
BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY, ONE PARTNERSHIP AT A TIME
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n May, United Way Worldwide President and CEO, Brian Gallagher presented US Bank with the 2011 Spirit of America® Award at the United Way Staff Leaders Conference in Orlando, FL. US Bank Chairman, President and CEO Richard Davis accepted the award. US Bank was honored for its commitment to improving the financial stability of individuals and families. Nationally, US bank provided $38 million in total charitable giving, an increase of 24 percent. Of that amount, $25.8 million supported programs focused on financial education, job training, and affordable housing. Locally, US Bank is one of Orange County United Way’s Golden Key partners—companies that raise the most dollars through their annual Workplace Campaign.
Additionally, Bank of America and Microsoft received the United Way Summit Award. Since 1999, Bank of America has invested more than $450 million with United Way. It was the first financial institution to support United Way’s Financial Stability BUILDING UNITED volunteers. Front (L to R) Orange County United Way Board Member and the “Chief Architect” behind the program, Ken Lickel, Kandy Killingsworth, and Becky Ingram. Back (L to R) Frank Palstring, Chris Willis, and Jim Racobs.
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hey say April showers bring May flowers. Well this May, a wonderful new partnership bloomed between Orange County United Way and Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. BUILDING UNITED is a unique program designed to help our shelter agencies update and upgrade their facilities so they can improve even more lives in OUR community. For its first phase, Building United selected five agencies: Casa Youth Shelter, a 12-bed temporary shelter for runaways and youth in crisis, Laura’s House, a domestic violence shelter in South County, Straight Talk, a 27-bed shelter and service facility for persons who are homeless, struggling with substance abuse, and/or living with HIV/AIDS, Villa Center, a substance abuse recovery center in Santa Ana, and Abrazar, one of our health and income partner agencies located in Westminster. The above photo is from our first Building United project at Casa Youth Shelter. We look forward to more program successes through this budding partnership.
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Partnership, including $4.5 million in grants over the past few years. In 2010, Bank of America employees donated more than $25 million to support basic human services and volunteered more than one million hours to strengthen communities across the country. Locally, Bank of America is Orange County United Way’s #1 financial industry corporate partner and supporter of our INCOME initiative, Banking on the Future. In 2010, Microsoft donated $603 million in cash and software to charitable organizations around the world, including $14.3 million in cash and software to United Way, the number-one recipient of Microsoft employee gifts and corporate matching funds. Now in its 24th year, The Spirit of America® and Summit Awards program is United Way’s highest national honor recognizing exemplary corporate citizens for outstanding employee and community engagement, and measurable impact in the areas of education, income, and health. We salute the winners of these distinguished awards, and thank all of our corporate partners for encouraging employee giving, being good corporate citizens, and improving lives in OUR community.
Get Social with Orange County United Way Have you heard? Our Facebook page recently got a facelift, we have a new ‘tude on Twitter, and you can now connect with us on LinkedIn, “see” what we’ve been up to on YouTube, and coming in mid-August, read about everything OCUW when we re-launch our Blog. So log on and get social with us to learn more about the work we do, the people we help, and how we mobilize the caring power of Orange County to strengthen our community. OCUW social media streams:
http://www.facebook.com/UnitedWayOC http://www.twitter.com/UnitedWayOC http://linkd.in/ocuw http://www.youtube.com/user/OCUNITEDWAY http://ocuw.wordpress.com
949.660.7600 | www.unitedwayoc.org
Meeting the Need In Orange County Our 2010-11 Campaign came to a close in June. Thanks to the support of more than 1,000 corporate partners across Orange County and their caring employees, we can continue to meet the greatest needs in our community. Here’s a snapshot of our 2010-11 campaign successes:
More than 2,500 New donors
OUR MISSION: To improve lives by
mobilizing the caring power of Orange County to strengthen OUR community. dimensions in giving
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t Orange County United Way, one of the ways we mobilize the caring power of Orange County to strengthen our community is through partnerships with dedicated companies throughout Orange County. By giving to our Community Impact Fund or investing in our INCOME and EDUCATION initiatives, Banking on the Future and Destination Graduation, these corporate partners help improve lives in OUR community by investing in Orange County children, families, and individuals. One of these “Investors in Change” is our 2011 Dimensions in Giving Partner, Western Digital. This award is given to the corporate partner that truly impacts our community through dollars raised for our Community Impact Fund, active community service, and an overall commitment to helping people though contributions of time, leadership, resources, and a spirit of giving. In 2010, Western Digital raised more than $1 million dollars for Orange County United Way.
2,000
New Workplace Campaign donors
$200,000
Increase in OCUW Community Impact Fund giving
44
Number of new/renewed Tocqueville Society Members
$230,000
Amount raised through the 8th Annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast in support of programs for women and girls
25
Number of new Women’s Philanthropy Fund Members
$235,000
Dollars raised at the 12th Annual Real Estate & Building Industry Mixer
949.660.7600 | www.unitedwayoc.org
agency success story Meet Nelly
Cookies and Confidence-Building: A Girl Scout Story “I would like to thank my Troop Leader, my mom, and Orange County United Way for giving me the opportunity to learn these great skills, a sense of belonging, and most of all giving me something to look forward to!” “My name is Nelly and I am from Girl Scout Troop #1909. When I became a Girl Scout I was very shy and did not have confidence in myself. When the cookie sale began our troop leader gave us several Financial Literacy Programs, which included learning goal setting, team work, money management, and business ethics. I set my goal at 100 boxes of cookies and to be truthful, I did not think I would be able to reach it. During the process of our sales and learning more about sales and goal setting, my mother came in and saw my goal, she asked me, “How do you think you are going to reach this goal?” Well, I saw this as a challenge and came up with a business plan—my mother and I would attend as many booth sales as possible, go door to door and continue to offer cookies to family. Not only did I reach my 100 boxes but I went on to sell 300 boxes! I learned that teamwork, setting a goal, and good customer service is great for business! Since I sold 300 boxes I am in the group of girls that have the opportunity to visit Knott’s Berry Farm for the first time! I now feel confident that any goal I set in life I can achieve if it is well planned and I believe in myself!
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communityimpact recent events
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1. HEALTHY DISCUSSION AND COLORING HOPE 1A. On June 21, 2011, Orange County United Way HEALTH partner agencies focused on providing safer shelter and secure housing gathered at the Orange County Rescue Mission for OCUW’s first-ever Peer-to-Peer Roundtable to discuss the challenges and opportunities present in meeting the growing needs for shelter services in Orange County. 1B. On Saturday, May 14, 2011, Orange County United Way’s Leaders’ and Tocqueville Society members UNITED to “Paint for a Cause” at our partner agency, Friendly Center. Friendly Center provides comprehensive family support provides emergency and supplemental food assistance for low-income families.
2. Team WD “Stamps out Hunger” On Saturday, May 14, 2011, 12 employees from Orange County United Way Dimensions in Giving partner, Western Digital gathered at the 1 League Post Office in Irvine for a little camaraderie and food collection to support the National Association of Letter Carriers annual food drive to “Stamp Out Hunger.” Western Digital’s “Team WD” mobilized their employees to collect nearly 4,400 pounds of food for those in need in OUR community. That’s equal to more than 3,000 meals! Thanks for restoring HOPE with your actions, Team WD!
3. TWO EVENTS, ONE MISSION: TO IMPROVE LIVES 3A. On Tuesday, May 10, 2011, OCUW’s Women’s Philanthropy Fund rolled out the pink carpet for the 8th Annual Women’s Philanthropy Fund Breakfast at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa. Nearly 600 of the county’s most influential women philanthropists, business leaders, and community volunteers gathered to raise money to help women and girls in Orange County build self-sufficient lives. Keynote
speaker, journalist and author, Leeza Gibbons shared her personal story behind the nonprofit she founded in honor of her mother and grandmother, The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation. Gibbons also talked about how lives and communities can be changed through education and shared her two main tenets for dealing with change: flexibility and forgiveness. 3B. On Thursday, May 5, 2011, Orange County United Way hosted the 12th Annual Real Estate & Building Industry Mixer at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort. More than 350 industry leaders dedicated to building better lives in Orange County turned out for the annual fundraising and networking event. The event, aptly titled “Cinco de Mayo Under the Stars,” was a shining example of what can be accomplished when the caring power of Orange County is mobilized to improve lives and strengthen our community.
4. UPS MAKES AN ‘IMPACT’ On April 7, 2011, Orange County United Way coordinated a “Day of Impact” for one of its key corporate partners, UPS. The day was created as an opportunity for leaders within UPS to experience first-hand, the breadth and depth of Orange County United Way’s Community Impact work and the critical difference the company’s support is making to improve lives in OUR community! UPS executives, Jerry Mattes – President, West Region and our 2011-12 Campaign Chairman and George Gibbs– HR, Employee Relations Manager, visited three of our partner agencies: Hands Together – A Center for Children, Irvine Adult Day Health Services and 2-1-1 Orange County, to learn about the various resources available to our neighbors, coworkers, and friends in need. Thanks a billion, UPS! *UPS is the first corporate partner to reach $1 billion dollars in giving to United Way.