United Way June 2016 Newsletter

JUNE 2016 | VOLUME 3 unitedwayerie.org

IN THIS ISSUE:

Meet Nevada: Read an Enter Kindergarten Ready story United Way Book Swaps Beating the Slide

BEATING THE SUMMER SLIDE

2016 Board Chair, Janel Bonsell Principal, Schaffner, Knight, Minnaugh & Company, P.C.

Summer. For most people in Erie, and especially for children, this is their favorite season. We’re done with snow (well, hopefully) and it’s time to get outside to enjoy just being outdoors without having to put on a coat, hat, gloves and boots. A time to relish and be carefree.

Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, it is also a vulnerable time for many children, particularly those from low income households. It’s a time when they become prone to falling into the “summer slide.” This is not a game or a part of a children’s playground. Quite the opposite. The term summer slide refers to a very real condition that leads to poor performance in school and increased odds of dropping out before high school graduation.

During the summer break, children who are not encouraged to read, or are not exposed to continuing learning opportunities, lose academic skills from the previous school year. This occurs in much greater frequency with low income children. They slide back and start the next school year months behind children from moderate income households. A study by Johns Hopkins University shows that by the end of fifth grade, low income children fall more than two years behind their middle-class peers in verbal achievement, reflecting a significant cumulative impact if the summer slide is not addressed.

The Campaign for Grade Level Reading, a national collaborative effort among dozens of foundations, lists summer learning loss as one of the major obstacles to reading proficiency at the end of third grade. Reading proficiency at the end of third grade is the number one indicator of whether a child is going to stay and succeed in school, or drop out before high school graduation.

INSIDE THIS EDITION 3 Self-Sufficiency Continuum 4 Erie FREE Taxes 5 Faces United 6 Young Leaders Society

Loyal Contributors

7 Legacy Society

(814) 456-2937 facebook.com/UnitedWayErie @UnitedWayErie

iReadProgram.org The data is deep and wide. The summer slide is a serious condition that affects the future of thousands of children in our community. The solution is not complicated – we need to make sure children have books and are encouraged to read over the summer. Reading just six books over the summer can mitigate the summer slide, saving teachers between four to six weeks of trying to re-teach material to students suffering from the summer slide at the beginning of the new school year.

TOGETHER, IMPROVING COMMUNITY CONDITIONS

Meet Jamie. Like many children living in Erie County Jamie lives in poverty.

Learn more and watch Jamie’s story at UnitedWayErie.org/Video.

3 This year United Way invited companies to run book drives for gently used or new children’s books. To date, more than 8,000 books have been collected.

During the month of June, these books were distributed, FREE, at eight Summer Slide Book Swap events throughout Erie County. United Way thanks these companies, and their volunteers, who have helped with the book drives, sorting the books into age categories, and who were on hand at the swap events. More information can be found at UnitedWayErie.org/Book-Swaps.

In addition to providing free books to children and families at the book swaps, information about additional resources to counter the summer slide was made available. For example, the Erie County Public Library is running a 2016 Summer Library Challenge program from June 11 to August 15. Registration is free and participants will be rewarded for every five Children visit the Martin Luther King Center and select six books each at United Way’s Free Kids Book Swap event held June 2. hours they spend reading.

More information can be found at ErieLibrary.org/SummerLibraryChallenge.

This year’s United Way Summer Slide Book Drives and Swaps are just the beginning. Together, we can collect and distribute more books for future events. Together, we can encourage children to read at least six books during the summer.

Together, we can increase awareness of the summer slide and the simple solution to stop the slide in our community.

That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED.

Want to know more?

United Way of Erie County is committed to helping Erie kids beat the summer slide. You can find additional information about the summer slide including data, resources and tips for reading by visiting UnitedWayErie.org/SummerSlide.

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

CONTINUUM

United Way of Erie County is mobilizing the community to improve community conditions. By starting with a foundation of Emergency & Basic Needs, United Way helps empower every person to reach milestones that help on their path to success from birth to adulthood.

IMPROVING COMMUNITY CONDITIONS SECURE & MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT

BE CAREER READY GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL SUCCEED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL READ AT 3rd GRADE LEVEL ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY BORN & STAY HEALTHY EMERGENCY & BASIC NEEDS MET

Want to know more?

You can learn more about how your support of United Way is helping to improve community conditions in Erie County by visiting UnitedWayErie.org/Funding.

UnitedWayErie.org

PARTNERSHIPS & INITIATIVES Erie FREE Taxes

Free tax prep program sets record, helps more than 6,400 in Erie County Erie FREE Taxes helps eligible low and moderate income wage-earners to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by providing free tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).

End-of-season statistics show that 6,480 federal returns were filed through United Way Erie FREE Taxes for the 2016 filing season. This represents a 13% increase over 2015.

Federal refund dollars returned to the Erie community through Erie FREE Taxes topped $10.1 million, including more than $3.8 million in Earned Income Tax Credit dollars.

When tax filer savings are combined with federal refund dollars, the total 2016 value of United Way Erie FREE Taxes program is an estimated $11.8 million dollars.

Since The Erie Community Foundation first brought the program to Erie County 9 years ago, more than $54 million in federal refund dollars have been returned to Erie County through program volunteer efforts. The estimated cumulative program value of Erie FREE Taxes is nearly $61.6 million.

United Way of Erie County and other funders hope to see program numbers increase from one year to the next.

That’s how growth and success are measured. And, we’re fortunate that Erie FREE Taxes has consistently achieved this.

But, behind the numbers, the real story is that when working people use the VITA free tax prep program, and are helped to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), we all benefit. Those who receive assistance are able to keep up their basic spending, such as purchasing necessities or paying bills on time. That spending boosts the local economy and the community benefits. When the economy is healthy, the community thrives.

A very BIG thanks to the 153 volunteers making these results possible! Below is more information about how you can volunteer with Erie FREE Taxes.

Get involved

Each year, trained Erie FREE Taxes volunteers help tax filers in your community keep more of their hard-earned money. But, volunteering isn’t simply about doing taxes for free. It’s about helping families work toward financial stability. For some, the Earned Income Tax Credit will give them the funds needed to start an emergency savings account, make a down payment on a new home or pay off burdensome debt.

If you want to make a difference, please answer the call, be a VITA volunteer and LIVE UNITED. Be the difference you want to see right in your own community. To learn more and become a volunteer, visit UnitedWayErie.org/ErieFreeTaxes.

TOGETHER, IMPROVING COMMUNITY CONDITIONS

5

FACES UNITED Meet Nevada

When Nevada’s mother attended a program of United Way of Erie County’s impact partner, Union City Family Support Center, she heard about the Imagination Library, an early literacy initiative of United Way. Nevada was enrolled in the free program and began receiving a book each month delivered to her home in her name.

Before the Imagination Library, Nevada had access to a very limited number of books and only received them as Christmas or birthday gifts. Once enrolled, Nevada started checking the mailbox regularly with excitement and reading became a nightly routine.

She is now a flourishing kindergartener reading proficiently and with joy. Gifts to United Way ensured Nevada had access to high-quality age appropriate books, her mother was equipped to be a proactive parent and she was prepared to enter kindergarten ready.

ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY Meet Zyshyon After aging out of Kindercare, Zyshyon was faced with needing some place to go after school. He decided to join his friends who attend Middle Gears After-school EdVenture, a program of United Way’s impact partner, Erie’s Public Schools.

Through Gears, Zyshyon now participates in quality STEM related activities four days a week. His favorites include engineering, rocketry, inter-mural sports and food science.

Actually, he enjoys food science so much he currently aspires to have a successful career as a chef, but says anything working with his hands will make him happy.

Gifts to United Way helped guide Zyshyon on the right path to succeed in middle school. He has flourished both academically and socially and improved by a grade level in his science class.

SUCCEED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL About FACES UNITED

The people portrayed in Faces United call Erie County home. The stories show how lives have been changed with help from your support of United Way of Erie County. A large scale photographic display exhibit made possible

by Penelec - A FirstEnergy Company, will be traveling throughout 2016, so be sure to check out the schedule at FacesUnited.org.

UnitedWayErie.org

YOUNG LEADERS SOCIETY United Way’s Young Leaders Society (YLS) consists of individuals under age 30 who annually give at least $250 to United Way, or anyone under age 45 who gives $500 or more annually. One benefit of being a YLS member is invitations to Lunch with Leaders events. The events allow members to hear from community leaders while networking with peers.

The most recent event featured Mr. Tom Hagen who spoke about historical preservation in Erie at the Hagen Historical Center. Be sure to check your mail; additional Lunch with Leaders are planned this year!

In addition to networking events, YLS is focused on helping achieve United Way’s goal to help more people become self-sufficient. As a group, YLS does this by putting a special focus on helping children stay engaged in school and hopeful about their future.

Did you know 10% of all undesignated YLS gifts go to support the fifth grade at McKinley Elementary School?

The support of YLS provided more than 100 children with a field trip to the Carnegie Science Center to cap off this school year!

If you’re not already a YLS member, become a part of the network of passionate, young people creating lasting impact in Erie! Contact John Simon, Assistant Vice President of Investor Relations at john@unitedwayerie.org or (814) 456-2937, ext. 247.

Thanks to the generosity of United Way YLS members, the entire 5th grade class from McKinley Elementary travelled to the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh at the end of the school year.

SAVE the DATE

LOYAL CONTRIBUTOR PICNIC Wednesday, August 17 • 4:30 - 6:30PM

United Way of Erie County • 420 West Sixth Street • Erie, PA The Loyal Contributor program recognizes and thanks donors of any giving level who have supported United Way for 10 years or more.

Visit UnitedWayErie.org/Loyal for more information.

TOGETHER, IMPROVING COMMUNITY CONDITIONS

7

LEGACY SOCIETY

Highlights

Creating lasting change.

UNITED WAY

ENDOWMENT

OPTIONS Create lasting change through your gift to United Way’s two endowment funds.

THANK YOU for all that you do to support United Way’s work! Every day United Way of Erie County touches the lives of many people in your community. It is only through your generosity that we can accomplish all that we do and will do in the future.

With your help, our organization can flourish and accomplish so much more. United Way’s endowment, built through the generosity of supporters like you, permits us to continue our work today and in the future. And, we now have a second endowment to offer you more choice.

If you are looking for a way to leave a lasting legacy, it’s easier than you might think to make a significant impact through a gift to either of our two endowments.

United Way’s general endowment will ensure the long-term success and stability of our mission to improve lives and build a stronger community in Erie County. In addition, you now also have a second option: United Way’s ♥2 Read Endowment. This separate endowment exists solely to assure that Erie County has proven best practice resources to promote early childhood literacy, specifically the Imagination Library.

You can truly leave a gift that keeps on giving, providing free, high quality books to your community’s children each month for generations to come.

While gifts of cash and checks are always appreciated, gifts to our endowment can be made in many other ways. And you can make a gift without affecting your current lifestyle by using your assets during your lifetime and leaving what remains to help further our mission.

A bequest made through your will to either of these endowments is one of the easiest ways to help us.

Bequests make a dramatic impact on our mission because they create a legacy for you while helping us serve others.

Best of all, your values, your ideals and your legacy last forever.

If you have already included United Way in your planning, please let us know. This way, we can ensure your wishes are followed, plus we can recognize and thank you for helping us make a difference!

Would you like more information?

Contact John Simon, Assistant Vice President of Investor Relations, john@unitedwayerie.org, 814-456-2937, ext.

247 or visit ErieLegacy.org.

This information is not intended as tax, legal or financial advice. Gift results may vary.

Consult your personal financial advisor for information specific to your situation.

UnitedWayErie.org

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Erie, PA Permit No. 370

420 West 6th Street Suite 200 Erie, PA 16507 unitedwayerie.org

BREAKING NEWS IT’S BACK, LET’S PACK!

2016

SAVE THE DATE JULY 12 - Tocqueville Award Dinner

250 PEOPLE x 2 HRS = 75,000 MEALS

HELP FEED 1 IN 4 FACING HUNGER IN ERIE COUNTY

CAMPAIGN KICKOFF MEAL PACK-A-THON SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 | 2:00-4:00PM

The 2016 workplace giving campaign will kick off a bit differently this year! United Way will be joining forces with presenting sponsor Curtze Food Service, and more than 300 volunteers for the Campaign Kickoff Meal Pack-A-Thon on September 1.

At the event, 75,000 meals will be packaged and donated to the Second Harvest Foodbank of NWPA! In addition to a good time while celebrating the kick off of United Way’s annual workplace giving campaign, each volunteer will receive a commemorative t-shirt!

Table Sponsorships Still Available!

UnitedWayErie.org/PackAThon Presenting sponsor:

AUGUST 2 - National Night Out 3/4 - Employee Campaign Manager Workshops 17 - Loyal Contributor Picnic 29 - Women Driving Philanthropy SEPTEMBER 1 - Campaign Kickoff Pack-A-Thon 13 - Organized Labor Kickoff Dates subject to change.

Visit UnitedWayErie.org for complete details.

31