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In the Spotlight
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From Little Brother to Big Brother
In 1973, when Gregg Houston was four years old, his father passed away. Two years later, his mother enrolled him in a mentoring program in Michigan so he could have a positive male influence in his life. Early this year, Gregg began repaying the favor which was paid to him as a child and became a mentor to Elliot, a shy 15-year-old boy whose mother passed away from cancer three years ago and who now lives with his grandmother.
“My kids are grown up now. I have two daughters I raised like boys so my wife said I needed to finally have a boy,” Gregg said with a smile. Gregg, who works for the IRS, learned about the need for mentors at the company’s annual leadership conference and signed up through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, a partner of UWCA and 1 Hour for Kids.
United Way Capital Area’s initiatives, such as 1 Hour For Kids, focus on helping hundreds of at-risk middle school students make connections to mentors, tutors, advocates, role models and other supportive adults who can help them achieve academic and life success.
Currently, one out of every four of Austin’s students entering the ninth grade does not graduate from high school. UWCA’s experts in education know that middle school students with at least one supportive adult in their lives are twice as likely to graduate from high school as those who do not.
Click here to read more.
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Getting Connected
UWCA Fall Day of Caring
Friday, September 10, 2010
Volunteer Projects 8:30am - 12:30pm
Sign-up in advance at www.handsoncentraltexas.org
Appreciation Lunch 1 pm - 3 pm
The Long Center for the Performing Arts
701 West Riverside Drive
UWCA Day of Caring is a community-wide event that addresses critical social issues through meaningful volunteer action. Each year, more than 2,500 community volunteers lend a hand in tackling issues such as education, income and health - doing everything from building homes to delivering meals to beautifying community parks.
For more information about UWCA’s Fall Day of Caring, or to volunteer and sign up for projects, visit www.handsoncentraltexas.org.
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Your Local United Way in Action
United Way Recognizes UPS for Record $1 Billion in Total Contributions
This summer one of United Way’s most valued partners, UPS, will reach an incredible milestone in total contributions reaching $1 billion worldwide. “Reaching $1 billion in total contributions is astounding,” remarked Debbie Bresette, President of UWCA. “Just imagine how many lives UPS has impacted with their generosity through the years, not just here in Austin, but all around the world.”
“To my knowledge, UPS is the first company ever to have contributed $1 billion through one organization, a tremendous accomplishment both for our employees and the communities that benefit from United Way services,” said Ken Sternad, President of The UPS Foundation. “We appreciate the recognition that our drivers, and our company, is receiving from United Way.”
UWCA and Austin’s UPS branch have a long and productive history together. In celebration of UPS’ milestone accomplishment, UWCA joined other United Ways around the world in a “Thank a Driver” campaign in early August. UWCA hosted a celebratory event at UPS’ Austin office recognizing all drivers and honoring them for this incredible achievement.
If you’d like to help us thank a UPS driver, consider signing the online thank you card at www.groupcard.com/c/pbiG8WE2FPz. Messages from this effort will be collected in a hardcover volume and presented to UPS. Also consider retweeting a United Way messages or create your own tweet sharing how UPS has made a difference in your community. Be sure to include the #thanksUPS hash tag so our collective thank you is heard loud and clear.
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Friends and Partners
Community Involvement is Basic Tenet of Flextronics
The name Flextronics may be relatively new to Austin, but the organization, and its ties to UWCA, goes back decades. “We have a special relationship with United Way Capital Area that is based on partnership and trust,” says Larry Hersh, HR Director for Flextronics.
In addition to their annual employee giving campaign, Flextronics has just awarded its second consecutive annual Flex Foundation Grant of $5,000, a practice they hope to continue for years to come. “UWCA is constantly rethinking their strategies to find new and innovative ways to improve the quality of life in our community,” Larry continues. “Working with them allows us to give our dollars to one organization which uses it’s expertise to decide the best ways it can impact Central Texas.” The grant will be used to fund UWCA’s community impact work in education, income and health.
Flextronics also gives back to the Austin area through its community involvement efforts. Their employees have been regular volunteers at the Fall and Spring Day of Caring events and they recently sponsored a book drive.
UWCA would like to thank Flextronics for their exceptional community involvement and long-term and continuing support of its Day of Caring program.
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In this issue
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Living United
“The Austin American-Statesman partners with United Way Capital Area by supporting the community through volunteerism and philanthropy, which are both part of our company culture. It’s a lot of fun for us to be a part of the United Way campaign too! Our employees take pride in their personal involvement as well as the support provided by the entire organization. I believe, as does everyone here at the Austin American-Statesman, in the mission of the UWCA and the powerful impact that it has on the greater Austin community.”
– Michael Vivio, Publisher,
Austin American-Statesman
UWCA Board of Directors member
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Your Impact
Samsung Donates 55,000 Pennies to UWCA
Do you know what $550 in pennies looks like? On July 27, Samsung Austin Semiconductor (SAS) donated $2,000 to UWCA - $550 of it in pennies. Representatives carried in 16 boxes weighing 14 pounds each as well as a jar, weighing more than 80 pounds.
“Since October 2009, we have been collecting pennies during our T-Project, which saw the reconfiguration of our Fabrication Plant that handles the back-end manufacturing of our site,” said In-Young Kim, Public Relations Specialist for SAS. “For every incident-free minute of the project, one cent was accumulated, and when the project was completed earlier this summer, we had $2,000 which we were happy to donate to UWCA.”
This is just a recent example of Samsung’s impact in the Austin community, which extends back to 1999. UWCA thanks Samsung Austin Semiconductor for their generous and innovative, not to mention heavy, contribution.
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Ask Debbie
How does United Way Capital Area deliver on its mission?
“United Way delivers on our mission by working with community partners to:
- Assess our area’s most pressing health and human service needs;
- Invest your contribution in proven programs that meet these critical needs; and
- Deliver results in terms of lives changed and United Way’s direct impact on key issues that matter locally.”
- Debbie Bresette, President,
United Way Capital Area
Let me know what's on your mind.
By the Numbers
Imagine the power and excitement of having hundreds of local volunteers working on all kinds of projects in a single day. That’s exactly what happens during UWCA’s Hands On Days of Service. Since 2008, Austin’s volunteers have come out in higher numbers than ever before to help improve their community!
- Total volunteers, 2008 = 1,575
- Total volunteers, 2009 = 2,200
For more information about UWCA’s Fall Day of Caring, or to volunteer and sign-up for projects, visit www.handsoncentraltexas.org.
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