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| In the Spotlight |
Freescale gearing up for 2011 Day of Caring
At Freescale, supporting United Way Capital Area and its annual Day of Caring events is natural as the company strives to use its technologies to make the world greener, safer, healthier and more connected.
In years past, Freescale's presence at United Way Day of Caring has been strong. The company typically adopts multiple projects and has been the title sponsor since the inception of the event. This year will be no different.
"We have already started to recruit our volunteers, many of whom come out year after year to offer support," said Michel Cadieux, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Security. "Our teams are looking forward to building wheelchair ramps, beautifying green spaces at local facilities, and planting and harvesting at a vegetable farm."
Getting involved is something that all local companies should consider, said Cadieux. "I strongly encourage the Austin business community to get involved and support United Way Day of Caring events. It’s a great way to promote volunteerism, show your commitment to the community, and gather your teams in a setting that promotes a winning and giving spirit."
"Our commitment to giving back to the communities in which we live and work is stronger now than ever before," said Cadieux. "We are taking our efforts one step further by focusing on initiatives that promote employee health and wellness. The Day of Caring events allow our teams to be physically active and work as a team to benefit the community."
Hands on Central Texas, a UWCA program, invites you to be a part of the Spring DAYS of Caring. This year, three separate days of service are being offered – Wed., April 13; Fri., April 15 or Sat., April 16. Volunteer on the day that works best for you!
Day of Caring projects will include gardening at local schools, painting, landscaping, delivering meals and much more! Visit www.handsoncentraltexas.org to sign up for a project!
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Getting Connected
Join us at the Cha-Ching Fling
The Young Leaders Society (YLS) will host a benefit for Bank on Central Texas on Thurs., April 7 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden. Join YLS for the Cha-Ching Fling featuring entertainment, food from Austin's finest restaurants, tastings, silent auctions and more to benefit UWCA's Bank on Central Texas program. Bank on Central Texas is designed to help residents open low and no-cost financial accounts and enable them to keep more of their hard-earned money by avoiding high check-cashing fees. Tickets are $25 for members and $35 for non-members and may be purchased online here. (Register for a username and password then proceed to ticket purchase page.)
Financial Fitness Greater Austin Rewards Youth for Financial Smarts
Creative thinking about how to finance their college education could lead to a big payout for some local middle and high school students. Students can demonstrate their financial know-how by entering the $mart Kid Essay Contest now through April 11. The contest is part of Financial Fitness Greater Austin (FFGA), an initiative of UWCA. Entries must be submitted in writing and postmarked by April 11. The contest is open to any student in the Austin area grades 6-12. For more information about the contest, workshops and other services offered by FFGA, please visit www.FinancialFitnessAustin.org.
Community Resources 101
2-1-1 Texas and UWCA are offering an on-going series of free trainings on community services for social services staff and volunteers. 2-1-1 Texas is a free statewide, 24-hour information line, providing access to more than 5,000 health and human services through a multilingual helpline and website. Participants will learn when to use 2-1-1 Texas and how to search the 2-1-1 Texas database to find information about available community resources. Click here for upcoming dates and to register.
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Your Local United Way in Action
UWCA Employees Assume New Leadership Roles
United Way Capital Area (UWCA) has promoted Lauren Paver to Chief Operating Officer and Kay Euresti Garza to Vice President, UWCA Helpline. As COO, Paver will direct the nonprofit’s daily operations and assist the organization in achieving strategic goals. In her three years at UWCA, Paver served as Vice President, Business Strategy and Director, Corporate Relations. Garza has been with UWCA for 10 years, most recently as Director, UWCA Helpline. Garza manages a team of 30 call specialists and community information and disaster coordinators who answered more than 326,000 calls in 2010. Read more here.
UWCA Staff Supports KUT
The UWCA Resource Development team joined other volunteers at the KUT phone bank during their spring membership drive this month to show support for public radio in Central Texas.
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Friends and Partners
Deloitte Increases Leadership Giving
Deloitte's Austin office set a new record for employee giving in 2010 and increased the number of employees contributing at a leadership giving level of $1,000 or more annually from 38 to 51. One of United Way's strongest corporate partners across the United States, Deloitte and its employees are committed to making an impact in the communities they serve. Locally, Deloitte is UWCA's leading professional service firm partner.
Baker Botts Leads with Tocqueville Society Givers
In 2010, employees at Baker Botts L.L.P surpassed their former UWCA giving record, and the company now has the most Tocqueville Society contributors (those who contribute $10,000 or more annually) with eight.
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In this issue
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Living United
"I am fortunate to work for a company that believes 100% that it is our responsibility to be of service to others in our community. I serve as a UWCA Volunteer Project Leader because it’s important to keep (AMD) employees informed of the needs in our community and to connect them with meaningful ways they can make a difference. We lean on UWCA to keep us connected to the pulse of our community and to help us find impactful projects for our employees. We believe that providing Volunteer Project Leader Training to our employees is crucial in helping them to not only represent our company when they are out in the community, but also to learn life-long skills they can take with them wherever life leads."
- Kristi Fontenot
Community Affairs Specialist
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
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Your Impact
In 2009-2010, more than 4,000 middle school students participated in leadership opportunities, college and career awareness programs and positive youth development activities. UWCA also worked with volunteers to improve out-of-school services for youth through the Youth Program Quality initiative. More than 45 afterschool programs were evaluated and 47 youth program professionals attended a professional development course. To find out more about UWCA's work in education visit
www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org.
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By the Numbers
As part of UWCA's income focus area, the UWCA Helpline referred more than 9,000 people to free tax assistance centers to file Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) claims. Grant funding also went to Foundation Communities to operate several of the free tax assistance centers.
Ask Debbie
How can I advocate for health and human services in my community?
"To become a good advocate, you first have to become an informed citizen. Choose an issue that is important to you and advocate by contacting your elected officials or joining a non-profit board related to the issue. Visit the resource library on our website (www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org) and stay up-to-date with local and national news to learn more about important issues and opinions in our community. You also can find current information and research from United Ways of Texas, which serves local United Ways across the state, at www.uwtexas.org."
- Debbie Bresette, President,
United Way Capital Area
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