Dear Friends:

I don't need to tell you that the economic downturn is impacting everyone in our community. While this has created significant worry and uncertainty for all, I believe it also provides an opportunity.

This is not the time for timidity. Right now, real people need real help, and United Way is answering the call. Our LIVE UNITED invitation to GIVE/ ADVOCATE/VOLUNTEER is a way for Central Texans to involve themselves in effective community solutions.

Our Community Impact approach and funding is designed to help those in immediate need. It also provides the tools and skills around the building blocks for a better life, to empower and help insulate individuals and families from future economic ups and downs. So everyone has the opportunity for a better life.

We have to go beyond just meeting people's needs because by focusing on solving and preventing problems, not just managing them, we are leveraging our supporters dollars. People understand that and are responding to it.

These are very tough times for all of us, but we should not let uncertainty and fear dictate and hinder our moves and thinking. We have to grasp the opportunity. We have to conquer our fear. I am confident we have done our homework. With your help we can provide a way out. Provide a way forward for everyone in our community.

We must turn concern into action. Help us tackle our community's most critical problems by committing yourself to Live United and be a part of the change you want to see.

Thank you again for your support and a happy and prosperous 2009 to all of you.

Regards,
David W. Balch
President & Chief Professional Officer
United Way Capital Area

Join us as we spend a few hours volunteering and remembering just how true those words are. Like Dr. King, Hands On Central Texas believes everyone can achieve greatness through service to others. The MLK Day of Service volunteer projects and activities will help you understand how you can use Dr. King's blueprint for civic and social activism to affect social change in your community.

We will start the day with "Reflecting on the Dream," a civic engagement session that will focus on Dr. King's philosophies and why they are still relevant today. MLK Reflecting on the Dream Kick-Off presenters include, Texas State Representative Dawnna Dukes, Dr. Larry Earvin, President of Huston Tillotson University and the 4th Annual Children's MLK Oratory Competition, "I have a Dream" Reading.

Sign up to volunteer for a project here.

MLK Day of Service

Date: Saturday, January 17, 2009
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Location: Huston-Tillotson University
Davage-Durden Union Building
900 Chicon Street
Austin, Tx 78702

•Volunteer Check-In: 9:00am – 10:00am
•"Reflecting on the Dream": 10:00 am - 11:00 am
•Service Projects: 11:00am – 3:00pm

Note: All volunteers are required to check-in starting at 9am!

The Texas Legislative session starts in January 2009. Here’s one way United Way works as an advocate for the community with United Ways of Texas (UWT) at every legislative session. UWT is the statewide association of Texas’ local United Ways and its members represent 70 communities and the overwhelming majority of Texans.

United Ways of Texas’ priorities for the 2009 Texas Legislature are fully aligned with our priority goals of Education, Financial Stability and Health to advance the common good. In addition, they continue our efforts to support Texas nonprofits, to increase disaster preparedness and to promote 2-1-1 Texas.

The legislative priorities for 2009 are;

1. Education – Helping Children and Youth Achieve their Potential
   • Expand and Improve Access to and the Quality of Pre-Kindergarten
   • Increase Pre-Service Training Requirements for Child Care Workers
   • Increase the Graduation Rate and College Readiness with Proven Strategies
2. Income – Promoting Financial Stability and Independence
   • Create Incentives for Participation in State-Supported College Savings Plans
   • Promote Financial Stability Among Texas Seniors
   • Increase Utilization of the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit
3. Health – Improving People’s Health
   • Support Efforts to Expand Access to Health Insurance for Children and Adults
   • Increase the Dental Health of Low-Income Children
   • Improve and Expand Disease Prevention Efforts to Improve Health and Save Money
   • Address Obesity among Texans of All Ages
   • Support Efforts to Assist Texas Seniors to Age Healthy and Well
4. Building Capacity of Texas United Ways
   • Sustain Public and Private Investment in 2-1-1
   • Protect the Tax Exemptions and Advocacy Voice of Texas Nonprofits
   • Ensure Appropriate Representation of Nonprofits in Disaster Preparedness
   • Monitor Issues Relevant to the Work of Local United Ways

Thank you to all the United Way Success By 6 supporters who adopted a child care center for the holidays, especially:

Tabatha and Cameron Brown

The Women's Giving Network Executive Committee

The nonprofit child care centers are United Way Success By 6 funded partners that serve low-income families. Your gifts and contributions helped brighten their holidays - and the future of our children.

From left to right: United Way Women's Giving Network Executive Committee members Brenda Strama, Tabatha Brown, Mary Ellen Sax, Sydney Heard,
Bonnie Pepin, Susan Marler, Marie Baker, Peg Hart,
Jennifer Sanderson, and Trisa Thompson.

From left to right: Janell Fotovich, Heather Mason, and Charlene Hamlet, members of Applied Materials' Women's Professional Development Network, collected and delivered gifts to Trinity Child Development Center as part of
the Child Care Center Adoption project.

KPMG delivers their gifts to Mainspring Schools

Anywhere in Texas, anyone can call 2-1-1 for free information and referrals to health and human service agencies, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, disaster relief resources, and volunteer opportunities. 2-1-1 is:

1. Free and confidential
2. Available 24/7
3. Accessible by TTY/TDD
4. Multilingual
5. Accessible from cell phones
6. A program of United Way

In the last 12 months, we've seen a 17% increase in calls from people requesting assistance. The biggest increases have been seen in requests for help with electric bills, rent, food and food stamps.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is also reporting that food-stamp participation in Texas jumped from 2.68 million individuals in August to 2.95 million in September.

The Community Action Network announced its 2008 Butler Award Winners.

Congratulations go to one of our funded agencies, Family Eldercare, who received a Butler Award for its Summer Fan Drive.

The Butler Awards were established in 2006 in honor of Fred Butler who retired as Executive Director of Community Action Network after 11 years of service.

Our campaign video outlines our approach to provide opportunities for everyone to succeed, and the work and results in each of our 3 focus areas, Education, Financial Stability and Health. The building blocks for a good life. You can see it for yourself here.