Dear Friends:

Two of my favorite things in life are my garden and the community we share. Right now, in October, I am celebrating and taking delight in both, because each space is surprising me with wonderful things. As we move into a wetter season, I am seeing all of the work I put into the garden during the hot, dry summer take fruit and bloom everywhere I look.

In our community, I am also seeing great things come to life. On Friday, September 18th, United Way and Peoplefund, with the Bank On Central Texas core planning team, hosted a convening of financial partners at Austin City Hall that will begin an initiative to provide financial security to many Central Texas families.

The previous Friday, September 11, our Day of Caring was one of the more memorable United Way Days of Caring. We kicked-off not only United Way’s Day of Caring event, but also the 2009 community-wide giving campaign.

With the help of Lowe's, we installed our first Born Learning Trail in Bartholomew park, with many more to come.

What's most important to remember about these wonderful things I'm seeing is that they do not happen overnight, nor do they come about with the help of just one individual or organization. Like a garden, our community thrives, sustains itself, and produces something beautiful when it has all of the nurturing ingredients it needs.

I know that, without your help, there would be very little, if anything in the way of good news to share. If you missed this year's Day of Caring and Campaign Kickoff, there are still plenty of ways to give back to your community:

• This month, CNN's Campbell Brown is the speaker at our annual fundraiser. Tickets are still available, if you are planning to attend. This is a great opportunity to network with some of the most influential leaders in our community.
• If you're buying or selling a home, Laurie Loew of Give Realty shows how you can make sure 25% of the commission goes to your favorite non-profit.
• Finally, if you really want to see firsthand the results of giving back, and know you're making a difference, we invite you to volunteer for 1 Hour For Kids.

Enjoy this cooler, wetter weather, and don't hesitate to drop me a line to talk about how you can make a difference!

Take care,

Debbie Bresette
Interim President and CPO

On Friday, September 11, 2009 United Way’s Day of Caring was one of the more memorable United Way Days of Caring.

We kicked-off not only United Way’s Day of Caring event, but also the 2009 community-wide giving campaign.

We started the day with a volunteer breakfast, followed by a tribute to those whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001; turning remembrance of a day of tragedy into a day of hope and caring.

The presentation of colors by the Civil Air Patrol Pegasus Squadron Elite Color Guard and the National Anthem sung by Tanya Winch, a local artist who brought tears to the eyes of many of the volunteers.

Guest speakers spoke about the importance of volunteering in Central Texas and rallied hundreds of volunteers who gathered at the kick-off breakfast event.

Will Matthews, representing the Athletes for Hope Organization, shared his passion for philanthropy and talked about the importance of improving lives and strengthening communities through volunteer service.

Throughout the day more than 1,000 volunteers worked at over 50 project sites throughout Central Texas, helping local nonprofits. Volunteers upgraded childcare facilities, trained for disaster response, beautified community gardens, improved parks and much more.

The estimated dollar value of the volunteer time on this single day was $111,172!

See more pictures from the event here.

Share your United Way Day of Caring volunteer experience by sending us your pictures and comments!

A recent Statesman editorial says it all: "If you want to fix high school, start with middle school."

Middle school, says University of Texas researcher Ed Fuller, is the gatekeeper for student success in high school and college. Students who do poorly in middle school — particularly on the eighth-grade math portion of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills — are the ones most likely to fail ninth grade and eventually drop out. And low performers who do graduate from high school are less likely to be prepared for college work. So it all goes back to middle school. The Legislature and school superintendents should pay attention to this.

That's why we are launching a new initiative called 1 Hour for Kids.

We're looking to recruit 400 volunteers who can commit 1 hour per week to support a middle school student. You can learn more about this exciting initiative and how you can get involved with 1 Hour for Kids and help United Way help more of our kids.

Her business, Give Realty, does just that! By donating 25% of their commission to the nonprofit of the client’s choice, 14 nonprofits have been recipients of over $26,000.00 this year, with a donation average of more than $2150 per transaction.

What experience(s) prompted you to start a business like Give Realty?
Wow! Where do I start? Believe it or not, the business model was a result of my divorce! I was trying to figure out how to stay in the real estate business and do something different in the industry. While I was strategizing and working on marketing plans, my ex-husband and I were also discussing the financial side of the divorce when things got a bit strained between the two of us. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself and being the 9th of 10 children, I was always told to count my blessings. I had a career I loved, a wonderful family, great friends and a few dollars in the bank - so many things to be thankful for! It was this realization that sparked the business model. I also realized that the donation had to be meaningful for the client. That's why it is 25% of the commission and the buyer or seller picks the nonprofit of THEIR choice. The only requirements are for the organization to have 501(c)3 status and be in good standing.

What do you say to someone who might initially be skeptical of using your services to buy or sell a home?
First and foremost, there are no additional charges for our services, so we aren't offsetting our donations by raising the commissions. Secondly, it is not a marketing ploy. We are deeply committed to our community and to the nonprofit sector. Third, whether you believe in the business model or not, everyone benefits from it! Fourth, we don't rebate the 25% back to you in lieu of a donation - we are Give Realty - not "sometimes we Give" Realty. The donation isn't optional.

Give us a brief story of someone who was completely amazed and pleased at how smoothly the buying or selling process went, and how they were able to give back to charity at the same time.
While working with a long term past client, I explained my new business adventure and he was pretty nonchalant about the whole thing. He and his wife had used me to purchase and sell two homes already, and they were going to hire me to sell their home regardless. Once the home sale was complete, they decided on the nonprofit and we did the check presentation. They said the best part of the entire transaction was making the donation and they now understood what Give Realty was all about. It was very impactful and emotional for them in such a positive way. The philanthropy seed was planted!

Tell us some of your favorite experiences you've had working with the non-profit community here in Austin: either rewarding moments from your business, or other experiences, like volunteering.
I have met such great people in the local nonprofit community. Everyone has been so warm and welcoming. I have learned so much about what the needs are in the community, and what is being done to fill those needs. I think the recent change in our financial world has made everyone realize what is important, and that we need to engage in our community in order to make it a better place. That's how I met my business partner, Robin LeTourneau. She was already very involved with the nonprofit community on a volunteer basis. I found a kindred spirit in her and she took the risk of leaving a large brokerage to share the vision.

What are a few things you love about living in Austin?
People who live in Austin are usually here because they choose to be, so the dynamics are a bit different than other cities. Like many other Austinites, I'm a fan of all the live music, the great barbecue, the beauty and culture of our city. Most importantly though, it's the great people I have met and the friends I have made. I was born and raised in Arizona and most of my family still lives there, but I feel that Austin is home.

Do you have any quick, "current market" advice for current home buyers or sellers?
Thank goodness we have had some rain to take care of this issue, but always remember to check and make sure there isn't a gap between the soil and your home's foundation. This can cause expensive foundation problems if the ground is dry over a long period of time. Don't upgrade more than necessary, since you won't always get the full return on your investment. Do research to see what improvements bring the most benefit.

Click here to learn more about Give Realty.

Bank On Central Texas, increasing community financial stability
On September 18, United Way Capital Area and PeopleFund presented Bank On Central Texas (BOCT) to representatives from more than 20 financial institutions. Bank On Central Texas is a community initiative that aims to bring together banks, credit unions, financial services providers and nonprofits--a collaborative of government, private sector and community organizations--to bring more people into the financial mainstream. The meeting was hosted by Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, with Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez and City Council Member Chris Riley also lending their support for Bank On Central Texas.

This initiative aims to empower Central Texans to develop assets and build long term wealth through engagement in responsible financial management and education.

For more information about BOCT, please click here.

Born Learning Trail
The first Born Learning Park Trail was installed and sponsored by Lowe’s during our recent Days of Caring event at Bartholomew Park on 51st and Berkman Drive. The Trail includes metal signs prompting parents to talk, sing, read, and play with their children while enjoying the park.

The trail creates a “value add” to Windsor Park, one of the larger neighborhoods in Austin, by offering families a wonderful place to get active, and elevate awareness of early childhood education.

Quote from the Windsor Park Association Director:

The Learning Trail is AWESOME! I went to the park to check it out today (Sat) and there was a man with his toddler daughter playing in the area (hopping) and they didn't even live in the neighborhood. He was driving by and the colors caught his eye so he turned around and was playing with his little girl! Yeah!

Click here to see more pictures of the trail.

211/ United Way Helpline
The 211/United Way Capital Area Helpline has signed a contract with the Travis County Health Care District to be the Medical Assistance Program (MAP) access point. MAP is a program that helps Travis County residents with low income and no insurance have access to health care. Kay Garza, Director of 211, has been asked to sit on a small committee for the state Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to design a program that will allow 211 to do similar work statewide.

Additionally, 2-1-1 Texas began serving as the statewide access point for all calls related to H1N1 on Friday, September 25. The 2-1-1/United Way Capital Area Helpline is hiring 5 new Information and Referral (I&R) Specialists to assist with H1N1 calls. I&R Specialists will also be responsible for transferring calls to Department of State Health Services medical staff for callers requesting, or determined to need, clinical education about H1N1. They will be available to take H1N1-related calls through March 2010.

Vivir Unidos
As part of our our VIVIR UNIDOS Hispanic engagement program, we've developed a partnership with Ahora Si - Austin American-Statesman's Spanish newspaper. Through our partnership, we will be promoting monthly volunteer opportunities, recognizing outstanding Hispanic volunteers in the community and providing editorials on issues important to the Hispanic community. We have already published two editorials highlighting United Way's 1 Hour for Kids initiative and United We Serve - Austin:

Si te conviertes en voluntario, serás la solución

Una hora para los jóvenes: Ayúdalos a aprender

We've also completed and launched the Spanish version of our website:
www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org/es