Please plan to join us at the home of Betsy Abell on the evening of October 23rd for the WGN Annual Meeting.

Susan Dawson, Executive Director of the E3 (Education Equals Economics) Alliance and Former Chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, will speak about the regional effort to increase global competitiveness, economic vitality and overall quality of life for Central Texas by aligning our education systems to better fulfill the potential of every citizen.

Susan will share E3's Blueprint for Change and show how United Way Success By 6 is helping to shape the action plan for school readiness.

Susan Dawson's many awards related to her work in education and beyond include the Austin Profiles in Power "Profile Leader" award, being named Austin Under 40 "Austinite of the Year", the Rostow Leadership Award from the Austin Project for leadership in education, the Greater Austin Chamber "Education Volunteer of the Year" and the UT McCombs School "Trailblazer Award" for the distinguished woman alumni trailblazer in business and community.

October 23rd
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Heavy hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served

Hosted by Betsy Abell

For more information, or to RSVP, contact susan.marler@unitedwaycapitalarea.org
or call Susan Marler at 512-225-0371.

United Way Capital Area Women's Giving Network members have been invited to attend a speaker event, hosted by Impact Austin, featuring author Lynne Twist.

Twist will share on themes of her book, The Soul of Money, which has been described as a wise and inspiring exploration of the connection between money and leading a fulfilling life. Lynne will discuss how examining our attitudes toward money--how we earn it, spend it, invest it and give it away--can offer surprising insight into our lives, our values and the essence of prosperity.

The cost of this event is $20.

It will be held at the Congregation Agudas Achim Sanctuary at the Dell Jewish Community Campus on Thursday October 16, 2008 at 7pm.

Please contact rpowers@impact-austin.org to RSVP.

Dear Friends and Supporters:

The month began with our Fall volunteer Day of Caring and is closing with a testament to the power of volunteerism, with ongoing assistance to Hurricane Ike emergency rescue and relief.

I want to share with you a story of collaboration and the success of a great public/private partnership.

As the Hurricane was barreling down on the coast of Texas, we were asked to house the Texas Health and Human Services Disaster Response Kit (DR Kit) at our 2-1-1 Texas center right here in Austin. The DR Kit is a mobile unit consisting of 32 VOIP phone and computer systems which was linked up to all of the 2-1-1 centers across the state, to help provide crisis information and support to people during the evacuation, search and rescue, and recovery efforts 24/7. This is the first time that this DR Kit has been deployed during a disaster and was a collaborative effort between the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and United Way Capital Area's programs 2-1-1 Texas, and Hands on Central Texas (HOCT).

HOCT was asked to help recruit, coordinate and place community, corporate and state volunteers and our local 2-1-1 Texas was asked to provide training, supervision and volunteer support. As the coast evacuation began, 21 of the 23 state centers went into disaster mode and 2 of the centers were evacuated, to get them out of harm's way.

Since September 9, 2008, 2-1-1 Texas staff and volunteers have handled over 224,638 calls statewide, averaging at some times over 1,000 calls an hour. The top caller needs identified for Hurricane Ike include Disaster Food Stamps, Electric Bill Payment Assistance, FEMA Disaster Assistance Tele- Registration and Post Disaster Food Services.

2-1-1 Texas in Austin got a BIG thank you from one caller for getting emergency help to him for his heart attack which saved his life. One of our volunteer call specialists assisted an elderly woman who had eaten dog food for the last 4 days. Another caller was a mother with 2 young children who she had placed in the attic as several feet of water were rising. We think we saw her and her children lifted out by helicopter on the evening news.

HOCT recruited over 200 volunteers and United Way 2-1-1 Texas staff worked 15 hour shifts supervising, training and supporting the volunteer call specialists. The National Disaster Team from the Area Information Centers who arrived thought this was the most organized volunteer disaster effort they had been a part of. We will continue our work throughout the coming weeks as the recovery effort continues.

That's Living United, advancing the common good. I applaud everyone who came out to help their neighbors, and those who join us throughout the year to make Central Texas a better place to live --- for everyone.

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

On September 5, over 500 volunteers from 26 corporations and organizations embodied the spirit of Live United, by working at 38 project sites all across Austin, and benefiting a couple dozen local nonprofits in the process. Police Chief Art Acevedo kicked the day off, before everyone fanned out to work on upgrading childcare facilities, helping out at food banks, beautifying community parks and elderly day centers, and much more.

Watch Police Chief Acevedo in action!

Kick Off and Project photos

We recently completed our 2008 campaign video. It 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.

The 2007 Report to the Community is available for download. The report chronicles United Way's recent-ish change to a new approach of solving community problems. Download here.

AT&T, one of our valued partners, forwarded this moving example of philanthropy and partnerships in action at Sammy's House. Sammy' House has benefited from United Way Success By 6 through our Childcare Facilities Improvement Project, and has also received volunteer and financial support from AT&T. Many thanks to all at AT&T for your ongoing support and especially Diane Kearns for allowing us to use this story...Read on.

It Takes Less Than Five Minutes: A United Way Story

If you haven't given much thought to this year's United Way Employee Giving campaign, there may be lots of reasons why it might not be top of mind at the moment.

But, if you take just a minute to read about Diane Kearns' son Dean and the other kids who attend Sammy's House in Austin, Texas, you'll see how less than five minutes of your time can have a lifelong impact on children with special needs. Here is Diane's story.

Sammy's House is a small, non-profit organization in Austin, Texas, that provides services to medically fragile and/or developmentally delayed children. I've been volunteering with them since my son Dean was two years old (he's now six). Dean was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and visual impairment not long after he was born.

Sammy's House is the one place he is seen as "typical," as many of the children there also use special equipment such as wheelchairs, standers and walkers. Dean LOVES spending his summers at their day camp and after-school program. He jumps out of his skin with excitement when I even say the words "Sammy's House!"

Sammy's House has had the support of AT&T employees through many of the fundraisers over the last few years. In May 2008, over a dozen current and retired employees from the Online Solutions Delivery team, plus their families, volunteered their time to make the first annual "Sammy's House Super Summer Carnival" a success.

There were 18 games and activities including a Cake Walk and Stuffed Animal Walk (see the above photo of the AT&T tent!), a Train Ride, and Face-Painting. All the activities were adapted so that kids in wheelchairs, kids with developmental delays and other challenges could participate alongside those without developmental challenges. The grand finale of the event was the selection of the raffle winner: A motorized, kid-sized "Gator" was donated by AT&T employee Lisa Sopher and her family.

Five-year-old Carter, who has CP and is visually impaired like my son Dean, was appointed to select the winning ticket out of the bucket. Out of the hundred tickets sold, Carter selected his own name! Carter's mom informed us later that it was the best day he's ever had (see Carter, his twin brother and younger brother, at left on the Gator)! Sammy's House is a proud recipient of funds donated through United Way by AT&T Austin employees.

Diane Kearns, AT&T Technical Director, Online Solutions Delivery, Program & Project Management Team, Austin, Texas

Please consider joining Diane and many others who have already donated to United Way and their Success By 6 collaboration. It takes less than five minutes to make a donation, but your contribution can have a lifelong impact and help United Way change community conditions so everyone has the opportunity for a better life. Click here to donate today.

Finding the right non-profit match for your new and gently used items has never been easier.

Our Gifts In Kind Partners are already posting their needs at this brand new site: everything from socks to dishwashers to farm equipment is needed for campus-based programs, senior nutrition, youth health education and more!

Don't forget to bookmark this link, as updates will happen frequently!

Click here to visit the United Way Gifts In Kind Program Wish List Classifieds

Have something to give that you don't see here? Contact Iris Graebner at iris.graebner@unitedwaycapitalarea.org