WGN Volunteering Event at Sammy's House
When: January 27, 2009, 5:15 - 8:15 PM.

Contact meredith.cohen@unitedwaycapitalarea.org to get the details for this event.

Pre-K Day at the Texas Capitol
When: February 17, all day.

We would like encourage each of you to Google search 81R2369 CAE-F House Bill 130 and read the details or click here. But, in short the overall goal of the bill is to move prekindergarten classes from a half day to a full day of quality care and teaching.

Your support of this bill is critical as it would radically change how these students are prepared to enter school. Also, we would like you to join us join us at the state Capitol on February 17, where there will be a mock class set-up.

Most importantly you will be able to mingle with your fellow WGN peers and state and local representatives. Looking forward to us uniting on this bill to help prepare our children for the future!

Contact meredith.cohen@unitedwaycapitalarea.org to get the details for this event.

We wanted to share this letter of appreciation from Rudi Andrus, director of Mainspring Schools. We think it speaks from the heart the gratitude that all of the adopted child care centers feel for your efforts this holiday season.

To Our Dear Friends at KPMG,

Christmas came to Mainspring this morning! What an amazing array of goodies you brought to us. There were things for our children in the classrooms, things for our teachers, things that will save us money, and things that we've dreamt of having but wouldn't spend scarce resources on. Now we all have visions of new supplies dancing in our heads.

I told your Elves, Jan and Brenda and crew, that all of last week was a week of incredible bounty here. We got several families adopted and Santa came with a gift for each child. I've gotten so many hugs that didn't belong to me, as I distributed gifts to the truly needy. And today was our turn to be the recipients. I just wish I could share some of those hugs with you.

KPMG has truly been a godsend to our children and to this School. You have used your hearts and minds and energy and creativity to contribute to our children in every way imaginable. I believe in the promise that our children will succeed with a little help along the way and you are providing much of that help. Thank you, a thousand times, thank you.

May your holidays be joyous and may the new year return to you some of what you have brought to Mainspring.

Rudi Andrus, Mainspring Schools

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

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.

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: 8:30am – 9:00am
•"Reflecting on the Dream" Breakfast: 9:00am - 10:30am
•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

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.