Thank You...Thank You...Thank You...

That is exactly what we said to the roughly 400 people that joined us for the Campaign Thank You Breakfast at the Hyatt a couple weeks ago. This annual breakfast is one small way we can show our appreciation to all the companies and campaign coordinators who helped raise $32.5 million as part of our 2008 campaign. This money will go to help support programs that deal with prevent violence and child abuse and promote literacy and health care. Giving to United Way’s Community Fund addresses all of these issues at once – by funding over 100 programs this year.

As part of the program, we honored 10 Rising Stars who were first time company campaign coordinators that did a phenomenal job. There were also 10 Shining Stars – they are veteran coordinators that went above and beyond in their campaign. Fifty one companies received a Cornerstone Society award for raising more than $100,000. Out of the 51 Cornerstones, an incredible five of them were Million Dollar Roundtable winners. (For a complete list of winners, click here. For a few pictures of the event, click here.)

This year’s campaign was directly impacted by the economy – we know how much the rising cost of gas and food has had an impact on all of us. That is why, this year especially, we are so grateful to be part of a wonderful, giving community, and for your support. Be sure to stay tuned to read how your gift truly makes a difference, every day of the year!

A home away from home

A few weeks ago, several of my co-workers and I piled into a van with two Center for Youth employees. I wasn’t paying much attention to where we were going - I had been down the street many times. I was shocked when we pulled into the driveway and they announced we where there. Nestled in a beautiful neighborhood is what looks to be a typical house, but it’s actually shelter for runaway teens run by The Center for Youth.

The shelter helps kids ages 12-18 that are dealing with problems at home like abuse or drug issues. On any given day there are usually are 6 girls and 6 boys living there. Most stay about two weeks, and during their stay they work with counselors to build self-esteem and life skills. The staff also encourages a family setting - they prepare meals together, eat together, and do group activities. The ultimate goal is to reunite the younger teens with family. The older teens usually become independent.

Your support of United Way’s Community Fund supports the counseling programs and also the runaway and homeless youth services. The counseling programs focus on helping the teens grow an individual. They focus on enhancing internal and external strengths and decreasing high risk behaviors like substance abuse and school suspensions. Center for Youth only has one homeless shelter. They also have two apartment buildings that are used for the transitional living program, which most of the older teens go to after the shelter.

The Center for Youth shelter helped more than 260 teens last year. What surprised me the most is that over half of the teens came from the suburbs.

Thanks to your support of United Way, no matter where they live or what kind of problems they are experiencing, there is a safe place they can go for help and get back on track.

The turtle and United Way

On my drive into work this morning, I realized - just ahead of me - there was a turtle trying to cross the road.

Naturally, I stopped the car. As I watched him slowly progress across my lane, I had concerns that the other drivers may not be as patient, and he'd fall victim.

Sure enough, a few did, and started zipping around him.

In today's world, I understand the role 'instantaneous' plays in everything we do. We want things right away, no time to wait.

Take my kids, for example. One is in preschool, the other in kindergarten. As much as I try to explain it, both of them can't understand what live radio or television are. It's inconvceivable to them, at times, that you can't pause every television show, or replay a song whenever it's desired.

I worry how they'll handle life on its own terms. Sure, it's easy to be in control with iPods and TiVo - but the real world doesn't work that way.

As I watched the turtle cross the road, it reminded me of community change.

The real, meaningful change that we all want - and the kind we focus on here at United Way - doesn't happen overnight. Not in a week. Or a month. Or a year.

It takes a long time. One second, one moment, one person at a time.

Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare?

With perserverance and patience, we can get to the other side of the road.

Day of Caring

Thursday May 8 was the 16th annual United Way Day of Caring, and I wanted to tell you a little about some of the great things that happened that day in our community. More than 10,000 volunteers worked on about 500 project sites in and around Rochester worked, doing things like basic indoor spring cleaning, raking, weeding and planting, painting rooms, building decks and picnic tables, washing windows and more. All the volunteers were also invited to a free luncheon sponsored by the Clarion Riverside Hotel, as a way to say thank you for volunteering.
Also, this year we teamed up with the City of Rochester and M&T Bank to focus on literacy projects. The schools that benefited from these projects were Roberto Clemente Elementary School #8, James Duffy School #12, Henry W. Longfellow School #36, Mary McLeon Bethune School #45 and World of Inquiry School #58. Volunteers read books to students and helped make Mother’s Day gifts.

We’re also excited that, thanks to M&T Bank, $10,000 was given to United Way to help support literacy summer programs in five City schools, and to launch a new program geared to ensure classrooms have supplies of books for students.

Click here to check out some of the pictures we captured throughout the day. In all, more than $1 million worth of work was completed in one day. If you have some pics to share of your team in action, send them to us - we’d love to add them to our gallery! And thanks again to everyone who took the time off of work and school to be part of the 2008 United Way Day of Caring.

Great Fundraisers

I wanted to tell you about some of the great United Way fundraisers happening at area companies that people have written to us about. First, Jared Sabado over at the Democrat and Chronicle sent us some impressive pictures from their bake off which raised $330 toward their goal! At Hillside Children’s Center, Erin Donnelly and Todd Pipitone invited me out to their annual pancake breakfast, where I was able to witness the staff pancake eating contest -- which was quite a spectacle! They had about 50 people turn out and raised $150 toward their goal.

Our supporters throw great fundraisers for United Way, but I want you to know about some of the cool events we employees at United Way had as part of our own internal campaign. One of the most successful was a friendly competition we called Jar Wars. Our building was divided into three teams and we all put money into our jars. But the catch was dollars and quarters were negative money – they subtracted from the totals! There was some pretty intense competition at the end, each team was determined to win! In the end, we raised more than $700. Check out some of the pictures from all the great fundraisers – and thanks to everyone for supporting our community through United Way!

The importance of a mentor

Rochester and its surrounding counties have been fortunate enough to be part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization for the past 30 years. Their program offers a basic concept - to help kids build skills to succeed in school, graduate and become self- sufficient.

United Way funds the Mentoring program which provides guidance, support and exposure to positive life choices to at-risk kids thru a one-on-one relationship. Last year, our funding helped 625 kids.

In 2000, BBBS started a school based program where they would match a high school student to a elementary student. An interesting element to this new program is when they are choosing the high schooler, they choose someone who is an average student- not an “over achiever.” It has shown that 90% of the kids involved are more likely to make better decisions about relationships and drugs.

Big Brothers Big Sisters was actually featured in an issue of our news magazine, Real Time. Read about Mohamed Gazali and his experience with BBBS here.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is always in need of mentors. There are 115 kids on the waiting list and of them, 88 of are boys. If you or someone you know is interested, check out their web site for more information.

Holy Childhood Fundraiser

Our Spring campaign is in full swing and we are hearing some great stories about the different fundraisers going on to raise money for United Way.

Students over at the School of the Holy Childhood made a lunch for the staff and charged $4 with all proceeds going toward their campaign. The students did everything from making signs, creating the menu, and making and serving the food! The lunch raised $240 toward their goal!

Two thumbs up to the students at School of the Holy Childhood.

If you haven’t already, check out my previous blog to learn more about SHC.

If you have a great fundraising idea that you would like to see on our blog, send me an
e-mail at Elizabeth.lewis@uwrochester.org