You could win Carolina Panthers season tickets for the 2013-14 season. We’re talking club level seats for two with parking included!
$100/raffle ticket. Only 1500 tickets will be sold. Proceeds benefit United Way of Greater Greensboro’s annual campaign. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 14. Check back here for more information to on how to purchase yours.
More than 600 people, including students from Guilford and Forsyth counties, attended an educational luncheon and symposium featuring Soledad O’Brien, CNN Anchor and Special Correspondent, and Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Director of the Smithsonian Museum of African Art and former president of Bennett College. The event held on Friday, March 22, was sponsored by the African American Leadership group of the United Way of Greater Greensboro.
“Our goal was to provide a forum for the community to learn more about what’s going on in the field of education and how United Way and its constituents can be a champion for advancing those causes,” says Michelle Gethers Clark, Interim President of United Way of Grater Greensboro.
The symposium was preceded by a reception on Thursday, March 21, at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum where founders of United Way’s African American Leadership celebrated the 10th year anniversary. Cole initiated the idea of AAL. Althea Trusedale and Michael McKinney acted as the first chairpersons in 2003.
Cole and O’Brien were a part of the educational symposium along with a panel of local experts on Friday morning. The panelists included Amos Quick – Guilford County’s Board of Education, Margaret Arbuckle-Guilford Educational Alliance, Dr. Bill Harvey NCA&TSU, Deborah Hooper – Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Randy Parker – GTCC, O’Brien, and moderated by Cole. The audience was asked to join with United Way to make a positive impact in the lives of children and families. O’Brien suggested citizens leverage cell phone technology to capture positive educational stories to celebrate accomplishments and “tell our story”.
O’Brien’s keynote remarks shared her life’s journey as a mixed-raced Latino woman which influenced her media career to be a concerned witness about real issues and solutions. Cole was honored as the Founder of AAL, and Dr. Edward Fort, Chancellor Emeritus at NCS&TSU received the new 2013 Gwendolyn and Alvin V. Blount Jr. Lifetime Service Award.
Gethers-Clark ended the day by asking participants to make an impact through philanthropy, as a volunteer, and advocate for important issues, and as a $1,000 donor. United Way is focused on creating lasting change through its investments. The key areas of focus for United Way include preparing youth to graduate and succeed, helping families become financially stable, and improving people’s ability to lead healthy lives.
United Way’s goal is to continue the positive momentum made over the last 90 years in Greensboro by improving the quality of life for all. United Way is asking the community for $500,000 by April 30, 2013 so that it can make high impact investments in programs managed by local non-profits to fuel youth development, increase access to health care services, and provide tools for family financial stability.
For more information about United Way, its investments, volunteer opportunities, and to make a tax-deductible contribution call 336-378-6600, call 2-1-1, visit the offices at 1500 Yanceyville Street or visit the web at unitedwaygso.org
United Way of Greater Greensboro’s African American Leadership group represents African Americans who are leadership givers that invest their time and resources to strengthen the impact of United Way of Greater Greensboro and its community partnerships.
African American Leadership is excited to announce the 2nd Annual African American Leadership Speaker Series. This year’s focus will be education and will feature keynote speaker Soledad O’Brien, Acclaimed Special Investigations Correspondent and Host of CNN’s morning show, Starting Point. This event will honor two outstanding leaders, Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole and Dr. Edward B. Fort.
Schedule of Events – March 22, 2013
9:00 – 11:00 am
Education Symposium
Moderator: Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole
Panelists Include:
11:30 am – 1:15 pm
Keynote Address Lunch: Soledad O’Brien
African American Leadership Founding Award
Presented to Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, Director of National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institute
Lifetime Achievement Award
Presented to Dr. Edward B. Fort, Chancellor Emeritus, NC A&T State University
1:30 – 3:00 pm
Meet & Greet with Honorees
This is your opportunity to meet the event’s honorees. You won’t want to miss this unique opportunity.
Where
The Elm Street Center
203 S. Elm Street, Greensboro
Greensboro, NC 27401
Individual Tickets on Sale February 18 at UnitedWayGSO.org/RSVP
For Sponsorship Information, Contact 336-378-5033 or Marie.Boulware@UnitedWayGSO.org.
United Way of Greater Greensboro’s African American Leadership group presents professional development with a purpose! Join us for a leadership development training facilitated by industry professionals who will provide information about increasing workplace performance. The best part: proceeds benefit United Way of Greater Greensboro.
January 23, 2013
8:30 am – 1:00 pm
United Way of Greater Greensboro
1500 Yanceyville St.
Greensboro, NC 27405
$109 early registration (ends December 31st)
$139 regular registration
Space is limited. Reserve your seat today!
United Way of Greater Greensboro’s office will be closed on January 1st, 2013 for New Year’s Day.
Please note that 2012 donation payments may be mailed to 1500 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro, NC 27405 throughout the end of the year. Check donations postmarked and dated by December 31, 2012 will be honored as 2012 contributions if they are received by United Way the first week of January 2013. Credit card payments must be made by 5:00 p.m. December 28, 2012.
Online giving is for new donations/payments only, not for payment of outstanding balances.
If you are paying off a current pledge by credit card this must be done by phone or in person at the United Way location on Yanceyville St. before 5:00 p.m. December 28, 2012
If you wish to make a new donation and pay that donation online this must be done prior to 5:00 p.m. in order to process the charge and be eligible for your tax donation. Online credit cards are NOT processed automatically, so please make sure you post your pledge/payment by 5:00 p.m. December 28, 2012.
Our website will not accept new pledges after December 28, 2012. It will reopen January 2nd for new donations.
If you have any questions please contact Dawn Taylor at dawn.taylor@unitedwaygso.org or 336-378-6612.
This event is for current providers of youth mentoring programs in the Greater Greensboro area to learn about Mentoring Matters, a community-wide initiative, and discuss how United Way of Greater Greensboro can support their work.
December 11th , 8:00 – 9:30 am
United Way of Greater Greensboro
1500 Yanceyville Street in Greensboro
Due to room restrictions, please limit your organization to sending no more than 2 representatives to this meeting.
Pre-Registration is required. Please click here to register.
For more details, contact Traci McLemore at (336) 378-6616.
Many issues are important to all of us. Issues like the economy, jobs, a good education for the next generation of American workers and building strong communities.
If you care about these or other issues, the best way you can make a difference, is to register to VOTE and turn out on Election Day or during early voting to make sure your voice is heard.
Today through October 12, you can register (and update your registration) to VOTE in the November 6th elections.
You may be wondering, “Am I eligible to vote?” Do you meet these requirements:
If you were previously convicted of a felony, your citizenship rights must be restored to make you eligible to vote.
If you answered yes to the questions above, you are eligible to VOTE.
Registering to VOTE is a simple process. Visit ncsbe.gov to download registration forms, see sample ballots and discover answers to questions like:
Join with United Way and make your voice heard on important issues like education, financial stability and health.
VOTE on election day. REGISTER NOW.
This blog post was written by Susan Watson in a series of guest blogs surrounding Women in Philanthropy on May 22nd. Susan works for Northwestern Mutual and has been a UWGG donor for 12 years. Susan is a member of United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Women’s Leadership Council, serving as chair in 2010.
In the days following the 2nd Annual Women in Philanthropy Luncheon, I heard a number of discussions around the idea put forth by Karen Walrond of a life list, or as she likes to call it, a life menu. Karen explained that a menu differs from a bucket list, giving us options to pick and choose from things that make us smile or give us joy. This appealed to me because I am a list maker, lots of lists, all kinds of lists. That doesn’t necessarily mean I get a lot of things checked off, I just like to plan, organize and make lists. I strongly suspect that I’m not alone.
One conversation I heard was about Susan’s (another Susan) great Easter trip to the Mykonos Islands. After hearing her describe it, I added it to my list which is already filled with travel. But, as we are making our life menus, I hope one phrase comes to mind that Karen, very carefully wove in an out of her story: “help where you can”. She heard it from her father all through her childhood, help where you can. Our greatest smiles come when we’ve taken the time to make others smile.
In the spirit of helping others, my list (I still like to call it a list) also has an entry for a foreign mission trip. Does that mean I can check off helping others with that one big trip? I think not. I believe that Karen’s father meant help where you can, every time you can, with the talents and resources that you’ve been given.
United Way supports 70 programs and initiatives through 29 member agencies. Each program and initiative must demonstrate that it meets a need in the community, makes an impact, and aligns with United Way’s objectives. Let me say it once more, fully vetted programs that meet a need right here in our community. There is something for you. This is your call to action: join us, Women in Philanthropy, African American Leadership, Young Leaders… help where you can.
I think William Arthur Ward said it best: “Blessed is the person who sees the need, recognizes the responsibility, and actively becomes the answer.”
There are approximately 45,000 students in the Guilford County School System who qualify for free or reduced price meals. For 180+ days each year, these students consistently know where their breakfast and lunch will come from.
What happens when school lets out?
Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance once school begins again. Hunger also may make children more prone to illness and other health issues. 1
We believe that children should not have to worry where they will find their next meal.
While Guilford County Schools provides seven Greensboro locations for summer meals, United Way’s 2012 Summer MeaningFULL Meals project seeks to provide substantive meals for students in the Gillespie Park Elementary and Wiley Elementary School communities for the 10 weeks school is not in session.
Because of generous contributions, last summer approximately 100 families received weekly bags of non-perishable food at Gillespie Park Elementary School.
This year we are expanding the MeaningFULL Meals program to include students in United Way of Greater Greensboro’s African American Male Mentoring Pilot Program, located at Wiley Elementary School. Both the Wiley Elementary School Principal Dr. Shelia Gorham and Mentoring Program Director Rashard Jones are excited to learn that the progress gained by the 50 young men in grades 2-5 will be supported by a unified effort to provide nutritional meals for the students over the summer break. In addition to MeaningFULL Meals, participants in the AAM Mentoring Pilot Program at Wiley will also participate in a summer enrichment program.
LIVE UNITED and get involved!
GIVE
Donate food items including:
Mac & Cheese (microwaveable); Canned Veggies; Bread; Tuna & Chicken (vacuum sealed); Ramen Noodles; Fruit Cups; Applesauce; Fruit Roll-Ups; Juice Boxes; Dried Rice & Beans; Peanut Butter & Jelly (pre-made or individual jars); Breakfast Cereal (hot and cold); Pop-Tarts; Graham and Other Snack Crackers; Chips; Pasta & Spaghetti Sauce; Freeze Pops; Hamburger Helper; Single Serve Size Spaghetti & Lasagna (non-perishable)
Donations can be dropped off at United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Office (1500 Yanceyville St., Greensboro) Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
ADVOCATE
Share facts about summer-time childhood hunger with your friends and colleagues. Click here to download one fact for each week throughout the summer.
Coordinate a food drive at your workplace. We need sustained drives from now until the end of August. Contact Tamera Zigalar (Leadership Giving Manager) at 336-378-6604 for additional information about coordinating a drive.
VOLUNTEER
Sign up to pack bags and distribute food on a Tuesday or Thursday at either Gillespie Park or Wiley Elementary school. Distribution begins Tuesday, June 12 and ends Thursday, August 23. Click here to register as a volunteer.
1-US Dept. of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program (www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/)
This blog post was written by guest blogger Karen Walrond, photographer, author, and blogger who will be the guest speaker at Women in Philanthropy 2012 on May 22nd. Like Karen’s blog? See her in person! Click here to purchase your ticket.
Have you ever played that game where you draw up a guest list for your dream dinner party, including only famous people, whether or not they’re still living? I love that game. Some favourite answers I’ve often heard are John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Nelson Mandela, Jesus, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mother Teresa. (Personally, I would invite all of those people, and also add Steve Jobs, Ann Richards, Barack Obama, Aretha Franklin, Bill Bryson, the Dalai Lama, Harper Lee, Maya Rudolph and Lady Gaga. That, my friends, would be a dinner party.)
Another person who has always been near the top of my invitation list, however (and also one of the most common answers I hear, of course) is Mahatma Gandhi. His philosophy on nonviolence, specifically to effect change, continues to be so revolutionary, especially in this time of continued war. I’ve been intrigued by his teachings since I was quite young, and the thought of ever sitting down with him one-on-one and asking him questions about his life and times is a fantasy I’ve harboured for many years.
Obviously, this is never going to happen. But late last year, I experienced the next best thing.
In early November, Stephen F. Austin State University held their annual Leadership Conference, and the theme was “Be the Change,” based on the quote from Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Needless to say, it was an honour to be asked to be the closing keynote for this event, and an invitation that I gratefully accepted. But I became even more excited when I subsequently learned that the lunchtime keynote was Mr. Arun Gandhi, the venerable Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson. Mr. Gandhi was born in apartheid-era South Africa, and after facing discrimination and bigotry (manifesting in a few serious beat-downs by both blacks and whites), his family sent him to India to live with his grandfather, during the time when the Mahatma’s influence was at its height. Over the weekend, Mr. Gandhi spoke several times — at a private dinner on Friday, and a private breakfast on Saturday morning before his lunchtime keynote — but for me, the most amazing moments came before breakfast the morning the conference began.
I’d woken up early to check out of my hotel and have a cup of tea before our host met us to take us to the university, and found Mr. Gandhi already sitting in the lobby reading the newspaper, having a cup of coffee. “You are welcome to join me,” he said with a smile, and so, after I made my cup of tea, I did.
We sat and talked for about 45 minutes — I asked him about his travels, his family, his thoughts on the state of the world today, all of which he answered fully and with astonishing patience, considering I was probably asking him questions he’d heard a million times before. The word that immediately comes to mind to describe him is “gentle” — he is a quiet man who speaks slowly and deliberately, and everything about him is circumspect. I couldn’t help but feel that I was in the presence of a truly extraordinary spirit, one full of incredible wisdom, and it made me feel very small and childlike, like I have so much more to learn and grow in my lifetime. He is extremely committed to spreading the message of pacifism and nonviolence espoused by his grandfather as much as possible, clearly considering it his life mission to carry on the torch. To say I am filled with admiration for the man would be the understatement of the century.
Later that day I watched him address the students of SFASU (some extraordinary spirits in their own right, I have to say), I couldn’t help but wonder if they really grasped what an incredible life experience they were having, just sitting in that room, listening to his words. In particular, I found myself looking around the room at the expressions of the young men and women in the room when Mr. Gandhi expressed his belief that we are not here by accident – we are here to fulfill a purpose. He talked about “trusteeship,” as espoused by his grandfather: we all have talents — each and every one of us — but we feel like we own the talent or gift. The Mahatma believed that we don’t own them, but rather we are trustees of the talent, and we are called upon to use these talents for the benefit of others.
I believe this wholeheartedly. In writing my book, The Beauty of Different, I found myself faced with a considerable body of evidence that everyone is Different, and that Different is often the source of immeasurable beauty. But I’ve also become to believe that perhaps these differences aren’t just coincidences – that there’s a reason we are Different. It has occurred to me more recently that these Differents may have been specifically designed for each of us to help change the world – or, at the very minimum, help change our individual worlds.
And even if I’m wrong — even if there’s really no reason for us to have these gifts, that there is no meaning behind it, and it’s just some sort of evolutionary scientific luck-of-the-genetic-draw — it still behooves us to use these gifts in a way that makes the world, or at least our worlds, a little better, don’t you think? Besides, I have to think that using our gifts and our passions to help improve our communities is a much more sustainable (and fulfilling) action than simply signing our names to cheques: in my experience, giving back while simultaneous feeding our souls with what we love always feels great.
It’s something to think about, I guess.
And it might even make for great conversation at that dream dinner party.
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