United Way of Greater Greensboro

How will you spend the longest day of the year? 

Help United Way of Greater Greensboro kick off our summer by joining in on the action! United Way Day of Action is a powerful way for United Ways across the world to join forces and create action towards our goals on the same day.

On June 21, tens of thousands of individuals volunteer their time around the world in support of United Way. Will you be one of them?

Studies show that access to books during the summer prevents drastic loss in reading skill, especially for kids in need. This year United Way of Greater Greensboro wants you to help us “Spread the Word”! From Monday, June 17, through Friday, June 21, our Greensboro community is encouraged to participate in our “Spread the Word” Book Drive by donating books.

Please consider donating new or gently used:

• Elementary Level: chapter books, leveled readers (1-4 and “pre”)
• Bilingual books – K-5
• Middle School Level: ages 9-12 and teen section

Drop off books to United Way of Greater Greensboro, 1500 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro, on Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 21. Drop-off hours are 9am-5pm.

These donated books will then be sorted and distributed to United Way community partners who have indicated a need for book donations to support their summer reading efforts with children.

It takes just one person to change one life. BE THE ONE.

Download and print our Day of Action poster to spread the word!

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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 soon. Check back here for more information to on how to purchase yours.

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The old saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” That’s exactly the idea that started a simple yet powerful practice at one local facility of a global manufacturing company.

Every so often in businesses, tools become obsolete. Typically these items are sold to scrap yards or sent to our landfills; but sometimes there are items in good condition that just deserve a new home. What if you could create change in your community by doing something as simple as selling your old stuff? Would you do it?

This Earth Day, we’re tipping our hats to our partners at P&G Greensboro for thinking creatively and doing just that: raising $6,100 for United Way by selling their obsolete tools to their employees.

P&G is committed to delivering products and services that make everyday life better for people around the world. P&G has a zero waste initiative, with a goal of putting zero waste into landfills—often made possible by turning waste and non-performing inventory into something useful.

P&G Greensboro recently underwent renovations to their machine shop. Many items still in working condition were upgraded, which created the opportunity to turn trash into treasure. After wrapping up their employee United Way campaign, a team of P&G staff worked together to create a silent auction to benefit United Way of Greater Greensboro.

“We saw it as an opportunity… with all of the efforts around the pledge drive, it felt like a fit,” said a P&G Employee Campaign Manager. “We talked about all of the good that comes from what we raise. There will be people out there who will appreciate this money.”

Employees were able to bid on everything from toolboxes to plasma cutters to welding tables. Even though the plant operates on rotating shifts, everyone was able to get in on the action to make a final bid. In the end, P&G was happy to reduce their waste stream and employees were happy to have awesome tools for personal use. The best benefit of all: a better community made possible by doing business a little differently.

Thank you P&G Greensboro for creating lasting change by investing in our community!

For more ideas on how your company can do business a little differently, give us a call at 336-378-6600.

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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

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United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Women’s Leadership is a group of women united  to empower and strengthen families to succeed.

United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Women’s Leadership members invite you to attend the 3rd annual Women in Philanthropy Luncheon, benefiting programs & initiatives supported by United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Join us for this luncheon open to all who want to make a difference.

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Maya Angelou, Renaissance Woman and Best Selling Author.

Only a few tickets remain! To purchase tickets, please contact Julie Longmire at 378.5023 or Julie.Longmire@unitedwaygso.org.

When: Tuesday, May 14 from 11:30 am- 1:30pm

Where: Grandover Resort & Conference Center

Tickets are $50 (including lunch entrée) 

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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.

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For Immediate Release: December 14, 2012
Contact: Jennifer Landes, Guilford County Schools (336) 370-8353
Media Desk (336) 574-5730

Greensboro, N.C. – Pearce Elementary set a goal to increase its United Way student and staff campaigns by 10 percent. The school didn’t just meet their goal, but surpassed it, increasing their total donations by 15 percent for a total of $10,000.01, one of the largest donations by a public school.

Today, Pearce Elementary presented the check to the United Way of Greater Greensboro’s President Keith Barsuhn in a special assembly.

Barsuhn accepted the sizeable donation, stating: “We are honored to accept this gracious gift from the students and staff of Pearce Elementary. United Way of Greater Greensboro is celebrating 90 years of creating lasting change in Greensboro. Pearce Elementary has shown how much they care about the less fortunate in our community and that they are committed to improving the quality of the human condition.”

Leading the school’s campaign was treasurer Jackie Needham, fifth-grade teacher Heather McLamb and teacher assistant Stacy Pobanz. The team leaders worked together to build excitement for the campaign, and included incentives for staff like additional jeans days and special lunch time, as well as an incentive for students that gave them the chance to throw a pie in the face of their principal, Erik Naglee. In October, the school worked with the community to host a free family fun night where parent-donated baskets were raffled.

Every year, Guilford County Schools works with both the United Way of Greater Greensboro and the United Way of Greater High Point. The district has proven to be an essential part of the organizations’ campaigns, which address essential human needs in education, income and health.

About Guilford County Schools

Guilford County Schools, the third largest school district in North Carolina, serves more than 72,000 students at 124 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, the district’s mission is to graduate responsible citizens who are prepared to succeed in higher education or the career of their choice. Guilford County Schools is a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship. For more information, visit the district’s website at www.gcsnc.com.

About United Way of Greater Greensboro

United Way of Greater Greensboro supports critical needs in our community in the areas of education, income and health. 2012 marks the 125th birthday of the United Way. In 1887, in Denver, CO, United Way became one of the most important social inventions in history and sparked a movement that established United Way. In 2012, United Way of Greater Greensboro celebrates 90 years of local investments. For more information, visit the website at www.unitedwaygso.org .

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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.

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Contact: John McLendon

Director, Marketing & Communications

336-378-6617

John.McLendon@unitedwaygso.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Leaders Gather Around “Blueprint for Lasting Change”

Greensboro, NC, September 19, 2012 – Today, United Way of Greater Greensboro presented its “Blueprint for Lasting Change” at N.C. A & T University’s Alumni Event Center. United Way presented an overview of objectives and strategicplans for adding new community goals beyond fund raising.Community leaders, United Way agencies and other business partners gathered to participate in the kick off event which also unveiled its collaborative goal setting plan and its own campaign target.

Two years ago after United Way presented the Voices. Choices.Human Service Needs Assessment that identified four human service priorities.  Community and agency leaders, worked together to develop community level goals to address these priorities. United Way also announced new funding strategies.The new strategies will be measureable and will directly relateto community goals that have been and are being set in the areasof Education, Income and Health. “We are becoming conveners and facilitators by working with community partners to set and achieve community level goals for greater impact.  And, we are building stronger relationships with donors to maximize their time, treasures and voice” stated Sue Cole, Chairman of the Board of United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Richard L. “Skip” Moore, President of the Weaver Foundationserved as moderator for a panel discussion among educators and agencies. They discussed how different interests and groups in the community have come together collectively to produce a positive impact in the community by addressing these human conditions.

United Way announced new strategies for funding agency programs and a community wide mentoring initiative, “Mentoring Matters” which align with AchieveGuilford goals. United Way partner agency, Communities In Schools, also announced the first year success of the new African Americanand Latino male initiative. This mentoring program at Wiley Elementary School, included nearly 50 2nd to 5th grade boys thathave been mentored since January, 2012.  As a result of United Way and after school supports, these boys dramatically improved their success in school.  92% of the boys mentored passed the math End of Grade test and 75% passed the Reading End of Grade test.   “Our track record shows that when we all work together, our kids win”, stated Tony Watlington, Strategic Planning Director of Guilford County Schools.

United Way also shared successes achieved in its five year Thriving At Three initiative which is focused on at risk children,aged 0 to 3, to ensure they achieve critical milestones in their health and developmental behavior.  Results include the opening of the Born Learning Trail, in the Claremont Courts Community, as well as starting the Raising A Reader forClaremont Courts, two local daycare centers and Jones Elementary School.

“In order to make a significant change in community conditions in these programs and many of the strong traditional programs that United Way funds in these areas, we must be able to measure progress consistently and collectively and we must harness the power of volunteer contributions as well as financial contributions” said Keith Barsuhn President & CEO of United Way.

To support the changes as well as build capacity in the existing 89 programs and initiatives funded by United Way, Chancellor Harold Martin of North Carolina A&T State University and2012 United Way Campaign Chair announced a fundraising goal of $11,000,000, which is a 3.5% increase over last years resul

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United Way of Greater Greensboro supports 89 programs and initiatives through 29 member agencies and partners meeting critical needs in our community in the areas of education, income and health.  2012 marks the 125th birthday of the United Way.  In 1887, in Denver, CO, United Way became one of the most important social inventions in history and sparked a movement that established United Way.  In 2012, United Way of Greater Greensboro celebrates 90 years of local investments.

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Third Annual Handbags for Literacy: A Celebration of Fashion and Compassion

WHEN: doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Live auction begins at 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: “That” Space located in The Empire Room
203 S. Elm Street, Greensboro
*Complimentary Parking in adjacent deck

Bring your family and friends out for an incredible night of fun, fashion and fundraising to benefit disadvantaged children on Thursday, October 18. For a $5 admission, each participant receives a bidding number, wine, appetizers and the chance to own a designer handbag. A wide selection will be auctioned, with a bag to fit every budget.

The money raised from the auction will benefit the new expansion project from United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Thriving at Three Initiative – “Raising A Reader.” The program specifically assists economically disadvantaged families living in the Greater Greensboro area and provides them with access to a broad collection of high quality, award winning children‘s books for parents to share with their children. By empowering parents as teachers to read to their children and prepare them for a strong start in kindergarten, they will be encouraged as life long learners.

Donations of New and gently used designer handbag may be made at United Way of Greater Greensboro, 1500 Yanceyville Street.

New for 2012! Reserved seating is available with the Girlfriend Package, which includes sponsorship and registration for a table up to six seats, a bottle of champagne, souvenir glasses to keep, and a platter of appetizers for the table to share.

For more information, contact Julie Longmire at 336-378-5023.

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