United Way of Greater Greensboro

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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Looking to give back this holiday season? Join Young Leaders for a day of service!

Saturday, December 8 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

2012 HoliDAYS of Service Projects:

Adult Center for Enrichment (ACE) - Some of you may have volunteered here during Spring Into Service. Now we have the opportunity to help them with a Fall cleanup! United Way will provide some yard tools and hot cocoa. If anyone else has yard tools they can loan us for the day (rakes, gloves, etc.) they would be very much appreciated!

Volunteer Center of Greater Greensboro - The Volunteer Center is a great organization that helps many members of our community, and they need our help reorganizing and decorating their office. No supplies are needed.

United Way of Greater Greensboro - We will help clean and bag books for the United Way’s Thriving at 3 program. Thriving at 3 is an early childhood initiative of United Way of Greater Greensboro with a simple premise: children who are healthy, physically and emotionally, by age 3 are more likely to be successful in school and in life. No supplies are needed.

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Building a Stronger North Carolina

Hear an Overview of the North Carolina State Budget, Economic Forecast, and Issues Affecting Your Community & Add Your Voice to the Discussion

This year United Way, the NC Budget & Tax Center and the NC Justice Center are teaming up to share the story of the economy and the state budget. But, throughout this interactive session, your community will have the opportunity to respond and help write the next chapter in the story. During Building a Stronger North Carolina, be prepared to answer a few questions and to learn a few facts that you can put into action. Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect:

• How have the state budget and the economy impacted your community?
• What budget trends are developing, and how long will it take for NC to recover from the Great Recession?
• Is NC falling behind in areas like Education, Health and Public Safety?
• How can you impact the issues you care most about? Join with others to focus your local advocacy for the greatest outcome.

Tentative Agenda

9:00 to 9:05 Welcome and Overview of the Morning
9:05 to 10:05 Debunking the Myths of the 2011 Legislative Session
10:05 to 10:30 Identifying Key Policy and Advocacy Issues for 2012
10:30 to 10:40 Break
10:40 to 11:30 Presentations and Q&A with Area Legislators

Hosted in the Triad by the United Ways of Forsyth County, Greater Greensboro, and High Point

Date & Time: Wednesday, November 16th from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Place: Girl Scouts’ Carolinas Peaks2Piedmont Triad Service Center (8818 West Market Street, Colfax, NC 27235)

RSVP: online at United Way of NC, or call United Way of Forsyth County at 336-721-9336

FEATURED SPEAKERS:

Jill Cox– Government Relations and Communications Director, UNITED WAY OF NORTH CAROLINA

Alexandra Sirota–Director, NC BUDGET & TAX CENTER

Louisa Warren–Senior Policy Advocate, NC JUSTICE CENTER

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For how long can you wish people a “Happy New Year” after the fact? Well, we are already in the middle of the first work week of the year, but people still have the spirit. We’ve de-decorated for the holidays, but people still have the spirit. That spirit may be hidden behind the veil of buckling down and getting back to business or it may just be the motivation that sets up the promise of a new and productive year.

2009 was a frenzy but reflection is an indispensable tool and practice. We saw some donations come in on the last day of the year, and we want to thank all those who have donated this past year through the very last day!

You have given, advocated, and volunteered this past year and in others. We should all take time to reflect, but that reflection isn’t necessarily steadfast in creating any absolute solutions.

Reflection is tool and a practice. Reflection is akin to the assessments that we do throughout the community to understand the past, project the future, and work in the present to approach our goals. We are steadfast in creating strong local relationships and addressing critical needs as described by the community itself. We maintain relationships and meet those needs with the help of so many and the conviction of voluntary giving that is the spirit achieving these goals for the common good.

This “we” is inclusive–United Way and the community-at-large, including donors, volunteers, partner agencies and service recipients. We have seen how your giving, advocating and volunteering have helped lives begin to turn a new leaf.

Happy New Year!

I often end up saying “Happy New Year!” all through New Year’s Eve, thinking that it’s as correct as saying it on New Year’s Day. I think it is because I have built up the suspense of the ever-allegorical “clock striking midnight” and can’t wait!

By: Aden Hailemariam, Marketing & Communications at United Way of Greater Greensboro

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There’s the calm before the storm, but what is that feeling after the storm has passed? If there’s a phrase for it, it would be nice to use to sum up the frenzy that we all have been feeling as the year has been winding down.

This Monday saw less of a hustle and bustle of people going to work and going shopping (or, returning). Maybe it’s just the feeling you get when  you realize that Friendly Center is almost like a ghost town compared to last week. But, we still have the rest of the day to go.

Today is also the last day that the needs assessment survey of the Voices. Choices. Human Services Study will take survey responses. Since this past summer, the Voices. Choices. team as well as participant voices from the community-at-large have been brainstorming together to assess the needs of the community. With the assessment, the study aims to project the most critical needs that community organizations–including United Way of Greater Greensboro–will address through community investments.

The Voices. Choices. team will start the new year with the goals of compiling the results from of focus groups, forums, and survey responses and presenting their findings to the community-at-large.

Maybe we can just call this time, this week after Christmas, the calm before the storm that is the New Year. The New Year is so full of promise and the key is to become motivated to achieve that promise…to strive to.

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Season’s greetings, everyone–an exclamation for sure, but also just a gentle statement to dignify the peace we all seek in the flurry of activity that seems to fly by at this time of year.

Each person’s peace may be slightly different but the spirit of the season ignites a collective sense of altruism that affords a desire of peace for all.

The flurry of snowflakes may have been short-lived this year, but the brisk air and bright reflections reminds us that this season is full of energy.

The energy we have seen in volunteers of all kinds is so moving. And what we and the rest of the community saw in last week’s telethon made us smile those smiles that are slow and reassured that when hearts and minds come together, a peace is found.

Season’s Greetings from United Way and from the local United Way of Greater Greensboro. Thank you and we hope that you continue to LIVE UNITED.

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United Way of Greater Greensboro Young Leaders Spread Holiday Cheer

with the Bell House Residents

There is a vibe of unity during the holiday season that extends beyond social circles and encompasses the community as a whole.  More than any other time of the year, people are inspired to do more, to give more, and to love more.  The United Way of Greater Greensboro Young Leaders is doing exactly that.  The Young Leaders group dedicated two events that were designed to spread holiday cheer with the Bell House residents.    Bell House is a residential facility in Greensboro that offers an independent lifestyle for adults challenged with physical disabilities.  Each event with Bell House showcased the compassion these young professionals have for the Greensboro community…and this is only the beginning.

On Friday, December 5^th, a group of Young Leaders partnered with Bell House residents and explored the bustling streets of downtown Greensboro during the Festival of Lights.  Music bounced off the towering buildings, smiling people strolled through the streets and festive lighting lit the way to Center City Park, the central location for the official tree lighting.  These residents would not have had the opportunity to experience this holiday moment with Greensboro citizens had the Young Leaders group not assisted them.  They were able to be a part of a community-wide celebration and made a young leader friend in the process.

On Saturday, December 6^th, the United Way of Greater Greensboro Young Leaders reunited with Bell House residents for a Christmas party titled: “Deck the Halls at Bell House.”  There was a terrific turn-out and young professionals from all over the community arrived at the event willing to socialize and interact with the residents.  The residents sang Christmas karaoke, savored the array of treats and cookies available for them to enjoy, and worked with a young leader to create a Christmas ornament or snowflake.  These residents were thrilled to have excited young people interested in spending time with them for the holidays. Residents shared stories about their childhood, cracked jokes, and revealed personal talents like creating art and designing web pages.  Friendships were created, and everyone in attendance was honored to celebrate together.

The United Way of Greater Greensboro Young Leaders refuse to limit their volunteer efforts to the holiday season.  This grassroots volunteer group is dedicated to gaining momentum and inspiring others to join in this effort.  Future events are already in the works, and in the eyes of those involved, the unity and compassion ignited during the holiday will continue throughout next year.  To learn more about United Way of Greater Greensboro Young Leaders, visit: www.unitedwaygso.org/YL.

By: Crystal Edwards Oldham, Communications Committee Chair

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Now, for posts, I’m usually not so hasty. I meant to post with a gallery of pictures from lasts week’s Thriving at Three Warm Winter Celebration. But, this one is just too great to wait. Ok, aside from that rhyming, I wanted to write “too cute”, but you get the picture (excuse the pun).

Last week’s celebration was the fourth annual Warm Winter Celebration. TaT families were the guests of honor and they were honored by Santa himself, too! With the help of many volunteers and community organizations that helped to plan, set up, register, usher, play, and offer information to families, the night was a great. Families came to the Greensboro Children’s Museum (which we didn’t have to decorate much since it is full of eye-candy already), met Santa, ate dinner, listened to a double-time storytime (first in English, then one with some splashes of Español), and made their way through the museum’s exhibits.

This was my third year volunteering with TaT for the Warm Winter Celebration and I love it. I look forward to it even though it’s only 2 hours of my time since I’ve just come for the night of the event. But, those two hours are made of many, many, did I mention “many”?, hours of work from the Thriving at Three staff, UWGG staff, volunteers and the families themselves. This end-of-year celebration is a good time and place for the families and the staff they have been working with for years, even, to reflect on the progress they’ve made.

By: Aden Hailemariam, Marketing & Communications at United Way of Greater Greensboro

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United Way Young Leaders of Greensboro Host a Winter Wonderland Social

Greensboro, NC (December 3, 2009) – United Way Young Leaders of Greensboro will host a semi-formal Winter Wonderland Social on Thursday, December 17, 2009, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at Fábio Câmara Studios, located at 2007 Yanceyville Street in Greensboro.  Tickets are $10.00 each and include two drinks and light hors d’oeuvres and desserts.  Space is limited, so please purchase your ticket as soon as possible.  The event is open to any young professionals in the community who are interested in learning more about United Way Young Leaders of Greensboro.

Highlights for the Winter Wonderland Social include: music, dancing, a cash bar, a silent auction, the opportunity to meet new people, and a toddler gift drive for Summit House.   Your donation to Summit House will meet the needs of a toddler in our community this holiday season.  To learn more about Summit House visit: www.summithouse.org.

Zac Engle, Young Leader Social Committee Chair believes, “The Winter Wonderland Social will be a great event to celebrate our accomplishments in 2009 and, at the same time, provide us the opportunity to look forward to all of the wonderful experiences we have planned for next year.  United Way Young Leaders has gained a tremendous amount of momentum over the past few months and this affair will be a great outlet to share that with the community.”

If you are interested in purchasing a ticket for the Winter Wonderland Social, please contact Carley Williams, United Way Leadership Giving Manager, at 336-378-5055 or email her at carley.williams@unitedwaygso.org.

For additional information on the United Way Young Leaders of Greensboro and how you can get involved in this volunteer group, please visit: www.unitedwaygso.org/YL.

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Host: United Way Young Leaders of Greensboro
Type: Party – Benefit
Network: Global
Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: Fabio Camara Studios
Street: 2007 Yanceyville St
City/Town: Greensboro, NC

Join us for the first United Way Young Leaders Winter Wonderland Social. The event is semi-formal.

Tickets are $10.00 each and include two drinks and light hor d’oeurvres and desserts. Only a limited number of tickets are available. Hurry and buy your ticket now.
Contact Carley Williams, United Way Leadership Giving Manager, at
336-378-5055 or at carley.williams@unitedwaygso.org to purchase your ticket.

Please bring a gift for a toddler to donate to the Summit House. To learn more about the Summit House visit: http://www.summithouse.org

Highlights for the Winter Wonderland Social Include:
Music and dancing
Desserts and light hors d’oeuvres
Cash Bar
The opportunity to learn more about Young Leaders

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