United Way of Greater Greensboro

Today, as a part of International Women’s Day, United Way of Greater Greensboro celebrates women.

We should be proud our city’s historical role in advancing the status of women. Greensboro was the champion of North Carolina for educating women of all races, long before women and minorities were legally recognized as equal citizens. Read more about Greensboro’s role in the history of women in North Carolina.

We celebrate the achievements our community has made to improve women’s equality. We remain vigilant and tenacious for further sustainable change.

The advancement of women is of prime importance to the economy, business, and society. United Way of Greater Greensboro and many community partners are working to improve our local economy by focusing on family economic success.

One of the significant challenges to becoming  stable and self-sufficient is the affordability of child care. Safe, affordable, quality child care allows parents to obtain and retain a job. It also helps children develop in a healthy manner and ultimately start school ready to succeed. Access to affordable child care is essential for a strong economy.[i]

Many families in Greensboro are fortunate to have access to child care subsidies and scholarships from government and charitable sources, like United Way. However, working families and families that have a parent attending post-secondary school are often on waiting lists for 1 to 2 years before their family becomes eligible to apply.  At any given point there are 2500+ children on the waiting lists in our area to receive help. [iv]

In honor of International Women’s Day, take this opportunity to share this story with a woman who wants to make a difference in her community. Then, consider making an online donation to United Way of Greater Greensboro to help us continue providing child care scholarships and addressing the challenge of affordable child care.

Click here to read more about our state’s child care subsidy program.
Click here to go to child care subsidy fact sheets for each NC county.
Click here to read more about our community partner, Guilford Child Development’s, child care scholarship program.

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This is a guest post from Andrew Trump, Greensboro Program Coordinator at Reading Connections. United Way of Greater Greensboro investments currently support the Health Literacy program at Reading Connections . 

For most of the adults in our programs, the need to increase their understanding of health information and make appropriate health decisions is paramount: low health literacy translates into missed days at work, increased rates of hospitalization, and higher mortality rates.

As many of our tutors know firsthand, health problems are one of the primary reasons students miss classes and eventually have to stop attending.

Each February, we invite members of the Reading Connections community to engage in conversation and action toward improving health literacy. February is our “Health Literacy Month!” It’s a chance for our adult learners to begin and continue to increase their health literacy by focusing the lens of their basic literacy work on health.

For some, learning to comprehend the directions on their medication labels might be the focus of the month. For others, it’s memorizing the high-frequency sight words that appear time and time again on medical forms. And for many, incorporating health content into their lessons becomes an essential part of their long term work with Reading Connections.

We invite you to explore health literacy with us. If you’re curious about health literacy instruction, check out this incredible curriculum! For more resources, log in to the “Tutor” section of our website (user ID: tutor, password: reading). And for specific ways to address health with an adult student, schedule a meeting with one of our program coordinators.

Click here to read more about becoming a volunteer tutor with Reading Connections.

Click here to download the latest Voices. Choices. report about United Way and other community partners’ work in addressing health literacy.

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Almost half of children under age five in Guilford County who live in a single parent-led household are living below the Federal Poverty Level – 49.7% (2010 U.S. Census).  Like thousands of these low-income, single-parent families, “Kandice” can’t afford child care while she works to provide for her children. Our Regional Child Care Resources & Referral program (RCCR&R) provides child care scholarships to parents like Kandice so they can work while their children prepare for success in school.

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United Way of Greater Greensboro recognizes today, January 25th, as the 7th National EITC Day, a nationwide effort to increase public awareness about Earned Income Tax Credit.People who work and earn less than $50,270 from wages, self-employment or farming may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC.

Celebrate by finding out if you’re eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit — which could mean up to $2000 back in your pocket! Click here to go to the IRS’s 2012 EITC Assistant.

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Contact: John McLendon
Director, Marketing & Communications
336-378-6617
John.McLendon@unitedwaygso.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ANNOUNCING NATIONAL EITC DAY AND FACILITATED SELF ASSISTANCE TAX PREPARATION.

Many People Could Overlook Valuable Tax Credit.

Greensboro, NC, January 25, 2013 – United Way of Greater Greensboro recognizes today, January 25th, as the 7th National EITC Day, a nationwide effort to increase public awareness about Earned Income Tax Credit. People who work and earn less than $50,270 from wages, self-employment or farming may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC. UWGG also announces the availability of the Facilitated Self-Assistance free tax preparation sites and online service. Households earning up to $57,000 annually can get free help preparing their tax return.

One in five eligible workers miss EITC, either because they don’t claim it when filing or don’t file a tax return. This is money that can make a difference, especially for lower income households. Last year, the credit returned statewide was over $2.14 billion dollars to over 900,000 workers i.

Workers who qualify for EITC could receive larger refunds. EITC varies by income, family size and filing status and the average EITC amount last year in North Carolina, was $2,356 i.

With the exception of some disability income, people must work to qualify for EITC. They earned it. Now they must file, claim it and get it. EITC is a valuable tax break for working families and free help is available from IRS-certified volunteers.

“EITC is a financial boost for working people, and their families. It allows more funds to flow into our community. It’s money that can make lives a little easier. We want to help families keep all of their refund,” said Sarah Glover, Community Impact Manager, Income & Resources, UWGG.

UWGG, in conjunction with several of its Partner Agencies in the Greensboro area, is coordinating the Facilitated Self-Assistance (FSA) free, online state and federal income tax filing service.

This free online filing service through Myfreetaxes.com is for people who:

• Have a household Adjusted Gross Income of $57,000 or less.
• Have basic computer and internet skills.
• Want to do their own taxes with access to an IRS certified volunteer.

FSA is one of two ways to get free help from IRS certified volunteers. FSA volunteers will be available by phone, email or online chat to answer questions. If in-person help is needed, call 2-1-1 for local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites. All FSA tax preparation sites will begin service on Monday, January 28th.

People wanting to use the FSA service should be prepared with the following:

• Driver’s license or non-driver ID. Spouses filing jointly must both be present.
• W-2s, 1099s and other income and tax related forms.
• Social Security or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) for each family member and working adult.
• Childcare provider name, address and tax ID.
• Bank routing and account numbers for checking and savings accounts if direct deposit is desired.
• Valid email address.
• A copy of last year’s tax return if available.

The United Way affiliated sites, in Greensboro, for the FSA tax preparation service are:

Greensboro Housing Authority
(*Residents only / see website at www.gha-nc.org )

Guilford Child Development
1200 Arlington St., Greensboro 27406
336-369-7700
First Saturday of the month, 10:00-1:00 / Weekdays 9:00-4:00 / Tuesday and Thursday evenings by appointment 336- 369-5097 -or- 336-369-5034

Piedmont Health Services & Sickle Cell Agency
1102 E. Market St., Greensboro 27401
336-274-1507
Thursdays 1:00-5:00

Volunteer Center
1500 Yanceyville St, Greensboro 27405
336-373-1633
Monday through Friday 3:00-5:00

YWCA of Greensboro
4002 Spring Garden St. Suite E, Greensboro 27407
336-273-3461
Monday through Friday 9:00-2:00 / Evenings by appointment

Women’s Resource Center
336-275-6090
628 Summit Ave, Greensboro 27405
(*Women only)
Wednesdays 10:00-4:00

Individuals who qualify to file using Myfreetaxes.com can file online anytime using Myfreetaxes.com/Greensboro. The link can also be found at www.unitedwaygso.org.

For details, contact Sarah Glover at 378-5036 or email at sarah.glover@unitedwaygso.org.

United Way of Greater Greensboro supports programs, initiatives, member agencies, and partners meeting critical needs in our community in the areas of education, income and health. 2012 marked 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 celebrated 90 years of local investments.
-END -

i – Source: www.eitc.irs.gov/central/eitcstats

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On January 30th, Partners Ending Homelessness will conduct the annual Point In Time Count for Guilford County. The Point In Time Count provides a snapshot of unduplicated sheltered and unsheltered individuals and families experiencing homelessness on any given night as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, Partners Ending Homelessness conducted Guilford County’s Annual Point in Time Count which revealed:

• 1,005 individuals experience homelessness on any given night
• There has been a 61.8% reduction in the number of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness ***

For more information about the Point In Time Count, or to volunteer your time to help, contact Sara Patterson at sara@partnersendinghomelessness.org.

*** Partners Ending Homelessness feels that this number is a little low. It is believed the number is equivalent to what it has been over the last couple of years.

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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.

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On Thursday, May 17th, United Way of North Carolina and Action for Children are joining forces in Raleigh for a day of advocacy on behalf of important issues facing North Carolinians. There are three key issues that we will be advocating for on that day:

1. Enhancing NC 2-1-1’s state-wide coverage in order to create a system that allows people to efficiently find the services they need
2. Preserving and extending the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) as a way to reduce poverty while encouraging self-sufficiency
3. Raising the age for juveniles to be charged with crimes in the adult criminal justice system to 18, so that court-involved minors can receive developmentally appropriate, research-based services and treatments that prepare them for a successful life

As an advocate, you know that it’s important to speak up about issues that matter most to you and your community. The Youth & Family Advocacy Day will include training on these key issues, special guest speakers, and an opportunity to meet with your legislators. Here is the schedule at a glance:

9:30 a.m. Registration
10:00 a.m. Issue Briefing at the Museum of History
11:00 a.m. Rally Event in front of the Museum
Legislative Visits
Gallery Recognition — House/Senate

Will you will be able to join us? Click here to RSVP to United Way of North Carolina.

For more information, contact Anna Hoy at 336-378-6614 or anna.hoy@unitedwaygso.org

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The Week of the Young Child™ is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world’s largest early childhood education association, with nearly 80,000 members and a network of over 300 local, state, and regional Affiliates.

The purpose of the Week of the Young Child™ is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

NAEYC first established the Week of the Young Child™ in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years (birth through age 8 ) lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later life. The Week of the Young Child™ is a time to plan how we—as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation—will better meet the needs of all young children and their families.

United Way of Greater Greensboro is happy to celebrate this week with thousands of advocates for early childhood development throughout the United States. In Greensboro, United Way has affirmed our community’s priority of investing early to create better opportunities later in life. Thriving at 3 is United Way of Greater Greensboro’s early childhood development initiative which provides direct services to families and convenes the community to promote information sharing and collaboration.

Thriving at 3 will celebrate the Week of The Young Child by hosting a community Lunch-N-Learn on April 25th. Marian F. Earls, MD, FAAP, Pediatrics Medical Director at Triad Adult & Pediatrics Medicine, and Lead author on American Acadmeny of Pediatrics (AAP) Statement on Screening for Post Partum Depression in primary care, and Co Chair, NC IOM Task Force on Early Childhood Mental Health will be the guest speaker for this event. The discussion will be on postpartum depression, toxic stress, and the impact on the infant’s early brain development. Strategies for promotion, prevention, and intervention in the primary care medical home will be described, as well as for community response and resources including activities and special points of interest.

Registration is on a first come first serve basis and will be closed Friday April 20, 2012. For more information, contact Traci McLemore at 336-378-5040 or traci.mclemore@unitedwaygso.org. 

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Image from fineartamerica.com

I once heard a famous orator say, “If a successful person tells you that they got to where they are all by themselves, then they were either delusional or weren’t as smart as they believed themselves to be.” It took a few minutes for me to digest his message and only one minute to decide that I agreed.

I am a product of a village.  A village that included Ms. Kidd, my first grade teacher, who told me on more than one occasion that I was special, that I was gifted and that I had something  to offer this world.  A village that included Mr. Harris, my swim team coach, that told me that “practice equates to perfection”.  A village that included a married couple, that neither knew my name or of my existence on this earth.  Mr. and Mrs.  Le Flore owned the neighborhood candy store, it was there, that I could see them working together each day, their love for each other and that their family unit was strong.  They were an example of what I wished for  myself one day.

All of these people made an undeniable impression in my life.  They are just a few of the MANY mentors  I have had over the years.  Examples of people who cared, cultivated and catapulted my chance for success.  They made a difference in my life.

Will I do the same for someone else?  Will you?  The choice is ours—–become a mentor for a youth in our community.  You just might learn something too!

This post was written by Frank McCain, Vice President of Community Investment for United Way of Greater Greensboro. Frank oversees the division responsible for investing in community programs, including those that “Grow Successful Kids”. United Way is committed to mobilizing mentors to improve the future for disadvantaged youth. For more information on how you can get involved as a mentor, visit unitedwaygso.org/mentor. 

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