Five United Way of Greater Greensboro Partners Receive Statewide Spirit Awards

Five local United Way of Greater Greensboro partners were honored with Spirit of North Carolina Awards at United Way of North Carolina’s annual award luncheon on February 16.

Local Spirit Award winners include:

  • City of Greensboro and Guilford County – City/County Municipality 5001+ Employees
  • Guilford County Schools – School Campaigns 5001+ Employees
  • SunTrust Bank – Financial/Banking Institutions 51-100 Employees
  • E.P. Pearce Elementary School – School Campaigns 51-100 Employees
  • Northwest Middle School – School Campaigns 51-100 Employees
Each year, the United Way of North Carolina recognizes and awards companies and organizations that demonstrate strong community support through local United Way involvement. The Spirit of North Carolina Award celebrates the partnership of people working together to develop and implement innovative solutions for long-term community change.
 
“The Spirit of North Carolina Award celebrates the collaborative, hands-on partnerships United Way of Greater Greensboro builds with its corporate supporters,” says Gavin Stevens, Senior Director of Resource Development, United Way of Greater Greensboro.
 
Stevens adds, “This year’s winners led the way with campaigns that communicated the important message of our work while creating a spirit of healthy competition and engagement. In addition to bringing new energy, these companies also achieved growth in employee giving this year. We are grateful to this year’s Spirit of North Carolina Award recipients and all of the community partners who are on a path with us to break the cycle of poverty in greater Greensboro.”​

 

LIVE UNITEDUnited Way of Greater Greensboro is celebrating 95 years of improving lives and building a stronger community: 1922 – 2017. We create partnerships that reduce poverty by leading long-term solutions that meet the unique needs of ENTIRE families.

Family Economic Success Day Offers Free Tax Prep

United Way of Greater Greensboro knows the importance of a family’s financial health and has teamed up with BB&T Bank to host its fourth annual Family Economic Success Day, Tuesday, February 28, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at a new location this year – Guilford Child Development, 1200 Arlington St, Greensboro, NC 27406.

Family Economic Success Day offers free state and federal income tax preparation and filing by IRS-certified volunteers, workshops on financial topics, and BB&T will utilize their mobile Bank Bus to provide free credit reports and reviews to those who qualify for tax prep.

  • Free tax preparation is available to: 

People whose households earned $54,000 or less in 2016.

  • Appointments are required: 

Contact Zandra Cuff at United Way at Zandra.Cuff@unitedwaygso.org or 336-378-5029.

  • What people need to bring: 

To receive free tax preparation services, people must bring a photo ID for themselves and spouse (if applicable), all W2s and tax documents, and actual social security cards or proof of ITIN numbers for every person in the household. A copy of last year’s tax return will save a lot of time.

“Many people don’t know that they can get their both state and federal taxes done for free through VITA. People living on a low or moderate income could really use that few hundred dollars out of their refund instead of paying for tax prep,” says Sarah Glover, Community Impact Manager, United Way of Greater Greensboro.

“BB&T’s CRA Department is committed to enriching our neighborhoods through community development, leadership and innovation. Dedicating our Bank Bus as a mobile VITA site is an innovative approach that brings money-saving services directly to our neighbors in need. We are proud to partner with the United Way and Guilford Child Development to provide this service to the community”, John Stokes, VP / Community Development Specialist.

For people who cannot attend Family Economic Success Day, United Way also coordinate additional free income tax preparation across Greensboro at times and locations. Taxpayers can call 2-1-1 to find a site near them. Additionally, for people who want to prepare their own taxes, MyFreeTaxes.com is available to those whose households earned up to $64,000.

Family Economic Success Day is made possible by United Way of Greater Greensboro, BB&T Bank, Guilford Child Development, the IRS VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program, Senior Resources of Guilford, and local VITA volunteers.

 

City of Greensboro and United Way Seek to Engage Volunteers During National Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring Month, and this year the City of Greensboro and United Way of Greater Greensboro are celebrating 15 years of the mentoring movement and expanding quality mentoring opportunities in support of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiative.

This is an opportunity to connect more of our community’s young people with caring adults by identifying youth employment and mentoring programs throughout the City of Greensboro.

The City is partnering with United Way’s African-American Male Initiative to provide mentors for our African-American, Hispanic and other male students, under the MBK model. Mentoring starts in grades 2nd – 5th at Wiley Elementary, 6th – 8th at Jackson Middle and 9th grade at Smith High School. Approximately 140 boys are eligible to participate in the program between the three schools.

“Over the past 15 years, mentoring has gained tremendous momentum, in large part due to National Mentoring Month. Mentoring is a critical part of developing life changing relationships – mentoring is proven to have a positive effect on academic, social, and economic outcomes for our young people,” said Mayor Nancy Vaughan.

“Too many young people right here in Greensboro lack sufficient support to succeed in school and in life,” says Michelle Gethers-Clark, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Greensboro. “ Each of us has the power to truly impact the future for our youth by simply being a caring adult in their life as a friend and mentor.”

Research shows mentors can play a powerful role in providing youngsters with the tools to make responsible choices, attend and excel in school, and reduce or avoid risky behavior like gang activity or drug use.

In turn, young people who are mentored:

  • 55% more likely to be enrolled in college
  • 81% more likely to report participating regularly in sports or extracurricular activities
  • 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities
  • More than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team

Yet, the same research shows that nine million young people in our country will grow up without a mentor. National Mentoring Month each January allows for unique engagement from community members interested in becoming a mentor. This year, with the support of the mentoring community, we are encouraging the public to go beyond just digital engagement – and become involved in making a real life impact.

Mentoring relationships are at their best when connections are made between a caring adult and a young person who knows that someone is there to help guide them through those real life decisions. Pledge to be a mentor today, by contacting the United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Other important dates for National Mentoring Month include:

January 12, 2017: “I Am a Mentor Day”
A day for volunteer mentors to celebrate their role and reflect on the ways mentees have enhanced their world and share their stories about being a mentor on social media using #MentorIRL.

January 16, 2017: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
A day to share in the inspirational words of MLK, Jr., and elevate the spirit of service through volunteerism.

January 17, 2017: International Mentoring Day
A day of international conversations on social media where photos, video and messages to share powerful mentoring stories.

January 19, 2017: “Thank Your Mentor Day” 

A day for all who have real life mentoring experiences to thank those who helped them on their path to adulthood and beyond when we encourage anyone who has had a mentor to say thank you by sending a note, a card or sharing a story on social media using #MentorIRL.

To learn more about the role mentoring plays in our community and to find volunteer opportunities, click here.

About National Mentoring Month
National Mentoring Month is led by MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, with support from the Highland Street Foundation. Each year since its launch in 2002, National Mentoring Month has enjoyed the strong support of the President and the United States Congress.

Other prominent individuals who have participated in the campaign include: Maya Angelou, former President Bill Clinton, Clint Eastwood, Quincy Jones, Cal Ripken Jr., Bill Russell and Usher.

PRESS RELEASE: United Way Receives $25,000 Grant From North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation

United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) has been awarded a $25,000 North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Ribbon of Hope grant to support UWGG’s Family Success Center.

The NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation grant will allow United Way to increase the capacity of the Family Success Center and expand the educational services provided to low-income families.

 

 

Funding will be used to:

  • increase the number of GED preparation classes provided by funding additional GED class instructor hours
  • provide  books and study materials for all Family Success Center students working to obtain their GED
  • subsidize the cost of the test for students
  • provide tutoring for students with English as a second language or who start the program with low literacy skills.

“We are so grateful for the generous support of the NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation,” says Michelle Gethers-Clark, CEO UWGG. “The Ribbon of Hope grant will have a direct impact on local families and will help us provide them with the support and hope they need to be successful.”

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About the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation

The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation is an independent self-funding 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supporting activities that help meet the educational and health needs of today’s society and future generations. Since its creation in 1986, the foundation has granted $71.0 million to support North Carolina projects and programs that emphasize the understanding and application of science, health and education at all academic and professional levels. Visit us at NCGSKFoundation.org.

About Family Success Center

The Family Success Center is a community collaboration to empower families to achieve their goals through job skills training and education. The program is focused on helping individuals enter a pathway toward becoming self-sufficient and successful. The program offers families services they need to meet the needs of each family member. The program helps people achieve goals by connecting them with training, resources and supports in a single location, to reduce barriers and increase opportunity for success.

United Way of Greater Greensboro Receives $25,000 Women to Women Grant to Serve Family Success Center Members

United Way of Greater Greensboro has received a $25,000 grant from the Women to Women Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. Grant funds will be used to increase GED program participants at United Way’s Family Success Center.

“The Women to Women Fund is innovative and solution oriented. We are honored and grateful to have been selected to receive the 2016 grant. The grant will be invested in a generational solution at the Family Success Center – parents getting GEDs while children are in quality childcare in the same location is a win/win. Together, parents and children will learn to value education as a pathway out of poverty,” says Michelle Gethers-Clark, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Greensboro.

The GED program at Family Success Center is the only effort in Guilford County that offers a two-generation approach for mothers of young children to complete high school requirements. This cornerstone initiative at Family Success Center has been identified as a main reason mothers have engaged in the model.

The unique attributes of the GED program includes:

  • 42 week GTCC instructor-led classes and child care in the same building located near the student’s residence
  • Enrollment in a five star child development program to nurture the brain development of the GED student’s child while the mother is in classes, tutoring, and testing
  • Mother and child are provided with high quality meals when mothers attend classes
  • Student books and testing fees
  • Bus passes and other transportation needs
  • Parent/child graduation ceremony

United Way Joins Drive to Help Kayser-Roth Employees Impacted by Hurricane Matthew

United Way of Greater Greensboro is supporting Kayser-Roth’s local efforts to supply food and relief items for the over 500 Kayser-Roth employees located in Lumberton who were impacted by hurricane Matthew. Kayser-Roth is headquartered in Greensboro and will deliver donated items to Lumberton employees later this week.

People can drop off food and relief items at one of two locations:

  • By 5 p.m. this Wednesday at United Way, 1500 Yanceyville St. in Greensboro
  • By 1 p.m. this Thursday at Kayser-Roth headquarters, 102 Corporate Center Blvd. in Greensboro

Needed supplies include:

  • Non-perishable food items
  • New clothing (especially underwear and undershirts/t-shirts)
  • Toiletries and personal hygiene items
  • New or gently used (and cleaned) blankets
  • New or gently used (and cleaned) coats/jackets

White House Summit for My Brother’s Keeper Communities in NC Takes Place at United Way of Greater Greensboro

In advance of the President’s trip to Greensboro for the student forum hosted by ESPN, The White House, in coordination with Bloomberg Associates, hosted a summit on My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) in North Carolina to highlight progress and provide technical assistance to bolster local efforts. The summit took place at United Way of Greater Greensboro.

The MBK Community Challenge encourages communities (cities, rural municipalities, and tribal nations) to implement a coherent cradle-to-college-and-career strategy.

The goal is to improve the life outcomes of all young people to ensure they can reach their full potential. Nearly 250 mayors, tribal leaders, and county executives in all 50 states and the District of Columbia have accepted the MBK Community Challenge. www.whitehouse.gov/my-brothers-keeper

Ten communities in North Carolina have accepted the MBK Community Challenge since September 2014. This summit convened North Carolina’s MBK Communities, including heads of local government, MBK leadership from the federal government, national nonprofits and local youth, to discuss strategies and resources for success in their MBK initiatives.

Locally, United Way of Greater Greensboro is creating new partnerships for a community-wide plan with city, county, education, nonprofit and concerned citizens to drive positive outcomes for men and young boys of color.

The resulting action plans will focus on mentoring and summer youth employment to start. Michelle Gethers-Clark, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Greensboro, says, “When a child is exposed to positive and new experiences their aspirations change. And an employed young person learns the expectations of life first hand.”

Mentors and 2017 summer jobs are needed.  Contact United Way of Greater Greensboro to get connected.

The initiative aims to bring together government, law enforcement, business, nonprofit, philanthropic, faith, and community leaders around shared goals for young people. MBK seeks to establish strategies that ensure all:

  • Children enter school cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally prepared
  • Children read at grade level by third grade
  • Young people graduate from high school
  • Young people complete post-secondary education or training
  • Youth out of school are employed
  • Young people are safe from violent crime.

Procter & Gamble engages over 700 employees in service to the community

As part of an annual all staff retreat, on September 21, P&G employees volunteered for 2 hours, making 7,500 trail mix snack packs, over 7,000 toiletry kits, countless encouraging cards and notes, 250 pencil bundles, and almost 100 no-sew blankets.

The products produced were donated to over 20 nonprofit organizations, including: Salvation Army Center of Hope, YWCA Family Shelter, Women’s Resource Center, Senior Resources of Guilford, Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, Guilford Child Development, Family Services of the Piedmont, and Greensboro Urban Ministry.

The Volunteer Center of Greensboro and United Way of Greater Greensboro co-facilitated the project. P&G used the event to promote their annual United Way of Greater Greensboro fundraising campaign with their employees.

Erin Kennedy, Director of Programs with The Volunteer Center said, “We were thrilled to work with P&G to engage their employees in service- they were so eager to give back, and wanted to do as much as possible, benefitting as many organizations as possible. They really take their corporate responsibility seriously, and the nonprofit community really appreciates that. We couldn’t do what we do without companies like P&G!”

“In two hours, P&G employees impacted thousands of children, families and adults. This event is a true example of the power of partnerships, volunteering and LIVING UNITED,” says Carl Jones, Campaign Manager, United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Terri Rouleau, Site Human Resources Leader with P&G said, “This collaboration between P&G, United Way of Greater Greensboro and The Volunteer Center was a true privilege to be a part of.  Our team at P&G could not have been more energized and we are truly grateful for the opportunity to GIVE BACK !!”

CEO Breakfast hosted by Honda Aircraft Company: August 26, 2016

A very special thanks to Honda Aircraft Company for hosting United Way of Greater Greensboro’s annual CEO breakfast.

Like Honda’s corporate philosophy of “going to the spot” to identify and solve business and community needs, United Way goes to spots in our community that need the most help so we can make a long-term impact.United Way is creating partnerships to reduce poverty in greater Greensboro.

We are also thankful those who attended and showed their individual and corporate support! Click here to see pictures!

​Community Celebration and NEW United Way Announcement

 The community is invited to join United Way of Greater Greensboro on August 31, 5 to 7 p.m., at Belk, Friendly Center in Greensboro, for a celebration like they have never seen before.

The celebration, which kicks off United Way’s 2016 campaign, will include free food, drinks, giveaways, a DJ and more and will feature a special announcement outlining the “NEW” United Way at 6 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food, gently used handbags or school supplies.

Gregg Strader, Executive Vice President, Chief Banking Officer at American National Bank & Trust and United Way Board member is chairing the 2016 campaign.

Strader says, “I am honored and thrilled to serve as this year’s campaign chair. Our focus on reducing poverty is brave and bold and we are achieving positive results. We are grateful to all of our supporters including volunteers, community partners, corporations, foundations and citizens who want to make a difference in our community.”

Additionally during the celebration, results from this year’s Pacesetter Campaign that began in July will be announced. The Pacesetter Campaign is made of 17 companies that decided to conduct their United Way campaigns early to pave the way for a successful community-wide campaign.

2016 Pacesetter Campaigns:

  • Allen Tate Realtors
  • American National Bank & Trust
  • Carruthers & Roth
  • City of Greensboro
  • Duke Energy
  • First Citizens Bank & Trust
  • Guilford County
  • Milan Pharmaceuticals
  • Norfolk Southern Corporation
  • Piedmont Natural Gas
  • Procter & Gamble Manufacturing
  • Senn Dunn Insurance
  • Sharrard, McGee & Co.
  • Target Corporation
  • United Way of Greater Greensboro – just recognition, no award
  • UPS
  • VF Corporation
  • Volunteer Center of Greensboro

 

The NEW United Way is creating partnerships to reduce poverty in greater Greensboro. We bring together dynamic and caring professionals and volunteers who teach, coach and inspire the 57,000 people in our community, struggling to obtain basic needs. The federal government defines poverty as family of four earning $24,300 per year. With so many of our neighbors struggling to meet basic needs, United Way believes poverty must be addressed so that our community can thrive.