Category: Community Partners

(Greensboro, NC, September 13, 2019) – The community is invited to join United Way of Greater Greensboro on September 27, 6 to 9 p.m., at Revolution Mill in Greensboro for United Way’s annual Community Celebration to END Poverty. 

The family-friendly event will feature live music by JujuGuru. Attendees will be treated to beer from Natty Greene’s and will have access to food trucks including Bandito Burrito and Classic Cookout. 

During the celebration, results from this year’s Pacesetter Campaign (which began in July) will be announced. The Pacesetter Campaign includes 12 companies that decided to conduct their United Way campaigns early to set the pace for a successful community-wide campaign.

2019 Pacesetter Campaigns:

• Allen Tate Realtors
• Carruthers & Roth, P.A.
• Center for Creative Leadership
• Children’s Home Society of NC
• Family Service of the Piedmont
• Greensboro Housing Authority
• IBERIABANK
• Target Corporation
• Townebank
• United Way of Greater Greensboro
• UPS
• Volunteer Center of Greensboro, Inc.

JujuGuru is featured on Artists United to End Poverty, a benefit album with 50+ tracks produced by local nonprofit The Culture Pushers. All proceeds from Artists United to End Poverty will be donated to support United Way’s efforts to end poverty. The album is on sale now on iTunes (not Apple Music) and Amazon (not Amazon Music).

(Greensboro, NC, August 29, 2019) – Artists United to End Poverty, a local benefit album, is exclusively available for pre-sale purchase on iTunes (not Apple Music) and when the album officially releases on September 6, will be available on Amazon Music and Google Play. Album information and downloading instructions can be found at: www.culturepushers.org/album.

The public is invited to celebrate and attend the album’s official release party on September 6, 6 – 9 p.m. at Elm Street Lounge, 115 S. Elm St. in downtown Greensboro. Artists from the album will be performing throughout the event.

Greensboro native and Grammy Award winning record producer, Andreao “Fanatic” Heard, who founded and represents The Culture Pushers, a local non-profit, partnered with United Way of Greater Greensboro to produce the album.

Music is often a driving force behind social change. From counterculture and protest songs in the 1960s to “We Are the World” in 1985, music is a transformative energy that creates and supports movements that showcase the best of our humanity.

Artists United to End Poverty is just that – a benefit album with incredible music that supports a huge social need. Greensboro ranks 31% above the national poverty average, and 1 out of every four kids are growing up in poverty. Based on these harsh realities, Fanatic is donating 100% of album proceeds to support United Way of Greater Greensboro’s bold movement to END local poverty.

The album includes over 50 songs and artists who have donated their music for the project and features the title track, “Die 4 Love” which includes dozens of artists singing together in true “We are the World” style.

Album Artists include:

Vanessa Ferguson, Bishop Bryan J. Pierce, Sr., Mount Zion Gospel Choir, The Hamiltones, Mayor Nancy Vaughan, John P. Kee, Laurelyn Dossett, Autumn Nicholas, Fanatic, Andre Fenix, Demeanor, Jordan Hawkins, Shelby J, Sybil, J. Timber , Molly McGinn, Quilla, Josh King, Jaron Strom, Citizen Shade, Tigo B, Jessica Mashburn, Josephus Thomson III, The Collection, Abigail Dowd, JBlanked, Debbie “The Artist” Long, Chris Meadows, AND MANY MORE!

Fanatic says, “I felt compelled to get involved because I know the power of music and how it can help address social issues that exist in the community. Hopefully this album will bring awareness to how real this poverty issue is in our city. The numbers are alarming. I’m excited to partner with United Way because after meeting and talking with them I can clearly see they are truly focused and committed to ending local poverty. As a record producer you dream of this ‘Quincy Jones moment’ where you can work with all these amazing artists and musicians for a greater cause.”

“Greensboro is full of caring people who do not accept children going to bed hungry, or adults struggling to meet basic needs as our reality. This project will help spread awareness and fuel United Way’s efforts that are working together to end poverty. Bold goals require bold moves and we hope other communities will use this project as a blueprint to address their own individual needs,” says Michael Cottingham, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Album sponsors include: az development, IBERIABANK, The City of Greensboro, The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Downtown Greensboro Inc., Joy Shavitz, Randall Kaplan, Ann Zuraw and Mae Douglas.

Greensboro, NC (August 28, 2019) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is accepting Letters of Interest (LOI) from current and unaffiliated non-profit partners for the 2020-2022 strategic grant process. Letters of Interest are due no later than September 27, 2019.

LOIs during this grant cycle must be from local non-profits offering solutions that address basic needs, employment and financial capabilities. Applicants will need to demonstrate abilities and outcomes that are reducing the number of children, adults and families experiencing the impact of generational poverty.

Non-profit organizations with programs that meet LOI requirements will be invited to submit full grant applications. Programs selected through a volunteer-led award process are eligible to receive two-year funding for 2020-2022.

Every year, UWGG accepts grant applications from human service organizations through an open and competitive process. Volunteer-led committees called Impact Councils select programs based on their abilities to produce outcomes that reduce the number of children, families and adults living in poverty. This “open funding” model allows United Way to invest donor gifts into local programs with proven solutions that are decreasing poverty.

Applicants can access a detailed list of funding goals, strategies and program measures at: www.UnitedWayGSO.org/Our-Grants

United Way of Greater Greensboro and the City of Greensboro partnered again this year to expand summer employment opportunities for local youth with the Plus One program.

In its second year, 17 employers hired 57 local youth for summer employment.

Research shows there are major benefits of summer employment including gaining work experience and supplementing family income. Summer employment for youth also has positive educational implications. Having a summer job can increase teens’ time-management skills, self-confidence and sense of responsibility, all of which help them succeed in life and in school.

“We are thrilled with the results of Plus One this year and know the program will continue to expand in future years,” said Traci McLemore Senior Manager of Community Impact Initiatives at United Way of Greater Greensboro. “The growth we saw when compared to last year only shows how needed these employment opportunities are for young people.”

Amir Frazier was hired by United Way of Greater Greensboro as the organization’s Plus One employee. After participating in United Way’s Alternative Spring Break program for college students in March 2019, he says he was interested in working with United Way to better his understanding of the nonprofit sector and to gain new skills.

“Being the Plus One employee at United Way this summer has exposed me to so much and taught me how to be more independent,” said Frazier. “I got to see what it’s like to work in an office space on a day-to-day basis and I met a lot of people who are dedicated to making their community better. It opened up a whole new network to me.”

For more information on Plus One, visit unitedwaygso.org/plusone.

Greensboro, NC (July 3, 2019) – United Way of Greater Greensboro is mobilizing the community throughout July with its annual MeaningFULL meals program in partnership with BackPack Beginnings and The Volunteer Center of Greensboro.

Six years ago, United Way and The Volunteer Center started MeaningFULL Meals, a nutrition project that seeks food donations to help feed school children in need while school is out for summer. BackPack Beginnings joined the partnership four years ago and serves as the recipient of all food donations, dispersing them to children and families in the community.

In the summer months, many local children do not have access to nutritious meals and go hungry. The community is invited to be part of the solution by supporting MeaningFULL Meals this July.

Making a big difference is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Get a box – available at United Way office if needed.
2. Fill your box with donated food items (see full listing at UnitedWayGSO.org/meaningFULL)
3. Drop off collected items at BackPack Beginnings (office hours listed at backpackbeginnings.org/contact)

A full list of needed items can be found at UnitedWayGSO.org/meaningFULL.

“I’ve always had a lot of goals, but I didn’t have the support I needed to accomplish them. Now I have everything I need to change my life thanks to the Family Success Center.”

Born and raised in Greensboro, Willie Tatum graduated from high school but struggled to find her footing soon after. Raising four children, Willie says she felt overwhelmed and desperately needed a support system.

Willie found that support system at the Family Success Center and says her path to success is now more exciting than she ever imagined.

Willie was one of the first members to enroll at United Way of Greater Greensboro’s second Family Success Center located at The Salvation Army of Greensboro Center of Hope.

United Way’s Family Success Center model addresses the needs of families living on low incomes by offering bundled services in one accessible location that are tailored to meet unique needs. Services focused on employment, education, financial capability, health and wellness and basic needs are provided through collaboration.

“The best thing about the Family Success Center is the relationships,” says Willie. “My coach and teachers help me break down my goals into smaller steps so I can accomplish them. My classmates always encourage me, and I encourage them too. It’s a family—really.”

Thanks to the Family Success Center, Willie is now employed and is saving more money than ever. She is already improving her credit score and is planning on buying her first home.

And thanks to the lessons she’s learned from the center’s budgeting class, she paid off her car less than six months after joining the center.

Willie is seeing improvements in her physical and mental health too. “I’ve learned how to ask for help and now I know that I have a team of people at the Family Success Center ready to support me at every step of the way.”

Greensboro, NC (June 14, 2019) – On June 12, at its annual meeting, United Way of Greater Greensboro announced new Board and Campaign Chairs and donors voted unanimously to welcome five new members to its board of directors.

New board members include:

• Claudia Cannady, Community Leader
• Davida Martin, Community Leader
• Bill Morrisette, Morrisette Paper Company
• Nathan Myers, BB&T
• Jamiah Waterman, City of Greensboro

The United Way of Greater Greensboro board of directors provides direction, support, guidance, and governance to the organization by engaging business leaders as committed volunteers and leveraging expertise to advance the work of United Way.

Greensboro, NC (June 7, 2019) – United Way is pleased to announce a historic milestone in its efforts toward ending poverty, as July will mark the first time all of United Way’s strategic partners have been selected through a new open funding process led by local volunteers.

Over the past four years, United Way phased in this new community impact model with the support of volunteer-led committees and strategic partners. In 2017, United Way adopted an open funding model which allows new and existing partners equal opportunity to apply for funding.

“We want to invest in programs and strategies that will yield the greatest return on investment for families with low income in greater Greensboro,” said Frank McCain, Vice President of Community Impact and Investments. “Our open funding model allows us to invest in innovative programs in a way that is responsive to our community’s changing needs all while remaining focused on ending poverty.”

All investment decisions are led by local volunteers who review grant applications and presentations by local nonprofits. Thanks to this approach, United Way has created a community-wide network of partners that provides a path to financial stability at any stage of life.

Moving forward, every year, local organizations will apply to join United Way of Greater Greensboro’s innovative network. And every year, local volunteers will select and fund partnerships that work together to END poverty. Grants are awarded on a two-year funding cycle and recipients must meet meaningful, data-driven goals to receive second year funding.

United Way is also working toward ending poverty at our Family Success Centers, where children and adults are receiving coordinated services in one location. Additionally, when someone in need dials 2-1-1, United Way is ending poverty by connecting them to an operator who offers local services that help.

This new holistic approach to ending poverty is working and United Way has the outcomes to prove it. Adults are becoming financially stable now and children have the proper foundations to be successful in the future.

Greensboro, NC (May 2, 2019) – United Way of Greater Greensboro, in partnership with The Volunteer Center of Greensboro and local community organizations, is promoting volunteerism on United Way’s Day of Action, June 21.

On and around June 21, tens of thousands of people across the globe volunteer as part of United Way Worldwide’s Day of Action. Locally in Greensboro, all members of the community are encouraged to make a difference one volunteer hour at a time.

United Way’s Day of Action provides opportunities for volunteers, donors and advocates to be part of solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives.

Click here to sign up.

Volunteer opportunities throughout the week include:

• Landscaping at the Interactive Resource Center
• Gardening at The Servant Center
• Serving lunch at Greensboro Urban Ministry
• Sorting donations at Out of the Garden Project
• Sorting donations at The Salvation Army of Greensboro Family Store & Donation Center
• Sorting donations at Greensboro Urban Ministry

Opportunities are available for both individuals and groups.