Posts Tagged ‘campaign’

What Your Dollar Buys

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Have you ever thought about the little things you spend money on every day? $3.50 might seem like a paltry amount at the time you’re spending it, but if you buy that $3.50 latte every day on your way to work, that adds up to almost $1,000 each year. And don’t forget lunch: even at a fast food place or a café, you could be spending upwards of $8 (or more) a day, which comes out to over $2,000 each year. Not such an insignificant amount of money now, is it?

This post is not meant to be a lecture on how to manage your finances or a judgement on whether or not you should cut back. As you consider these numbers, I want you to also think about the needs of your community, needs that United Way does its best to provide for, and how much those needs cost. For example, it costs just over $100 to provide the recommended twice-yearly dental care visits for a child, on site at his school. $780 can provide a second chance for a homeless family, including a temporary home and resources to stop a downward spiral.

The year 2012 is approaching, and maybe you are already considering your New Year’s Resolutions. As you do, I propose that you think about whether 60 nutritious meals* for a needy individual are worth a small sacrifice on your part—a sacrifice as small as cutting out one latte a week.

Find out what else a weekly United Way gift can buy at http://uwolmsted.org/give/what-your-dollar-buys.php

*60 nutritious meals can be provided for a gift of $1 a week—the equivalent of one DVD kiosk rental each week.

 

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Community Support Equals Community Success

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

By now, many of you have met the 2011 Live United Campaign Chair, Scott Heck,  and his alter ego, Scotty Idol. As he showed you a different side of his personality, he asked that everyone do something different FOR someone this year: mentor a child, speak up for education, check on an elderly neighbor, or make a contribution.

Many of us have hopes and dreams; dreams as extravagant as becoming a sports star or as simple as learning a new hobby. Some dreams are more urgent, such as urgent as being able to feed your family and buy warm clothes for a Minnesota winter. Along the way to those dreams, we have met people who have inspired and influenced our path. We have met people who have mentored and guided us along the way.

For many in our community, they are still looking for that inspiration or that mentor; someone who can provide encouragement to a person when they are the most overwhelmed by doubt. Doubt that creeps in at the end of the month, when some parents have to choose between food and warm clothes for their children. Doubt lurking in the classroom, where a student faces obstacles and wonders if they can pass this class, let alone graduate or go to college.

Doubt cripples hopes. Doubt kills dreams. And the only known cure is support; from family, from friends, and from the community.

This is where the United Way and partner organizations step in. Living United, we can conquer doubt, revive dreams, and make tomorrow a better place.

What will YOU differently this year to make a difference in someone’s life?

Who knows. Through helping someone else, you might find the life you change…is your own.

 

Join the United Way at Taste of Rochester this weekend. If you have not yet done so, read Scott Heck’s campaign kick-off letter. Visit the Be the 1 blog for other inspiring stories.

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Join the Live United tribe.

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Low lights flickered off the scarfs and pictures on the wall as group of belly dancers weaved onto the stage. The dancers took turns choosing what motions the entire group would do. First, one dancer would step forward to lead. The rest of the dancers mimic her motions, supporting her through dance. This leader would then step back and another dancer would come up to replace her. All dancers had the opportunity to be in the spot light and the transfer of “power” took place seamlessly on the stage.

This style of dance is referred to as “tribal dance.” The word “tribal” really supported the image I was witnessing on the stage. Each dancer supported the others through movement. It was a communal experience and one which communities of all types could learn from.

Within the realm of volunteerism, too few people step up to take that lead role.  But within a volunteer community, you are not alone. Those around you do not want you to fail. There is a wide support network to help you as you help others.

Think of how much we could accomplish if we all took our chance in the spotlight. You could grow as an individual and also help the community grow as a whole.

Locally, there are plenty of opportunities to take that role. If you want to start small, two or three hours would help Running Start for School distribute backpacks to students August 23, 24, and 25.  With a larger leap, you could apply to the Emerging Leaders in Giving as a Design Team members. Take the volunteer pledge.

Together, we can help support each other and our community. Join the Live United tribe.

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The future is so bright….

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

sunglasses

“The future’s so bright, I have to wear shades,” was the theme of the 2nd Annual United Way Launch and Learn. The 2009 LIVE UNITED Community Fund Campaign got off to an inspired start Wednesday morning [August 19] at the Hill Theatre on the University Center Rochester campus.  Business and community leaders joined campaign volunteers to launch several weeks of workplace and other campaigns to advance the common good in Olmsted County.

launch09web

(top) Jon Eckhoff, Karen Erlenbusch, Susan Ahlquist, Kelly McDonough, Bob Billman, and Mike Schnell

Following a welcome by Rochester Community and Technical College President Don Supalla,  United Way President Karen Erlenbusch reviewed recent achievements made possible through the LIVE UNITED Community Fund and introduced the 2009 video.

Susan Ahlquist shared the Mayo Clinic’s tradition of support for United Way, highlighting not only their campaign but also other efforts like their winter clothing drive – now in its 10th year.

Kelly McDonough recounted the recent goal-making and goal-breaking campaigns at First Alliance Credit Union. 

Bob Bilman described the work  of the Children’s Dental Health program at which he volunteers.

Mike Schnell promoted Emerging Leaders In Giving – sharing his experience and the benefits of providing opportunities for community service to employees.

But it was Jon Eckhoff whose energy defined the morning event. “When 99 say you can’t and one says you can, listen to the one,” Jon said. “In fact, be the one.”

Following the launch event, campaign volunteers serving as employee campaign coordinators or participating in the speaker’s bureau, broke out into training sessions.

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Campaigning for United Way

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

rosenerA friend once asked Joanne Rosener to volunteer with United Way. She  said yes and with that was launched into a variety of volunteer roles.

Her first experience began as the chair for the Methodist Hospital campaign. Joanne recalls, “I put my heart and soul into that campaign and enjoyed it. I learned a lot about my community and it gave me a deeper sense of belonging, having recently relocated to Rochester.”

Like so many leadership givers, Joanne began her donations when she contributed through payroll deduction. Joanne said “I have always felt it had far reaching impact.”

“It seems that I have always supported United Way because I felt it was a good thing. Instead of asking why give, I like to ask why not give?”

She appreciates that she has the ability and the opportunity to give – “We all have the capacity; if more people participated – even with just a little – we could meet more needs and serve more individuals and families.”

As an employee of the Mayo Clinic she appreciates the opportunity that Mayo provides for participation.

Over the years, Joanne’s involvement has included the Mayo Employee campaign and she now serves as the 2009 United Way Campaign Vice-Chair. “Historically, I have been involved in CEO calls, as an account manager, allocation panels and in the campaign cabinet for the past couple of campaigns. It has increased my appreciation for the process and confidence that there is community investment in what United Way does. I understand the move to community impact and feel it is effective in serving the most important needs of the community.”

Joanne’s road of involvement has led her to the Women’s Leadership Council. “Women tend to be more connected to the needs in a family. We seem to be in a position for identifying needs since we usually have the role of caregiver for children and parents,” observed Joanne.

Joanne’s career has spanned 20 years as a registered dietician and 15 years in Human Resources in HRIS. Very active in Rotary, she and husband Dick have participated in a number of international Rotary trips to such places as India and South Africa to provide children with polio vaccine.

“We help others out of need and without pay or expectations of something in return.” says Joanne. “But, it’s serendipitous. We often are richly compensated by what we gain from the experience, often learning life lessons that we can carry and give to others. It’s frosting on the cake.”

United Way of Olmsted County and the Women’s Leadership Council benefit immensely from Joanne’s talents and volunteering.

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