United Way of the Ozarks

2-1-1 Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

uwozarks — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:33:34 +0000

United Way celebrates one-year anniversary of its Missouri
2-1-1 help line

More than 87,490 calls have been placed to United Way’s Missouri 2-1-1 help line since November 13, 2007. With one year running, the Missouri 2-1-1 help line has exceeded expectations across the state. This fast, free, confidential give or get help line for health and human services is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the state of Missouri for those calling from a land line or AT&T cell phones. Other cell phone users and metro-east Illinois residents should call 800-427-4626 for the same service. Information and resources, including a searchable database of services available can be found at: www.211missouri.org. “We’re so pleased that 2-1-1 has been such a success,” said Jennifer Kennally, President and CEO of United Way of the Ozarks. “We knew it was important for United Way to be able to offer this free service to help the residents of Missouri and especially the people of the greater Springfield area. We’re grateful that the main funder of 2-1-1, Missouri Foundation for Health, understood its importance as well. It can be overwhelming not knowing where to turn for help. The Call Center staff who man the phones 24 hours a day are trained to refer callers to the organizations that can assist with their needs.”“With more than 10,000 health and human service organizations and government programs throughout Missouri, it’s hard to know where to turn,” said Kennally. “By dialing 2-1-1, the call specialists are there to help you through the maze.” Number and type of calls

Most of the calls made to 2-1-1 are from people looking for help with basic needs such as utility, rent and food assistance. More and more calls are coming in regarding mortgage assistance. The 2-1-1 call specialists can help people find health and human service assistance on everything from food and shelter to job counseling services, or health resources. It is also available for everyday and non-emergency needs, and offers easy access to community-based organizations and government agencies that provide services. People also can call 2-1-1 to volunteer support or donate help to agencies. For example, during the summer flooding throughout the state, more than 3,000 calls were received to find out how people could help.Disaster response

· Received 608 calls for disaster-related assistance such as floods, tornadoes and ice storms.

· During the 2008 summer, 2-1-1 received 79 heat-related calls.

Special programs

· Nearly 1,700 calls came in for the Earned Income Tax Credit free tax preparation locations throughout the state.

· More than 3,200 calls during the first year have come in statewide for mortgage assistance.

The Missouri United Ways, including United Way of the Ozarks, work with United Way of Greater St. Louis to promote the service. The 2-1-1 Call Center is located at the United Way of Greater St. Louis, with data collection hubs in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Springfield, and St. Louis. Resource Specialists in each data hub focus on updating records about health, health-related and social services to ensure that callers are always receiving up-to-date information.

Campaign Wraps Up with a Huge Thank You to the Community

uwozarks — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:22:07 +0000

United Way Raises More Funds This Year
Exceptional Effort by Volunteers Applauded

United Way of the Ozarks announced today that it is projecting $3,443,698 raised during its annual campaign, which is $2,627 more than last year. United Way’s Campaign Cabinet and other volunteers gather tonight to celebrate and applaud outstanding efforts. The cabinet will also discuss overall campaign progress and great company and organization campaigns that helped United Way reach
this point.

United Way campaign chair, John Wilson said, “This amount represents 98% of the campaign goal, but we still have work to do. This total is incumbent on people returning their pledges to United Way. There are many companies running late campaigns and several campaigns not in yet. We owe it to our partner agencies to help these companies run the very best campaigns they can.” Wilson goes on to say, “We have had many gratifying moments during this campaign:

Associated Wholesale Grocers organized an inaugural golf tournament that netted $21,000
We increased our United Way presentations to companies by 44% this year
Employees of our partner agencies increased their overall giving by 2%.
Megavolt increased its employee and corporate giving by 70%.
City Utilities employees increased their giving from $151,000 to $161,000
The Bank of Missouri increased its giving by 89%
The 9^th Annual ANPAC Car Show for Kids raised over $19,000

“There are more incredible campaign success stories that have gotten us where we are today, but we have also experienced some challenges that had tremendous impact on the campaign. We feel, however, that in this economic environment that to raise more than we did last year is phenomenal. My special thanks to all the incredible volunteers who helped us get here.”

Jennifer Kennally, President & CEO for United Way said, “These are hard economic times for everyone, but more so for people who are already one paycheck away from disaster. When the economy turns downward, the need for services increases at a time when most agencies see a decrease in contributions. We are very grateful to our volunteers and this community for helping us surpass last year’s fundraising efforts. But we still have work to do, and every dollar counts.”

Campaign Report Breakfast October 16 at Boys & Girls Town

uwozarks — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:17:34 +0000

Community celebrates progress of United Way campaign

Thursday, October 16, United Way will have a report breakfast to announce mid-campaign progress to community partners and volunteers. During the program, select companies will highlight the amount raised from their fundraising efforts, and United Way will chart the path to success in raising funding for 23 agencies and health and human service programs that address critical issues in a 14 county area. The breakfast meeting will be held at 7:30 a.m. at Boys & Girls Town of Missouri (1212 W. Lombard).

The 2008 United Way campaign goal of $3,516,000 was announced at the Kick-Off on August 28. The campaign will officially end in November with a victory celebration at the Doubletree Hotel.

For more information, contact Nicki Donnelson at ndonnelson@uwozarks.com or 417-863-7700.

United Way Day of Caring photos

uwozarks — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:05:34 +0000

View Day of Caring photos from the 2008 event….look for you and your friends!

A Lesson from the Line

uwozarks — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:28:29 +0000

I was visiting one of our larger corporate donors today for a United Way campaign meeting, and I was struck by the fact that while the economy is down, it doesn’t effect every industry the same. This is one of those companies where their line workers don’t make a large sum of money annually, but their jobs are stable. The economy doesn’t dictate too much about the supply and demand of their products, and so they’ve set their United Way goal higher than ever before.

During the presentations, employees were interested and appalled at our community’s issues….and they responded the best way they knew how. They were going to fulfill that need. I of course didn’t see their pledge forms, but many were actively filling them out and asking about designations to specific agencies. This was a great indicator that these men and women were donating – and trying to make the most informed decisions possible.

When the economy is shaky, many people decrease or eliminate their charitable giving and save more of their discretionary income. These line workers understood that they are blessed to have stable jobs – even if they won’t ever get rich quick there – and that it doesn’t take a lot to make a big difference.

A Few Day of Caring Pictures

uwozarks — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:22:39 +0000

: Best Buy at Day of Caring

The Power of Caring. The Power of You. The Power of United Way.

uwozarks — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:07:41 +0000

This is our campaign theme at United Way of the Ozarks this year – based upon the idea that each of us has the power to address needs in our community. When we care, we give. And when we give, we have the power to help. When we give to the United Way, we help more people than any one agency could.

In an economy where more middle-class citizens are struggling to pay their own basic bills, it’s obvious that the lower-income families are struggling even more this year than years past. They are in greater need, and the individuals that United Way and other agencies depend upon for donations are also feeling the tighter budgets. If we all give a little, it can help touch the lives of thousands of people. To know how your small donation can make a big impact, click here.

United Way is so grateful for the large donor base, and their commitment to the people of the Ozarks. Remember: you donate, you care, you volunteer. You are the United Way.

Some of the Day of Caring Coverage

uwozarks — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:09:03 +0000

Thank you to everyone who participated in United Way Day of Caring – it takes all of you to make this happen. Check out some of what was said about this wonderful event!

http://www.sbj.net/article.asp?aID=7555815.20185802.1065337.878044.643559.374&aID2=81940

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008808150365

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPublicPhotoGallery&plckGalleryID=70dc6527-a6c8-4aa3-a600-32332a350ca9

http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=48381

http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=47741

http://www.ky3.com/news/local/26968019.html

Read News-Leader article about Day of Caring

uwozarks — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:28:07 +0000

1,658 volunteers to help nonprofits

Ryan Colvard • The News-Leader • August 12, 2008

In the largest day of volunteerism in southwest Missouri, the annual United Way Day of Caring will bring together more than 1,600 volunteers and 23 charitable organizations. The United Way Day of Caring, which is scheduled for Thursday, will encompass all 23 participating United Way agencies in the Springfield area — including the Boys & Girls Clubs, the American Red Cross, Family Violence Center and Habitat for Humanity.

“It’s been really big compared to other years. We normally hover around 1,500 volunteers, and this year, we’re at 1,658 volunteers. It’s just amazing,” said Nicki Bascom, spokeswoman for United Way of the Ozarks.

“Organizations are letting their employees take off from work, with pay, in order to participate.”

Events are scheduled across Springfield and the Ozarks, including back-to-school drives at several Boys & Girls Clubs locations that will feature carnivals and sports. Other projects will assist groups in restoring old facilities and home construction projects for families in need.

Eighty-five volunteers — from Kraft, J.C. Penney, Greene County Resource Management, Consumer Credit Counseling and the office of Davis, Lynn & Moots — will assist in building and landscaping at Habitat Springfield’s Legacy Trails Subdivision located at 3800 N. Farm Road 143. Volunteers working at Habitat Springfield’s construction site will be involved in many aspects of building new homes alongside Greene County families in need. Those who volunteer at Legacy Trails will assist in landscaping by watering, weeding, mowing and mulching rain gardens and walking trails.

Some volunteers will also pitch in at the Habitat ReStore at 2410 S. Scenic Ave. At the ReStore — a retail outlet that sells building and home improvement supplies to raise funds for Habitat home building in Greene County — volunteers will stock merchandise, organize display shelves and assist customers.

“Even though it’s hard work, the Day of Caring volunteers always find ways to make it fun for everyone involved,” said program director Nancy Williams, who is in charge of volunteer coordination at Habitat for Humanity of Springfield. “We look forward to Day of Caring each year.”

People interested in participating in the Day of Caring are invited to contact Nicki Bascom at 863-7700 or to visit www.uwozarks. com. With so many organizations involved, Day of Caring volunteers are sure to find a cause that they feel passionately about. The wide variety of projects also ensures that every volunteer is useful in improving the quality of life for someone who needs it.

“This is about trying to get as many people in the community as we can to get out and get their hands dirty,” Bascom said. “When they do that, they really see how much of a difference they can make.”

Female Leaders in Philanthropy Can Help You Suit Yourself

uwozarks — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:39:48 +0000

Suit Yourself, the Female Leaders in Philanthropy (FLIP) project for United Way Day of Caring, is ready to start setup of the boutique that will help women gain self-confidence, community resources as well as new and gently used professional clothing. Suit Yourself is designed to help women who are in disadvantaged situations gain the help they need to enter or rejoin the workforce.

If you’d like to help by donating clothing, donations will be accepted until Monday, August 11th at 5 p.m.. Please call Betsy at Penmac, 417-616-6355, to set up a delivery appointment.

If you or someone you know could benefit from this service, please contact Trudy Pischer, tpischer@uwozarks.com for more information.