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Team NFL and United Way supporters take action in 250 communities worldwide
Last week, more than 250 communities in seven countries participated in our fifth United Way Day of Action. Highlights included a Capitol Hill Day with Team NFL in Washington, DC and “The Big Tweet” social media campaign. In New York City, LIVE UNITED billboards ran on Times Square, and the Empire State Building was lit in United Way Blue. Earlier in the week, United Way Worldwide hosted the United Way Youth Empowerment Summit with players from the National Football League, students, interns and professionals. Tell us how you celebrated Day of Action, join Team NFL by helping your favorite team recruit the most readers, tutors and mentors and follow United Way Worldwide President & CEO Brian Gallagher on Twitter @BGallagherUW.
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Wells Fargo and United Way announce $5 million partnership
Wells Fargo and United Way Worldwide recently announced a five-year, $5 million national effort to provide multi-year financial counseling. “This partnership will address the major obstacles that low- to moderate-income households face,” said Jon Campbell, head of Social Responsibility for Wells Fargo. “It will help them get access to education and resources so that they can cover their monthly expenses, track spending, plan for the future, use financial products and services effectively, and continue to learn.” Wells Fargo and United Way will announce the initial anchor communities of what will become the Wells Fargo Financial Capability Network the first week in July. The anchor groups will establish the organizational performance and quality standards for case management and service delivery, and they will document and share best practices with the goal of replicating the programs in other communities and regions. Wells Fargo and United Way will expand the network each year based on the foundational work of the anchor groups.
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UPS auctions celebrity sports & entertainment items in support of United Way
Start your bidding! For the fourth year in a row, UPS is partnering with United Way on an eBay auction. This year, UPS donated more than 80 exclusive items, including:
- Sports collectibles autographed by champion athletes, coaches and stars, such as race-worn items from NASCAR driver of the No. 99 UPS Ford Carl Edwards as well as other items from Roush Fenway Racing.
- NCAA® tickets and exclusive merchandise.
- A round with global golf star Lee Westwood - Bidding closes Just 1!
- LIVE NATION Ticketmaster gift cards and limited edition prints of iconic musicians including Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.
- And much more!
New auction items will post every week through September 3. Bid now and spread the word!
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Fast Company highlights Deloitte and United Way
Barry Salzberg, the newly named chairman of the board of United Way Worldwide (UWW) and global chief executive officer at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL) recently spoke with Fast Company about his commitment to community and United Way Worldwide's global focus. "We had been a fundraising organization. We are transforming ourselves to be conveners and facilitators of multiple stakeholders—businesses, governments, NGOs, and others—for the purpose of improving people's lives," explained Salzberg. Read more.
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TI CEO goes back to school with STEM learning event
During the recent “Morning of STEM in the Schoolyard,” TI Chairman, President and CEO Rich Templeton and 36 other CEOs, company executives and community leaders from the Dallas area coached students in science and technology experiments. The first-of-its-kind CEO-volunteer event was designed to encourage students' interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The event was co-sponsored by the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and supported by two organizations who receive United Way grants for local STEM education programs. Companies represented included: AT&T, Atmos Energy Corp., Bank of America, Comerica, Ernst & Young LLP, Deloitte, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Fluor Corporation, IBM, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Methodist Health System, TXU Energy and Wells Fargo. Read more.
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Boosting the U.S. high school graduation rate requires early investment
This month, graduation caps and tassels will fly as high school graduates get ready to start the next exciting chapter of their lives. While a momentous milestone and a proud occasion for many families, each graduation also serves as a reminder that some students will not receive a diploma this year. Read more of Brian Gallagher's op-ed in the Huffington Post.
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Are most CSR programs effective?
“Thousands of large, profitable companies have all the right intentions of giving back to society—and yet a large number of them have corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs that provide little benefit to either the community or the company. A social responsibility strategy should fulfill two goals: create a positive social impact, and enhance the company's brand, reputation, employee morale, and/or its bottom line,” says V. Kasturi "Kash" Rangan, the Malcolm P. McNair Professor of Marketing at Harvard Business School. "The biggest problem is that companies do CSR in fits and starts. Programs are fragmented, and so they're not that effective in helping the community or the company." Read more.
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Deloitte employees will be back soon…they're volunteering!
Visitors to Deloitte's website had no doubt where most of the organization's personnel were spending their time on June 8— they were volunteering for IMPACT Day. A note went up on Deloitte's home page — today's equivalent of the office door — letting people know that its professionals were out contributing their time and talent at more than 800 volunteer events, planned by the organization's 100-plus office locations across the US. Tens of thousands of Deloitte volunteers participated in a wide variety of both skills-based and traditional “hands-on” projects. “IMPACT Day is a symbol of all the great work our people do throughout the year in support of our communities,” said Evan Hochberg, national leader of Deloitte's community involvement initiative.”
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Microsoft engages leaders on innovations in health
United Way Worldwide participated in a Summit convened by Microsoft Corporation's Health and Life Sciences Division on June 21: Innovations in Public-Private Collaboration: the Edge for Business and the Health of the Public. This is the third in a series of conversations with business and health leaders from the public and private sectors to address the impact of health care and the status of people's health on the wellbeing of businesses, the government and individuals in this country. Prominent speakers noted that building Healthy Communities means improving outcomes in health, education and the economy; and that transformations across systems are necessary to drive change. United Way is well positioned to address this challenge with its business model, driving sustainable impact in the three building blocks of life by working with partners across sectors in communities around the world.
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GCLs roll out support for United Way
Toilet paper — everyone uses it and everyone needs it — including non-profit agencies. That's why Bank of America, Costco Wholesale, Intel Corporation, Nationwide Insurance and WellPoint, Inc., among others teamed-up with the United Way California Capital Region for the fourth annual LIVE UNITED Toilet Paper Drive. It's amazing the number of expenses nonprofits face that people don't think about,” said Steve Heath, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “Nonprofits work magic with their budgets to make a positive difference in countless lives in our region, but there's only so much they can do. Donating toilet paper is a great way to join together and ensure more money goes toward vital programs that change people's lives.” In total more than 177,451 rolls of toilet paper were gathered, exceeding this year's goal!
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Wells Fargo's Day of Caring sends 2,000 volunteers into Charlotte on five-hour charity blitz
Recently 2,000 Charlotte Wells Fargo employees and their families fanned out across the region for a record morning of volunteerism in their community. Projects included harvesting vegetables, bowling with kids who need mentors, cleaning parks and building sheds. In all, 125 projects were undertaken in just five hours. Read more.
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ExxonMobil and United Way creating bright beginnings
Exxon Mobil Corporation and United Way share a commitment to improving the academic success of children. In Houston, Texas—home to the largest concentration of ExxonMobil employees—the company joined forces with long-time partner, United Way of Greater Houston, to create United Way Bright Beginnings, an innovative early education program designed to help children from lower-income families succeed in school and in life. In its first 10 years, United Way Bright Beginnings has prepared more than 5,000 Houston-area children to start—and succeed in—school and has become a model for improving the academic success of at-risk children. "As a businessman and a parent, I can think of nothing more important than education," says Rich Kruger, president of Exxon Mobil Production Company. "Helping children reach their full potential means stronger families, a stronger workforce and a stronger community for us all." Read more about the program and its successes in The Impact of United Way Bright Beginnings.
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2-1-1 exceeds 16 million calls for the third year
Every hour of every day, hundreds of people need essential human services -- training, employment, food pantries, help for an aging parent, addiction prevention programs for their teenage children, affordable housing options, support groups and more. 2-1-1, which allows people to give and get help, is currently available to 90% of the U.S. population in all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. In 2011, more than 16.7 million calls were answered—the third year in a row that volume has exceeded 16 million calls—while www.211.org received almost 10 million hits. Help us spread the word about this valuable asset.
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The "ROI" of employee volunteering
When it comes to corporate social responsibility and making a positive impact in the world, companies have a secret weapon but few, if any, take full advantage of it—employee passion. Employee volunteerism is on the rise. According to Volunteer Match, back in 1992, only 31% of surveyed companies reported the use of volunteer programs to support core business functions. By 1999, that number had grown to 81%. Today 84% of companies believe that volunteers can help achieve long-term social goals. Learn more.
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SKC plants seeds for the future in Korea
In celebration of this year’s Arbor Day, SKC employees participated in “Happy Sharing Seoho Stream Beautification” with Suwon residents planting nearly 5,800 evergreen, deciduous trees and flower shrubs around Seoho Stream. This is one of many volunteer projects President Choi Shin-won and SKC employees have participated in through their partnership with the Community Chest of Korea, a United Way Worldwide affiliate. Leadership comes from the top at SKC, “It is only right for SKC to lead the local community as a corporate citizen, and in the future SKC will continue to play a key role in creating a happier local community by developing more effective social contribution programs,” said President Choi. Choi leads by example as the Chairman of Community Chest of Kyong-Ki, one of the local chapters of the Community Chest of Korea. Learn more.
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Highlight United Way's 125th Anniversary with exclusive GCL discount
Celebrate United Way's 125th Anniversary with a 15% discount. Take advantage of this United Way Store offer for GCL companies onLY on 125th anniversary products ordered between now and the end of July. Use promo code JULY125.
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American Express helps develop future leaders
United Way Worldwide will launch its third cohort of Action Leaders in 2012. Using a “challenge-based” learning approach, the program will help a select group of United Way CEOs develop professionally and extend their networks by working on real, strategic issues relevant to local communities and United Way's global network. “The Action Leaders experience has been a tremendous opportunity to grow my knowledge of United Way on a global scale, and to contribute to conversations that shape it going forward. There is no doubt that my ability to serve my local community has grown as a result of my participation in this important initiative,” said Andrew Lockie, CEO, United Way of London & Middlesex, Canada. United Way would like to thank American Express for their generosity in funding this critical initiative for the United Way network and welcomes future partnerships with with other forward-thinking companies on talent development. Contact Juanita Ortiz for more information.
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New stats on socially conscious consumers worldwide
A new Nielsen survey estimates that 75 percent of consumers in the Middle East prefer to buy from responsible companies and 72 percent prefer to work and invest in "companies who care." In addition, 53 percent are willing to pay extra for dealing with a socially responsible company. How do these figures stack up to the U.S. and Europe or Latin America -- and how do the social causes identified by 28,000 consumers differ across the 56 countries? Learn more.
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Raise awareness about education, income and health
Use social media tools to educate and engage employees about an issue you care about. Check-out the sample tweets and Facebook messages below:
Twitter
Facebook
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Show the world you LIVE UNITED like Peter Dudley at Wells Fargo
LIVE UNITED. It's a credo. A mission. A goal. A constant reminder that when we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. We build the strength of our neighborhoods. We bolster the health of our communities. And we change the lives of those who walk by us every day. Wells Fargo's Peter Dudley—GCL Advisory Council Member— shows the world he lives united in San Francisco. “As a soccer coach and scout leader, I LIVE UNITED by helping kids see their potential and strive to achieve it.” Share your story and photo.
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Letter Carriers' annual food drive collects 70 million pounds of food for the hungry
At a time when hunger is a major problem, The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) celebrated a highly successful nationwide food drive collecting more than 70.5 million pounds of food last month. The NALC's one-day drive, the largest in the nation, is held annually on the second Saturday in May in 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. United Way Worldwide was proud to partner, once again, for this 20th annual NALC Food Drive to stamp out hunger. Read more.
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Common Good Award winners celebrated for community results
The inaugural United Way Common Good Awards, created for the 125th anniversary of United Way, were presented last month at the United Way Community Leaders Conference. The three awardees were selected from a highly competitive pool that spanned 62 communities in 11 countries. Partnering with the business community to achieve community-wide results was a key component of their successes. Presenter Patty Stonesifer, Chair of the White House Council for Community Solutions, noted that "these awards illustrate that there is potential for positive change in every community, but it takes exceptional leadership to produce these results." See all the finalists. Congratulations to:
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