Author: Christa Berry

Teaching your kids about philanthropy

This week marks Global Youth Service Day – honoring the young individuals that give back to our unique communities in various ways. And while for many the word “philanthropist” implies someone with millions of dollars available to donate, at United Way for Greater Austin we believe that anyone can be a philanthropist – especially the younger generations. So as Global Youth Service Day celebrates and mobilizes millions of young people who improve their communities each day of the year through service, it reminds us to use this as an opportunity to help children learn about giving, the importance about helping others in need and how they can help support their community. The benefits of actively fostering children’s charitable impulses are enormous. Besides helping counter the overdeveloped “I want, I want” impulse, it gives kids a powerful boost in self-esteem to realize they can make a different in someone’s life. To help children recognize how they can be a philanthropist, consider the suggestions below.   Be hands on. Most people tend to associate charity with giving money, yet for many children, it’s hard to comprehend the abstract concept of donating money to a charitable cause. Instead, think about having your children join you when you volunteer at the soup kitchen or when you donate clothing to the Goodwill. Also when choosing a project, try to align with your child’s interests. The more your child relates to the process, the more likely they are to have an enjoyable experience and independently consider […]

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Getting the unbanked banked

Today, United Way for Greater Austin kicks off a strategic outreach campaign to help Austin families save hundreds of dollars each year by opening free or low-cost bank accounts. Through our Bank On Central Texas (BOCT) initiative, we’ve gathered a coalition of eight local banks and two local credit unions to promote the importance of bank accounts and track how many we’ve helped open. “United Way for Greater Austin and our Bank On partners are committed to ensuring Austinites have access to basic banking and other financial services,” said Sarah Janecka, Director of the Financial Opportunity program at UWATX. “By avoiding check-cashing fees, families are able to keep their hard-earned money and use it for basic needs, save for education and build up emergency funds. A bank account is a critical step to long-term financial stability and helping families thrive.” Without a bank account, families pay close to $1,000 a year in fees to cash checks. In Austin, 32,500 households lack a bank account and on top of that, about 70,000 are underbanked – meaning, while they have a bank account they still access high-cost services like payday and auto-title loans because they are not taking advantage of other banking services. Overall, 1 in 3 Austin households lack the financial products to build savings and make the most of their money. The BOCT initiative launched in 2009 and has already helped open 12,000 new bank accounts. Through this outreach campaign, which will run through the end of June, UWATX hopes to educate […]

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National Public Health Week

This week is National Public Health Week and this year the American Public Health Association is asking, “Does public health have a return on investment?” Here’s our take on it: A few years ago, Central Health was experiencing an abundance of requests for its health care services. The growing needs presented challenges for the agency and those in need, so Central Health partnered with the UWATX Navigation Center in 2009 to eliminate barriers, increase accessibility and help more people. 200,000 Number of calls answered through this partnership 90,000 Number of appointments scheduled Through this partnership, our in-house call center, made a meaningful commitment to further promote health care. Our call specialists perform over-the-phone eligibility screenings and appointment scheduling for callers to access the Medical Assistance Program (MAP), Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) in just a few minutes. In 2011, we helped 70,000+ callers. In 2012, that number jumped to 110,000+ callers – that’s 40,000 more calls than the year before. Our Navigation Center made 76 percent of all Central Health appointments in 2012. Despite the availability of services, too often, needs are not met because residents are unaware of the support available to them or simply do not have the time to research the best options and book appointments. This partnership seeks to solve that problem by decreasing these barriers and serving the customer directly. So yes, we believe there is a return on investment with public health.  

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Free tax help for just two more weeks

April 15 is rapidly approaching and families across Central Texas are hurrying to submit their federal tax returns. Each year United Way for Greater Austin partners with Foundation Communities through our Financial Opportunity program and our Navigation Center to prepare tax returns at no cost for families making $50,000 or less. Last year, the Community Tax Centers filed more than 16,000 returns, bringing more than $11M in Earned Income Tax Credits back to our community, and more than $27M in total federal refunds. UWATX invests $100,000 in the Community Tax Centers for training, recruiting and managing 500+ IRS-certified volunteers. UWATX also supports the tax centers by providing all the location, time and documentation information over the phone through the UWATX Navigation Center. One of the UWATX Navigation Specialists, Cathy Swan, has helped families find the nearest Community Tax Center for more than three years. Cathy is very familiar with the program since she has had her taxes filed at the center before. “In 2009 I needed help filing my tax return. I went to the Community Tax Centers and they helped me get my full refund.  In addition, my daughter was getting ready to apply for college and the Community Tax Centers helped us apply for FAFSA.” Cathy was so pleased with the Community Tax Centers that she enjoys connecting other families through 2-1-1; she says “it’s a great feeling to give back this way.” It’s not too late to get help filing the 2012 federal tax return. Families can call […]

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Identifying a quality out-of-school time program for your kids

Out-of-school time (OST) – those hours before or after school or during the summer and other breaks – is often times a lost opportunity. For many parents, the gap between their work schedules and the regular school schedule or the challenge of finding a program to fill Spring Break or other vacations can be daunting. Studies show this is where many can fall behind, since this time amounts for 76 percent of a students’ waking hours. Among other things, our Target Graduation program focuses on improving OST and helping parents find quality programs. 1.1 million Texas children are left unsupervised after school for an average of 7 hours per week Not only do OST programs provide a safe place for children and youth, they also have a positive impact on academic and non-academic skills. This is a time children begin to explore career options, develop team building and leadership skills, in addition to just having fun. So we asked our experts how parents could maximize this time for their children. You can improve your child’s education with quality out-of school programs that include: A tangible product or performance that reflects the youths ideas Trying out new skills with support from program staff Direction from program staff, answering questions and working as part of a team Team building activities and ice breakers that help develop a sense of belonging Taking responsibility and contributing to the final product or performance Teaching their peers and lead events Making some decisions about topics, roles, […]

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Local resources for FREE tax prep

Did you know that you can make up to $57,000 annually and still qualify for free tax preparation services? At United Way for Greater Austin, we’re dedicated to helping individuals and families overcome barriers to economic opportunity, so this tax season we want to make sure Austinites take advantage of local FREE tax preparation services that will help them get all the tax credits they’re eligible for. If you are someone that makes less than $57,000, check out these three free options: Call 2-1-1 and receive information about the free tax prep location closest to you.  2-1-1 is free, 24/7, confidential and multilingual. In 2011, the UWATX Navigation Center, which runs the local 2-1-1 program, received more than 5,000 calls from callers looking for free tax preparation assistance. Visit MyFreeTaxes.org/uwatx to file your taxes online for free! MyFreeTaxes provides free tax preparation and filing assistance for individuals or families with a combined income under $57,000. Since 2009, MyFreeTaxes has helped 4.5 million families claim nearly $6 billion in tax credits and refunds! Visit one of Foundation Communities’ Community Tax Centers in the Austin area. They provide free tax preparation at seven convenient locations by their IRS-certified volunteer preparers for Austin area residents who make up to $50,000 per year. Walk-ins are always welcome, you can make an appointment starting February 15 or you can even drop off your tax documents so you don’t have to wait. These local, free resources can also help working individuals and families receive important federal tax credits they may […]

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14th Annual MLK Blvd. Clean Up honors Martin Luther King, Jr.

This past Saturday State Rep. Dawnna Dukes held the 14th Annual MLK Blvd. Clean Up to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each year, this service project brings together hundreds of volunteers who dedicate time to beautifying the Austin street bearing King’s name. “MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service, a holiday that calls for all of us to work together to strengthen our community,” said Dukes. “I’m so grateful to see all of these empowered volunteers here today, dedicating their time and energy to honor Dr. King’s vision – a ‘Beloved Community.’” This year’s day of service was solely dedicated to the beatification of MLK Blvd. United Way for Greater Austin (UWATX) supported the family-friendly event by recruiting 400+ volunteers through its volunteer program, Hands On Central Texas. Total volunteer hours for the day were 1,260! That’s equivalent to $27,606.60 in volunteer time given back to the community! “Our vision is for Greater Austin to be a resilient, innovative, philanthropic, creative and thriving community for all,” said UWATX President Debbie Bresette. “What is happening here today supports this vision. I think Dr. King would be proud of Austin and the direction we’re headed.” Volunteers gathered at J.J. Seabrook Park at 9 am for registration, supplies distribution and an official kickoff led by Rep. Dukes, Mayor Leffingwell and Huston-Tillotson President Dr. Larry Earvin. After the kick-off, volunteers dispersed along MLK Blvd. to pick up trash and […]

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UWATX named major beneficiary of new Austin international music festival!

We’re so excited to announce that UWATX was named the major beneficiary of a new world music festival that will take place April 6 and 7, 2013 at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) in downtown Austin! The festival, called WobeonFest, will feature internationally acclaimed musicians, including Angelique Kidjo and Collie Buddz, as well as local artists. An outdoor main stage will feature acts, flanked by a grassy lawn and international food and beverage vendors. A global bazaar will spread across the expansive Zocalo area of the MACC and will feature a marketplace of merchandise, artists and cultural organizations that reflect the global nature of the festival. UWATX is teaming up with WobeonFest to assist in organizing and hosting the first-time festival AND we will receive a portion of the proceeds from the music festival! UWATX was chosen as a festival partner because of our dedication to ensuring Austin continues to thrive, which aligns with WobeonFest’s vibe – a diverse and culturally dynamic event. “We are delighted to be working with WobeonFest,” said Debbie Bresette, President of UWATX. “The festival provides an excellent vehicle to bring greater awareness of the issues faced by our diverse community, and to raise additional resources to help us serve its needs.” Stay tuned for information about tickets and volunteer opportunities! A limited number of on-site vendor and sponsorship opportunities are available. Up-to-date festival information and artist lineup can be found a www.wobeonfest.com. For more details, please contact christa.berry@uwatx.org.

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Get involved in National Mentoring Month locally

January is National Mentoring Month and what a great time to either get involved in a mentoring program or thank someone who has mentored you over the years! Established in 2002, National Mentoring Month celebrates mentoring and the evidence-based, positive effect it can have on our youth. At United Way for Greater Austin, our Target Graduation program connects middle school students to the mentoring services they desperately need. In the 2011-2012 school year, 350 students from three local middle schools received mentoring services as a results of UWATX funding and coordination. Studies have shown that: Middle school students with at least one supportive adult in their lives are almost twice as likely to graduate high school. Mentored teens are 46% less likely to get into drugs, 59% get better grads and 73% raise their goals. Mentoring has a positive impact on the number of unexcused absences, increases students’ attitudes about school, decreases the incidences of disruption in class and increases the likelihood of being engaged in what is going on in the classroom. Mentors can change the course of a young person’s life – they can provide support in education, in day-to-day living and even in the workplace. If you’re interested in becoming a mentor, here are several local organizations that can connect you to that perfect opportunity! Hands On Central Texas – Connects the community to all types of volunteer opportunities, including mentorship opportunities. Communities in Schools – One-on-one mentoring and tutoring programs available on several campuses across AISD […]

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Tips on saving $$$ during the holidays

During the holiday gift buying frenzy, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed about not having enough money to spend on your loved ones. However, with some careful planning and creative gift giving, you can enjoy some holiday cheer without worrying about going into debt to show you care. Below are some easy-to-follow tips that will guide you through the buying process with ease: 1. Plastic precaution Remember to be cautious with credit cards. Plan to pay off the balance at the end of the month if possible, and if not, choose the card with the lowest interest rate. If not used wisely, it could take you all year to pay off the holiday splurge. 2. Save during the season Even though it’s already December, you can still save money for shopping. If you’re in the habit of going out to lunch every day, you can bring your lunch from home a few days a week and sock away that $7 – 10. Before you know it, those lunch savings will add up to a nice sum you can spend during the holidays. 3. Coupons and sales This year retailers are offering all kinds of deals. Save the coupons and combine with special offers – but don’t be tempted by extras not on the shopping list. 4. Stay away from store credit cards Store credit cards tend to have the highest interest rates around, somewhere in the ballpark of 20% APR. Also, limites on such cards tend to be much […]

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