Name: ABC Home & Commercial Services Partner for: 6 months Partner for: Employee Campaign, Hands On Central Texas Our relationship: Taking advantage of UWATX offerings to better the community In just a few short months, ABC has selected a variety of UWATX services to make the most of our relationship, including Employee Campaign, volunteering and employee support through Learn Where You Earn. The company participated in Fall Day of Caring, plans to conduct a Volunteer Project Leader training course and uses Hands On Central Texas to facilitate and track employee volunteering. Tailoring Employee Campaign ABC leaders and UWATX staff worked hard to consider the company’s culture and structure to create an engaging, unique Employee Campaign. To accommodate different schedules, UWATX staff held meetings at various times for different teams – including several 7 a.m. meetings. UWATX also produced Spanish-language materials for ABC’s many Spanish-speaking employees. During Fall Day of Caring, Employees were able to utilize their expertise in landscaping to improve a children’s playground at one of UWATX’s early childhood education partners. They didn’t let a little rain stop them and even finished early! The experience matched employee’s skills with community needs to benefit both. Involving leadership to make a greater impact ABC leaders have committed their time, resources and expertise to make an impact on our community through UWATX. Mark Ambrose, General Manager, not only helped coordinate their employee campaign, but personally attended each of the 20 departmental meetings to ask employees to consider supporting UWATX, even travelling to […]
Read MoreIt’s here: 2012 Target Graduation End-of-Year Results
We’ve put the finishing touches on the Target Graduation 2012 End-of-year Results, a report that summarizes the program’s successes over the past year and goals for major improvement in the lives of middle school students in the Greater Austin area. Target Graduation focuses on two areas of work –middle school and out-of-school time – both of which are proven to have a major impact on the success of a student in college, work and life. In the middle school work, Target Graduation’s goal is to change the trajectory of three high-needs middle schools in the Greater Austin area by creating and refining a system of board-spectrum services. Through the Middle School Matters initiative, the program coordinates a wide array of evidence-based services and provides campuses with integrated coordination to ensure the services area available to meet the specific needs of students. Great strides were made this year: As a result of UWATX coordination and funding, our partners delivered more than 1,200 interventions (sessions in behavioral health, case management, mentoring, out-of-school time, parent education and tutoring) at 3 high-needs middle schools. Target Graduation facilitated 75 Youth Program Quality assessments, 23 professional development courses and the training of 108 individuals on improving the quality of their youth programs. Looking forward, we will continue to implement research- and evidence-based models and tracking results to improve the outcomes for children and youth in Greater Austin. We are excited about the future potential of Target Graduation and all UWATX could do for Greater Austin, our stakeholders […]
Read MoreWhat’s the best way to make a difference as a corporation?
How do you enable your employees to make a difference in a way that maximizes their impact, builds professional skills, and increases their engagement? In addition, how do you use your unique position in the market to enhance these impact efforts and market yourself as a thought leader in that particular area in a way that drives business benefit? These are the main questions facing companies as they develop their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, and as the leader of a CSR program they are questions I wrestle with every day. My company, the Advisory Board, a Washington, D.C. and Austin, Texas based research, consulting, and technology firm focused on elevating the performance of healthcare and higher education organizations, has always been focused on service. We were founded thirty years ago on principles such as a “spirit of generosity” and going “beyond commerce” to help our members and those in need. However, our employees have sought to maximize this ethos of service by recently pushing us to ensure we utilize their skills, talent, and interests in the most effective manner. One of the trends at our firm and across the country is that volunteerism and responsibility efforts are increasingly employee-driven and focused on impactful service, rather than a top-down push from executives focused on using CSR as a driver of the bottom line (though executive interest in CSR is also an increasing trend). This push has led to a surge in skills-based volunteering interest, allowing employees to use their combined time, […]
Read MoreWLC sees their investment pay off with Play To Learn
On Wednesday, September 12, members of the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) gathered to learn more about the evolution of Play To Learn, part of the Success By 6 program that works to coach parents of vulnerable young children on school readiness at accessible neighborhood locations. “The initial pilot program was funded by the WLC, so we wanted to show them how that investment had grown,” said Leah Meunier, Manager of Donor Engagement. “Thanks to the WLC’s seed money along with a generous gift from Samsung Austin Semiconductor and strong partnerships with Austin Public Libraries, KLRU and The University of Texas at Austin, we’re making a targeted, measurable difference in the lives of young children.” The current version of Play To Learn addresses the needs and barriers identified through extensive UWATX research: Accessible neighborhood locations make it easy for parents to get to the program – removing barriers for parents to participate Instruction focuses on developing fine motor skills, problem solving and communication – areas where research shows children are falling behind The course includes eight two-hour classes with curriculum developed by UWATX. The goal is to provide a variety of tools for parents to engage their children. “Each class starts with healthy snacks as an opportunity to talk about nutrition,” said Kaley Horton, who manages the project. “Most of our time is spent with an activity – from art to blocks to other games – that teaches a skill, and these vary by week. We also showcase appropriate PBS clips […]
Read MoreUnited Way kicks off media campaign with a call-to-action – Garners support of media outlets and corporations
United Way for Greater Austin (UWATX) today kicked off a 3-month media campaign to inspire increased philanthropic giving in the local community. The campaign, which was created by local agency Creative Suitcase, will run September into early December and be seen in online and print advertising as well as on three CapMetro buses. One of the buses is a full-wrap making a dramatic and impactful impression on Austin’s roads. Bus routes of the wrapped buses are alternated over the three months to increase visibility across the city. Additionally, radio advertising will also be a part of the campaign. This campaign is possible due to in-kind contributions from media outlets, companies and organizations. 3M donated the materials, production and installation for the bus wraps; Creative Suitcase donated design hours; and Austin American-Statesman, KUT, Texas Tribune, The Austin Chronicle, CapMetro and Google have all contributed in-kind media space. All told the in-kind contributions making this campaign possible total more than $150,000. Russell Bridges, Government and Community Affairs Manager at 3M commented: “3M is pleased to be the market leader in many innovative materials, one being the product that makes these creative and impactful bus wraps possible. And we are particularly pleased to be able to offer our product and support the production and installation for a campaign here locally with United Way for Greater Austin.” He continued, “3M has a long history of philanthropic support worldwide for the communities in which it does business and we are proud to support United Way […]
Read More[VIDEO] Giving Back Makes Austin Greater
![[VIDEO] Giving Back Makes Austin Greater](https://www.unitedwayaustin.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/marquee_HEB_video-1.png)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeNBQ8xCMvY&feature=plcp[/youtube] To help our community thrive, UWATX works to give everyone the opportunity to be a philanthropist and give of their time or money back into our community. This video tells the story of H-E-B, an incredible organization whose employees have given back more than a million dollars to the Greater Austin area each year for the past three years. Special thanks to Sneaky Giants for putting this together and to H-E-B for setting such a powerful example of philanthropy!
Read MoreUWATX Receives Major Gift from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
On August 28, 2012 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) responded to an urgent “call to action” from United Way for Greater Austin (UWATX) and challenged other corporate citizens to do the same. In July, UWATX announced that it had to cut grant funding for a number of the local nonprofits it had supported in prior. When UWATX had to make cuts to their grants due to fundraising shortfalls they immediately put out a call-to-action to the community to increase giving to pre-recession levels. “The UWATX Board and staff were personally devastated that these cuts were necessary, and felt compelled to do all they could to help the affected agencies. They asked themselves: ‘What can we do?’” said Debbie Bresette, president of UWATX. “Several board members and staff made personal donations and others organized fundraisers. We also reached out to a great corporate citizen, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and asked them to respond to the call-to-action. And respond they did.” Because of its mission to improve wellness within its communities, BCBSTX pledged $100,000 to UWATX and designated their gift to help five local charitable organizations that support the health of children and senior citizens with $20,000.00 grants each. Agencies are: Any Baby Can, Austin Groups for the Elderly, Meals on Wheels and More, People’s Community Clinic, and Safeplace. “We work for a customer-owned company and we understand the commitment that nonprofits make to the people they serve,” said Bert Marshall, president of BCBSTX. “Helping others […]
Read MoreUWATX pacesetter campaigns kickoff with H-E-B
While the majority of United Way for Greater Austin’s Employee Campaigns run throughout the fall, a few companies set the pace and the tone for each year’s season. As always, H-E-B is one of the first out of the gate, enthusiastic and dedicated to making a difference. “H-E-B has always been committed to giving back,” said Jeff Thomas, Senior Vice President – General Manager for the Central Texas region of H-E-B. “We are one of the largest employers in the Greater Austin area, so we know we can have a great influence on the community that we live in and work in.” Nearly a month ago, more than 50 H-E-B In-Store Coordinators joined United Way staff to get excited about campaign and see what was in store for this year. Coordinators shared their experiences in past campaigns and gave each other tips on how to make the most out of the experience, for themselves, fellow employees and the community. “I think it’s the way that they make the impact of each employee’s gift clear that really sets H-E-B apart,” said Greg Bennett, the UWATX Development Officer that manages H-E-B’s campaign. “They emphasize how what seems like a small gift can make a big impact. For example, they’ll show a $2 soft drink and say ‘The price of a soda every week can provide two weeks of one-on-one mentoring for a middle school student.’” This year, H-E-B partners have taken their work to the next level by printing signage to post […]
Read MoreSpotlight: Debbie McGee, Vice President of Resource Development
Debbie McGee, Vice President of Resource Development shares her story of how her past experience has shaped and prepared her for her work at UWATX. Chloe Moore: How do you make Austin Greater? Debbie McGee: In terms of my role here, I’m the bus driver of this engine called ‘Resource Development’, which is basically fundraising for the work we do. My part is to make sure everyone is on the bus and moving in the same direction. So I see my role as bringing all the pieces together; for everyone to be on the same bus and driving down that road of success to make Austin Greater. Chloe Moore: What led you to UWATX? Debbie McGee: I’m from Huntsville, TX; that’s where I grew up. I went to the University of Texas and I ended up in the banking industry in Houston, where my husband and I were for 13 years. I stopped working for a while and stayed home for 15 years to raise my children. During that time, I was very involved as a volunteer in the community and enjoyed using my sales and banking skills to help raise money for different nonprofits in Fort Worth, Texas. When I decided that I was ready to start working again, a good friend of mine at TCU (Texas Christian University) told me, “Debbie I think you would be great at nonprofit and development work.” So in November 2006, as I was interviewing at different places, United Way aligned perfectly with my interests to help people with needs as […]
Read MoreMaking Austin greater – 2012 Employee Campaign
Leadership Makes Austin Greater Kevin, Webb Middle School student “I’m in the United Way Volunteer Project Leader program because I want to be a better person. When I grow up I want to be a professional soccer player but I worry I won’t ever be able to. Lots of times, money is tough even though my mom works really hard. She motivates me because she works so hard – she’s my mom and my dad at the same time. People from UWATX and my school who care about me say I should stay in school because even though I don’t need math to play soccer, I’m still going to need it at some point. Thanks to the UWATX program, I’ve already done some volunteer projects and it made me feel really good because I could talk to the people that couldn’t speak English so it made me proud to be bilingual. ” Education Makes Austin Greater Beth, mother of 4-year-old Katelyn “My daughter is becoming more social and independent thanks to United Way’s Play To Learn project. A few months ago, my mother passed away and I was having a difficult time finding a caretaker for my 4-year-old daughter Katelyn until I discovered United Way’s Play To Learn project. Since I do not have Internet access, the library is a home away from home for us, so it was incredibly convenient to find this service there. And this was so much more than childcare, it also allowed my daughter […]
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