United Way for Greater Austin http://www.unitedwayaustin.org Fri, 24 May 2013 19:43:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Help State employees keep their ability to give! http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/help-state-employees-keep-their-ability-to-give/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=help-state-employees-keep-their-ability-to-give http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/help-state-employees-keep-their-ability-to-give/#comments Fri, 24 May 2013 16:31:12 +0000 Debbie Bresette http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/?p=7589 DigImages_2013Q4_SaveSECC_blog

Help save State employees’ ability to give through their workplace to the charity of their choice!
Button_image As you may know, the 83rd Legislature ends next week. Among the important matters being discussed is the State Employee Charitable Campaign.  We are asking you to contact the Governor’s office and Legislators listed below to advocate for the passage of Senate Bill 217 that keeps the State Employee Charitable Campaign alive. 

 

Why we are asking you to take action?

Senate Bill 217 recommends the continuation of the annual State Employee Charitable Campaign, which allows for all State employees to support their local communities by donating to charities of their choice. Last year, State of Texas employees gave more than $9,000,000 to charities through this campaign. The State Employee Charitable Campaign is the only payroll deduction campaign for State and higher education employees. The SECC bills must be passed by both Houses (the House has passed its bill, the Senate has not). If the Senate bill does not pass, or is vetoed by the Governor, the SECC would cease to exist as of September 1 and employees throughout the State would not be able to support their communities through their workplace. We need your help to save more than $9,000,000 raised by State employees for charities through the State Employee Charitable Campaign.

 

Here’s how you can help:

  • Contact Governor Perry and the Legislators listed below to let them know of your support for Senate Bill 217 and the importance of continuing the State Employee Charitable Campaign.
  • When calling, tell the Governor or Legislator:

I am contacting Governor Perry/ the Senator/ the Representative to let them know that I am for Senate Bill 217 and I hope that they will support it and the continuation of the State Employee Charitable Campaign.

  • When emailing, please share the following points (Email subject line should read: “Save State of Texas employee philanthropy”):
    • I am contacting Governor Perry/ the Senator/ the Representative to let them know that I am for Senate Bill 217 and I hope that they will support it and the continuation of the State Employee Charitable Campaign
    • Last year, 47,670 State of Texas employees chose to participate in the campaign
    • More than $9,000,000 was raised last year for nonprofits serving Texans, as well as national and international organizations
    • It is important to know that monies raised through SECC are private dollars from private individuals going to private charities 
    • The State Employee Charitable Campaign is efficient and has never exceeded 10% in administrative costs to raise much-needed funds for our state
    • Appointees of the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Comptroller decide which charities participate in the campaign
    • Thank you for passing along my comments to the Governor/ Senator/ Representative
Thank you in advance for taking action to support philanthropy in the Greater Austin area and across the State.
Photo courtesy of chicanerii via Flickr Creative Commons.
 ]]> DigImages_2013Q4_SaveSECC_blog

Help save State employees’ ability to give through their workplace to the charity of their choice!
Button_image As you may know, the 83rd Legislature ends next week. Among the important matters being discussed is the State Employee Charitable Campaign.  We are asking you to contact the Governor’s office and Legislators listed below to advocate for the passage of Senate Bill 217 that keeps the State Employee Charitable Campaign alive. 

 

Why we are asking you to take action?

Senate Bill 217 recommends the continuation of the annual State Employee Charitable Campaign, which allows for all State employees to support their local communities by donating to charities of their choice. Last year, State of Texas employees gave more than $9,000,000 to charities through this campaign. The State Employee Charitable Campaign is the only payroll deduction campaign for State and higher education employees. The SECC bills must be passed by both Houses (the House has passed its bill, the Senate has not). If the Senate bill does not pass, or is vetoed by the Governor, the SECC would cease to exist as of September 1 and employees throughout the State would not be able to support their communities through their workplace. We need your help to save more than $9,000,000 raised by State employees for charities through the State Employee Charitable Campaign.

 

Here’s how you can help:

  • Contact Governor Perry and the Legislators listed below to let them know of your support for Senate Bill 217 and the importance of continuing the State Employee Charitable Campaign.
  • When calling, tell the Governor or Legislator:

I am contacting Governor Perry/ the Senator/ the Representative to let them know that I am for Senate Bill 217 and I hope that they will support it and the continuation of the State Employee Charitable Campaign.

  • When emailing, please share the following points (Email subject line should read: “Save State of Texas employee philanthropy”):
    • I am contacting Governor Perry/ the Senator/ the Representative to let them know that I am for Senate Bill 217 and I hope that they will support it and the continuation of the State Employee Charitable Campaign
    • Last year, 47,670 State of Texas employees chose to participate in the campaign
    • More than $9,000,000 was raised last year for nonprofits serving Texans, as well as national and international organizations
    • It is important to know that monies raised through SECC are private dollars from private individuals going to private charities 
    • The State Employee Charitable Campaign is efficient and has never exceeded 10% in administrative costs to raise much-needed funds for our state
    • Appointees of the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Comptroller decide which charities participate in the campaign
    • Thank you for passing along my comments to the Governor/ Senator/ Representative
Thank you in advance for taking action to support philanthropy in the Greater Austin area and across the State.
Photo courtesy of chicanerii via Flickr Creative Commons.
 ]]> http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/help-state-employees-keep-their-ability-to-give/feed/ 0 Introducing Kathleen Farlow as new Campaign Co-Chair, celebrating a year of giving http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/introducing-kathleen-farlow-as-new-campaign-co-chair-celebrating-a-year-of-giving/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=introducing-kathleen-farlow-as-new-campaign-co-chair-celebrating-a-year-of-giving http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/introducing-kathleen-farlow-as-new-campaign-co-chair-celebrating-a-year-of-giving/#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 18:44:28 +0000 Aviva Pinchas http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/?p=7564 UWATX 2013 Employee Campaign Awards

The 2012 Employee Campaign season has just wrapped up, marking a successful year of giving from Austin businesses and their employees. To say thank you, UWATX is recognizing the companies that truly stood out in their giving, including three recipients for the 2012 Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award:  
3M:
3M receives 2013 Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award!3M is a powerful supporter of UWATX- they came in second in raising dollars directly for UWATX programs and community impact. On top of that, 3M also touts the largest number of leadership givers and supported UWATX’s new brand with a generous donation of bus wraps that toured the city for months. 3M also matches every gift, stocks a large portion of our supply closet, gave in-kind donations to support UWATX’s rebranding efforts and consistently gives the largest corporate gift to UWATX in Austin!
H-E-B receives 2013 Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award!
H-E-B:
In the Greater Austin area, H-E-B employees make up the single largest source of employee giving support.  They run a fun, educational, and competitive UWATX campaign in each of their stores, and truly embody the best in corporate philanthropy. Their success grows from strong leadership:  From Charles Butt’s support of philanthropy, to Jeff Thomas’ personal investment of time and guidance, to store leaders championing the UWATX campaign across the region and individual employees who lead fellow Partners in giving back.
Enterprise receives 2013 Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award!
Enterprise:
Enterprise was the success story UWATX couldn’t stop talking about this year. Their campaign saw huge increases in total giving, giving to UWATX and a very high participation rate.  Enterprise stressed the value of directing your gift to UWATX, starting with a message from Howard Zaroff that was echoed by managers at all levels. Enterprise has found that sweet spot of making campaign an employee moral and team building experience (with a live auction and competitive chili cook off) while ALSO making a real difference.   On top of these overall awards, we are proud to recognize partners for excelling in particular areas:  

Highest Participation: Texas Gas Service

Whether offering their talents to sing karaoke for donations, or being subjected to a sometimes violent game of musical chairs, Texas Gas make it a priority to encourage participation – and it shows: they have 100% participation!  

Deloitte receives awardSuccess By 6 Children’s Champion: Deloitte

Deloitte raised more than $41,000 for Success By 6 – recognizing that the future of our great city depends on the success of our youngest neighbors.  

Best Practices Champion: Nordstrom

Nordstrom provides opportunities to give back year-round - through volunteering, wearing jeans for a cause, or participating in the annual campaign. Nordstrom’s commitment to United Way truly parallels commitment to excellence in customer service.  

Leadership Giving: Women’s Leadership Council: Texas Mutual

Texas Mutual embraced the power of female philanthropy – they had the highest number of WLC members this campaign year! Thanks to these efforts, another generation of smart and successful Austin women will be entering the workforce in the years to come.  

Leadership Giving: Tocqueville Society: Deloitte

Besides winning the United Way Worldwide Special Recognition Fleur de Lis Award for having the highest number of Tocqueville Members nationwide for the 11th consecutive year, we are proud to recognize Deloitte for the same accomplishment here in our community.  

Leadership Giving: Overall Leadership Givers: 3M

3M is committed to giving at a leadership level: the company holds a breakfast reception for current and prospective leadership givers at the beginning of each campaign. 3M also makes being a leadership giver easy by promoting stock gifts as an option.  

Volunteer Excellence: Freescale

Freescale has sponsored both Spring and Falls Days of Caring since their inception– a commitment for more than 20+ years. By engaging more than 250 employees in these days, Freescale is giving back $20,000 of value in volunteer time to Austin each year.  

Texas Mutual receives awardUWATX Brand Ambassador: Texas Mutual

Texas Mutual’s amazing campaign committee enthusiastically embraced the new UWATX brand and “Makes Austin Greater” messaging at every turn, including:
  • “Dunking my boss” and “dunking my colleague” Makes Austin Greater stickers everyone received/wore after throwing at the dunk tank at their company picnic
  • “Goin’ Casual Makes Austin Greater” for casual day posters
  • “Candy Makes Austin Greater” for Candy Gram Sale
 

Largest Donation Increase: Wells Fargo

In 2012, Wells Fargo team members increased their giving through their UWATX campaign by 50 percent – an astounding feat!   For several companies, this was their first year running an Employee Campaign with UWATX: ABC Home and Commercial, Adlucent, BB&T Bank, Craftcorps, Liquidation Channel, PMC-Sierra, Raba Kistner, Sysco Foods, Tanknology, Texas Instruments and The Advisory Board Company. All told, these new business campaigns invested nearly $90,000 in our community.   Looking forward, we are happy to welcome Kathleen Farlow, Managing Partner for Deloitte, who will join Bobby Jenkins, President and Owner of ABC Home & Commercial,  as this year’s Campaign Co-Chairs. She has been a United Way advocate prior to coming to Austin in 2012, giving at the highest level and also investing her time and expertise. Jeff Thomas, Senior VP and General Manager at H-E-B, ends his 2-year term as Campaign Co-Chair for and recently joined the UWATX Board of Directors.   At UWATX, we work with more than 400 business partners to grow philanthropy in our community and help overcome barriers to economic opportunity. Thank you to all the individuals and businesses that gave back this year and are actively helping make Austin greater.]]> UWATX 2013 Employee Campaign Awards

The 2012 Employee Campaign season has just wrapped up, marking a successful year of giving from Austin businesses and their employees. To say thank you, UWATX is recognizing the companies that truly stood out in their giving, including three recipients for the 2012 Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award:  
3M:
3M receives 2013 Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award!3M is a powerful supporter of UWATX- they came in second in raising dollars directly for UWATX programs and community impact. On top of that, 3M also touts the largest number of leadership givers and supported UWATX’s new brand with a generous donation of bus wraps that toured the city for months. 3M also matches every gift, stocks a large portion of our supply closet, gave in-kind donations to support UWATX’s rebranding efforts and consistently gives the largest corporate gift to UWATX in Austin!
H-E-B receives 2013 Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award!
H-E-B:
In the Greater Austin area, H-E-B employees make up the single largest source of employee giving support.  They run a fun, educational, and competitive UWATX campaign in each of their stores, and truly embody the best in corporate philanthropy. Their success grows from strong leadership:  From Charles Butt’s support of philanthropy, to Jeff Thomas’ personal investment of time and guidance, to store leaders championing the UWATX campaign across the region and individual employees who lead fellow Partners in giving back.
Enterprise receives 2013 Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award!
Enterprise:
Enterprise was the success story UWATX couldn’t stop talking about this year. Their campaign saw huge increases in total giving, giving to UWATX and a very high participation rate.  Enterprise stressed the value of directing your gift to UWATX, starting with a message from Howard Zaroff that was echoed by managers at all levels. Enterprise has found that sweet spot of making campaign an employee moral and team building experience (with a live auction and competitive chili cook off) while ALSO making a real difference.   On top of these overall awards, we are proud to recognize partners for excelling in particular areas:  

Highest Participation: Texas Gas Service

Whether offering their talents to sing karaoke for donations, or being subjected to a sometimes violent game of musical chairs, Texas Gas make it a priority to encourage participation – and it shows: they have 100% participation!  

Deloitte receives awardSuccess By 6 Children’s Champion: Deloitte

Deloitte raised more than $41,000 for Success By 6 – recognizing that the future of our great city depends on the success of our youngest neighbors.  

Best Practices Champion: Nordstrom

Nordstrom provides opportunities to give back year-round - through volunteering, wearing jeans for a cause, or participating in the annual campaign. Nordstrom’s commitment to United Way truly parallels commitment to excellence in customer service.  

Leadership Giving: Women’s Leadership Council: Texas Mutual

Texas Mutual embraced the power of female philanthropy – they had the highest number of WLC members this campaign year! Thanks to these efforts, another generation of smart and successful Austin women will be entering the workforce in the years to come.  

Leadership Giving: Tocqueville Society: Deloitte

Besides winning the United Way Worldwide Special Recognition Fleur de Lis Award for having the highest number of Tocqueville Members nationwide for the 11th consecutive year, we are proud to recognize Deloitte for the same accomplishment here in our community.  

Leadership Giving: Overall Leadership Givers: 3M

3M is committed to giving at a leadership level: the company holds a breakfast reception for current and prospective leadership givers at the beginning of each campaign. 3M also makes being a leadership giver easy by promoting stock gifts as an option.  

Volunteer Excellence: Freescale

Freescale has sponsored both Spring and Falls Days of Caring since their inception– a commitment for more than 20+ years. By engaging more than 250 employees in these days, Freescale is giving back $20,000 of value in volunteer time to Austin each year.  

Texas Mutual receives awardUWATX Brand Ambassador: Texas Mutual

Texas Mutual’s amazing campaign committee enthusiastically embraced the new UWATX brand and “Makes Austin Greater” messaging at every turn, including:
  • “Dunking my boss” and “dunking my colleague” Makes Austin Greater stickers everyone received/wore after throwing at the dunk tank at their company picnic
  • “Goin’ Casual Makes Austin Greater” for casual day posters
  • “Candy Makes Austin Greater” for Candy Gram Sale
 

Largest Donation Increase: Wells Fargo

In 2012, Wells Fargo team members increased their giving through their UWATX campaign by 50 percent – an astounding feat!   For several companies, this was their first year running an Employee Campaign with UWATX: ABC Home and Commercial, Adlucent, BB&T Bank, Craftcorps, Liquidation Channel, PMC-Sierra, Raba Kistner, Sysco Foods, Tanknology, Texas Instruments and The Advisory Board Company. All told, these new business campaigns invested nearly $90,000 in our community.   Looking forward, we are happy to welcome Kathleen Farlow, Managing Partner for Deloitte, who will join Bobby Jenkins, President and Owner of ABC Home & Commercial,  as this year’s Campaign Co-Chairs. She has been a United Way advocate prior to coming to Austin in 2012, giving at the highest level and also investing her time and expertise. Jeff Thomas, Senior VP and General Manager at H-E-B, ends his 2-year term as Campaign Co-Chair for and recently joined the UWATX Board of Directors.   At UWATX, we work with more than 400 business partners to grow philanthropy in our community and help overcome barriers to economic opportunity. Thank you to all the individuals and businesses that gave back this year and are actively helping make Austin greater.]]> http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/introducing-kathleen-farlow-as-new-campaign-co-chair-celebrating-a-year-of-giving/feed/ 0 Spotlight: Heather Beckel Luecke on crafting a brand for our community http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/spotlight-heather-beckel-luecke-on-crafting-a-brand-for-our-community/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=spotlight-heather-beckel-luecke-on-crafting-a-brand-for-our-community http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/spotlight-heather-beckel-luecke-on-crafting-a-brand-for-our-community/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 19:19:09 +0000 Aviva Pinchas http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/?p=7521 Heather Beckel Luecke at Texas Tribune event

In November 2011, Heather Beckel Luecke joined the UWATX team and took on the challenge of re-launching the United Way brand locally. This May marks the one-year anniversary of our new name and look.

Q from UWATX: What brought you to UWATX a year and a half ago?

A from Heather: I was looking for a new professional challenge and was connected to Lauren Paver through a mutual friend. We had some great conversations at Bennu coffee shop and then I formally interviewed with her, Debbie Bresette and Aviva Pinchas - and I thought: “I want to work with all these really smart women!”  

What’s been the biggest challenge of jumping in to the nonprofit sector and of re-launching a legacy brand like United Way?

In terms of the biggest challenge of re-launching a legacy brand - it’s a FUN challenge because it’s difficult. To stay within the rules of the brand and respect the brand but at the same time dust off the cobwebs, make it more local and push the envelope a little bit. The biggest challenge for me of working in the nonprofit sector is getting used to a different way of thinking about an allocation of resources to tackle social issues. I’ve never had to deal with this in for-profit or political advocacy work where the question is asked upfront: “Okay what marketing dollars do you need to make this happen?” UWATX board member Gayle Greer turned us onto a TED Talk by Dan Pallotta that says it so much more eloquently than I ever could.  

What do you think makes UWATX unique, sets it apart from other nonprofits?

Our ability to bring different entities together from the for-profit world, other nonprofits and public agencies makes us a really unique and valuable asset in Austin.  

How do you see your role as VP of Brand for UWATX? What do you hope you bring to the table?

My role and that of the marketing team is married together; we are here to tell the story of United Way for Greater Austin in a way that is inspirational and that people want to be part of. I hope that my varied background means that I never just assume that there is one way and one way only to do things.
Heather Beckel and George Stephanopoulos

 

You’ve tackled marketing and communications from a lot of different angles in your career. What’s been the most fun? What was the most challenging?

Honestly, all my jobs have been fun and challenging in their own way. It’s fun to have huge marketing budgets to spend (Polo Ralph Lauren) but it’s a really interesting challenge to have to achieve big goals on a shoestring budget (UWATX & mayoral campaign). Equally it’s fun when you don’t have to work hard to get people to pay attention to what you are doing (The White House) but a fun challenge when you have a sticky problem to solve like making expensive toilets and faucets sexy and aspirational (Waterworks).

 

When looking to the future, what changes and opportunities do you see for United Way and for your team?

The future is really bright for UWATX and for our marketing team. We are a team that embraces innovation and challenges and there is no end of those in sight. We will need to keep being nimble and being open to new ways of doing things - and as marketing folks that keeps us fresh and the work interesting.
"We all have a responsibility to make sure that it’s smart and healthy growth that benefits all our citizens with good services, infrastructure, schools, jobs - all the things that allow us all to thrive as a community." - Heather Beckel Luecke

 

When thinking about the future of our community, how do you hope Austin will look in 20 years? What are you concerned about for Austin's future?

Well, I just learned today about the new area code for Austin. Explosive GROWTH is our present and our future. And we all have a responsibility to make sure that it’s smart and healthy growth that benefits all our citizens with good services, infrastructure, schools, jobs - all the things that allow us all to thrive as a community.

What makes Austin greater for you?

The ancient and beautiful live oak in my backyard.  

In addition to her work with UWATX, Heather is also the Co-Chair of the Human Rights Campaign Austin Gala, supports public media including KUT Austin and the Texas Tribune and is an animal lover.

]]> Heather Beckel Luecke at Texas Tribune event

In November 2011, Heather Beckel Luecke joined the UWATX team and took on the challenge of re-launching the United Way brand locally. This May marks the one-year anniversary of our new name and look.

Q from UWATX: What brought you to UWATX a year and a half ago?

A from Heather: I was looking for a new professional challenge and was connected to Lauren Paver through a mutual friend. We had some great conversations at Bennu coffee shop and then I formally interviewed with her, Debbie Bresette and Aviva Pinchas - and I thought: “I want to work with all these really smart women!”  

What’s been the biggest challenge of jumping in to the nonprofit sector and of re-launching a legacy brand like United Way?

In terms of the biggest challenge of re-launching a legacy brand - it’s a FUN challenge because it’s difficult. To stay within the rules of the brand and respect the brand but at the same time dust off the cobwebs, make it more local and push the envelope a little bit. The biggest challenge for me of working in the nonprofit sector is getting used to a different way of thinking about an allocation of resources to tackle social issues. I’ve never had to deal with this in for-profit or political advocacy work where the question is asked upfront: “Okay what marketing dollars do you need to make this happen?” UWATX board member Gayle Greer turned us onto a TED Talk by Dan Pallotta that says it so much more eloquently than I ever could.  

What do you think makes UWATX unique, sets it apart from other nonprofits?

Our ability to bring different entities together from the for-profit world, other nonprofits and public agencies makes us a really unique and valuable asset in Austin.  

How do you see your role as VP of Brand for UWATX? What do you hope you bring to the table?

My role and that of the marketing team is married together; we are here to tell the story of United Way for Greater Austin in a way that is inspirational and that people want to be part of. I hope that my varied background means that I never just assume that there is one way and one way only to do things.
Heather Beckel and George Stephanopoulos

 

You’ve tackled marketing and communications from a lot of different angles in your career. What’s been the most fun? What was the most challenging?

Honestly, all my jobs have been fun and challenging in their own way. It’s fun to have huge marketing budgets to spend (Polo Ralph Lauren) but it’s a really interesting challenge to have to achieve big goals on a shoestring budget (UWATX & mayoral campaign). Equally it’s fun when you don’t have to work hard to get people to pay attention to what you are doing (The White House) but a fun challenge when you have a sticky problem to solve like making expensive toilets and faucets sexy and aspirational (Waterworks).

 

When looking to the future, what changes and opportunities do you see for United Way and for your team?

The future is really bright for UWATX and for our marketing team. We are a team that embraces innovation and challenges and there is no end of those in sight. We will need to keep being nimble and being open to new ways of doing things - and as marketing folks that keeps us fresh and the work interesting.
"We all have a responsibility to make sure that it’s smart and healthy growth that benefits all our citizens with good services, infrastructure, schools, jobs - all the things that allow us all to thrive as a community." - Heather Beckel Luecke

 

When thinking about the future of our community, how do you hope Austin will look in 20 years? What are you concerned about for Austin's future?

Well, I just learned today about the new area code for Austin. Explosive GROWTH is our present and our future. And we all have a responsibility to make sure that it’s smart and healthy growth that benefits all our citizens with good services, infrastructure, schools, jobs - all the things that allow us all to thrive as a community.

What makes Austin greater for you?

The ancient and beautiful live oak in my backyard.  

In addition to her work with UWATX, Heather is also the Co-Chair of the Human Rights Campaign Austin Gala, supports public media including KUT Austin and the Texas Tribune and is an animal lover.

]]> http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/spotlight-heather-beckel-luecke-on-crafting-a-brand-for-our-community/feed/ 1 WhiteGlove Health discontinues services http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/whiteglove-health-discontinues-services/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=whiteglove-health-discontinues-services http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/whiteglove-health-discontinues-services/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 22:12:26 +0000 Aviva Pinchas http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/?p=7503 WhiteGlove Health discontinues service to low-income children, families and educators

For the past couple of years, UWATX has worked with WhiteGlove Health to provide health care services for low-income families and the educators serving them. We were very disappointed to learn from WhiteGlove CFO Doug Cannon that they will cease providing services at the end of May.  This is a business decision WhiteGlove has to make, which we understand, but it is unfortunate that workers and families are losing access to affordable high-quality health care. WhiteGlove has offered almost two years of great health care service pro-bono as a gift back to our community at child care centers supported through UWATX's Success By 6 program. They also provided a grant that allowed us to coordinate the services to their maximum effect .  Through this partnership, services were provided at Ebeneezer Child Development Center, Faith Presbyterian Child Development Center, Mainspring Schools, Trinity Child Development Center, and SafePlace Child Development Center. The project with WhiteGlove was an innovative model for health care that has flourished in other communities – to bring mobile healthcare units to low-income child care centers where the families and workers have the greatest need and. This model resolved constant issues of transportation for the working poor and misunderstanding about what health care options were available and needed for young children and their families. We hope that our public officials continue to look for ways to address the need in our community for affordable health care for everyone. At UWATX, we will continue to seek out opportunities to help families in need overcome the major barriers to economic opportunity including access to affordable healthcare.  ]]> WhiteGlove Health discontinues service to low-income children, families and educators

For the past couple of years, UWATX has worked with WhiteGlove Health to provide health care services for low-income families and the educators serving them. We were very disappointed to learn from WhiteGlove CFO Doug Cannon that they will cease providing services at the end of May.  This is a business decision WhiteGlove has to make, which we understand, but it is unfortunate that workers and families are losing access to affordable high-quality health care. WhiteGlove has offered almost two years of great health care service pro-bono as a gift back to our community at child care centers supported through UWATX's Success By 6 program. They also provided a grant that allowed us to coordinate the services to their maximum effect .  Through this partnership, services were provided at Ebeneezer Child Development Center, Faith Presbyterian Child Development Center, Mainspring Schools, Trinity Child Development Center, and SafePlace Child Development Center. The project with WhiteGlove was an innovative model for health care that has flourished in other communities – to bring mobile healthcare units to low-income child care centers where the families and workers have the greatest need and. This model resolved constant issues of transportation for the working poor and misunderstanding about what health care options were available and needed for young children and their families. We hope that our public officials continue to look for ways to address the need in our community for affordable health care for everyone. At UWATX, we will continue to seek out opportunities to help families in need overcome the major barriers to economic opportunity including access to affordable healthcare.  ]]> http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/whiteglove-health-discontinues-services/feed/ 0 On Mother’s Day, let’s redefine mothers http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/on-mothers-day-lets-redefine-mothers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=on-mothers-day-lets-redefine-mothers http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/on-mothers-day-lets-redefine-mothers/#comments Sat, 11 May 2013 13:00:40 +0000 Debbie Bresette http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/?p=7491 Debbie Bresette, president of UWATX, and her granddaughter

I grew up in a family with a single mother and three siblings. My father died young and, from an early age, my brother exhibited signs of mental illness. So I learned early on that it takes a community to raise a child - I was a child that a community raised. As we come close to Mother’s Day - a yearly celebration of moms and all the gifts they give us - I am thinking about what being a mother truly means, and how it’s so much more than biology. In my own experience raising my four children and now helping raise my grandchildren, motherhood gives you this whole range of feelings. It’s deep and abiding love, endless patience, tremendous pride and also frustration, fear and a strong sense of responsibility. Motherhood is about a stretching of oneself - growing to be more than you thought you could be when you woke up that day. And while being a mother is about love and trust, it’s also about guidance, boundaries and sometimes telling the hard truths. We think of mothers as caregivers, but more than giving care, mothers help give us structure.
I hope this is something that I’ve passed along to my children - that you can wrap your arms around any child that needs it and bring them into your family and that it makes you richer.
With this definition, it becomes pretty clear that mothers aren’t just the women who brought us into this world, but that anyone can be a mother - fathers, people without biological children, grandparents, neighbors. And more often than not, it’s not just one person that fills this very important role, but a whole community  In my life, I’ve had the fortune of being able to play this role for many people, including my own children but also others. I hope this is something that I’ve passed along to my children - that you can wrap your arms around any child that needs it and bring them into your family and that it makes you richer. In my work, I get to see the interconnectedness of our community every day, and I get to support young parents and children, middle schoolers and adults all working to help their families. In the end, helping a community thrive is not much different than raising a family - it’s about giving support where it’s needed, providing structure and being amazed at what happens. As I look forward to another Mother’s Day with my multigenerational family, I expect I’ll spend lots of time in noisy chaos with the people I care deeply for, and hopefully we’ll all get to take a nap at some point. I will take this day to celebrate the mothers I know, those with children and those without, and I hope you’ll do the same.]]> Debbie Bresette, president of UWATX, and her granddaughter

I grew up in a family with a single mother and three siblings. My father died young and, from an early age, my brother exhibited signs of mental illness. So I learned early on that it takes a community to raise a child - I was a child that a community raised. As we come close to Mother’s Day - a yearly celebration of moms and all the gifts they give us - I am thinking about what being a mother truly means, and how it’s so much more than biology. In my own experience raising my four children and now helping raise my grandchildren, motherhood gives you this whole range of feelings. It’s deep and abiding love, endless patience, tremendous pride and also frustration, fear and a strong sense of responsibility. Motherhood is about a stretching of oneself - growing to be more than you thought you could be when you woke up that day. And while being a mother is about love and trust, it’s also about guidance, boundaries and sometimes telling the hard truths. We think of mothers as caregivers, but more than giving care, mothers help give us structure.
I hope this is something that I’ve passed along to my children - that you can wrap your arms around any child that needs it and bring them into your family and that it makes you richer.
With this definition, it becomes pretty clear that mothers aren’t just the women who brought us into this world, but that anyone can be a mother - fathers, people without biological children, grandparents, neighbors. And more often than not, it’s not just one person that fills this very important role, but a whole community  In my life, I’ve had the fortune of being able to play this role for many people, including my own children but also others. I hope this is something that I’ve passed along to my children - that you can wrap your arms around any child that needs it and bring them into your family and that it makes you richer. In my work, I get to see the interconnectedness of our community every day, and I get to support young parents and children, middle schoolers and adults all working to help their families. In the end, helping a community thrive is not much different than raising a family - it’s about giving support where it’s needed, providing structure and being amazed at what happens. As I look forward to another Mother’s Day with my multigenerational family, I expect I’ll spend lots of time in noisy chaos with the people I care deeply for, and hopefully we’ll all get to take a nap at some point. I will take this day to celebrate the mothers I know, those with children and those without, and I hope you’ll do the same.]]> http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/on-mothers-day-lets-redefine-mothers/feed/ 0 Spreading the word about children’s mental health http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/spreading-the-word-about-childrens-mental-health/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=spreading-the-word-about-childrens-mental-health http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/spreading-the-word-about-childrens-mental-health/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 16:09:23 +0000 Aviva Pinchas http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/?p=7436 DigImages_2013Q4-10

Today is National Children’s Mental Health Day - for us at UWATX, it’s an opportunity to shed light on a side of students’ lives that often gets overlooked.

In Texas, more than 154,000 children from 9- to 17-years-old are dealing with a severe emotional disturbance. Even more common, an estimated one in five children have a diagnosable mental disorder, the most common being depression.

The complicated emotional life of teens - attempting to manage the transition to adulthood including stress about important standardized tests - becomes even more complex for low-income children, who often deal with added stressors:

When I was a teacher, students regularly came up to me and revealed problems in their home life, sometimes really troubling situations that I didn’t have the skills or resources to address.

Amber Welsh, Middle School Matters Coordinator and former middle school teacher
  • Food insecurity 
  • Poor housing
  • Lack of access to health care
  • Inadequate transportation
  • Neighborhood violence

For most, a combination of these stressors leads to normal mood swings and changes in behavior. For some, the problem escalates to a disorder that requires treatment and, without help, that can lead to bad grades, suspensions, dropping out or, in the worst case, suicide.

To avoid these scenarios, children and teens need a supportive environment to manage the stressors in their lives. Yet many schools lack the resources to provide this support.

“When I was a teacher, students regularly came up to me and revealed problems in their home life, sometimes really troubling situations that I didn’t have the skills or resources to address, not to mention the full class of other students waiting on me,” said Amber Welsh, Middle School Matters Coordinator and former middle school teacher. “With the work I’m doing now, we’re working to bring that help to campuses so teachers can focus on what they do best: teaching.”

Our Middle School Matters initiative, part of the Target Graduation program brings resources like counseling, stress and anger management and psychology resources on middle school campuses where students can easily access the help they need.

And you can help - support National Children’s Mental Health Day by sharing this graphic about mental health or our blog post, print out these tips on how to promote mental health among teens and young adults and support Target Graduation. ]]> DigImages_2013Q4-10

Today is National Children’s Mental Health Day - for us at UWATX, it’s an opportunity to shed light on a side of students’ lives that often gets overlooked.

In Texas, more than 154,000 children from 9- to 17-years-old are dealing with a severe emotional disturbance. Even more common, an estimated one in five children have a diagnosable mental disorder, the most common being depression.

The complicated emotional life of teens - attempting to manage the transition to adulthood including stress about important standardized tests - becomes even more complex for low-income children, who often deal with added stressors:

When I was a teacher, students regularly came up to me and revealed problems in their home life, sometimes really troubling situations that I didn’t have the skills or resources to address.

Amber Welsh, Middle School Matters Coordinator and former middle school teacher
  • Food insecurity 
  • Poor housing
  • Lack of access to health care
  • Inadequate transportation
  • Neighborhood violence

For most, a combination of these stressors leads to normal mood swings and changes in behavior. For some, the problem escalates to a disorder that requires treatment and, without help, that can lead to bad grades, suspensions, dropping out or, in the worst case, suicide.

To avoid these scenarios, children and teens need a supportive environment to manage the stressors in their lives. Yet many schools lack the resources to provide this support.

“When I was a teacher, students regularly came up to me and revealed problems in their home life, sometimes really troubling situations that I didn’t have the skills or resources to address, not to mention the full class of other students waiting on me,” said Amber Welsh, Middle School Matters Coordinator and former middle school teacher. “With the work I’m doing now, we’re working to bring that help to campuses so teachers can focus on what they do best: teaching.”

Our Middle School Matters initiative, part of the Target Graduation program brings resources like counseling, stress and anger management and psychology resources on middle school campuses where students can easily access the help they need.

And you can help - support National Children’s Mental Health Day by sharing this graphic about mental health or our blog post, print out these tips on how to promote mental health among teens and young adults and support Target Graduation. ]]> http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/spreading-the-word-about-childrens-mental-health/feed/ 0 Thank a teacher this week! http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/thank-a-teacher-this-week/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thank-a-teacher-this-week http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/thank-a-teacher-this-week/#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 21:55:39 +0000 Christa Berry http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/?p=7420 Teacher_App_day

Every day, teachers in our community touch the lives of students and parents in significant ways. They work to ensure our children receive high-quality education and they encourage, support and prepare students for their future. At United Way for Greater Austin, we all have memories of teachers who connected with us when were students. As parents, we all know teachers who know how to reach our kids, and who inspire them to succeed. As an organization that works in early child care and supports middle schoolers, we have the opportunity to work with and support educators every day who are committed to creating positive learning environments for all students. Through our Target Graduation program, which provides support to youth during those tough middle school years, UWATX works to positively impact the culture of learning in schools - making is easier for teachers to focus on their work while assuring students get the additional services they need. "United Way's Middle School Matters (a Target Graduation initiative) has been a great resource for our school," said one Webb Middle School teacher. "Teachers and students lives have been changed for the better based on the services provided. I don't think our school would have been as strong as it is in terms of students support if United Way was not here." Join us this week as we say "Thank you!" to teachers in the Central Texas community! There are a number of ways you can thank a teacher this week:
  • Leave a special treat on a teacher's desk or in the teacher's lounge.
  • Write a note to a special teacher and share the impact they had on you
  • Send a card to your child's teacher - teachers love to hear from parents!
  • Buy books or other school supplies for the classroom - teachers are always in need of these!
  • Want other creative ideas? See Whole Kids Foundation Pinterest board: DIY Teacher Gifts
]]> Teacher_App_day

Every day, teachers in our community touch the lives of students and parents in significant ways. They work to ensure our children receive high-quality education and they encourage, support and prepare students for their future. At United Way for Greater Austin, we all have memories of teachers who connected with us when were students. As parents, we all know teachers who know how to reach our kids, and who inspire them to succeed. As an organization that works in early child care and supports middle schoolers, we have the opportunity to work with and support educators every day who are committed to creating positive learning environments for all students. Through our Target Graduation program, which provides support to youth during those tough middle school years, UWATX works to positively impact the culture of learning in schools - making is easier for teachers to focus on their work while assuring students get the additional services they need. "United Way's Middle School Matters (a Target Graduation initiative) has been a great resource for our school," said one Webb Middle School teacher. "Teachers and students lives have been changed for the better based on the services provided. I don't think our school would have been as strong as it is in terms of students support if United Way was not here." Join us this week as we say "Thank you!" to teachers in the Central Texas community! There are a number of ways you can thank a teacher this week:
  • Leave a special treat on a teacher's desk or in the teacher's lounge.
  • Write a note to a special teacher and share the impact they had on you
  • Send a card to your child's teacher - teachers love to hear from parents!
  • Buy books or other school supplies for the classroom - teachers are always in need of these!
  • Want other creative ideas? See Whole Kids Foundation Pinterest board: DIY Teacher Gifts
]]> http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/05/2013/thank-a-teacher-this-week/feed/ 0 Introducing: UWATX Young Leaders Society http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/04/2013/introducing-uwatx-young-leaders-society/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=introducing-uwatx-young-leaders-society http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/04/2013/introducing-uwatx-young-leaders-society/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:07:43 +0000 Aviva Pinchas http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/?p=7337 Introducing YLS - Marcus Everett picture

United Way for Greater Austin is introducing a new iteration of our Young Leaders Society - a giving society for young professionals. This version has a few exciting changes:
  • Rather than giving $1,000 to UWATX themselves, young leaders will have the option to raise a portion of their contribution. That means individuals can leverage their networks to get support.
  • YLS will focus on UWATX's Target Graduation program - helping students stay on the path to graduation and being successful in school, work and life.
  • YLS members will participate in volunteer projects with middle school students, changing lives not just with their dollars but with their time also.
  • On top of on-going volunteer events, YLS members will also have the opportunity to participate in networking and professional development events, taking advantage of UWATX's more than 400 business partners and connecting to other new and emerging Austin leaders
"We're relaunching this group to reflect the amazing city that we are part of - a city filled with young, vibrant talent," said Debbie Bresette, President of UWATX. "We are here for this city, and YLS is another step towards better serving our community and growing philanthropy." Get to know the YLS Founding Committee, learn more about the exciting projects they've participated in so far or sign-up for a volunteer project.]]> Introducing YLS - Marcus Everett picture

United Way for Greater Austin is introducing a new iteration of our Young Leaders Society - a giving society for young professionals. This version has a few exciting changes:
  • Rather than giving $1,000 to UWATX themselves, young leaders will have the option to raise a portion of their contribution. That means individuals can leverage their networks to get support.
  • YLS will focus on UWATX's Target Graduation program - helping students stay on the path to graduation and being successful in school, work and life.
  • YLS members will participate in volunteer projects with middle school students, changing lives not just with their dollars but with their time also.
  • On top of on-going volunteer events, YLS members will also have the opportunity to participate in networking and professional development events, taking advantage of UWATX's more than 400 business partners and connecting to other new and emerging Austin leaders
"We're relaunching this group to reflect the amazing city that we are part of - a city filled with young, vibrant talent," said Debbie Bresette, President of UWATX. "We are here for this city, and YLS is another step towards better serving our community and growing philanthropy." Get to know the YLS Founding Committee, learn more about the exciting projects they've participated in so far or sign-up for a volunteer project.]]> http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/04/2013/introducing-uwatx-young-leaders-society/feed/ 0 Meet the friendly faces behind the new Young Leaders Society http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/04/2013/meet-the-friendly-faces-behind-the-new-young-leaders-society/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meet-the-friendly-faces-behind-the-new-young-leaders-society http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/04/2013/meet-the-friendly-faces-behind-the-new-young-leaders-society/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:10:49 +0000 Celso Baez http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/?p=7316 DigImages_2013Q4_YLS_intro_feat

Today, United Way for Greater Austin (UWATX) introduces the new and improved Young Leaders Society (YLS), a diverse group of young professionals under the age of 40 who give or raise $1,000 annually to support UWATX.
YLS unites the professional and social aspects of being a young professional with the intrinsic need to shape our community.
- Brendan Day, Baker Botts
For a few months, the Founding Committee and I have been getting a jump start by  volunteering our time with students in UWATX Target Graduation – a program focused on keeping middle school students on the path to graduation. Moving forward, YLS members will also raise money and spread the word about the critical middle school years. The Founding Committee of YLS is made up of 15 dynamic professionals from a cross-section of industries in the corporate, civic and nonprofit sectors.  All accomplished and passionate individuals in their own right, they  are joining together  to extend their talents, time and money to help prepare Austin students for success in college, work and life. YLS members engage with students at Webb, Decker and Mendez Middle Schools learning to be volunteer leaders and are encouraged to leverage their networks to mobilize more supporters for the Target Graduation program. Whether it is a campus clean-up, a tutoring session, or a mentoring opportunity, YLS members seek to inspire and shape new leaders in Greater Austin. Through various professional development and fun networking opportunities, the Founding Committee is working to expand YLS and work with other young leaders in the Greater Austin area. Here’s what a few members had to say about why they are involved:
  • “To me, YLS is a way to ensure that United Way continues to meet the needs of Austin now and into the future.  As a Founding Committee member, I have the opportunity to help set the course for a group that will make a significant difference in the lives of young people.” - Jeremiah Bentley, Texas Mutual Insurance
  • “What YLS means to me:  An opportunity for young professionals to join resources and perspectives to contribute to our local community’s future by being leaders and mentors for the next generation.” - Marcus Everett, Enterprise
  • “YLS unites the professional and social aspects of being a young professional with the intrinsic need to shape our community in a way that significantly improves the lives of the next generation of leaders.” - Brendan Day, Baker Botts
  • “I have a passion for education and look forward to helping inspire students to further their education and give back to their community as a member of the Young Leaders Society Founding Committee.” - Luke Martinez, Bank of America
  • “YLS is an opportunity to work with other young professionals to support the youth in the community.” - Meghan Coleman, The University of Texas at Austin
As we mark the public launch of YLS today, I am excited to build this group. Have you made an impact in your community?  Share your experience of making Austin greater and connect to new and emerging leaders today!
 
]]> DigImages_2013Q4_YLS_intro_feat

Today, United Way for Greater Austin (UWATX) introduces the new and improved Young Leaders Society (YLS), a diverse group of young professionals under the age of 40 who give or raise $1,000 annually to support UWATX.
YLS unites the professional and social aspects of being a young professional with the intrinsic need to shape our community.
- Brendan Day, Baker Botts
For a few months, the Founding Committee and I have been getting a jump start by  volunteering our time with students in UWATX Target Graduation – a program focused on keeping middle school students on the path to graduation. Moving forward, YLS members will also raise money and spread the word about the critical middle school years. The Founding Committee of YLS is made up of 15 dynamic professionals from a cross-section of industries in the corporate, civic and nonprofit sectors.  All accomplished and passionate individuals in their own right, they  are joining together  to extend their talents, time and money to help prepare Austin students for success in college, work and life. YLS members engage with students at Webb, Decker and Mendez Middle Schools learning to be volunteer leaders and are encouraged to leverage their networks to mobilize more supporters for the Target Graduation program. Whether it is a campus clean-up, a tutoring session, or a mentoring opportunity, YLS members seek to inspire and shape new leaders in Greater Austin. Through various professional development and fun networking opportunities, the Founding Committee is working to expand YLS and work with other young leaders in the Greater Austin area. Here’s what a few members had to say about why they are involved:
  • “To me, YLS is a way to ensure that United Way continues to meet the needs of Austin now and into the future.  As a Founding Committee member, I have the opportunity to help set the course for a group that will make a significant difference in the lives of young people.” - Jeremiah Bentley, Texas Mutual Insurance
  • “What YLS means to me:  An opportunity for young professionals to join resources and perspectives to contribute to our local community’s future by being leaders and mentors for the next generation.” - Marcus Everett, Enterprise
  • “YLS unites the professional and social aspects of being a young professional with the intrinsic need to shape our community in a way that significantly improves the lives of the next generation of leaders.” - Brendan Day, Baker Botts
  • “I have a passion for education and look forward to helping inspire students to further their education and give back to their community as a member of the Young Leaders Society Founding Committee.” - Luke Martinez, Bank of America
  • “YLS is an opportunity to work with other young professionals to support the youth in the community.” - Meghan Coleman, The University of Texas at Austin
As we mark the public launch of YLS today, I am excited to build this group. Have you made an impact in your community?  Share your experience of making Austin greater and connect to new and emerging leaders today!
 
]]> http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/04/2013/meet-the-friendly-faces-behind-the-new-young-leaders-society/feed/ 0 Spotlight: Catherine Morse on her role as evangelist http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/04/2013/spotlight-catherine-morse-on-her-role-as-evangelist/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=spotlight-catherine-morse-on-her-role-as-evangelist http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/04/2013/spotlight-catherine-morse-on-her-role-as-evangelist/#comments Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:00:37 +0000 Aviva Pinchas http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/?p=7229 Catherine Morse at Success By 6 event

Since 2011, Catherine Morse has shared her passion for early childhood and commitment to community service with the UWATX Board of Directors and Success By 6 Leadership Council. Now, we are proud to announce that Morse, named an ABJ Woman of Influence in 2011, begins an 18-month term as Vice Chair of the Board before taking on the role of Board Chair in 2015.

When I’m thinking about my role in all of this, it’s about being an evangelist - an advocate that shares the knowledge I’ve gained to drive solutions.

- Catherine Morse
What inspired you to get involved with UWATX?

Three years ago, Samsung Austin Semiconductor made a $1M gift to Success By 6 to celebrate expanding our business in Austin and to provide support for the community after the recession.  It also opened the door for my relationship with United Way for Greater Austin.

Before that gift, I didn’t know much about United Way or Success By 6. Since then, I’ve met the inspirational leaders here - Debbie Bresette as President and Sue Carpenter leading the charge for early childhood - and I’ve learned so much about the need in this community. When you look at the data, it’s shocking, and I continue to be involved because those numbers move me to action.

How do you see UWATX's role in the community, now and in the future?

Today, United Way is a powerful convener, pulling together nonprofits, businesses, individuals and government on key issues, setting goals and making sure everyone is working towards common ends. That’s really significant because it allows us to move the community forward, to really find solutions.

In the future, I think that role will grow. United Way has a unique opportunity with the Navigation Center, we can see the trends and data up close, which means we can analyze that information and drive real solutions. It excites me to think about the potential of changing the outcomes, changing the future of our community through data-driven solutions powered by United Way.

When thinking about the future of our community, how do you hope Austin will look in 20 years? What are you concerned about for Austin's future?

I see Austin continuing to be a city of choice for employers and professionals, a vibrant city that’s committed to the plight of our most vulnerable community members, a city with a state-of-the-art mass transit system - something that’s efficient and carbon neutral. I hope we’ll be a city with even more green spaces, like the Waller Creek project.

But I also worry that we won’t deal with the challenges we are already seeing. We have a population of low-income children that’s skyrocketing and, as a community, we have to respond. We know the solution to this challenge - we have to have quality early care.

This realistic solution won’t happen if we don’t get more people informed and passionate.  We’re a city with a lot of smart people, but we need to get focused if we want an educated, competitive workforce and a thriving city.

How much of your passion about these big changes comes from personal experience?
Investments in early childhood have a significant ROIMy personal experience only recently intersected with the mission of Success by 6. Previously, my passion arose from the compelling data connecting early childhood intervention with economic development. Several months ago,, a close friend of mine became the guardian of a young child whose mother was incarcerated. When this young boy joined her family, he clearly had not had an enriching environment.He hadn’t been read to, his mother did not have the education to support him, and he was behind developmentally. But in just three months in a quality preschool program, this boy has grown by leaps and bounds - it’s amazing to see first-hand. So that inspires me too. But, honestly, it’s the data - I am compelled by the ROI for early childhood programs, by the need in our community.  
What accomplishment have you been most proud of, either professionally or in your work with the community?

Colorado River Makes Austin Greater (as do puppies...)Three years ago, I added Director of Public Affairs to my role as General Counsel of  Samsung. As that time, no Samsung leader served on a nonprofit board. Today at Samsung, we have 13 leaders serving on nonprofit boards and many more are active in the community.  That’s what I’m most proud of.

What makes Austin greater for you?

The Colorado River - it’s the basis for Town Lake, Lake Austin - it’s where a lot of the beauty in this city comes from.

Photo credit: Colorado River photo courtesy of jjwright85 via Flickr Creative Commons.
]]> Catherine Morse at Success By 6 event

Since 2011, Catherine Morse has shared her passion for early childhood and commitment to community service with the UWATX Board of Directors and Success By 6 Leadership Council. Now, we are proud to announce that Morse, named an ABJ Woman of Influence in 2011, begins an 18-month term as Vice Chair of the Board before taking on the role of Board Chair in 2015.

When I’m thinking about my role in all of this, it’s about being an evangelist - an advocate that shares the knowledge I’ve gained to drive solutions.

- Catherine Morse
What inspired you to get involved with UWATX?

Three years ago, Samsung Austin Semiconductor made a $1M gift to Success By 6 to celebrate expanding our business in Austin and to provide support for the community after the recession.  It also opened the door for my relationship with United Way for Greater Austin.

Before that gift, I didn’t know much about United Way or Success By 6. Since then, I’ve met the inspirational leaders here - Debbie Bresette as President and Sue Carpenter leading the charge for early childhood - and I’ve learned so much about the need in this community. When you look at the data, it’s shocking, and I continue to be involved because those numbers move me to action.

How do you see UWATX's role in the community, now and in the future?

Today, United Way is a powerful convener, pulling together nonprofits, businesses, individuals and government on key issues, setting goals and making sure everyone is working towards common ends. That’s really significant because it allows us to move the community forward, to really find solutions.

In the future, I think that role will grow. United Way has a unique opportunity with the Navigation Center, we can see the trends and data up close, which means we can analyze that information and drive real solutions. It excites me to think about the potential of changing the outcomes, changing the future of our community through data-driven solutions powered by United Way.

When thinking about the future of our community, how do you hope Austin will look in 20 years? What are you concerned about for Austin's future?

I see Austin continuing to be a city of choice for employers and professionals, a vibrant city that’s committed to the plight of our most vulnerable community members, a city with a state-of-the-art mass transit system - something that’s efficient and carbon neutral. I hope we’ll be a city with even more green spaces, like the Waller Creek project.

But I also worry that we won’t deal with the challenges we are already seeing. We have a population of low-income children that’s skyrocketing and, as a community, we have to respond. We know the solution to this challenge - we have to have quality early care.

This realistic solution won’t happen if we don’t get more people informed and passionate.  We’re a city with a lot of smart people, but we need to get focused if we want an educated, competitive workforce and a thriving city.

How much of your passion about these big changes comes from personal experience?
Investments in early childhood have a significant ROIMy personal experience only recently intersected with the mission of Success by 6. Previously, my passion arose from the compelling data connecting early childhood intervention with economic development. Several months ago,, a close friend of mine became the guardian of a young child whose mother was incarcerated. When this young boy joined her family, he clearly had not had an enriching environment.He hadn’t been read to, his mother did not have the education to support him, and he was behind developmentally. But in just three months in a quality preschool program, this boy has grown by leaps and bounds - it’s amazing to see first-hand. So that inspires me too. But, honestly, it’s the data - I am compelled by the ROI for early childhood programs, by the need in our community.  
What accomplishment have you been most proud of, either professionally or in your work with the community?

Colorado River Makes Austin Greater (as do puppies...)Three years ago, I added Director of Public Affairs to my role as General Counsel of  Samsung. As that time, no Samsung leader served on a nonprofit board. Today at Samsung, we have 13 leaders serving on nonprofit boards and many more are active in the community.  That’s what I’m most proud of.

What makes Austin greater for you?

The Colorado River - it’s the basis for Town Lake, Lake Austin - it’s where a lot of the beauty in this city comes from.

Photo credit: Colorado River photo courtesy of jjwright85 via Flickr Creative Commons.
]]> http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/04/2013/spotlight-catherine-morse-on-her-role-as-evangelist/feed/ 2