![[VIDEO] How we make Austin greater](https://www.unitedwayaustin.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Nov2012_BobbyJ_video-1.png)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h66EK3NeaIA&feature=g-upl[/youtube] At UWATX, our mission is to help Austin thrive by inspiring, leading and uniting an eclectic community of philanthropists to overcome barriers to economic opportunities. This video focuses on how our strategic programs – Success By 6, Target Graduation, Financial Opportunity and the Navigation Center – are making a difference in Greater Austin. Special thanks to Sneaky Giants for making this happen!
Read MorePartner Profile: ABC Home & Commercial Services
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 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 MoreECLs ramp up for campaign season
On Tuesday, Employee Campaign Leaders (ECL) from across the greater Austin business community gathered at the Alamo Drafthouse Village for an exciting first look at new UWATX materials and to get inspired to run campaign. Attendees ranged from longtime partners such as 3M, H-E-B and the Austin American-Statesman to new business partners Liquidation Channel and Adlucent – a diverse crowd ready to see what’s in store of UWATX and what we’ve revamped this year to make their role a bit easier. ECLs have a ciritical role in Employee Giving Campaigns: championing employee giving at their company by tailoring their campaign (events,meetings, signs, e-mails and more) to fit with their company’s culture and engage their peers. These leaders work with UWATX representatives to craft a campaign that not only gives their peers the opportunity to give back in an easy way but also showcase the benefit of investing locally. To make that happen, UWATX representatives bring to the table best practices, printed and digital materials and a slew of experience speakers. This meeting was an introduction to this year’s brand new slate of tools. “Since our rebranding feeds into everything we’re doing this year, it made good sense to hold a meeting at the Alamo Drafthouse, which has a brand that is so original and uniquely Austin,” said Megan Carvajal, Director of Workplace Engagement at UWATX. “We wanted to re-introduce United Way to some of our most treasured volunteers.” ECLs experienced UWATX’s new brand, from the new name to the bold colors and the Makes Austin Greater concept, […]
Read MorePartner Profile: Nordstrom
Name: Nordstrom Partner for: 10 years locally Partner for: Employee Campaign, Hands On Central Texas Our relationship: Volunteering as a way to connect to the community Last year, Nordstrom participated in two additional volunteer projects. They went to Webb Middle School, one of the sites for UWATX’s Middle School Matters program, to aid teachers in preparing fun and engaging math games. They were so inspired that they even found a way to donate glasses to a girl who needed them. Volunteering helps Nordstrom connect to the community and see the value of their philanthropy. Continuing the fun of Employee Campaign all-year To keep connect employees to philanthropy throughout the year, Nordstrom has special events on top of their volunteering activities. Jeans Day events, which start in July, allow employees to donate and have the opportunity to wear jeans to work as an incentive. Fun activities like this keep the spirit of Employee Campaign year-round. Nordstrom employs best practices: Providing donor-specific information to UWATX Inviting UWATX to speak at meetings Running a UWATX campaign Creating an Employee Campaign Team Engaging with UWATX outside of campaign What we’ve accomplished together: A campaign increase of over $13,000 in the past 3 years, while employee count has stayed relatively the same.
Read MorePartner Profile: Texas Gas Service
Name: Texas Gas Service Partner for: 10 years Partner for: Employee Campaign, Hands On Central Texas Our relationship: Serving customers and the community Texas Gas is dedicated to providing top-quality service. This keen focus extend to their work in the community, where the company is committed to providing an engaging experience for employees and employees are committed to serving the community as well as they serve their customers. In the past five years, that’s meant including more UWATX speakers at meetings and directing all dollars to make the most impact through United Way. Growing philanthropists in innovative ways Through their Employee Campaign, Texas Gas provides innovative ways for any employee to find their own way to give back. Employees can make items for their raffle, including everything from wrought iron grills to breakfast tacos, go bowling or golfing or even donate to get their manager to karaoke. Alongside all these fun activities, Texas Gas maintains focus on their goal: for employees to give through payroll deduction, often the easiest way to make a big impact without hurting your budget. Texas Gas employs best practices: Inviting UWATX to speak at meetings Running a UWATX campaign Creating an Employee Campaign Team Engaging with UWATX outside of campaign What we’ve accomplished together: In the past three years, Texas Gas has grown their employee giving by more than $30,000, an almost 25 percent increase! How Texas Gas makes Austin greater: “Texas Gas is dedicated to making sure there’s something for […]
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 MoreIBM donates Young Explorer Learning Centers to support young children
Thanks to a generous donation from IBM, United Way for Greater Austin will distribute IBM Young Explorers Learning Centers to Austin Learning Academy, Faith Presbyterian Child Development Center, Child Inc., and El Buen Pastor. The donation is part of IBM’s KidSmart Early Learning program, which operates in 60 countries, and has reached more than 100,000 teachers, serving more than 10 million students. The IBM Young Explorer Learning Center, a child-sized computer station with brightly colored Little Tikes furniture, hosts a computer equipped with applications that encourage language, technology, and math and science skills necessary for children to learn and succeed before they enter kindergarten. It also features fun and interactive games that are ideal for young patrons age three up to seven. “United Way has been great in helping us prepare our students with technological skills,” said Ann Wingler, Executive Director of Faith Presbyterian Child Development Center, “Since 50 percent of our students are low-income, their access to computers is limited. The Young Explorers gives them an opportunity to increase their technological proficiency and interact with computers on a daily-basis.” Along with fostering key skills, the Young Explorers Learning Center promotes social interaction as at least two students share the computer and engage the applications together. “IBM and United Way for Greater Austin have collaborated on various initiatives for nearly two decades,” said Beth Tracy, IBM Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs Manager. “IBM views quality early childhood education as an investment not only in today’s workforce, but also for future workforce development.” […]
Read MoreFlextronics Foundation doubles its support for United Way’s youth work
Last week, Flextronics awarded United Way for Greater Austin a $10,000 grant to fund Middle School Matters (MSM), a youth initiative to create a system of broad-spectrum services to change the trajectory of three high-need middle schools in Austin. As Flextronics continues to be a business philanthropist in support of United Way and our efforts to aid in the success of students, this grant will specifically fund the coordination of a wide array of evidence-based services, including behavioral health, case management, mentoring, tutoring, out-of-school time and parent education. “Education is a primary funding initiative at Flextronics as it has a significant, residual impact on our communities, both locally and worldwide,” said Thomas Ezrin, Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Flextronics. “Flextronics is proud to support the United Way’s Middle School Matters initiative that provides services and educational support to students at high-need middle schools in Austin.” In the 2011 – 2012 school year, the same year the program launched, MSM provided coordination that made over 1,600 student-focused interventions possible. “Without strategic funding from companies like Flextronics, Middle School Matters wouldn’t exist. We are very fortunate to have partners that invest for long-term change; by helping with United Way for Greater Austin’s youth work, these partners can see and measure the impact they’re making in our community,” said Laura LaFuente, Director of Target Graduation, United Way’s youth program. In 2010, Flextronics awarded United Way a $5,000 grant to support United Way’s Youth Program Quality Initiative – a comprehensive continuous quality […]
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 More