[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsdV9X8bhUs[/youtube] 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.
Read MoreMeet the friendly faces behind the new Young Leaders Society
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 […]
Read MoreVolunteer Project Leaders show grown-ups how it’s done
In the early spring days of March and April, classes of Volunteer Project Leaders (VPL) at Decker and Mendez Middle Schools – 30 middle school students making a difference in their community – directed staff, administrators and founding members of the UWATX Young Leaders Society (YLS) in their first campus clean-up projects. The Decker VPL students, using the skills they’d obtained through their VPL training, instructed us through a detailed gardening project to beautify their campus: we raked old flowerbeds, planted fresh seeds and mulched the school garden. Volunteers worked tirelessly on that sunny day and there was never a dull moment as one of our esteemed young leaders, Mr. Juan Wah, hummed and sang his rendition of Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe. The project ended with a student-facilitated recap – allowing us the opportunity to discuss everyone’s favorite part of the day. The VPL class at Mendez Middle School achieved their big milestone just a few days later: organizing and participating in their own campus clean-up project. The VPL class, along with volunteers from YLS, covered a ton of ground as we trekked across campus in search of unwanted, miscellaneous trash. The Mendez VPL students set an incentive for the person who found the most bizarre piece of trash – a gift certificate. Among the many items found the contenders were: a “Will you go out with me?” note a car floor mat a mouse pad a smoke alarm several carpet squares a dismembered sock monkey. The dismembered […]
Read MoreUnited Way Young Leaders Society's Wild Night Out Waikiki
Mahalo for everyone who came to the coolest…and coldest November Luau EVER! We had a terrific turnout of United Way YLS members and their guests at Wild Night Out Waikiki donning their coconut bikinis and Hawaiian flare, as we enjoyed a luau show by Tropical Productions and some fine Hawaiian fare! It was so fun in fact, I even rhyme! Who doesn’t love to feel the wind… in their grass skirt? And to those naysayers who thought a luau in November was a strange idea, we say “go eat some poi” because we had one heck of a hukeilau! We were honored to recognize our 2008 Young Leader of the Year Award finalists Mike Hogan, Trey Halbert, Cara Link Mueller and our very own YLS Board Education Chair Bill Kempf, as well as the award recipient, Rachel Muir, founder of Girlstart. We can’t wait to see our YLS Ohana next year! Our lava is already flowing thinking of themes for WNO 09! Kelly Caldwell, YLS Board Co-Events Chair
Read MoreYoung Leaders Society’s Sunset Dinner Cruise
Torrential downpours of rain and golf ball-sized hail couldn’t keep us from having fun during YLS’s Sunset Dinner Cruise! YLS members and potential members gathered on Saturday, May 10, 2008 aboard Lake Austin Riverboats’ Commodore and set sail on a memorable sunset tour of Lake Austin. Everyone was a little damp at the start – either from the 98 degree temps or from dashing through the raindrops – but the Commodore was a great venue in which to take shelter because it was mostly covered! As our captain took us around beautiful Lake Austin, we noshed on hula hut fajitas, played Board Member bingo, and networked with fellow young professionals. The evening ended with some door prize give-aways – a YLS party staple! Thanks to our members and Board Members for making the evening a great success! The mission of Young Leaders Society is to inspire philanthropy and volunteerism in the young leaders of Central Texas. Membership consists of more than 600 individuals and couples who contribute $1000 annually to United Way Capital Area. Learn more at www.unitedwayaustin.org/yls. Christine FernandezYLS Events Committee Co-Chair YLS Board members Karen Bryant and Kim Jowers The Riverboat “Commodore” YLS Board member David Rodriguez, Kim Allard, and YLS Board member Eloy Alderete Durel Bernard, Manager of YLS, getting into the nautical theme
Read MoreYoung Leader Society's Wild Night Out,November 3
On Saturday, November 3, the Austin Scottish Rite Theater was filled with the sounds of the Roaring 1920s, as over 100 of Young Leader Society (YLS) members and their guests took part in the annual “Wild Night Out” celebration and heard the announcement of the Young Leader of the Year Award.The 2007 Young Leader of the Year is Mr. Luke Ellis. Mr. Ellis, who works as an attorney in Austin, exemplifies the YLS principles of leadership, volunteerism, and philanthropy in myriad ways. As co-chair of the People’s Law School event and host of the weekly legal segment “The Common Law” on News 8 Austin, Luke is committed to demystifying the law for the uninformed and underserved, helping them understand their rights and options and making the “legal world” seem far less daunting to the average Austinite. But that’s not nearly all. Luke has been a long-time volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, having helped the organization build homes all over the world. Now, he’s deeply committed to Austin Habitat For Humanity, serving on its board and becoming the founding member of its young professionals group, “Habitat Young Professionals.” Starting with an initial membership of 16, Luke helped turn the HYP into a strong, recognized, active organization in Austin with more than 200 members. During the group’s first year, in dues and additional fundraisers, the HYP members raised more than $80,000 and donated more than 2,000 hours to Habitat. Members identify Luke’s compassion and leadership skills as the primary reasons for the […]
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