Inner Focus, Summer 2010

• A quarterly publication of the United Way of Inner Wisconsin
• To recieve our newsletter electronically, click here and specify "Inner Focus."

 

Calendar:

• June 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 2010 - United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s Summer Reading Program “Reading in the Park.”
• August 3, 2010 - Campaign Volunteer Training at the Hotel Mead.
• August 12, 2010 - United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s “Kick-Off” during Lunch By The River.
• August 12, 2010 - Stuff the School Bus during Lunch By The River. For more information click here.
• August 20, 2010 - Stuff the School Bus in Adams County.
• September 1, 2010 - Official kick-off date of the United Way of Inner Wisconsin Campaign.
• September 4 & 18, 2010 - Brat Fries at West Grand Ave Quality Foods IGA, 9am-2pm.
• September 16, 2010 - Small Business Phone-A-Thon.

 

Summer Reading Program

• United Way of Inner Wisconsin is holding its first-ever Summer Reading Program. The program kicked off with a children’s book drive, which was held March 15, 2010 until April 30, 2010. New and gently used books for children ages birth to 12 years were accepted. Over 3,000 books were collected! Thanks to ALL who made a donation!
• In June, 2010, there will be a series of “Reading in the Park” events, where local volunteers from each community will be reading books to children who attend. At the end of the event, each child will receive a free book to take home and enjoy.
• “Reading in the Park” will be held:
  • June 15, 2010 at Edwards-Alexander Memorial Park, Port Edwards
  • June 16, 2010 at the Vesper Community Academy Playground, Vesper
  • June 17, 2010 at the Adams-Friendship Elementary School Playground, Adams
  • June 22, 2010 at Veteran’s Memorial Park, Wisconsin Rapids
  • June 23, 2010 at the Rudolph Elementary School Playground, Rudolph
  • June 24, 2010 at Riverside Park, Nekoosa
• Each event will be held from 10:30am – 11:00am. There will be no rain dates.
• Research has shown that reading to children, even babies, can have a tremendous effect on their development. “Reading to young children is critical to their overall development. Children learn social-emotional, cognitive and critical thinking skills by being read to and by learning to read,” said Kelly Borchardt, Executive Director at Child Care Resource and Referral of Central Wisconsin. “Every child deserves high quality children’s books!”
• “United Way of Inner Wisconsin is proud to support our youth, childhood literacy and lifelong learning,” said Tari Jahns, United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s CEO. “We hope you join us in this effort.”
  
• By the Numbers: 37% of children in the US today start school without pre-reading skills.

 

United Way Stories of Success

• Your donation to United Way of Inner Wisconsin makes a tremendous impact in our communities. Here is just one example of how you are helping our local neighbors in need through United Way...
• "Addie is a second grader at Mead Elementary. When she started school she missed the first few weeks and was legally truant. She also had attendance problems at her previous school. Her learning was impacted. One day in January she was waiting outside school at 7:30am. Doors do not open until 8:10. She was told to go to Club Mead, and there she became a member. Now her attendance and reading skills have greatly improved."
• United Way of Inner Wisconsin partners with local agencies such as Club Mead to help children and youth succeed. You are helping others in our community when you Give, Advocate and Volunteer. Thank you!
  

 

Volunteer Recognition Breakfast

• United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s Volunteer Center is proud to announce the recipients of the 2009 Outstanding Volunteer Awards.
• The award recipients were announced during the 19th Annual Volunteer Recognition Breakfast April 13, 2010 at the Hotel Mead and Conference Center in Wisconsin Rapids. They were selected by an independent award selection committee. Each nominee received special recognition during the breakfast. The event was sponsored by the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune through a Gannett Foundation grant.
• Though there were only 4 awards, all of the 41 nominees are winners in our communities!
• Youth Individual - Matthew Stoltz: Matthew volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club and recently completed his Eagle Scout Project.
• Youth Group - West Junior High School FACT (Fighting Against Corporate Tobacco): This group played an instrumental role in helping Wisconsin become smoke free.
  Adult Individual - Jerry Fitzsimmons: Jerry has been volunteering for Villa Pines Living Center since he was a resident there in August 2008.
• Adult Group - Career Closet: This group provides free, quality, used clothing for individuals to wear on job interviews or to new jobs.
• For a listing of ALL of the 41 nominees, or to view our online photo gallery, please click here.

 

United Way's 2-1-1 Helps in Juneau County

• By Kimberly Raap, United Way's 2-1-1 Director
• I am pleased to announce a new partnership between United Way’s 2-1-1 and the Juneau County Health and Human Services Department.
• Over the past several months the staff at United Way’s 2-1-1 has been very busy researching health and human service resources located in Mauston and the surrounding area.
• Presently, the 2-1-1 staff is in the process of uploading the data into ReferNet, our new online database. Over the course of the next several months the 2-1-1 staff will be sending out various promotional materials for use by Juneau County health and human service organizations. It is our goal to increase the overall awareness of the 2-1-1 program in Juneau County.
• United Way’s 2-1-1 is a FREE and confidential three digit number you can dial to receive information and referral to local community resources. It is available 24/7. Commonly asked questions range from “I have something to donate – what agencies are taking donations?” to “I’m going to get laid off soon and I’m worried about my family’s finances.”
• United Way’s 2-1-1 is based in south Wood County and is governed collaboratively between United Way of Inner Wisconsin and Marshfield Area United Way. United Way’s 2-1-1 covers 14 counties including Wood, Adams and Juneau.
• For more information, visit www.getconnected211.org.

 

Our 2011 Partner Programs

• On May 19, 2010, the United Way of Inner Wisconsin Board of Directors voted to approve 2011 funding for the following programs:
• Fulfilling Basic Needs
  American Red Cross’s Emergency Services Program; Career Closet’s Clothing Program; Central Wisconsin Community Action’s Eviction Prevention Program; Child Care Resource & Referral’s Provider Recruitment/Retention and Parent/Child Care Referral; the Family Center’s Emergency Shelter & Support Services Programs; Hope House’s Emergency Shelter Program; The Neighborhood Table’s Food Program; Nekoosa School District’s Backpack for Kids Program; North Central Community Action Program’s Emergency Housing Assistance, Emergency Food Assistance and Family Resource Center programs; Riverview Community Dental Clinic; United Way’s 2-1-1; United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s Volunteer Center; and the Wood County Health Department’s Healthy Smiles Program.
• Helping Children and Youth Succeed
  Adams-Friendship Area School District’s Community Learning Center and Learning in New Channels; Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Preventative Program; the Boys and Girls Club of the Wisconsin Rapids Area’s Commitment to Learning, Social Competency and Empowerment Programs; Club Mead’s Before School and Summer Programs; Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lake’s Leadership Experience and Reaching Out Programs; Samoset Boy Scouts’ Building Assets in Cub Scouts, Building Assets in Boy Scouts and Building Assets in Scouts at School Programs; and South Wood County YMCA’s Strong Kids Scholarship Program.
• Supporting Vulnerable and Aging Populations
  Association for All Handicap Citizens; Catholic Charities’ Financial Counseling Program; Faith in Action of Adams County’s Volunteer Coordination and Transportation Programs; the Family Center’s Services for Hmong, Seniors & Those with Disabilities; Jeremiah's Crossing’s Equine Assisted Activities; the Literacy Council’s Basic skills Instruction Program; the Epilepsy Foundation’s Direct Client Services Program; Nekoosa Senior Citizens Club; North Central Community Action Program’s Community Outreach; Park Place’s Respite Care Program; Port Edwards Senior Citizens Club; Rudolph Senior Citizens Club; and Vesper Senior Citizens Club.
• Programs in Bold serve Adams County or both counties.
  

 

Stuff the School Bus is Underway!

• Even though summer has only begun, it’s already time to start thinking about the beginning of school - and local school supply drives!
• At United Way of Inner Wisconsin, we are involved in two collaborative efforts to raise and distribute school supplies to local, needy children: one in south Wood County and one in Adams County.
• Please consider donating school supplies to either of these drives. If you know a child who needs school supplies, plan on attending one of the distribution events.
• To learn more, please dial 2-1-1 or click here.
• In south Wood County:
• August 12, 2010
  Stuff the School Bus Collection will be held at Veteran’s Memorial Park, 11:30am to 1:00pm (during Lunch By The River).
• August 20, 2010
  Stuff the Desk school supply distribution will be at Lincoln High School, 7:00am to 6:00pm.
  
• In Adams County:
  
• August 20, 2010
  Stuff the Bus Collection will kick off at 9:00am at the Adams Friendship School’s Administrative Office
• August 24-25, 2010
  School supply distribution will be at the Adams County Community Center.

 

Have You Planned Your Legacy?

• By Thomas Cahill, Chair of the Legacy Society Task Force
• The United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s Legacy Society has yet again contributed to the success of the annual campaign.
• The Legacy Society allocated earnings it generated from the assets held in its perpetual funds to underwrite administrative expenses of our United Way. Normal administrative costs for United Ways and other charitable organizations average over 18%. The Legacy Society’s earnings over the past years, used to defray administrative costs, have made us one of the most efficient United Ways in the U.S. (just over 13%). Since the founding of Legacy Society five years ago, we have contributed more than $326,600 to help cover expenses and increase the success of our campaigns.
• We are only half way to our goal of funding 100% of the administrative expenses so we still need your help. For more information, contact the United Way office at 421-0390.
• To learn more, please click here.
  

 

Stamp Out Hunger

• Thanks to the National Association of Letter Carriers, 29,150 pounds of food was collected in south Wood County on Saturday, May 8, 2010 during “Stamp Out Hunger.” This was a joint effort of city and rural letter carriers in Wisconsin Rapids, Nekoosa, and Port Edwards. The food will be distributed to area food pantries.
• Last year, 24,100 pounds were collected. The increase in donations is good because the need is up. According to the South Wood Emergency Pantry Shelf there was 1,399 requests for food in 2009; and 344 requests for food from January to March 2010 alone. Additionally SWEPS fed 4,030 people in 2009; and 1,030 in the first quarter of 2010 alone.On a national level, the NALC has collected over 1 billion pounds of food since its inception 18 years ago.
• Donations were collected by more than 1,400 local branches of the 295,000 member postal union and delivered to food banks, pantries and shelters that serve the communities where they were collected.

 

United Way's 2-1-1

• Hundreds of programs; one call. Dial 2-1-1. Find answers for your questions about community services:
  • Finanical assistance
  • Family Services
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Children and elderly services
  • And more!
• Give or Get Help: Dial 2-1-1, www.getconnected211.org.
• Free, confidential and a non-emergency service.
• Available 24 hours a day, everyday.