United Way of Inner Wisconsin
Summer 2012
Calendar:
- June 12-14, 2012 - Summer Reading Program’s Great Book Giveaway! Click here for more information.
- August 8, 2012 - Campaign Volunteer Training at Hotel Mead.
- August 9, 2012 - United Way of Inner Wisconsin is sponsoring Lunch by the River at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
- August 9, 2012 - Stuff the School Bus during Lunch by the River at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Click here for more information.
- August 17, 2012 - Stuff the Bus in Adams County (various locations). Bus departs the Adams-Friendship School District office at 9am.
- Sept. 1 & 22, 2012 - Brat Fry at Quality Foods IGA located on West Grand Ave.,
9am - 2pm. - September 1, 2012 - The official kick-off date for the 2012 United Way campaign.
Power of the Purse
- Click here to view our photo gallery of purses!
- By Tari Jahns, United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s CEO
- United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) held its first ever Power of the Purse Luncheon on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Hotel Mead. The event was a great success with over 50 women in attendance! Attendees experienced a wonderful lunch, the opportunity to socialize with WLC members and participate in a purse silent auction.
- They also learned about WLC, how they can get involved and the Learning for Life Initiative. There were a variety of beautiful purses to bid on thanks to our sponsors. Diamond sponsors: Paul Gross Jewelers, Riverview Family Clinic, Solarus and Walker Cranberry Company. Platinum sponsors: 8th Street Auto and Riverview Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center. Gold sponsors: Quality Plus Printing, River Cities Bank, TJ’s Auto and ZAXX Technology Specialists. There were also donated purses from Ellington, Miche - Darci Laudenbach and Jeanne Weymouth. All proceeds from the event will be used toward the Learning for Life Initiative which is a focus on early grade reading.
- Women’s Leadership Council is a powerful network of women who have united together to address issues facing women and children in our communities. The first goal is to ensure that all children are able to read at the proficient level by the end of third grade. It is said that up through third grade kids are learning to read; after third grade they are reading to learn. Imagine - if they are not proficient by the end of third grade, how far behind will they be as they become young adults? You may have heard the saying; “it takes a village to raise a child.” Well, it is true – now more than ever children need the support of the community! Our teachers and schools are working really hard to ensure that kids have what they need and that they are succeeding.
- The Learning for Life Initiative will layer in added support by providing reading mentors, another trusted adult for students to work with. This is a wrap around approach to help kindergarten through third graders to become great readers! We will be recruiting reading mentors in June to start volunteering at the beginning of the new school year (fall of 2012).
- If you are interested in becoming a member of United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s WLC or in volunteering to be a reading mentor please contact me at tari@uwiw.org or 715.421.0390.
Our 2013 Partner Programs
- The United Way of Inner Wisconsin Board of Directors approved a plan to distribute $517,013 for 2013 programming in south Wood and Adams Counties during its May 16, 2012 meeting. Funds were awarded to programs in the following three impact areas: Education, Income and Health. Funding in 2013 is as follows:
- EDUCATION
South Wood County
Boys and Girls Club of the Wisconsin Rapids Area - After School and Outreach programs; Girl Scouts of Northwestern Great Lakes - Leadership Experience and Reaching Out programs; Mead Elementary Charter School - Before School Club Mead and Summer Club Mead; Samoset Council Boy Scouts - Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Scouts at School programs; and the YMCA of south Wood County - Strong Kids Scholarship Assistance program. - Adams County
Adams-Friendship Area Schools - After School Programs and Learning in New Channels; Girl Scouts of Northwestern Great Lakes - Leadership Experience and Reaching Out programs; and Samoset Council Boy Scouts - Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Scouts at School programs. - INCOME
South Wood County
American Red Cross North Central Wisconsin Chapter - Emergency Services program; Child Care Resource & Referral of Central Wisconsin - Provider Recruitment/ Retention and Scholarship Aid; Grove Elementary School - Helping Hands Backpack Program; Nekoosa School District - Backpack for Kids; North Central Community Action Program - Emergency Housing and Food Assistance programs; Riverview Hospital Association - Community Dental Clinic; The Family Center - Emergency Shelter & Support Services; The Neighborhood Table - Community Meal Program; United Way’s 2-1-1; and United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s Volunteer Center. - Adams County
Central Wisconsin Community Action Council - Eviction Prevention and Food Pantry programs; and United Way’s 2-1-1. - HEALTH
South Wood County
Association for All Handicapped Citizens, Career Closet of Wisconsin Rapids-Career Clothing program; Epilepsy Foundation of Central Northeastern Wisconsin - Direct Client Services; Jeremiah's Crossing - Equine Assisted Activities; Literacy Council of Wood County - Adult Basic Literacy Skills; Nekoosa Senior Citizens; North Central Community Action Program - Community Outreach; Park Place Adult Day Services - Respite Care; Port Edwards Senior Citizens; Rudolph Senior Citizens; The Family Center - Services for Hmong, Seniors & Those With Disabilities; Vesper Senior Citizens; and Wood County Social Services - Child and Disability Resource Center. - Adams County
Faith in Action of Adams County - Volunteer Coordination and Transportation programs.
Volunteer Breakfast 2012
- By Angela Loucks, United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s Volunteer Center Coordinator
- United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s Volunteer Center is proud to announce 2012 Outstanding
Volunteers of the Year. The award recipients were honored at the Volunteer Recognition Breakfast, which was held April 17, 2012 at the Hotel Mead and Conference Center. - This year there were 24 nominees. The award recipients were selected by an independent Award Selection Committee. However, all the nominees were real winners! The 2012 award recipients were: Linsey Feit, Outstanding Youth Individual Volunteer of the Year; Backpack for Kids, Outstanding Youth Volunteer Group of the Year; Gordon Harmon, Outstanding Adult
Individual Volunteer of the Year; and Marshfield Clinic Americorp Members at Mead School, Outstanding Adult Volunteer Group of the Year. - For a complete listing of all the nominees, to view our photo gallery, or to watch the program on our YouTube page, click here.
- United Way of Inner Wisconsin and the Volunteer Center thanks the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune and the Gannett Foundation for sponsoring the Volunteer Breakfast; the Hotel Mead for hosting our event; the Volunteer Center Task Force for their help during the program; and the United Way of Inner Wisconsin Board of Directors for their support of the Volunteer Center.
Adams County Residents Helping Others
- The 2011 United Way campaign in Adams County was a success. It was such a success that our Community Impact volunteers met again earlier this year to distribute an additional $5,000 to Adams County Partner Programs!
- Adams County programs that received extra dollars include: the Adams-Friendship Area School District After School Program, the Samoset Boy Scout Council, Central Wisconsin Community Action’s Eviction Prevention Program/Food Pantry and Faith in Action of Adams County’s Transportation Program.
- Included in this reallocation of funds is a $500 donation to United Way of Inner Wisconsin from AF County Market in the form of in-store purchases. We decided to use that donation to help ensure food security in Adams County. The donation was used to create $10.00 food vouchers to be used for fruits and vegetables.
- Robin Skala, the Adams County Food Pantry Coordinator, thinks it’s a great idea and appreciates the vouchers. She said they will be used to help Adams County residents - in particular senior citizens who may not qualify for Food Share, or in other words, are “falling through the cracks.”
- This is just another example of what we can do when we partner together and create a caring community. United Way of Inner Wisconsin thanks the residents of Adams County for having such a terrific 2011 campaign... and for helping others in need!
2-1-1 Helps During Difficult Times
- By Amy Fluno, United Way’s 2-1-1 Program Director
- At United Way’s 2-1-1, we get many different types of calls every day. These calls can vary from “where is the food pantry in my area?” to “what are the DMV’s hours in my city?” Calls like these tend to be quick and easy to answer. But some are a little more
challenging for both the caller and for us. - The top need for 2012 so far has been electric service payment assistance. As of January 1st we have received 180 calls in south Wood County asking for referrals to help with either keeping service connected or getting services paid so services can be reconnected. This is where we come in. We have resources the caller may not have been aware of before calling 2-1-1. Many of the large utility companies tell their customers to call us because after service has been disconnected they cannot help them.
- While these calls can be challenging for everyone involved, it is a great feeling when we can give people some answers in this kind of situation. Helping people is what we do every day. We take pride in the fact that we can help someone whether their question is easy to answer or a little more difficult.
- Our database is full of agencies that can assist people in their time of need. Give us a call and see how we can help you or a friend today! To contact 2-1-1 simply dial 2-1-1 on your phone or cell phone, or call us directly at 715-423-0211.
- Click here to view the 2-1-1 Website.
Stuff the Bus 2012
- By Angela Loucks, United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s Campaign/Communications Coordinator
- Even though school isn’t even out for the 2011-2012 year, we are already planning the school supply drives for the next school year! As in the past, United Way of Inner Wisconsin is part of the collaborative efforts that plan and implement these vital drives that help send our local kids to school with the tools they need to succeed!
- South Wood County
When: August 9, 2012 from 11:30am - 1:00pm
Where: Veteran’s Memorial Park. - Children who need school supplies can attend Stuff the Desk at Lincoln High School on August 18 from 8am to 12pm.
- Adams County
When: August 17, 2012 starting at 9:00am
Where: The bus will depart from the A-F School District office and drive to different locations to pick up donated school supplies. - Children who need school supplies can apply at the Adams County Health and Human Services Department.
- Click here for more information.
The Great Book Giveaway!
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- All children & youth - and their caregivers - are invited to attend this FREE EVENT!
- Click here for more information or call 715-421-0390 or dial 2-1-1.
- Volunteers will be reading at the following locations:
- June 12, 2012 Sand Lot Park, Wisconsin Rapids, 10:30am
- June 12, 2012 Adams-Friendship Elementary School Playground, 1:00pm
- June 13, 2012 Rudolph Elementary School Playground, 10:30am
- June 13, 2012 Vesper Community Academy Playground, 1:00pm
- June 14, 2012 Edwards-Alexander Memorial Park, Port Edwards, 10:30am
- June 14, 2012 Humke Elementary School Playground, Nekoosa, 1:00pm
- No rain dates will be scheduled.
Hundreds of Programs. One Call.
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FamilyWize Update
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$112,777.29 Get YOUR copy and start saving! Click here for more information! |
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