Living United

United Way Staff Rock!

We here at the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area have always known that Caroline Emerson, our Vice President and Campaign Director, is an amazing person. Now, because of this profile in Charlottesville Woman's blog, those who have not have the good fortune of meeting Caroline (yet!) can get to know her fun, positive personality. Read the blog post here.

Caroline keeps us all laughing and her positive outlook on everything is infectious. Although her job is serious - raising funds to help improve lives for those struggling in our community, Caroline has a way of  bringing such energy to her work, that you can't help but get caught up in the cause. Who wouldn't want to work with a bright, fun, dedicated person like that each and every day? We know we are all lucky.

 

Posted by Kim Connolly

Every Gift Creates An Impact

In this season of Thanksgiving, we at the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area are thankful for the many people and organizations who choose to support us.  We are fortunate to have a wide variety of donors, ranging from large corporations to small businesses, schoolchildren to college professors and anyone in between. 

One recent donor stands out particularly in my mind: a woman who came to our office to hand-deliver her gift of $2 cash.  I have met this lady before and know her well enough to know that she lives on a very limited income.  While $2 may seem like a small amount to some people, it was a generous gift for her, considering her limited resources.  I doubt she has a car, so I was particularly touched that she cared enough to take the time and effort to come deliver her gift in person.

Every donor is important.  Every gift we receive, regardless of size, combines with others to create a lasting impact in our community.  With these generous donations, we advance our goals of School Readiness, Self-Sufficiency, and Community Health.  We all win when a child succeeds in school, when families are financially stable, and when our neighbors are healthy.  United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area appreciates all of our supporters who help make our community a better place to live.

 

Posted by Alaina Schroeder

Addressing Our Community's Needs

I joined our United Way Board in 2004 because I was impressed by the strong, broad-based leadership and support for our United Way that has maintained its stability for nearly 70 years. Since then, I’ve learned so much about our United Way, and I’m more impressed than ever.

Today, I’m involved and engaged in a number of ways. I serve on the Executive Committee, providing oversight as we work on current local needs; on the Strategic Planning Committee, determining our direction for the next several years; and as an Endowment Trustee, addressing sustainability for future needs. Our United Way consistently seeks innovative, effective ways to address community needs today while securing the organization’s future for those who come after us.

We cannot know what tomorrow will bring for our community, but it is our responsibility to be prepared to meet the unknown needs of the future. I’m so proud to be a part of our United Way as we do just that.

 PETER BROOKS

Partner

Cornerstone Partners

The Importance of Helping Others

I am a native of Charlottesville, and until I joined the board of our United Way, I did not realize how sheltered I was from the reality of life for so many who live in our area. The more I learn about our community, the more I’m struck by the realization of how many people don’t have the things I take for granted ― even something as simple as having a parent who is able to help you with your homework, or having a car to get you to and from your work.

My children are still small, but I’m hoping that soon we can use the United Way Volunteer Center to help us find volunteer opportunities we can do as a family. I think it is important for them to understand and appreciate what they have and learn that it is important for us to help others who may not be as fortunate. I am a firm believer that you get what you give. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and feel we don’t have time to give back, but what I’ve found is that the reward you get is so much greater than what you gave up.

I was recently speaking with a customer about my being on the board of our United Way. What I told her was that when I give, I want to be sure that my money will go to an organization I can trust. My husband and I like the fact that the United Way has already done the due diligence for us and also the fact that they leverage their donations through partnerships with other local organizations. The more I learn about our community’s needs, the more I realize the impact I can have by working through our United Way.

 

Abby Lunn

Vice President

First Systems & Resources

Why We Give: Vanessa and Fred Greer

We love this community, and we love to be involved as best we can. Since Vanessa is from New Orleans and Fred from Charleston SC, naturally it’s often through food and making people feel welcome: Vanessa cooking for a fundraiser at Beer Run, or Fred serving dinner at the Salvation Army. But, we both believe that the one of the best ways we help those in the most need is through our involvement with the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area.

Between the two of us, we’ve spent time on the United Way Board of Directors, the annual Campaign Team, working on the “One Fine Day” event, and on the Program Review and Funding Committee. We’ve worked alongside incredibly committed volunteers and talented staff, and we’ve seen first-hand how much is accomplished when we all bring our time, talents, and gifts together through our United Way.

Our United Way connects the whole community: small businesses like Beer Run, where Vanessa works; bigger companies like The Daily Progress, where Fred works; nonprofits; social services; the University; and caring individuals—all working together through our United Way to create amazing results for our community.

We’ve also had a lot of fun, and have been so rewarded with friendships and with the satisfaction that we’re able to have an impact every day through our United Way. Join us and Live United!

Vanessa Greer

Director of Marketing

Beer Run

 

Fred Greer

Regional Director of Sales and Audience Growth, Virginia

Media General

 

 

Charitable IRA Rollover Set to Expire

As you begin to review your end-of-year charitable giving, please remember and consider a gift to the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area Endowment. Once this Endowment is fully funded, the investment of these funds will generate the revenue needed for a sustainable organization, enabling the United Way to focus solely on its core mission of building School Readiness, Self-Sufficiency, and Community Health.

A reminder for those age 70 ½ and older: the Charitable IRA Rollover is set to expire on December 31, 2011. IRA account holders age 70 ½ and older still have time to make tax-free gifts to the United Way’s Endowment from their IRAs. These gifts can also count towards your Required Minimum Distribution for 2011.

As we write this, there is no indication that Congress will extend the Charitable IRA Rollover past December 31, 2011, so please act now: consult your tax advisor and contact the United Way.

A gift from your IRA to the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area will be a win for the community, and a win for you.