Living United

Self-Sufficiency: Telling Stories through Numbers

The numbers are in. Our Thomas Jefferson Area Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) coalition prepared 1,880 tax returns at no charge for local low to middle income residents of Charlottesville and Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties.

The numbers tell us that the average refund was $1,491 and the average Earned Income Tax Credit (for those who qualified) was $1,742. Similarly, the average Child Care Credit was $784.

The average income for those we helped was $19,341. Think of the impact that receiving those kinds of refunds and credits can have on someone with that sort of income. You could buy new tires for your car. Pay off a medical debt. Visit your mother in another state. Start a savings account.

And the numbers go on. Our coalition volunteers saved these 1,880 people a total of $366,200 in tax preparation fees. We had more than 100 volunteers, most of them UVA students and law students. The total dollar value of credits for earned income, child care and education totaled $1,605,879. The most returns (649) were prepared at the site at the University of Virginia’s Human Resources department. The United Way’s office prepared the second highest number of returns (216). University of Virginia Community Credit Union employees prepared returns in their branches in Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties, plus their downtown Charlottesville branch, for a total of 367 returns.

The numbers also tell us that the total impact of our coalition’s efforts this year, including refunds, credits and saved fees, was $3,453,535.

But what the numbers do not tell us are the stories about the people whose lives were vastly improved by this boost to their bank accounts. Here at the United Way office, a staff member prepared a return for a woman who was a recent immigrant from Eastern Europe and had a middle school age daughter. She could not believe that she would actually be getting money back from the earned income tax credit, and even asked to review the return, in case we had made a mistake. Once she received her tax credit, she returned to our office to show us pictures of the new furniture she was able to buy: new beds and mattresses for her and her daughter. She said “Thanks to you, we will not sleep on the floor any more.”

One thousand, eight hundred and eighty  tax returns prepared. There are a lot more stories to be told.

 

Posted by: Kim Connolly

Winery Tours or Golf at Keswick? You Choose.

There is something for everyone on One Fine Day for the United Way on July 23, 2012. For golfers, the United Way Golf Classic offers the opportunity to play on the private Keswick golf course amid specatular scenery. As an extra, fun twist on the usual tournament, craft beer tastings are offered at select holes on the course. The day starts with a box lunch and ends with a sumptious casual buffet dinner as only Keswick can offer. In addition, dinner guests can participate in a diverse raffle as well as a small live auction for unique opportunities and items.

Don't golf, and wish you had the opportunity to spend the day with friends or clients like the golfers do? An Afternoon in the Country was designed for you. Start the day with a box lunch and a talk by Dr. M. Mala Cunningham: "Be Good to Yourself through Mindfulness and Yoga".

Then board the bus for "One Vine Day" of tours and tastings at three local wineries: Jefferson, Trump and Blenheim. Savor the afternoon with friends while sampling wine and enjoying the breathtaking scenery. We will finish up at Blenheim, where you can play a round of croquet if you desire.

Upon your return, you can join our golfers for the special buffet, raffle and auction. One Fine Day for the United Way serves to support our United Way's priority areas of School Readiness, Self-Sufficiency and Community Health. Help your community while having a wonderful day.

The United Way Golf Classic:

• An afternoon of golf, including a box lunch, craft beer tastings, hole contests and a buffet dinner: $150 per golfer

An Afternoon in the Country. Choose all of some of these activities:

• "Be Good to Yourself" lunch:   $20
• "One Vine Day" winery tour:  $60
• Buffet Dinner at Keswick Hall: $65

Or all three events for $140.

And, of course, there are plenty of sponsorship opportunities available.

To register, please call Caroline Emerson at 434-972-1701 or cemerson@unitedwaytja.org.

 

 

 

Are you Invested in Our Community? We Are.

What would happen if families had access to quality health care, kids entered school ready to learn, and individuals had the job skills they needed to become financially stable? How would their lives be different? How would our community change?

That is our vision. And we need your help.

The United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area is invested in: School Readiness, Self-Sufficiency and Community Health.

To ensure people have the tools they need to thrive, we have assembled a winning team: local nonprofits, business leaders, educators, health professionals and public servants. We are leading these team members in solid, research-based community strategies and linking them with the resources needed - funding, volunteers, advocacy, technology, in-kind resources and corporate partnerships - to deliver transformative, measurable results.

Today we’re appealing to you to step up to the plate and invest in our community. Please make a gift to help the United Way hit a home run for programs that make families more successful, and our community more prosperous.

We’re all on the same team; we all care about this community. It’s time to come together and Hit One Out of the Park.

Everyone who makes an “Out of the Park” donation that is received by June 1, 2012 will be listed in a full page ad in The Daily Progress (please indicate if you want to be anonymous).

What are you invested in? Give today. Click here.

Thank you.

 

University of Virginia Baseball, Rain, Home Runs and Tailgate Parties

The local businesses who are members of the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area's Home Run Club pledge $10 to our United Way for each home run the University of Virginia baseball team hits from April 1 through the end of the post season. As one way of saying "Thank You" for their support, our Team Captain, CenturyLink, hosts a pre-game tailgate party for the team members using CavOne, UVA's sports promotion trailer.

Last year's tailgate was on a Sunday, and the game was moved earlier in the day due to forecasted thunderstorms in the afternoon of a brutally hot day. So our lunch tailgate morphed into a brunch tailgate.

This year, rain had been forecast for game day well in advance, but "scattered showers" meant that the weeknight game time did not change in advance. We set up our food and drink and tents, and just as our party start time came, so did light rain, which morphed into steady rain. However, our attendees took it all in stride, and the clustered tents made for an intimate gathering in which everyone got to meet new people and get caught up with old friends, too.

Once again, we had amazing food, thanks to Fry's Spring Station, Raising Canes and Beer Run. Our friends at Specialty Beverage also helped out with an assortment of craft beers.

Too bad the delayed game did not add to our home run tally, but we DID add to our friend tally.

This weekend's home series against Georgia Tech promises great baseball weather, and our fingers are crossed for a home run or two.

Posted by: Kim Connolly

Interning for the United Way a Valuable, Wide-Ranging Experience

In my third year at the University of Virginia I decided to enroll in the internship program (UIP) for the entirety of my fourth year. I had extra space in my schedule and thought it would be fun to get out of the classroom for ten hours a week and do something a little more practical.

My first day at the United Way was both wonderful and overwhelming. Jessica, my sponsor, showed me my desk and then introduced me to everybody in the office. They were all incredibly nice and excited to meet me and they all wanted to tell me all about what they did. I of course promptly forgot everything that they said and spend the next few months learning everything I could about the office and remembering what they had told me earlier.

At my internship seminar I heard horror stories of other interns’ experiences; they would vacuum for ten hours a week, didn’t have a desk to sit at, or would have to deal with highly erratic sponsors and schedules. At the United Way, however, everybody went out of their way to accommodate my schedule and they did their best to involve me with everything that went on in the office. As the intern I expected to do a lot of the busy work in the office, but people would hesitate to ask me to do certain things; everybody really wanted me to have a valuable experience and not just envelope-stuffing experience. I helped organized a School Supply Drive, participated in the Day of Caring (I have never blown up that many balloons), went to a Board Meeting, did research for Impact Area meetings, worked on the Better Business Challenge to make the office more sustainable, and accompanied people to the radio station.

From January until April, I devoted most of my time to doing taxes through the EITC tax coalition. While taxes might not sound very exciting, I really enjoyed this portion of the internship! It meant I got to interact with clients, problem solve if a return got rejected, and really feel like I was making a difference in the community.

By interning at the United Way, I now have a much better understanding of how organizations, and particularly non-profits, function. I feel a lot more confident that I will be capable of holding an actual job. I gained great work experience and also started really connecting to Charlottesville (the University tends to be a little bit of a bubble at times). It felt great to be a part of an organization that works so hard to improve the community. I know that when I visit Charlottesville in the future, I will definitely drop by the office and say hi to everyone!

Posted by: Ellen Janssen, University of Virginia Class of 2012

Save the Date for "One Fine Day for the United Way"

Circle Monday, July 23rd on your calendar for an amazing day at Keswick Hall at Monticello.

For golfers, the United Way Golf Classic, which normally sells out, will be played on the club's Arnold Palmer designed course. Last year's beer tasting tents on the course were a big hit, and will be back again this year. The tournament includes a box lunch and delicious dinner on the patio.

Don't golf? We have you covered. "An Afternoon in the Country" offers a wine tasting tour of three wineries, a box lunch with a speaker, and the opportunity to join the golfers for dinner in the evening.

Both events benefit the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area. We are invested in: School Readiness, Self-Sufficiency and Community Health. Spend "One Fine Day" with us and help us invest in our community.

More detailed information will be posted soon. If you can't wait and have questions, please contact Caroline Emerson at cemerson@unitedwaytja.org or 434-972-1701. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Beer Run Knows A Good Cause Can Also Be Good Fun!

Beer Run is a family owned and operated neighborhood restaurant with a focus on local and organic ingredients.  Beer Run offers the best retail craft beer selection in Virginia and a large selection of biodynamic and organic retail wines.

Beer Run joined the United Way Home Run Club because United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area is our leading community non-profit advocate for those in need.

 

Cajun Voodoo Mama Blog Adds Some Spice to our Team

Cajun Voodoo Mama is a lifestyle blog about all things New Orleans and Mississippi Gulf Coast.  Blog partners Laura Knox and Vanessa Bourgeois are Cajunizing Charlottesvillians – you’ll never be the same! Our mission is to add a little spice to everyday life.

We are proud to support the United Way Home Run Club because we believe that everyone deserves a chance to achieve their very best.  United Way is the voice for those with the greatest needs in the Charlottesville community and the United Way makes a difference everyday…today is our day to help make that happen.  Live United!

Evergreen Real Estate and Construction is a Team Player!

Evergreen Real Estate and Construction is a full service construction firm specializing in new residential construction and remodeling. Our business is built on personal relationships with our clients whether it’s creating a new home or improving one you already own.

The United Way Home Run Club fits our philosophy of working to build a strong community.  We root for the home team and we strive for the common good.

Car Shopping? Come to the Mega Mile Auto Event!

One of the things I dislike about shopping for a car is the hopscotching around town to visit all the auto dealers on the very busy roads on which they are located. Which is why I really like the concept of the Mega Mile Auto event (other than the fact the a portion of the proceeds benefits our United Way). The four largest auto dealers in Charlottesville (Battlefield Ford, Brown Autos, Colonial Autos and Jim Price Automotive) team up for this event, bringing their entire inventories of new and used cars to fill up the lots at the John Paul Jones Arena. Our friends at the UVA Community Credit Union orchestrate the entire event, offering rates as low as 2.49% for a new car.

Can't decide between a Chevy, Ford, Nissan, Honda, Kia or Toyota? How about a Mercedes, Hyundai or a Subaru? There are 18 car brands represented at this event - a mile of cars. You can test drive to your heart's content - kind of like Goldilocks - too big, too slow, wrong color...just right! I already have a list of cars I want to drive.

At the kick off on Thursday, April 5, a "Conquer the Mile" walk takes place at 1:00 pm to benefit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. The donations we receive as a result of this event help us focus resources where they will have the biggest impact in our community: School Readiness, Self- Sufficiency and Community Health. These areas are where we KNOW we can make a difference - with the help of our donors like these terrific area car delaers and the UVA Community Credit Union.

We hope to see you there!

 

Posted by:Kim Connolly

Many Team Members Adds Up to BIG Impact for Our Community

There is still time to join our team!

Click here for a sign up form to email back to us.

Radio and print ads, PLUS a May 9th tailgate party with Cavalier One!

 

Welcome to the Team, Better Living!

 

 Our Friends at Better Living are well known in the community, not just for their excellent customer service, but also for their enduring support of so many causes in our community. Joining the United Way Home Run Club is a natural step for them to show their support of two winning teams - UVA baseball and the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area.

Welcome to Our Team, Albemarle Orthopaedics!

 

Albemarle Orthopaedics, PLLC, has been specializing in General Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in the Charlottesville/Albemarle community for more than a decade. Dr. William T. Grant and the AO staff bring a friendly approach to patient care while at the same time providing the highest level of treatment. We take a conservative approach and recommend surgery only when necessary.

Albemarle Orthopaedics, PLLC, is pleased to support the United Way via the Home Run Club. We appreciate the opportunity to give back to the community in this novel way.  We hope fans of all stripes will consider us for their orthopaedic and sports medicine needs!

Team Up for Our Community!

CenturyLink loves being a part of these two winning teams – UVA baseball and the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area. Where else can you have all things wholesome like baseball and hot dogs and make a positive impact in the community with your donation every time that  home run is scored! It’s an absolute win when we are able to support a local Charlottesville organization that does so much to help with School Readiness, Self-Sufficiency and Community Health.

And the tailgate in May provides a great way to connect with other businesses that not only care what’s happening in the community but are willing to step up and act by joining the Club.

This year as the Team Captain we have a small gift that we’ll be sharing with each business as a token of our appreciation. But you have to sign up to find out what it is! One will be coming to our friends at Overhead Door soon!

 

Guest post by: Simone Alley, CenturyLink

Welcome to our Team, Overhead Door of Charlottesville!

We had not yet even done any marketing for the United Way Home Run Club, when we already welcomed our first Team Member simply by word of mouth. Small business owners know a win-win scenario when they see it!

Welcome!

The Overhead Door Company of Charlottesville is a locally owned Charlottesville business that has provided garage doors and service for the Charlottesville area for 33 years. We enjoy being a part of our community and supporting our neighbors. By joining the United Way Home Run Club, we are able to contribute to a great organization like the United Way that is always helping neighbors in our community. By cheering on the UVA baseball team and enjoying their success, the Home Run Club allows us to give back to our community.

 

Posted by Kim Connolly

Welcome to Our First Team Members!

Some businesses know a great way to help their community while also getting some goodwill marketing exposure when they see it.The same day we sent out information on the United Way Home Run Club, we had a response from BB&T and then from the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Central Virginia.

Welcome to the Team!

 BB&T is proud to again "Team up" with our United Way and The University of Virginia Baseball team as a member in the Home Run Club.  This continues to be one way that BB&T lives up to its mission of "Making our COMMUNITIES in which we work better places to be."  Hit some Home Runs!!!

 

Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Central Virginia is excited to be a Home Run Club team member again this year.  What better way to support the United Way, the UVA baseball team, and the community! Supporting the Home Run Club not only helps bring the fans closer to UVA baseball, but also helps us help the United Way work towards their mission.

 

Hit a Home Run for Your Business and the Community

It’s back by popular demand! It’s the United Way Home Run Club!

Do you love University of Virginia Baseball? We do. And we appreciate the work ethic and sportsmanship of Coach Brian O’Connor and the high standards he sets for his athletes.

We also love our community and work every day to “move the needle” on our three focus areas: School Readiness, Self-Sufficiency and Community Health.

So we thought, “Why not combine our community’s passion and support for the baseball team with an equal passion for reaching out to help others in need?” And so, the United Way Home Run Club was born last year.

For every home run the UVA baseball team hits between April 1 and the end of the 2012 season, Home Run Club team members pledge $10 to the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area. Last year, the first with the new composite bats, that totaled 18 home runs through the post season.

CenturyLink has enthusiastically returned as our Team Captain this year. They will be hosting a tailgate party using Cavalier One for our team members before the May 9 baseball game. Here is a photo from last year’s tailgate, in which we enjoyed incredible food and drink donated from several area businesses.  We were told that we had the best Cav One tailgate food all year.

We find ourselves listening closely to each game broadcast on WINA, or following online, and the Home Run Club does not officially start until April 1! If you listen to WINA broadcasts of the baseball and lacrosse games, you will hear our radio ads urging you to join the Club, as we are an official baseball and lacrosse broadcast sponsor, thanks to the support of CenturyLink.!

Small businesses owners are urged to join our team for some high visibility goodwill marketing – their names will be listed in our ads in The Daily Progress, with mentions during radio broadcasts, too! We will also be doing mini-business profiles on this blog, with links to our Team Member's websites.

Can we add your business name to the team roster? Individuals are welcome as well. If you know of a local small (or big!) business that loves UVA baseball and also wants to support our community, tell them about the United Way Home Run Club. They can publicly show their support of both, plus get print and radio exposure for their business. Win-win.

Click here to download a form.

This promotion is so popular, that we already have a local business signed up before doing any outreach!

Welcome to our first team member of 2012:

Overhead Door Company of Charlottesville.

GO HOOS!

 

The United Way Home Run Club is made possible  by Team Captain CenturyLink

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by: Kim Connolly

 

Pulling People Together

We have each been involved in supporting local nonprofits for more than 20 years. Jane thrives on helping organize special events for a variety of organizations and Bryan has served on the board of our United Way for more than 20 years, as well as serving as the chair of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce and as a volunteer for Special Olympics, the Red Cross, Blue Ridge Rotary Club, and the Party Parade.

Our United Way impacts the community in many ways that people do not see. Not just by providing grants for local programs and by offering many direct services, but by advocating for the human service needs of all citizens. There are many issues in our community that concern us, including the education of our children and their well-being. Children need to be raised with the appropriate education and social skills plus the understanding that they are part of a larger community. The economic prosperity of our region is also very important, and we need to provide people with the skills they need as well as the jobs needed to sustain a healthy and safe living environment for everyone who lives here.

Our United Way addresses these issues by looking at where the needs are; we do this by pulling together community members-from nonprofits, businesses, the education and health care communities, and the public sector -and listening to them about what works and what hasn't, and where they see the need for more action. That is why we support our United Way both financially and with our time -because of the important role it plays in our community. We feel strongly that the dollars raised here stay in our community. We have a staff that works tirelessly to provide direct services like the Volunteer Center, Child Care Scholarships, Prescription Assistance and so on. We can see a tangible impact on our community through the United Way.

Posted By:

Bryan Thomas, Area Executive, BB&T

Jane Thomas, Community Volunteer

Paying Taxes, Saving Money

Our office has been hopping lately. The Thomas Jefferson Area Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Coalition is headquartered in our office, ably coordinated by our staff member, Pamela Frank.

Our Information and Referral Center's phone has been in constant use, with Martha Trujillo, our Community Services Coordinator, fielding phone calls and scheduling appointments for folks to have their taxes prepared for free. There are many member agencies in our local coalition and approximately 100 volunteers who have been certified by the IRS. Most notable are the students from the University of Virginia and the law school, plus the UVA Community Credit Union, which offers free tax preparation in its branches, especially those in our surrounding rural counties.

While our office may be crowded (since we are one of the tax sites) and our phones ringing constantly, it is a good feeling knowing that we have saved these families and individuals earning less than $50,000 a year a lot of money. Not only do they save the the tax preparation fees, but we help them to claim all the credits for which they are eligible. The IRS estimates that more than a quarter of the people who are eligible for the earned income tax credit do not claim it, and we aim to remedy that. In addition, we help people avoid the so called "instant refunds" which are in reality high interest, short-term loans. Folks who file their taxes through our nonprofit coalition can normally expect their refunds direct deposted into their bank acount within 7 to 10 days.

Pamela reported this morning that since mid January, the coalition has helped around 600 people with their taxes, and we are still barely into the season!

Why do we do this? It all relates to our impact area of Self-Sufficiency. We want to help working people keep their hard-earned dollars, and hopefully save their refunds to use to build a nest eggs or pay off bills. The coalition's motto is Earn it. Keep it. Save it. And that is what we hope they do.

 

Posted By: Kim Connolly

 

I feel energized and inspired by these young people

Do you want to do something that will make you energized and feel inspired about the future of our country?  Then consider mentoring at Teen Tech at Computers4Kids.

Teen Tech is a program for students who have graduated from the Computers4Kids middle school program and wish to continue learning about technology as well as prepare for college and career.  To mentor at Teen Tech  you  just drop in and help  anytime Monday to Thursday 3 to 8 pm.  Students who have come after school could be working on homework assignments,  filling out college applications,  writing an essay or applying  for work.  Help with writing a resume is another mentoring project.  Sometimes it is helpful to just participate in a good conversation about how to proceed with a project.

Many of the students are recent immigrants and speak English but need help with their grammar.  Giving advice about how to do research is also something the students appreciate.   Students have to learn how to do research – these are our future scientists, doctors, engineers, technicians and other career professionals.

The students are hardworking and very focused on their task.  They listen carefully to advice and try to incorporate all that they are told.  They are extremely polite and appreciate the help that is given.  Mentored students have better attitudes toward school, fewer absences from school, less alcohol and drug use, and develop better relationships with others.   This is what we should want for our future citizens.

Many of the students feel that it is important to give back to the community and are volunteers themselves at C4K or other organizations.  Each time I leave C4K I feel energized and inspired by these young people.

 

Guest post by Jackie Lichtman, Computers4Kids volunteer mentor