Second Quarter 2016 Newsletter

LIVE UNITED TODAY

Check & Connect: A Successful Four-Year Run

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or the last four years, the Check and Connect Program has aimed to reduce drop-out rates and help local high school students make progress towards graduation by building relationships with students and their families. Our original contingent of students have now graduated high school. Their walks across the stages of Eastside, Hawthorne and Gainesville High Schools, symbolize the start of their journeys into adulthood, as well as the end of the Check and Connect Program.

The Check & Connect Program began through a $300,000 grant from AT&T. At the time, United Way of North Central Florida was the only United Way in the country to receive this grant. At the end of the AT&T grant period, funding was continued with the help of a private donor. (cont.)

Top Check and Connect Specialists with their graduates Left Hawthorne High School Senior Jamell

SECOND QUARTER 2016

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: CHECK AND CONNECT, KAY AYERS FAREWELL, NEW BOARD MEMBER INTRODUCTION

LOCAL LEADERS LIVE UNITED

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n Thursday, June 9, more than 150 stakeholders gathered for the annual CEO/Community Leader Breakfast at the Best Western Gateway Grand. CEOs, community leaders and elected officials, were welcomed by United Way of North Central Florida leadership and introduced to this year’s campaign video and theme of “You Give.”

Gainesville High School students at the graduation celebration

Attendees were moved by a letter from a working mother whose daughter attends Girls Place at a discount with the help of United Way donors, read by Janna Magette, Executive Director of Girls Place. UWNCFL Community Investment Council member, incoming UWNCFL Board member and Alachua County Tax Collector, John Power delivered the entertaining and informative keynote presentation about how giving can help change the course of someone’s life the both the giver and the receiver.

Thank you to everyone who attended this event. Special thank you to our event sponsors: BBI Construction Management, Cox Communications and Florida Food Service.  1

Check and Connect students with local author Joe Johnson

CHECK AND CONNECT

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Check and Connect Specialists connected as mentors and counselors with up to 20 students and their families to provide social services, referrals and family strengthening assistance.

Students were able to overcome nearly insurmountable odds through the support of Check and Connect Specialists Barbara Brady, Stephanie Burke and Annetta McCloud. These Specialists got to know their students, learn about their lives, meet their families and became beacons of hope and stability for the children. Although the program has ended, its impact will always stay with the students, their families and the Specialists.

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On Tuesday, June 7, we gathered the graduating Check and Connect students to celebrate their accomplishments. All students were gifted a laptop and a book by local author Joe Johnson entitled, “Pursue Your Purpose, Not Your Dreams”.

We wish the very best to all the Check and Connect students who have continued on their path in education, and thank their families and the Specialists for providing continuous support for the students. 

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DURING THE CHECK & CONNECT PROGRAM:

134 6,500

Laptops were given away

One-on-one mentoring hours spent over four years

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1 UWNCFL Staff goofing off!

2 Board member and Publix District Manager Lisa Patton and the Publix Team 3 Chris Wells and John Power 4 Small Business Partners Philip M. Turner and Carol Doak 5 Danny Gilliland of Gateway Bank and Tim Stanley of BBI Construction 6 Janna Magette of Girls Place talks about United Way’s support

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PUTTING MONEY BACK IN THE POCKETS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS

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pril 18 saw the close of another successful tax season for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at United Way of North Central Florida.

The VITA Program is an IRS-funded program that provides free tax preparation for low-to-moderate income community members in our six-county area and is UWNCFL’s sole internal Community Impact income program. VITA has been a UWNCFL program for five years and was part of East Gainesville Development for nine years prior to that. VITA successfully leverages many community resources, including a large partnership with UF Levin College of Law, Santa Fe College, Buchholz Academy of Finance and Alachua County Library District, to provide tax preparation and put money back in the pockets of local residents.

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

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mall businesses play a critical role in maintaining a thriving local economy.

They are just as important to the success to United Way, as we endeavor to improve lives through our work in education, income and health. Our Small Business Partners are an important, growing family of donors who are vital to helping us meet the needs of our community.

To read the full interviews with Jason Gonos of Power Production Management and Anna Olcese of Team Dynamo at Keller Williams Realty Gainesville visit www. unitedwayncfl.org/smallbusinessspotlight. To sign up for our e-newsletter, please visit www.unitedwayncfl.org.

To become a Small Business Partner, please contact Chris Wells at cwells@unitedwayncfl.org. 

United Way of North Central Florida also provides MyFreeTaxes, a supplemental online tax program that makes free tax software available to the local community. This year, 126 residents earning $58,000 per year or less used the software. Our volunteers assisted a total of 1,942 tax payers this year. 

“ One person may attempt, and even succeed at doing something great by him or herself. But working together as a team makes the likelihood of success even greater.”

VITA 2016 by the Numbers

$3,802,436 TOTAL COMMUNITY IMPACT (INCLUDING EITC)*

Anna Olcese, Team Dynamo at Keller Williams Realty

$464,138

“ It’s going to take a lot longer than you think, but it is still worth it.”

TOTAL TAX PREPARER FEES SAVED

$1,719 AVERAGE REFUND

* The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal tax credit for low- and moderate-income working people. It encourages and rewards work as well as offsets federal payroll and income taxes.

Jason Gonos, Power Production Management

TO READ FULL INTERVIEWS VISIT: www.unitedwayncfl.org/smallbusinessspotlight

THANK YOU, PUBLIX! For several years, Publix has been our number one campaign, and last year was no exception! Publix employees donated nearly $600,000, including a corporate match gift of $242,900! District Managers Lisa Patton and Charles Gainer, and Regional Director David Currey visited the United Way office to present the check. Thank you for continuing to Live United!  LIVE UNITED / 3

ort, n Davenp CEO Susa r e b , m ie a w h C h Bo , Debora Kay Ayers rdaRoy’s o C f o g un Byron Yo

Kay a nd Da vid Ay ers

FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM KAY AYERS

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s my term as Board Chair of United Way of North Central Florida draws to a close, I want to thank the United Way staff and the Board of Directors for their commitment and support during my tenure. I am excited about the future direction of United Way of North Central Florida and look forward to continuing to serve on the Board.

The United Way today is not the same organization of past years. As one of the first 16 percent of United Ways in the United States to implement the Community Impact model, we are able to address our core areas of focus with specific strategies and measurable results. We now serve 34 community partners (recently increased from 27). Through the Results-Based Accountability tool (RBA), the agencies must demonstrate their community impact by reporting their performance measures and outcomes for their funded programs. This model ensures that our donors’ funds are being invested in the most efficient and effective way.

The past two years have been busy. A few highlights: •W e recruited a dynamic new CEO, Deborah Bowie, in January 2015. She hit the ground running and hasn’t stopped since.

•W e hosted the United Way of Florida 2015 Statewide Conference in Gainesville for the very first time.

•W e introduced the Small Business Partner Program, which was presented at the Statewide Conference and is now being considered by other United Ways.

•W e increased our communication efforts to get our message out through updated newsletters, redesigned website and e-mails, radio and television.

•W e continue to move into the digital age, and implemented Mobile Cause, a live “text to give” platform at our 2016 Hearts Unite event.

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Kay and small business partner Matt Donovan

rah Bowie and Kay with Debo d Way n at the Unite Rhonda Johnso ce en er of Florida Conf

•R eadingPals continued to grow with more than 180 volunteers providing more than 2,800 hours of extra reading and encouragement to 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders in Alachua County. Consistent with our RBA Kay sp model, we partnered with the eaking to atten dees Alachua County School Board and found that 17% of students increased their reading scores last year. This shows that our program, in conjunction with school interventions, is really making an impact in the lives of children.

•T he Weekend Back Pack Hunger Program for elementary students in Alachua County was transitioned under the leadership of Catholic Charities.

• We were designated a 4-Star Charity by Charity Navigator.

In 2017, we celebrate United Way of North Central Florida’s 60th anniversary of serving our community. We are planning a 60th anniversary event and hope you will join us in the celebration. Look for more information in the near future!

United Way of North Central Florida will continue to serve our communities through our mission to advance the common good by focusing on income, education, and health; and leading the community to focus on issues and build solutions. We could not do this without your support. Our success is a direct result of your giving, advocating and volunteering. We look forward to continued success because of you! Thank you for all you do for our communities and thank you for the opportunity to serve as the Board Chair for the past two years. Let’s all continue to Live United! 

We Welcome THESE OUTSTANDING ADDITIONS TO OUR TEAM! NEW BOARD CHAIR Starting on July 1, 2016, Nick Banks, Managing Director of Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group, will become the Board Chair. Jenna White, Generalist Manager at Enterprise Holdings, will become the Vice Chair.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS On July 1, 2016 United Way of North Central Florida welcomed four new individuals to our Board of Directors.

Kevin Monroe is the Central Florida Market Vice President of Operations for Cox Communications. He moved to Gainesville and began his role with Cox in April of 2013. Prior to joining Cox, he served as the Vice President of Service Delivery for Windstream Corporation in Maitland, Fla. Kevin is a member of the Gainesville Florida Sunrise Rotary and a graduate of Leadership Gainesville. Business in Greater Gainesville Magazine also recently recognized him as one of the 2015 Impact Award honorees.

Arpita Oselimo came to Gainesville, FL in 2005 for a year-long post-baccalaureate program in ceramics at UF. A lifelong vegetarian, she was drawn to Reggae Shack Café soon after arriving in Gainesville, leading her to meet her future husband, Omar, and begin a career as a restaurateur. In 2012, they opened Southern Charm Kitchen, and in 2016, The Twisted Peacock, an Indian concept, opened on SW 13th Street. Arpita oversees many aspects of the restaurants – including hiring, finances, catering, and community outreach.

ANNUAL LEADERSHIP RECEPTION

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n Wednesday, May 18, guests gathered for the annual recognition and appreciation reception for United Way Leadership and Tocqueville Donors, as well as UFCC Leadership Donors, at the University House at the University of Florida. Attendees were received by UWCNFL President & CEO, Deborah Bowie, Board Chair Kay Ayers and special guest University of Florida President Dr. Kent Fuchs. It was an honor to spend an evening celebrating and thanking these donors.

Thank you to our event sponsors: BBI Construction and Florida Food Service. Special thank you to our Title Sponsor Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group. 

Top Left Enterprise Holdings employees Kim Slone and Joey Goodman Top Right Lygia Williams and Nisi Caudle with Albert Middle Left UF’s Susan Crowley and Chris Wells Middle Right The Front Street team with UF President Kent Fuchs Bottom Right Small Business Partners Valkyrie and Nirav Shah with Albert! Bottom Left The UWNCFL Team hanging out with Albert

John Power is currently the Alachua County Tax Collector and has built his professional career on public service. He has a combined twenty-five years of tax roll experience in Alachua County and insists on delivering service to the public with integrity, innovation, fiscal responsibility, and respect. Prior to being elected Tax Collector in 2014, John served as Chief Deputy Tax Collector for fourteen years. He also served ten years with the Alachua County Property Appraiser. John has also been an active member of the UWNCFL Community Investment Council for several years.

John Varela is the Vice President of U.S. Operations for RTI Surgical. He joined RTI in July 2014 to oversee all aspects of U.S. manufacturing and distribution and assumed additional responsibilities in December 2014 to oversee information technology, including SAP, and became an officer effective January 1, 2015. Prior to joining RTI, Varela was the Director of Operations for Heraeus Electro-Nite, Inc. Varela spent the early part of his career with GE and has 27 years of experience within the manufacturing and supply chain industry in various leadership positions.

United Way of North Central Florida Board Chair, Nick Banks, Deborah Bowie and the entire UWNCFL staff and Board of Directors are pleased to welcome these outstanding additions to the team! 

we encourage YOU TO “REID”

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he ReadingPals Literacy Initiative has come a long way in four years. This “pilot” program started out with energy, momentum and a big grant to impact the children who don’t like to read because it was difficult for them.

How do you train 200 volunteers with completely different backgrounds, personalities, interests, and talents?

It wasn’t always easy, but with the help of Alachua County Public Schools, we have finally developed a curriculum that satisfies We’re making an impact locally. Last year, we found that 17% the needs of most. We have established training with aspects of of ReadingPals students improved their tutoring, mentoring and behavior management, We were amazed at how reading scores, compared to their similar and are even developing online training tools. peers whose performance actually declined excited the children get when We have high volunteer retention, with reliable we send home brand new over the year. ReadingPals mentors mentors returning year after year. As we approach books for them to keep and reported that students started to enjoy our fifth year of ReadingPals, we want parents, build their home libraries. reading or were at least less averse teachers, program managers, volunteers and to it. We piloted ReadingPals in the fall of Kids who don’t like to read children to know that we aren’t going anywhere!

2012 with the support of many community getting excited about free Through support of local donors, grantors and partners. However, like any pilot program, books? Mentors and parents community partners, we can keep providing this there were unavoidable challenges and find a lot of joy in that. care to our community’s kids and parents. hurdles. How do you recruit 200 new It’s no secret we think ReadingPals is great. Don’t individuals? How do you create a curriculum that will take our word for it, though. Check out what Reid, a third-year meet the needs of 200 children with different personalities, volunteer, whose name says it all, has to say about his experilikes, dislikes and challenges? ences as a volunteer mentor. 

AN INTERVIEW WITH REID WOOLERY Q: What made you want to become a ReadingPal? A: I saw an article that ReadingPals needed volunteers in the Gainesville Sun. Having recently retired I thought I should get out of the house occasionally, so I called. I’ve always felt the ability to read and comprehend was important to learning so the program seemed a good fit for me. As a child I was not an avid reader and I know that reading is not something that every young person likes to do. ReadingPals shows children that reading can be fun and helps them understand what

they read. Besides, hanging out with the kids is fun.

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Q: What has been the most meaningful moment being a ReadingPal? A: Every time a student is happy to see you and anxious to read.

When a student finds they can pronounce a new word without assistance. Having a good laugh together over anything.

These are all special and meaningful moments for me.

Q: Have you been able to see the kids’ make progress?

A: Every child is different. Some are able to read quite well but have problems with

attention or comprehension. Others truly are behind in their reading skills. When a child is progressing in these areas it’s pretty easy to see the results, it shows in their attitude toward reading. At times it’s just a matter of bringing the child out of their shell and shoring up their confidence.

Q: Do you plan on continuing to be a ReadingPal next year?

A: I thought about dropping out this year, but changed my mind when I saw how short staffed you were on volunteers.

And I’m very happy that I stayed! Meeting my current student, Trevaan, has been very stimulating for us both. He’s a great kid and I’m better for having met him. As for next year, I’m quite certain that I’ll be volunteering again. I would miss the children and the other great folks involved.

Q: Anything else to add that you think would help people understand why you choose to volunteer with ReadingPals?

A: These are difficult times full of budget cuts and under-funding for our public schools. This coupled with students who may have other challenges, from learning disabilities to problems at home, leaves gaps in their education. As a ReadingPal I have a chance to help children develop their reading skills and to foster a love of reading that will help them throughout their school career. No matter what path these children take in life, to succeed they’ll need to be able to read and I’m just pleased I can be of some help. 

For more information, please visit www.readingpalsgnv.org or call 352-331-2800!

INTRODUCING OUR FY 2017-19 FUNDED PROGRAMS W

e are excited to announce the funding decisions for the 20162019 grant cycle! With these new grants, we are able to increase our funded portfolio by nine – from 26 funded programs to 35. We were also able to increase the number of funded agencies from 19 to 23. Twenty-one previously-funded programs from the 2013–2016 grant cycle will receive funding once again.

K-12 EDUCATION $360,000

We saw a much-needed increase in the Income category, where we had very little competition in the last cycle; this investment in key programming across the community addresses the financial stewardship and stability issues that often impact so many families in crisis.

Thank you to all of our Community Impact Partners and Community Investment Council (CIC) members for

AGENCY

Comprehensive Youth Development School Readiness Services

MSCC Lunch Bunch Violence Prevention & Intervention Culinary Training at GRACE Marketplace Bridges to Prosperity

Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County Friends of the Micanopy Library GACTA Gilchrist County School Board Girls Place Institute for Workforce Innovation Kids Count in Alachua County Reichert House The Education Foundation UF Healthy Families Alachua ACORN Clinic ACORN Clinic Catholic Charities Child Advocacy Center Girls Place Institute for Workforce Innovation Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless & Hungry Catholic Charities

Financial Literacy & Economic Empowerment Transitional Housing Volunteer Transition Legal Services

Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network St. Francis House The Arc of Alachua County Three Rivers Legal Services

Food Pantry Emergency Assistance FAITHH Interface Youth Shelter

Bread of the Mighty Food Bank Catholic Charities Catholic Charities CDS Family & Behavioral Health Services

Reducing Trauma - Forensic Interview Meals on Wheels Community Care Project YouthBuild Crisis Intervention

Child Advocacy Center ElderCare of Alachua County ElderCare of Alachua County Institute for Workforce Innovation

Micanopy Tutoring Aces in Motion

Project YouthBuild Vision 20/20 Kids Count After School Education Improvement Take Stock in Children Child Abuse Prevention/Home Visitation Dental Home for Low Income HEALTH Weekend Hunger Backpack Reducing Trauma - Therapy BrainPower

INCOME $170,000

IMMEDIATE NEEDS $300,000

Alachua Bradford

PROGRAM

Pre-K Scholarship ACHIEVE

HEALTH $170,000

being so helpful throughout the entire process. The amount requested this cycle was a record $2.7 million – nearly three times what we had available to grant. The CIC members were tasked with evaluating and visiting 52 programs over three weeks. Their job was not easy and this cycle, perhaps more than others, ranks amongst our most competitive and most compelling. 

Dixie

Gilchrist

Levy

Union

Emergency Shelter for Foster Youth Partnership for Strong Families Emergency Shelter - Campus Housing Project Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network Emergency Shelter & Food St. Francis House

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NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT # 375 GAINESVILLE, FL 6031 NW 1st Place Gainesville, FL 32607-2025 (352) 331-2800 www.unitedwayncfl.org www.facebook.com/unitedwayncfl www.twitter.com/unitedwayncfl www.instagram.com/unitedwayofncfl

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

YOUR UNITED WAY TEAM Staff/Executive Team

Board of Directors

Deborah V. Bowie, President & CEO Rhonda Johnson, Director of Operations Mary Broadfoot, Executive Assistant

Executive Committee Nick Banks, Front Street, Chair Jenna White, Enterprise Holdings, Vice Chair Kay Ayers, AvMed, Past Board Chair Dr. Ed Bonahue, Santa Fe College, Member-At-Large Dennis Gies, Community Volunteer, Ex-Officio Kenneth Kurdziel, James Moore & Company, Finance Chair Melanie Ross, UF Health, Member-At-Large

Community Impact Team Norinda Rosario Yancey, Director of Community Impact Angela Hutchings, ReadingPals Coordinator

Development Team Dana Clayton, VP Resource Development Chris Wells, Development Director of Small Business Chad McGinnis, Manager of Database Systems Dawn Adkins, Database Associate

Communications & Marketing Team Amy Azoulay, Senior Manager of Communications Nailah Summers, Communications Specialist

Board Members Tracy Bachmann, Waymaker Communications Bill Gair, University of Florida Jennifer Hunt, CAMPUS USA Credit Union Jackie Johnson, Alachua County Public Schools John Jopling, Dell Graham Shaney Livingston, Alachua County Library District Kevin Monroe, Cox Communications Greg Moraski, Nationwide Arpita Oselimo, Reggae Shack Café Lisa Patton, Publix Brad Pollitt, UF Health Todd Powell, Plum Creek John Power, Alachua County Tax Collector Doug Ray, Gainesville Sun/Ocala Star Banner Dr. Jen Day Shaw, University of Florida Dr. Patricia Snyder, University of Florida Scott Thomas, Infinite Energy John Varela, RTI Surgical

Special thanks to our Academy Sponsors

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