An employee giving campaign: We Give.

Open-minded.

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Dear Colleagues, Everyone plays a role in the success of the Minneapolis Public Schools and we need everyone’s support in order to make an impact in our community. As an organization that serves students and families, I know that our employees give back in many ways. We are MPS. We give.

I choose to give because this time of year always reminds me of what I have and what I can contribute. Many of us give because we know a child, a family or a neighbor in need. It makes us all feel better and stand taller to give. I would like to thank you for pausing to think about those who are less fortunate than us. There is no better time to give generously of our time and resources.

I am asking you to join us in supporting our students and our community, saying, “We give.”

Last year, 10% of our employees participated in the campaign. This year, our goal is to increase participation in the program. Please note that you can participate in We Give while supporting famine relief in Somalia by donating to Community Health Charities, Community Shares of Minnesota, Greater Twin Cities United Way or United Arts Fund and designating your gift to the American Refugee Committee or Feed My Starving Children.

The We Give campaign runs November 7-18. When we all work together, there is no limit to what we can achieve for our students.

Bernadeia H. Johnson, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

Sincerely, Bernadeia H. Johnson, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

We are collaborative.

Eight charitable organizations have been selected by the Joint Labor Management Committee to receive contributions from our staff members through the We Give campaign:

• AchieveMpls • Community Health Charities Minnesota • Community Shares of Minnesota • Greater Twin Cities United Way • Minnesota Environmental Fund • Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless • United Arts Fund • UNCF

This year, our goal is to increase participation in the campaign. The goal may sound easy, but we need to come together in a “We Are MPS” sort of way to make it happen! The goal is attainable if we all work together like we do each and every day.

Every dollar counts and no contribution is too small. As little or as much as you can give will make a difference.

AchieveMpls www.achievempls.org

Preparing our young people to succeed in school, work and life is the best investment we can make in our city’s health and vitality.

How does this organization help MPS? • We award field trip grants and professional development opportunities for MPS staff.

• We raise and manage millions of dollars for MPS strategic priorities.

• We manage Achieve Career & College Centers in every MPS high school.

• We recruit and train hundreds of MPS students for the STEP-UP Achieve Summer Jobs program.

As the strategic nonprofit partner of the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), AchieveMpls mobilizes a wide web of community support and resources to ensure academic achievement, equitable opportunities and career and college readiness for all students.

We manage innovative career and college readiness programs; raise private dollars for MPS from individuals, foundations and corporations; and engage our community to support students.

“Being here in Minneapolis Public Schools for 11 years, I know we have many kids who need our help to achieve their goals. That’s why I’ve been donating to AchieveMpls for many years.

We all can make a difference in the lives of our students.”

Krishna Pathak Information Technology Services

Community Health Charities Minnesota www.healthcharitiesmn.org

How does this organization help MPS? • Chances are every employee in the state of Minnesota has been affected by at least one of our member charities during their life. By making it easy for employees to make informed and meaningful donations, Community Health Charities (CHCM) works with organizations to create a workplace culture of giving and strengthen the Minneapolis Public Schools community and beyond.

Your donation provides essential research, prevention and services on behalf of those affected by the most serious health issues of our time.

You have the power to change lives.

It is estimated that more than two million Minnesotans are affected by chronic illness. That means that one in four of us is dealing with critical health issues such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and lupus every day. Chronic illness doesn’t discriminate Minnesotans from every race, place and gender are affected. And these concerns don’t stop with the patient; they radiate into the lives of friends, families and coworkers.

“I give to Community Health Charities because when my mother was diagnosed with lymphoma four years ago, I was surprised at the number of resources available to patients and their families: support groups to discuss new symptoms, free wigs, transportation to chemotherapy appointments. It’s important to give back so that others have access to the same resources my family had – and so that we can fund research to find a cure.”

Tammy Frederickson Finance

Community Shares of Minnesota www.communitysharesmn.org

Give. And light a fire under inequality.

Community Shares of Minnesota raises funds and awareness for nearly 50 local nonprofits addressing pressing social issues. Our members work at the root of problems rather than just treating the symptoms, changing the assumption that some issues won’t ever go away. Charity is good. But change is better.

How does this organization help MPS? • MIGIZI Communications served 300 students through both the Native Academy and the First Person Productions programs by helping improve high school graduation rates and postsecondary readiness of American Indian students.

• Youth Farm and Market Project served 240 students in the Lyndale and Powderhorn neighborhoods by building youth leadership experiences through planting, growing, preparing and selling food.

• In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre served 140 students through their arts education residency and touring programs.

“I believe that it is our responsibility to build a better world and help one another create a better life for all of us. That is what we do at Minneapolis Public Schools, including Early Childhood Family Education, by educating, supporting and empowering all children and their families. I give to Community Shares of Minnesota because they also help others create a fair, just and equitable society by

supporting and empowering non

profit organizations. Let’s make a

difference together!”

San Ha Early Childhood Family Education

Greater Twin Cities United Way www.unitedwaytwincities.org

Give. Advocate. Volunteer.

LIVE UNITED. United Way is the most effective way to impact our community’s most pressing problems. We provide the building blocks for a good life in three key areas: Basic Needs, Education and Health. Our goal is to create lasting change for those most in need so our whole community benefits.

How does this organization help MPS? • Greater Twin Cities United Way invests $9 million annually in programs that serve Minneapolis Public Schools children and their families—in basic needs, health and education.

• In October 2011, Greater Twin Cities United Way is co-investing with Target to provide much needed pre-K services that align with Target’s K-3 PRESS program.

• Greater Twin Cities United Way is committed to working closely with Minneapolis Public Schools and community based organizations to best meet the needs of students and their families.

“I give to the United Way because it is a reciprocal gift. It is just another way to ensure that the organizations that work directly with our students receive the support that they need.”

Aura Wharton-Beck Principal, Jenny Lind Community School

Minnesota Environmental Fund Choose to help the environment.

It adds up.

The Minnesota Environmental Fund is a balanced group of 23 organizations with one common goal: maintaining Minnesota’s treasured natural resources through protection, conservation and restoration.

These efforts include everything from protecting our public lands to ensuring all Minnesotans have access to clean water, and much more.

How does this organization help MPS? • Organized outings to several local lakes as well as the Mississippi River and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, Wilderness Inquiry, Sierra Club Foundation, Izaak Walton League).

• Training and summer employment offering kids meaningful projects and a paycheck (Tree Trust).

• Resources and curriculum regarding climate change, mercury pollution and energy conservation (Will Steger Foundation, Fresh Energy, North American Water Office).

• Reduced diesel emissions from school bus fleets protecting the health of students, drivers and the environment (Environmental Initiative).

• Volunteer opportunities to plant, pull, paddle and more (23 local environmental organizations).

“I give to the Minnesota Environmental Fund as a part of the We Give campaign because I love natural Minnesota, with its parks, lakes and forests. Growing up, I loved camping, and today I enjoy going up north to watch the hawks migrate. I want to help preserve our state for our kids and grandkids, so they can appreciate it like I did. It is important to do our part for the entire state to keep Minnesota as natural as possible.”

Roy Hallanger Transportation

Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless www.oyh.org

Giving homeless students and their families a helping hand.

Open Your Heart directly supports more than 1,000 homeless and highly mobile students in the Minneapolis Public Schools by providing school supplies and vouchers to cover basic necessities to keep the students within the school community working with the school social worker.

How does this organization help MPS? • Open Your Heart helps students as they reach their goals. One honors student who benefitted from our support was accepted at a local college with a full scholarship. The family continues to struggle with affordable housing and this motivated student continues to be very resilient and has been hired part time at one of the shelters.

• In addition to this type of support, Open Your Heart also funds Minneapolis shelters and housing programs, Second Harvest Food Bank and several Minneapolis food shelves providing both food and shelter for MPS families.

“Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless supports our homeless and highly mobile students by providing school supplies and basic necessities. Most importantly, resources from Open Your Heart help homeless youth participate in activities to help them feel like a part of their school communities, such as graduation ceremonies or class photos.

Our students are fortunate to have this kind of support in their schools and they are especially fortunate to have you helping them create positive futures.”

Zib Hinz Student Support Services

United Arts Fund www.unitedartsfund.org

You need the Arts. The Arts needs you.

You Need The Arts.

The Arts Need You.

United Arts Fund is funding a variety of arts organizations that are providing direct service to 12 Minneapolis schools this year. These programs integrate arts with core curriculum in order to help students increase comprehension and subject retention. Organizations use the funds they receive from your donations to actively engage participants and audiences in musical, visual, performing and literary arts.

How does this organization help MPS? • We support organizations that use arts activities to help provide students in some of our toughest neighborhoods with a safe after-school alternative.

• Your gift to United Arts Fund allows organizations to partner with MPS at the district level in order to address a specific curriculum need system-wide, like integration of arts programming into special education programs.

“Giving to the United Arts Fund is one way that I can give back to my community by supporting a cause in which I believe. Even though I support the arts for the “sake of the arts” itself, as a math teacher I see the important connection that participation in the arts has upon my students and their success in my classes. In this era of massive cuts to arts

education, I feel that the arts need more

support than ever. I love the fact that

I can be a part of the solution.”

Mark Usem Field Community School

UNCF www.uncf.org

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.® UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization. It enables students each year to attend college and get the education they need to launch their careers and contribute to their communities because, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

How does this organization help MPS? UNCF helps MPS students by: • Providing them with information they need to prepare for college through the annual UNCF Empower Me Tour.

• Offering an opportunity to receive financial support to go to and graduate from college.

• Serving as a national advocate for the importance of minority education.

“I give to the United Negro College Fund because I’m aware of the large number of African American students who struggle to go to college. Many of them are firstgeneration college students who need all the support we can give. I see myself as part of a larger community and believe that it is important to give back to improve the lives of our students.”

Margaret Moore Organizational and Professional Development

How we can help.

Every dollar counts and no contribution is too small. As little or as much as you can give will make a difference for our students.

• $3 per pay period can purchase a backpack and basic school supplies for two homeless children living at a shelter through Open Your Heart or United Arts Fund.

(Compare that to buying a soda from the vending machine each week.)

• $5 per pay period provides materials to teach 30 sighted students how blind people read and write through Community Shares.

(Compare that to purchasing a coffee from your usual coffee shop each week.)

• $10 per pay period provides respiratory treatment for one and a half days to help a premature baby breathe more easily through Community Health Charities.

(Compare that to buying a fast food value meal each week.)

• $20 per pay period helps pay for a UNCF student’s college textbooks for one year or supports a child learning to read with 40 hours of one-on-one tutoring through the United Way. (Compare that to buying a movie ticket each week.)

How to give.

Each and every day, MPS staff members are a small part of the big difference that we make in the lives of our students. We can do that on a larger scale through the We Give campaign. Participation from MPS staff members is key.

It’s easy! Deductions can be automatically withdrawn from your paycheck once - or every pay period. There are three easy ways to participate:

1. Enroll online at the Community Giving website: http://wegive.mpls.k12.mn.us

2. If you don’t have access to a computer throughout the workday, complete the attached form and return it to the Office of Communications at 807 NE Broadway Street, Room 106.

3. Donate by cash or check. Specify the organization that you want your donation to support and drop off your donation at the Office of Communications.

If you still have questions: If I signed up to give last year, is it necessary to make a new pledge in 2011 for the 2012 calendar year?

Yes. A pledge is only good for one year.

How does the online system work?

Giving online is fast, easy, and safe. Access the online form from the MPS homepage: http://wegive.mpls.k12.mn.us • Click on “Staff” and then click on “We Give.”

• Use your email user name and password to log in.

• Fill in the required sections and select the funds of your choice.

• Initial your pledge.

• Click on “submit” at the bottom of the page.

• Print the confirmation page as a record of your donation.

From how many pay periods will deductions be taken?

Payroll deductions will be taken out of 20 pay periods for all employees, regardless of whether you work year round or only during the school year. To determine your total donation, multiply your payroll pledge by 20. The online form calculates this automatically.

Can I find out what my donation was last year?

Yes. Log on to the website and click the “Archive” button to view a record of your last online donation.

When will the first deduction be made?

Deductions start with the first paycheck in January of 2011.

• Twenty-paycheck deductions begin on January 13, 2012, and go through June 15, 2012 (12 deductions). No deductions are taken over the summer. Deductions begin again on September 21, 2012 and end on December 28, 2012 (8 deductions).

• One-time donations will be deducted on February 24, 2012.

Can I donate to a specific organization or program that is part of one of the approved charities?

• Community Health Charities, Community Shares of Minnesota, Greater Twin Cities United Way and United Arts can process designated gifts to any 501(c)(3) organization.

• AchieveMpls accepts donations for MPS programs and schools.

• Minnesota Environmental Fund accepts donations to its affiliated agencies.

Can I ask that my gift be acknowledged?

Yes. Check the box on the online pledge form and fill in your e‐ mail address to receive your acknowledgement.

Is my donation confidential?

Your donation will remain confidential. Staff members facilitating the campaign do have access to donation reports.

Does the IRS accept a paycheck stub as a receipt?

• The IRS requires that you have a copy of your Donation Confirmation page, which you can print when you complete your pledge, and your final pay record of the year, printed from the ESS system, showing your donation.

• A receipt is necessary if you give $250 or more per paycheck or as a single gift. At that level of giving, the Fund provides a receipt.

How do I cancel a pledge deduction?

Send a written notice, including your employee ID number, to the Payroll Department.

Donate now.

First Name: ______________________________ Last Name: ______________________________ Staff ID Number: _____________ Department/School: ___________________________________ One Time Donation

Per Pay Period Donation

Organization

Organization

AchieveMpls Community Health Charities MN. Community Shares of MN. Greater Twin Cities United Way Minnesota Environmental Fund Open Your Heart to Hungry/Homeless United Arts Fund UNCF TOTAL:

Dollar Amount

Dollar Amount

AchieveMpls Community Health Charities MN. Community Shares of MN. Greater Twin Cities United Way Minnesota Environmental Fund Open Your Heart to Hungry/Homeless United Arts Fund UNCF MULTIPLY BY 20 PAY PERIODS TOTAL:

x 20

If you would like your donation to Community Health Charities, Community Shares of Minnesota, Greater Twin Cities United Way or United Arts Funds to be directed toward a specific organization/program, please list here: (Must be a 501(c)(3) organization.) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you would like your donation to AchieveMpls to be directed toward a specific program or school, please list here: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Would you like to be acknowledged for your gift? (Circle one.)

Yes

No

If you circle yes, please list your mailing or email address here: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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