GATOR FANS KICK UP SOME DIRT AT THE SWAMP
United Way’s Young Leaders Society (YLS) experienced its Exclusive! Backstage Pass to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium tour Wednesday, June 12. Guests traveled through the sky box tower before heading over to the Heavener Football Complex Lobby to view trophies and learn about the average day in the life of a University of Florida football player. The tour featured interactive content and concluded with a short highlight video in the Gator Room.
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY SUCCESS As UWNCFL begins fiscal year 2014,
Cat Ferris, YLS co-chair, took advantage of the opportunity to recruit new YLS members and share information about what YLS means to participants. She said the main goal of YLS is to engage donors, help them to understand what it is that United Way does and give them an opportunity to get involved. YLS also provides opportunities for networking, volunteering and professional development.
we look back on last year’s community impact. THE STORY IN NUMBERS READINGPALS INITIATIVE:
Served 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders at Lake Forest, Idylwild, Terwilliger, and Caring and Sharing Elementary Schools, as well as the Northwest, and Woodland Park Boys and Girls Clubs.
• ReadingPals Volunteers = 170 • ReadingPals students served = 169 • More than 3,000 volunteer hours, which can be calculated to be worth at least $66,240 (according to $22.14/hr volunteer time in independentsector.org) • Three of the four schools increased FCAT reading scores after one year
BOOK NOOK PROJECT:
The bookshelves are stocked with gently-used books that are free for families to take.
• 43 book nooks have been placed in the community with the help of groups like Shands; Exactech, Inc.; Gainesville Rotary; Nationwide Insurance; Junior League of Gainesville; Golder Associates; Carr, Riggs & Ingram; Bosshardt Realty Services; University of Florida and Women’s Leadership Council!
BOOK AND FOOD DRIVES:
• Collected 6,587 books for distribution to the community • Collected 13,140 items of food for distribution in the community
UNITED WAY WORLDWIDE DAY OF ACTION: JUNE 21
• 21 volunteers (Thanks to Exactech; United Way of North Central Florida’s Women’s Leadership Council; Bosshardt Realty Services; Golder Associates; Junior League of Gainesville; Rotary Club of Gainesville; Gainesville Women’s Club; Nationwide and Carr Riggs & Ingram!) Special Thanks to Our Academy Sponsors
• 14 Book Nooks assembled and painted • 383 books donated • $255 donated for purchase of additional Book Nooks and books
VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAM: • 1,719 filed tax returns, 38% increase from 2012! • 234 myfreetaxes.com filed tax returns, making United Way of North Central Florida one of the top 25 myfreetaxes URLs in the country (myfreetaxes.com/uwncfl) • Total EITC = $504,505 (this excludes the 234 myfreetaxes returns; this information has not yet been received) • Total refunds = $1,479,194
SCHOOL-BASED DENTAL SEALANT INITIATIVE: served 13 schools in Alachua County
• 541 children treated, 117% increase from 2012 • 1,561 sealants placed, 95% increase from 2012
Tocqueville Society Member, Paul McKnight
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Paul McKnight is a Tocqueville Society member and has been a strong advocate for United Way of North Central Florida for more than 30 years. United Way’s Tocqueville Society honors leaders locally and nationally who exemplify community leadership through their high level of personal giving to United Way. The society is one of the World’s most prestigious institutions for individuals who are passionate about improving peoples’ lives and strengthening communities.
VISTA VOLUNTEERS:
McKnight supports United Way because United Way supports agency programs that make a difference. He believes United Way does a good job of educating people about the needs of others and creates an opportunity for people to give in an easy and dignified way.
• Served more than 500 children and 125 families in the Weekend Hunger Backpack Program • Organized book and food drives throughout the year
“At Hospital Corporation of America, we have the means, so we need to give back to the community,” McKnight said.
supporting the Weekend Hunger Backpack Program operated by Catholic Charities, and our ReadingPals and School-based Dental Sealant Initiatives
CHECK & CONNECT INITIATIVE:
He knows so many people have benefited from his contributions to United Way, and he encourages others to learn about the Tocqueville Society and take advantage of the opportunity to help others.
• Worked with 80 at-risk 9th grade students • Decrease in referrals for behavioral issues • Increase in attendance and grades in the majority of the students
McKnight appreciates that United Way has evolved into more than a funder in the last few years.
served at-risk 9th graders in three Alachua County high schools: Gainesville, Eastside and Hawthorne.
Ferris believes once people understand how the dollars are distributed, they become more passionate about the programs and want to get involved in making the community stronger. The YLS mission is to engage and inspire young professionals who donate to the United Way. YLS members will learn about United Way, build professional and leadership skills, interact with executive-level United Way donors, volunteer for community projects and learn the importance of leadership giving.
Interested in joining YLS? Please contact Amy Stickel at astickel@unitedwayncfl.org, or call 352-331-2800.
“United Way is promoting volunteer work and other ways to change lives,” he said. “It’s not just fundraising.”
Thank you Paul for all that you do for United Way of North Central Florida and our community.
“Once I saw how each little dollar makes a difference, then I became really passionate, and that’s when I became a strong advocate for United Way.”– Cat Ferris