United Way of Erie County Newsletter May 2015 - Looking Beyond 100

MAY 2015 | VOLUME I unitedwayerie.org

LOOKING BEYOND 100

SAVE THE DATE JUNE 5 Imagination Golf Classic

As we close our Centennial Celebration, we are excited to announce Total Community Support this past year of $6.3 million! This includes donations, grants and contributions from our endowment. But, far and away the largest component of this impressive number is the combination of gifts both large and small from YOU, the people of Erie County who participate in the largest single community mobilization effort in the region – the United Way Campaign!

AUGUST 4 National Night Out AUGUST 31 Women Driving Philanthropy SEPTEMBER 10 Campaign Kickoff

Once again, your generosity will help people with immediate needs such as food, shelter, and clothing, as well as preparing local youth and adults for a

Dates subject to change.

Visit UnitedWayErie.org for complete details.

future where many more of your friends and neighbors can meet their basic needs without having to reach out for public or private assistance.

And while it has been fun to celebrate 100 years of improving lives and building a stronger community, it is time now to look beyond 100 – to our second century of rallying the community to provide resources that address the most pressing needs in the Erie region.

(814) 456-2937 facebook.com/UnitedWayErie @UnitedWayErie

We invite you to explore the pages of this newsletter, where you will learn more about the results you have made possible to help people on the road to self-sufficiency. For some, it’s a short trip that just requires a bit of guidance and encouragement, but for others it can be an arduous journey with many pitfalls and potholes along the way. Thanks to you, however, they do not have to make this trek alone – that’s what we mean by LIVING UNITED!

INSIDE THIS EDITION 3 Faces United - Meet Harka 4 150,000th Imagination Library

Book Mailed

5 2015 Days of Caring

Jim E. Martin, Board Chair

Bill Jackson, President

Centennial Pack-A-Thon

6 Loyal Contributors Spotlight

Young Leaders Society

7 Legacy Society Highlights

LOOKING BEYOND 100

FACES UNITED Meet Harka

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Imagination Library and Erie FREE Taxes help New American family on the road to self-sufficiency Originally from Bhutan, Harka’s family fled to neighboring Nepal when he was a young child to escape government oppression. There, they lived in a refugee camp for nearly two decades. Although Harka was able to graduate from high school while in the camp, life was very hard there — no work, rationed food, shelter and clothing provided by the United Nations’ refugee agencies.

When his family had the opportunity to resettle again, one option available to them was to move to another country.

So, when he was a young adult, he and his family moved to the United States and settled in Erie. Adjusting to America was difficult, in part due to language barriers and being laid off only two weeks after getting his first job.

With the help of several local agencies that provide services to immigrant and refugee populations, Harka received job training classes and guidance in successfully finding gainful, long-term employment.

Once settled, Harka and his wife Khina enrolled their daughter Sulochana in United Way of Erie County’s Imagination Library. Sulochana, now five-years-old, recently graduated from the program. When asked about the impact of the Imagination Library, Harka says, “She loves it and is doing very well in school! We enjoy reading the books together. Thank you United Way!” In addition to the Imagination Library, Harka saw a handup through another important United Way program, Erie FREE Taxes. As a new wage earner in the United States, Harka was faced with needing to file an income tax return.

Initially, he went to a commercial tax preparation business and paid two hundred dollars to have his tax returns completed even though “I had nothing, no savings.”

Erie FREE Taxes Returns Record $8.9M in 2015 Preliminary end-of-season statistics show that more than 5,700 federal returns were filed through Erie FREE Taxes’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for the 2015 filing season. This represents a 10% increase over the 2013 Tax Year. One hundred forty volunteers participated in the VITA program in 2015.

The amount of federal refund dollars returned to the Erie community through Erie FREE Taxes during the 2015 filing season topped $8.9M with more than $3.5M in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) dollars included in this total.

Additionally, this season’s tax filer savings, as a result of using Erie FREE Taxes, is an estimated $1.5M.

Read Harka’s complete story at FacesUnited.org Harka with wife Khina and five-year-old daughter Sulochana, a recent graduate of United Way of Erie County’s Imagination Library

The following year, he was encouraged by a local agency to use the free tax preparation services provided by United Way Erie FREE Taxes. “Then I found you,” Harka explained.

This year, Harka will receive $1,693 in tax refunds. His comment before leaving on Erie FREE Taxes Super Saturday was “You helped me a lot. I don’t have to pay extra money to anybody. I’m happy now.”

When tax filer savings are combined with federal refund dollars, the total economic value of the Erie FREE Taxes 2015 VITA program is an estimated $10.7M. More precise data will be provided after the IRS releases final tallies for the 2014 Tax Year.

Since the inception of Erie FREE Taxes 8 years ago, more than $43.7M in federal refund dollars have been returned to Erie County through program volunteer efforts. When added to estimated tax filer savings due to the free service, the 8-year, cumulative, program value of United Way Erie FREE Taxes is $49.6M.

unitedwayerie.org

PARTNERSHIPS & INITIATIVES 150,000th Imagination Library Book Mailed Instilling a love of reading in every Erie County child Education is the key to moving people out of poverty and on the road to self-sufficiency. In April 2015, the 150,000th FREE, high quality, age-appropriate Imagination Library book was mailed in Erie County.

In less than two years, through community support of the Imagination Library, nearly 11,000 children have signed-up for this gamechanging program. Imagine all of the children anticipating the arrival of their books and then spending time reading them with their family – over and over again.

The American Association of Pediatrics “Books are awesome! My mommy and daddy read them to me. It’s lots of fun “strongly recommends reading to children to get them in the mail!” every day, starting after they are first born,” because “reading stimulates the development of the brain, language, and a closer emotional relationship with the child.”

May is “Get Caught Reading Month” and with your support, we are helping more children get caught reading with their new Imagination Library Books!

As we end United Way’s Centennial Campaign and begin to look toward our next 100 years, there’s no better way to help our community’s youngest citizens begin reading early and enter kindergarten with the literacy skills they need to be successful in school and beyond than by supporting the Imagination Library.

That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED. Learn more and give your support at UnitedWayErie.org/Imagination.

Helping Families Read Together Reading Buddies supports United Way’s Imagination Library by directly teaching parents the importance of reading to children. Find out more at UnitedWayErie.org/ReadingBuddies

LOOKING BEYOND 100

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VOLUNTEER

Through Get Connected, Erie’s volunteer portal, more than 3,000 volunteers assisted with 65 projects during the 2015 Days of Caring.

Projects included everything from outdoor clean-ups and landscaping to painting and gardening.

Above: Packers from the Centennial Meal Pack-A-Thon prepare ingredients for some of the 100,000+ meals packaged during the event. Below: Days of Caring clean up projects at Rainbow Park, West Bayfront and Gridley Park and the Centennial Pack-A-Thon event. Volunteers utilized Get Connected Erie, the region’s volunteer portal, to find volunteer opportunities during the 2015 Days of Caring.

DAYS OF CARING unitedwayerie.org

Spotlight on our

LOYAL CONTRIBUTORS

United Way’s Loyal Contributor program recognizes and thanks donors of any giving level who have supported United Way for 10 years or more.

Meet Rich Speicher, Principal and Owner of Weber Murphy Fox, and his wife, Mary C. Gensheimer, an assistant professor at Gannon University.

Loyally LIVING UNITED for nearly two decades, Rich and Mary are fervent believers that those who can help, must help. “That’s what makes a community thrive,” says Rich.

Years ago, Rich’s father solicited funds on behalf of the Community Chest, one of the predecessors to what is now United Way of Erie County. Rich grew up believing in the value of the United Way system, but it wasn’t until he volunteered as a program reviewer for United Way’s allocations process that he realized how much goes into selecting the programs that receive funding from United Way. “I was surprised at the dedication of so many volunteers who worked rigorously to make reasoned, responsible choices,” says Rich. “It gives me great confidence to know that community members play such an important role in choosing the most efficient and effective programs.”

When asked what he would tell someone else who was thinking about making a gift to United Way, Rich has a simple response: “Do it,” he says. “United Way has been open and transparent, and it’s our responsibility to help make the community a better place for all of us.”

YOUNG LEADERS SOCIETY What is YLS?

Individuals or couples who are under the age of 45 and give at least $500 annually to United Way of Erie County qualify as YLS members. YLS members have the opportunity to take part in various networking opportunities throughout the year, as well as volunteer for the YLS Signature Project: the McKinley Adopt-A-School Program.

What’s Next for YLS?

United Way’s Young Leaders Society (YLS) “adopts” the fifth grade at McKinley Elementary School each year. YLS members take part in a number of activities throughout the year to let the fifth-graders know that the community is invested in their success. This past school year, monthly Career Exploration events were held where YLS members came in to discuss their careers with the students and help them understand how their education today is critical to their future success.

LOOKING BEYOND 100

We have some exciting changes in store.

Beginning with the 2015-16 Campaign, individuals under the age of 30 who give at least $250 annually to United Way will be eligible to join YLS. Additionally, we will be working more closely with the students at McKinley as we add regular mentoring opportunities for YLS members.

Want to know more?

Contact John Simon, Assistant Vice President of Investor Relations Email: john@unitedwayerie.org Phone: (814) 456-2937 x247

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LEGACY SOCIETY

Highlights

Maximize the satisfaction you receive from your assets.

You have worked hard all your life to save and grow your investments.

If you are like most people, you are looking for ways to minimize taxes and maximize not just your monetary gain but the overall satisfaction you receive from your assets.

Here are some helpful ideas

that can help you make the most of your investments through charitable giving

assets to the trust, you can avoid capital gains tax. The trust will sell your assets tax-free and reinvest the proceeds to pay you (and your spouse) income for the rest of your life. You will receive an income tax deduction in the year you create the trust. Our organization will benefit from what remains of the trust assets after all payments have been made.

OPTION

BENEFIT

Gift of appreciated assets

Income tax deduction

Charitable remainder unitrust

Payments and income tax deduction

Live fully and still benefit

Beneficiary designation

Estate tax savings

Life estate

Income tax deduction and use of home

Perhaps you are looking for a way to preserve your assets for future use. You can still help us by naming our organization as a beneficiary or successor owner of any assets that remain in your estate. If your estate will be subject to estate tax, this type of gift may entitle you to estate tax savings. Another possibility is to create a life estate in your real property. With a life estate, you deed your home to us but may remain living there for the rest of your life. You will receive an income tax deduction in the year you transfer the property to us, and we can make use of the home value when you pass away.

Taxwise planning If you own appreciated assets that you wish to sell but are concerned about facing higher capital gains taxes this year, consider a charitable gift. When you transfer your stock or real property to us, we can sell your assets tax-free and use the proceeds to carry on our work. You will avoid paying additional taxes this year and receive a charitable deduction for your gift to us.

Give and receive If you are concerned about capital gains taxes but still need income from your stocks or real estate, another idea is a charitable remainder unitrust. When you transfer your

Would you like more information?

Contact John Simon, Assistant Vice President of Investor Relations, john@unitedwayerie.org; (814) 456-2937 x247 or visit ErieLegacy.org

unitedwayerie.org

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420 West 6th Street Suite 200 Erie, PA 16507 unitedwayerie.org

BREAKING NEWS WIN OUR 1965 FORD MUSTANG!

In celebration of their 50th anniversary, Country Fair will be helping to support United Way of Erie County’s Imagination Library in a CLASSIC way! Raffle tickets will be sold at all Country Fair stores located in Pennsylvania from May 11 - August 31 for a chance to win our 1965 Ford Mustang. One ticket will be drawn on September 8, 2015 at United Way of Erie County.

• 100,000+ meals packaged in less than two hours for those facing hunger in Erie County at Centennial Pack-a-Thon • 150,000th Imagination Library book mailed in Erie County • First Reading Nook completed at the JFK Center with second location in the works • Record $8.9M returned for 2014 Erie FREE Taxes filing season • $6.3M in Total Community Support!

If you see the Ford Mustang out and about at your local Country Fair, be sure to stop by and say hello to United Way staff and volunteers and purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win the Mustang! Tickets are just $2.00 each, 3/$5.00 and 7/$10.00. All proceeds from tickets sales in Erie County will go directly to United Way’s Imagination Library.

THANK YOU

Prize Generously Donated by:

Complete eligibility rules and requirements: UnitedWayErie.org/MustangRaffle Licensee: United Way of Erie County License #: 20145466 | Permit #: 20157109

FOR A YEAR OF MILESTONES!