UWRV Fall 2022 Newsletter

ABBY HAMILTON RECEIVES CABELL BRAND AWARD

This past October our fearless CEO, Abby Hamilton, received the Cabell Brand Hope Award.

To honor his’s legacy of service, each year TAP presents The Cabell Brand Hope Award to a community member who is nominated by their peers. Cabell Brand, founder of TAP, was a tireless advocate for a wide spectrum of issues. He generously gave his time and efforts to enhance the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.

We are so proud of how Abby represents and leads United Way of Roanoke Valley as a community change leader, champion for the cause, and challenges of the status quo. We are grateful for her impeccable leadership, giving heart, altruistic spirit, and compassion for everyone.

Congratulations

TAP was pleased to select Abby as the recipient of the 2022 Cabell Brand Hope Award. Cabell, a businessman and resident of our community, was committed to doing all that he could to develop opportunities for the marginalized to become integrated into society so that they could achieve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness through education, employment, housing, economic stability, safe and healthy lives, and more. Abby works tirelessly every day to open doors of opportunities as the leader of United Way of Roanoke Valley and a concerned citizen. When the COVID pandemic hit our community, Abby brought together state and local elected officials, heads of agencies, and everyone that she thought could help the marginalized survive one of the worst pandemics in our lifetime. She did exactly what Cabell would have done. Therefore, this TAP Board was pleased to receive Abby’s nomination and present her with this prestigious award.

Annette Lewis, TAP President and CEO

ABBY FOR THIS WELL-DESERVED HONOR!

OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER’S LOCAL AND NATIONAL IMPACT

This past fall Lucas Tuning and Lashara Wade, UWRV Community Health Workers (CHW), were chosen to be part of a panel of CHWs from across the nation at the 12th Annual Appalachian Translational Research Network (ATRN) Summit held at the University of Kentucky. Their selection was due to a working relationship with Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension (VTVCE). United Way of Roanoke Valley has been working with VTVCE in order to get some of their agents trained as CHWs across the state. They have watched how the UWRV Community Resource Hub has restructured, and the respect it has earned for its innovative work throughout the Roanoke Valley. Through other interactions and discussions related to UWRV CHW/Hub work, VA Tech became familiar with our Hub community-based model that places CHWs in non-medical settings, specifically in rural areas, and the work that is done in non-traditional ways.

CHW’s work consists of and is not just limited to providing access to Covid-19 vaccines, delivering food, helping sign up for healthcare, finding a new Primary Care Physician, helping find housing, delivering coats and blankets to homeless families, food distribution drives, organizing vaccine clinics, and everything in between.

My work in the community feels nothing like work to me. It truly blesses me each day to be able to go out and assist my neighbors in the community. Some days, I feel like it’s more of a blessing to me than it is to them. I love what I do and I love being able to make a difference in someone’s life. It truly is a humbling experience that I am most grateful for.

Lashara Wade, UWRV Community Health Worker

TWO FRANKLIN COUNTY DAY HOMES RANKED HIGHEST IN VA

United Way of Roanoke Valley supports the infrastructure of the Ready Region West (RRW) grant initiative. Within RRW there are currently 7 Early Education Specialists employed by UWRV who work with nearly 200 childcare and preschool programs that support directors and teachers. They use a combination of classroom observations and follow up coaching, with a focus on efforts improving quality childcare and early education. The observations and coaching/follow up training result in quality scores. Classroom observations are scored on a scale of 1-7, with one being the lowest, and 7 the highest score.

The quality assessment process covers basic elements that include, but not limited to, health and safety, credentials of teachers and directors, ongoing professional development, use of curriculum, and quality interactions between teacher and children in the classroom. Follow up support, training, and coaching plans are specifically related to program scores. Participation in this statewide quality improvement system is currently voluntary.

Although Ready Region West covers 16 cities and counties, their work in Franklin County targets 21 early childhood settings. This support includes training for 99 teachers and assistants, in programs that have served as many as 700 children. Due to the training and support provided by Ready Region West, Franklin County has the only two Family Day Homes in the state of Virginia that has scored a level 5, Sonnia’s Little Angels in Rocky Mount and Deanna’s Daycare in Boones Mill. Sonnia’s Little Angels has been providing care in her home for over 25 years. She is the very first family home site to receive a level 5 in Virginia. This is the highest rating currently achieved in the state focusing on quality and improvement.

KEEPING THE COMMUNITY HEALTHY AND SAFE

United Way of Roanoke Valley was awarded a grant through Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District to develop a campaign centered on improving vaccination rates among those disproportionately impacted by Covid-19.

The campaign involves a variety of marketing strategies emphasizing the importance of getting the Covid-19 vaccine. Marketing includes Impact videos featuring personal stories from local community members impacted by Covid-19. These videos are being shared on UWRV’s social media pages, website and with partner organizations and thus far have been viewed nearly 7,000 times in just one month. Public Transit is another part of the campaign as English and Spanish bus ads can be seen throughout the Roanoke Valley promoting why one should protect themselves and their loved ones and get vaccinated. Other platforms include digital marketing and a billboard placed in Covington, VA. To date the digital campaign has influenced over 75,000 impressions.

Community outreach events have also taken place as part of this grant. With our partners at New Horizons United Way of Roanoke Valley and TAP hosted a vaccination clinic. UWRV also hosted a Community Remembrance event in Craig County on November 29 where approximately 60 residents of Craig County and surrounding areas attended. This Healing Community event honored those who lost their lives due to Covid-19 in Craig County, acknowledged the loss and impact Covid-19 has had on the community, and celebrated the resilience of Craig County residents and community. A community event is currently being planned for Roanoke City in early 2023. The goal of each of these initiatives is to increase vaccinations in order to keep our communities healthy and safe. We look forward to see how this overall campaign will continue to make an impact into next year.

LIVING UNITED IN ACTION

During the final months of 2022 UWRV staff was busy engaging with the community at several fall festivals, school supply drives, organizing vaccination clinics, hosting our annual conference for early childhood providers, and canvasing neighborhoods with holiday food packages.

The fall season ushered in new and old traditions. UWRV hosted our inaugural Golf Classic this past September immediately followed by honoring several individuals and companies from the community at our annual Celebration and Kick Off. Our staff also enjoyed the annual tradition of preparing for the Valley’s popular holiday attraction Fashions for Evergreens benefiting UWRV.

VA GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOGNIZES UWRV

Delegate Sam Rasoul introduced a resolution to the General Assembly commending the United Way of Roanoke Valley on being awarded Nonprofit of the Year by the Salem-Roanoke Chamber of Commerce. After the resolution was passed, UWRV staff and Board members gathered on August 23 to receive the resolution as Delegate Rasoul read the following.

United Way of Roanoke Valley is one of the most crucial nonprofit services in our region. They provide a much-needed safety net for so many families in need throughout our community.

Sam Rasoul, Virginia State Delegate

“Whereas for nearly a century, the United Way of Roanoke Valley has bought people, resources and local partners together through various programs and services to address the most pressing needs of the communities of the cities of Roanoke and Salem, the town of Vinton, and the counties of Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, and Roanoke…”

“Whereas, the United Way of Roanoke Valley responded to the Covid-19 pandemic by raising more than $214,000 and providing assistance to nearly 28,000 individuals, providing a vital lifeline during the historic public health crisis…”

“Whereas, the accomplishments of the United Way of Roanoke Valley are the result of the tireless efforts of its dedicated staff and hundreds of volunteers and were made possible through collaboration with the organization’s extensive partner network, which includes numerous regional school divisions, health systems, churches, municipalities, civic organizations, and more…”

DID YOU KNOW?

Fashions for Evergreens is not just a Christmas tree decorating event...

Come see the trees this season!

Fashions for Evergreens is free and open to the public from Thanksgiving to New Years Day.

Vote for your favorite trees this season by donating at the Hotel Roanoke or online at www.uwrv.org!

A bright smile, a fun hello, a contagious chuckle is what you will receive when you are greeted by Salem’s Jennie Sue Murdock. A lifelong advocate for helping others, Jennie Sue’s entire adult life has been dedicated to working with various local non-profits from Volunteer Services of the Roanoke Valley to the Girl Scouts of VA Skyline. She served as the Executive Director of YWCA of Roanoke Valley and has always been a champion for others and has a heart for giving. Professionally and personally, it is important to Murdock to see everyone within her community be healthy, productive, and successful, and that’s why she and her late husband, Reverend Bill Murdock, have donated to the United Way each year since 1973. Murdock appreciates the mission of the United Way’s thoroughness in studying the needs of the community, how it addresses those needs, and its overall involvement within the community as a whole. Unofficially known as the “Mayor of Salem,” to this day she continues to support UWRV, as the organization aligns with her passions: consistently focusing on the needs of local youth, mental health services, early childhood education, seniors, transportation, and hunger.

When asked what changes has she observed with UWRV over the decades she shared, “although the way the funds are raised is different, United Way of Roanoke Valley leads the community in addressing the needs of the citizens.”

We are thankful for lifelong donors like Jennie Sue Murdock whose unfailing support helps UWRV to make an impact in our community. Jennie Sue and her late husband’s passion for service and giving back to their community is reflected not only by what they have given but also through their enthusiastic volunteerism.

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Since 1929, Altec has been raising the bar through innovative product design, integrated safety features, and continued dedication to total customer satisfaction. Altec’s Roanoke facility was built in 2001 to engineer, manufacture and assemble telescopic boom truck cranes and has recently expanded to include large transmission derricks and 55 foot aerial devices. From design, fabrication and finishing, the Botetourt location’s manufacturing focus is on equipment for the electric utility, tree care and oil and gas arenas. Enjoyment of work, financial stability, and the acknowledgment that people are their greatest strength are among their core values. These values are reflected in how they do business, and how they engage with the communities where they operate. They ensure that their employees personally excel while making a difference with the company, their customers, and communities.

United Way of Roanoke Valley can attest to the difference they are making as this ever growing company has led a workplace campaign since 2006 – each year growing stronger and stronger. Their last UWRV workplace campaign raised over $200,000 with 70% employee participation. Since then, the team has raised nearly $2M for United Way of Roanoke Valley providing multi-generational, lasting solutions critical for family success.

Thank you ALTEC for leading the way for workplace campaigns.

Altec employees enjoying their UWRV Workplace Campaign Kick-Off for the 16th year.