United Way of Roanoke Valley
DECEMBER 2017
SUCCESSFUL YOUTH SUPPORT THE FAMILY, IMPACT THE COMMUNITY, CHANGE THE ODDS. With the recent rollout of our new strategic plan, United Way has a goal of elevating 10,000 families to self-sufficiency by 2030. According to local data, more than 22,000 families in our community are struggling to maintain stability. This prompted our bold vision for a cradle to career continuum of support that focuses on the entire family. By working with Early Learners, Successful Youth, and Healthy Adults, we’ll address issues that are interrelated as families are rarely faced with challenges in just one category. With these new collaborations, we’ll be able to address the needs of family members at every stage of life. One of the strategies that UWRV employs is connecting students with the help they need to stay in school and providing support and stability for parents to help
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their teens get to graduation day. A living example of the positive results of such strategies is Aaron Deane. Aaron grew up in a supportive home environment but was bullied fairly consistently during his middle school years. While a student at William Fleming High School, he became involved with the Teen Outreach Program (TOP) at Family Service of Roanoke Valley and was chosen to volunteer at Hurt Park Elementary School with EnglishLanguage Learner students. Admittedly, volunteering in that capacity was not his first choice but was a position that he learned to love and grow in as it helped him gain leadership skills and laid out a path of service that he has carried throughout his life. “I think every youth has a little candle in them and by that I mean there’s
a spark and they just need to find the thing that lights it...not only did Teen Outreach Program light it for me, it set me on fire,” says Aaron. Without afterschool programs like TOP, students like Aaron wouldn’t have support or outlets to deal with obstacles such as bullying. Since high school he has graduated from college, started a career as a production
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assistant for a local TV station, and has the goal to one day host a national talk show that will demonstrate that “no matter what hand of cards you are dealt in life, you can win in the end, but it’s your choice of how to ‘get the win’.” For more information on our new strategic direction and how you can get involved, please visit www.uwrv.org.
325 Campbell Ave, SW Roanoke, VA 24016 Phone: (540) 777-4200
335 S. Main St. Rocky Mount, VA 24151 Phone: (540) 483-4949
www.uwrv.org