Orange County United Way Celebrates UNITED for National Philanthropy Day

ocuw — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:14:42 +0000

Join us November 18th for National Philanthropy Day as Orange County United Way provides vitally needed supplies for Oak View Elementary School in support of the El Viento program. Oak View Elementary is in dire need of supplies for both classrooms and playgrounds to excite and educate students. Partner with Orange County United Way as we donate these items and stand together in groups to spell out LIVE UNITED.

Here’s how you can LIVE and GIVE UNITED for National Philanthropy Day:

• Donate Items from November 4th to 16th and bring to Orange County United Way

• Join United Way and UPS on November 18th at Oak View Elementary as we spell out LIVE UNITED and provide needed supplies

Click here for more information, or to LIVE and GIVE UNITED with us, contact Ryan Mariden at (949) 263-6176 or at RyanM@unitedwayoc.org. Thank You for LIVING and GIVING UNITED

‘Community Impact’ Benefits Everyone When The Economy Is Down

ocuw — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:07:52 +0000

With today’s tough economic situation, it is sometimes difficult to remember that we don’t have to wait for our government to start fixing the problem.

Orange County United Way’s Women’s Philanthropy Fund, established in 2002, provides a means for Orange County women to use their collective financial power to make a difference through United Way.

We can start rejuvenating our communities by building self-sufficient lives together as a team. We recently received an article about how United Way’s are helping their communities during this tough time. The article said that even in areas that had high unemployment rates, some United Way’s were able to increase their donations. How? By communicating United Way’s mission of building self-sufficient lives.

“Donors and potential donors could see more than our hand out asking for money,” Tina Banner, the Ocala United Way’s chief fund-raiser says. “United Way has something to offer them — tools they can use to put more money in their pocket.”

The concentration on meeting social-services needs is also helping the United Way of Marion County, in Ocala, Fla., where unemployment has reached 12.9 percent, but donations increased by more than 25 percent last year. Like some other United Ways, it has started what it calls a “prosperity campaign,” offering free services to help needy families become financially independent: filing their income tax returns, applying for new tax credits, offering them workshops on personal finance, and a discount prescription drug card.

When we support and build strength in our communities, our communities support us. It’s an inspiring feeling to think that we the people hold the keys to bringing our communities back to fighting shape!

Source:

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

57% of Nation’s Big United Ways Face Declines

October 15, 2009

A Great Reason To Get Your Holiday Shopping Done Early!!

ocuw — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:36:17 +0000

Shop, Save, and Support Orange County United Way at Bloomingdales – October 29

We are thrilled to announce that for the first time, Orange County United Way has been selected as one of 10 beneficiaries of Bloomingdale’s Shopping Benefit!

Here’s How it Works

Bring the attached invitation (Click Here) to the charity redemption desk at Bloomingdales South Coast Plaza and/or Fashion Island on October 29, 2009, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Purchase a $10 Shopping Benefit ticket.
Receive 15 -20% off nearly all items in the store.
Enjoy live music, fashion events, cooking demonstrations, entertainment for the kids and more.
The best part is, Orange County United Way will receive a $15 dollar donation for each Shopping Benefit ticket purchased.

As a key partner to the United Way, we would love to see you there, and we would like to ask for your help to spread the word far and wide by sending the attached invitation to your friends, family, colleagues, etc. This is a great opportunity to save, and to help make a contribution to build self-sufficient lives!

Women Looking Forward/Michael Kors Campaign Kick-Off Event

ocuw — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:46:51 +0000

Orange County United Way’s Women Looking Forward donor circle kicked off the 2009/2010 campaign year Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 with over 50 guests at Michael Kors, South Coast Plaza. The reception featured an informal fashion show of hot fall fashion trends, Michael Kors giveaways and a drawing for a Michael Kors $500 gift card. The event raised $1,400.00 for Orange County United Way and celebrated the combined efforts of women philanthropists in Orange County through Women Looking Forward.

Susie McCollom, Cindi Bruner, Jennifer Cagle, Lupe Erwin and Stacy Hakopian model Michael Kors fall fashions at the Women Looking Forward 2009/2010 campaign kick-off event.

Women Looking Forward is a donor circle of committed women within Orange County United Way’s Leaders’ Society. Each member contributes a minimum of $1,000 annually with United Way. Women Looking Forward membership provides an opportunity to learn more about the needs in local Orange County communities and become involved in the solution. Over $200,000 was contributed by Women Looking Forward members in the 2008/2009 campaign year to help Orange County residents most in need build self-sufficient lives.

“By combining your resources with Women Looking Forward members and other philanthropic investors, your collective charitable contributions improve lives throughout Orange County,” said Jennifer Cagle, Women Looking Forward founding Chair. “Over the last three years, Women Looking Forward members helped to support over 137,000 families and individuals with essential needs and education and financial literacy programs,” added Cagle.

“Women Looking Forward members play a crucial role in the success of our community programs and over the last three years, Women Looking Forward members have helped build self-sufficient lives with Orange County United Way,” said Maria Chavez Wilcox, President and CEO of Orange County United Way. “Orange County United Way is extremely grateful to have their support and dedication,” added Wilcox.

Thank you to all who joined us! This is gonna be a GREAT campaign year!

For more photos of the event become a fan of us on Facebook.com

A Helpful Tool

ocuw — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:18:16 +0000

Rebecca’s Story

ocuw — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:23:52 +0000

Rebecca’s story is one that is all too familiar due to the current economic situation. Her family’s story is one of hope and encouragement.

For help finding the services you need for Food, Shelter, Child Care, Elder Care and more. Call 2-1-1 or 1-888-600-4357 or visit 2-1-1. (http://www.211oc.org).

Rebecca’s 211 Testimonial: United Way connects families with the services they need.

I would like to start by saying thank you for your time and letting tell my story.
This is one of the hardest things for me to do because I not the kind of person that likes to air my dirty laundry, But I feel that my story need to be told because there are too many people like me that don’t know that they too can get help; they just need to put their pride aside and ask.

Before December of last year, my family was the kind of family that would give money to the feed the families funds, always putting the extra pennies in the red buckets, and giving to other charities that would came along. Before December, I never thought we would be the people that would need help, or be asking for help of any kind. After the happiest and most magical time of the year, things went downhill for us very fast. My husband came back from the two week Christmas black-out at his job as an Aerospace engineer only to be laid off. Thinking it would be okay because my husband would find a job right away, we planned to survive on his un-employment, my income from my part-time job, and our savings account.

However, I was having my own troubles at part-time job as a massage therapist, due to the slipping economy. I was working less and less, and making less and less money.

My husband would get up every morning and pound the pavement, send his resume to any one that would look at it, respond to every want add in the paper, and talk to anyone that might have a job opening. He even thought about standing on the day labor corner.

But as weeks turned in to months, our savings is now a major part of our income and was going fast. We had to tighten our belts, and each month money was getting tighter and tighter. We were able to pay rent, but it was getting later and later each month. We were facing losing our apartment and both cars, having the lights turned off, the phone disconnected, the water would be gone, and anything else that goes along with living. It was getting to be too much, and we had borrowed money from any and all the family members that could help, sold and pawned all that we could live with out, and cut back on all extras. My mother in-law made us go and get help from the government, and we got food stamps. That should be end of story right, but it wasn’t; we got them for a day, only a day! Only half of what they said we would get because it was prorated. Then we get a letter the next day explaining we make too much money on unemployment by $100.00, asking when we could pay them back, and with one full payment or a payment arrangement. I just wanted to cry and crawl in a hole and stay there. Now at this point we our robbing Peter to pay Paul just to keep food on the table. Around this my job is thinking about closing their doors, and I can’t get unemployment because I was a 1099ed employee.

I guess we were wearing our hearts on our sleeves because a friend of ours that works for United Way noticed that things were not quite right, and saw that we were being a little more distant with everyone, and that is not us at all. She gave me her ear to talk to and some numbers to call. I took the numbers and advice. I did feel better that I could tell someone what I was feeling but I never called, letting pride get the best of me again. So I put the numbers in the file cabinet and didn’t think any more about it.

By now it has been about 5 months and my husband has not found a job, but has been on countless interviews and I am looking for a second job as well. We both have college degrees, my husband is licensed with the FAA, and we can’t even get jobs with McDonalds.
For some reason I went back to those numbers and called thinking they can only tell me no. I was at the end of my rope so I called, and I heard the best words in the world: “Yes we can help with what you need.” I had to have her repeat herself just to make sure, but that is what she said; and they helped! They helped with rent, putting food on the table, and helped us to re-budget our money. But they helped with so much more than just money and food, they gave us back our hope; they gave us back us.
That little bit helped a lot, and it seemed to turn our luck around. Three weeks later my husband got a job, and I was able to get my insurance license and start a new job. We are not back on top but we are getting there.

Thank you all for supporting United Way. United Way was able to help me get the help we needed to make ends meet until we got back on our feet. Thank you again from a very thankful family.

A Heartwarming Story of Triumph

ocuw — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:57:27 +0000

Faces of Need in Orange County

ocuw — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:38:22 +0000

More than 200 families and individuals waited in line to recieve food at Orange County United Way funded agency Friendly Center.

Campaign Video 2010

ocuw — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:19:34 +0000

Who is Orange County United Way?

ocuw — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:40:01 +0000

For many Orange County residents, they’re unfamiliar with exactly what United Way does. Orange County United Way is proud lives we’re changing each and every day in Orange County and we want you to know!

Our Vision:

Orange County United Way’s vision is to improve the lives of individuals and families in our community by moving them up the economic ladder from crisis to self-sufficiency. United Way maximizes charitable dollars to have the greatest impact on the quality of life in our community.

Our Work:

Orange County United Way’s mission is to build self-sufficient lives for the health of our community.

To achieve Orange County United Way’s goal to build self-sufficient lives, United Way is focused on two approaches:

First: We support a safety-net of care to ensure that basic needs are met today.
Second: We support solutions for long-term change focused on education and financial stability to move people from dependency to self sufficiency.

Basic Needs: United Way supports programs for individuals and families to access basic need services for food, shelter and medical care to maximize their ability to live in a healthy environment with impendence and dignity.

Education: United Way supports programs for children and youth to endure that they are ready academically, socially and emotionally for kindergarten and are prepared to graduate from high school and pursue secondary education.

Financial Stability: United Way supports programs for individuals to increase their knowledge of financial management and help them pursue education that will allow them to attain marketable skills and achieve employment that provides self-sufficient income.

“When you reach out a hand to one, you influence the condition of all. That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED.”

View a full list of our funded programs.