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Why I "LIVE UNITED"
I want to help people in need. And I know you do, too - that's why you're reading this newsletter. You're interested in what's going on at Twin County United Way. You've probably already given your time or money or both. Thank you!
I'm sure you have great reasons for being involved. Here are mine:
· I want to help where the need is greatest. Twin County United Way marshals resources in the Valley and identifies the biggest needs - and then finds programs that address those needs and provides support and funds to help make those programs successful. If you're like me, you don't always know what needs are highest. One year it may be health care for the uninsured; the next, it may be substance abuse. It's not the same every year. But I am sure that Twin County United Way is on top of it and is focused on how best to address that need.
· I want to help people in the Valley without relying on outside sources. I happen to believe that the best solution to the needs in our Valley is to have the citizens right here identify them and supply solutions directly. Who knows better than us what is needed here and how to tackle the problem? Twin County United Way is funded by you, the donors, and run by local staff and volunteers who are dedicated to, and focused on, this great Valley.
You're reasons may be different than mine. What makes you enthusiastic about Twin County United Way? Think it through, write it down, and have it ready to share. I challenge you to tell two people this month, and transfer some of your enthusiasm to others. Let's start some buzz! Getting others excited about what Twin County United Way is doing may be the single biggest contribution you can make. Sure, we need money and volunteers...but if we can grow a larger and larger group of folks that are excited about our mission, the money and volunteers will follow.
Everyone has different reasons for being involved with Twin County United Way...and that's what makes it great. Various reasons and motivations all get people to funnel their energy into one common goal: to identify needs, unite people, share resources, and improve lives in Nez Perce & Asotin Counties. That's a worthy goal we can all agree on.
Mike Bly
Inland Cellular
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Twin County United Way Day of Caring
Friday June 17th 2011
A DAY TO REMEMBER | |
We were so proud to launch our Day of Caring this year with a record number of volunteers (73) registered to show how much they care about our community. On Friday, June 17 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., volunteers from many businesses came together to put life to the words "LIVE UNITED".
The goal of our Day of Caring is to send volunteer teams on meaningful, hands-on community projects to assist local agencies with various needs, to provide community members with a firsthand look at the services provided by local agencies, and promotes the spirit of caring. And that is exactly what we accomplished on this day.
Thank you to all the local businesses that sent their employees to volunteer. Project locations included the Homes of Hope, Lewis Clark Early Childhood Program, Valley Meals on Wheels, YWCA, Twin County United Way, Family Promise, and Inland Northwest Blood Center.
Interested in seeing more of the impact made through our Day of Caring? Click on the image below to view our E-scrapbook.
 | | Click on the image above to view our E-Scrapbook |
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| Children's Project 2011 underway |
We are excited to announce our sponsorship for the Children's Project, which kicked off on June 27th at Highland Elementary and McGhee Elementary.
The mission of the Children's Project is to bring the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley together and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive physically, mentally, and socially. The project helps ready children so they can be successful in the kindergarten and develop ongoing strategies to keep them ahead of the curve.
Your Twin County United Way has partnered with the Lewiston & Clarkston School Districts, Community Action Partnership, Lewis-Clark Early Head Start, Lewiston City Library, Asotin County Library, and the Boys & Girls Clubs.
One of the components of the Children's Project is the Kindergarten Bootcamp, which is 6 weeks of classroom time for pre-kindergarten children. The "Bootcamp" focuses on kindergarten readiness for students attending kindergarten at Highland Elementary & McGhee Elementary. Our goal is to surpass the achieved outcomes from last year which resulted in 80 percent of the participating children increasing their letter recognition, 75 percent successfully learning and following school routines, and 50 percent of the participants achieving an increase in positive behavior. All this is accomplished before the students begin their kindergarten school year, giving them an inside look of what school will be like and teaching them essential skills. Certified teachers at McGhee & Highland Elementary are instructors for the "Bootcamp" and are paid by stipends.
The Kindergarten Project will run from June 28 - August 4. Classroom instruction takes place from 8:30am - 12:00pm, Monday - Thursday.
Click here for more information on our Children's Project.
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Success Story From the Field:
The YWCA
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Twin County United Way is proud to support the YWCA's Rental Assistance Program which has been in effect for approximately nine months and has been able to serve 186 people, including victims of Crime, Domestic Violence, Veterans and others who have fallen on hard times. During the initial assessment every client completes a budget sheet & the YWCA discusses the client's greatest need. Through this program, they have discovered that there are often other underlying issues that need to be addressed first. The main goal of the YWCA's Rental Assistance Program is to empower the client to be self-sufficient by offering realistic tools in order for them to achieve and maintain financial stability. The following is a success story from this program:
A gentleman came in to the YWCA requesting rental assistance. The YWCA quickly found out that this gentleman was a veteran suffering from extreme Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is on several medications, has a part time job and is on a fixed income from SSDI. Unfortunately, he was living with a girlfriend who was physically abusing him. Due to these circumstances, this man was trying to find a way to leave his current situation, but financially did not know if he could make it on his own, nor how he would begin the planning process. He was given a budget sheet with which the YWCA began to work out a plan. Through the creation of this budget, they discussed that he could maintain rent and all his bills, but would have to stay within a fixed rental amount. With the help from Twin County United Way funding, the YWCA was able to commit to helping him with the first month's rent and deposit, as long as he followed the guidelines that were set for him. Seeing the benefit of the YWCA's help, this gentleman requested that he keep in contact on a daily basis either on the phone or by coming into the office, so they could discuss what rental places he had looked into. With this information, the YWCA would once again sit down with him to work on his budget with the new monthly rental amount for each place and would see how each affected his budget. After 3 weeks, the YWCA successfully worked with this client & was able to find an apartment that he would be able to afford, along with his bills and expenses. The YWCA paid his deposit and first months' rent. |
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It is said that volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart. Part of our mission is to UNITE, and there is no greater way to have an impact on our community than by coming together and volunteering.
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NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!
Our list of need for volunteers continues to grow. Our partner agencies are in need of your helping hand. Check our website to see a list of ways you can give to others through your time and talents! Please contact the Twin County United Way office at (208) 743-6594 to LIVE UNITED by fulfilling one of the volunteer opportunities!
Click here for a list of opportunities.
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Twin County United Way
Annual Banquet Celebration
About 65 local business leaders turned out for our Annual Banquet celebration at the Red Lion Hotel.
We are honored to have had another successful year, all of which could not have happened without you.
Our honorary campaign chair, Chris Loseth, was recognized along with several board members for their service, including Lynn Posey for her 12 years of dedication to the organization.
"It's been the most rewarding 12 years of my life," she said. "It's been a passion."
 | | Click to download our 2010 Annual Report |
The Spirit of Caring award was presented to three local businesses for their service to Twin County United Way: Bryden Canyon Golf Course, Inland Cellular and ATK.
Mike Berghammer of ATK received our Rookie of the Year award and Janis Forsmann of Clearwater Paper was named Volunteer of the Year.
"I take this passionately," Forsmann said. "I'm humbled by this."
Also, our Board President Bert Sahlberg passed the gavel to new president Seyra Lawrence.
"It reminds me of how great our community is," she said. "It takes all of us to do this together. What you do makes a huge impact to our community."
Thanks to our Sponsors:
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Contact Us
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Mailing Address:
2207 E. Main Street
Lewiston, ID 83501
Phone: (208) 743-6594
Fax: (208) 743-7004
NEW Website: www.tcuw.org |
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