United Way of Greater New Haven Archive posts

Obama Passes Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

2009-04-23T11:32:00.006-04:00

Tuesday, April 21, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act into law. The quick passage and broad support for this legislation are testaments to the power of service to meet pressing national challenges and the wide spread recognition that service is a solution. President Obama called for passage of national service legislation in his joint address to Congress on February 25, and the House and Senate responded with remarkable speed, sending the bill to the President's desk a month later. The fast action on the bill resulted from years of work on a bipartisan basis in Congress, strong leadership from President Obama, and support from America's nonprofit and service sector.

This legislation comes at a moment of need and opportunity for our nation. The economic downturn is causing hardship for millions of Americans putting more people at risk for unemployment, foreclosure, abuse, addiction, and other challenges. National service helps by providing nonprofits with an infusion of people willing to serve to recruit volunteers and manage programs.

Seventy-five years to the day after President Roosevelt signed the Civilian Conservation Corps into law, the House sent President Obama this new sweeping expansion of national service that will engage millions of Americans in solving local problems through volunteering.

Courtesy of AARP Bulletin Today

To read more, click on any of the links below:

NY Times

CNN.com

CT Mission of Mercy Free Dental Services & The Importance of Oral Health

2009-04-14T16:54:00.003-04:00

Oral Health Crisis
Maintaining good oral health is important for overall general health. In Connecticut, approximately 1 million people lack access to dental care, putting their oral health, and overall health, at risk. Nationally, for every adult without medical insurance, there are three without dental insurance. Unfortunately, for many individuals living on small incomes or without dental insurance, dental care is a luxury that they cannot afford.

Why Oral Health Matters
Children and adults with poor oral health not only face extreme pain, discomfort, and embarrassment, but are more likely to get sick and miss school or work. Periodontal disease is associated with increased risk of low-birth-weight, premature births, diabetes, heart and lung diseases, and stroke. The Surgeon General found that oral diseases and their treatment place a burden on society in the form of lost days and years of productive work.

Tooth decay is the most prevalent chronic condition among children in the United States. More than one-quarter of US preschoolers (28%) have experienced visible cavities well before entering school.

Meeting the Need
As a way of addressing this significant health crisis, the Connecticut Mission of Mercy is opening a multi-day dental clinic to the public. Dental services will be provided to anyone (children, adults and the elderly) who is without dental insurance and in a low-income situation. Patients will be screened and treated based on their most urgent dental needs. Most importantly, all treatments and services are completely free. Services will be provided by volunteer dentists, UConn dental students, dental hygienists and dental assistants. All services will be on a first come, first serve basis.

Additional Information
You can learn more about the Mission of Mercy event as well as the importance of oral health by visiting the following links:

http://uwgnhnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/connecticut-mission-of-mercy-volunteer.html

http://www.courant.com/news/health/hc-mission-of-mercy-dental-0326.artmar26,0,3270131.story

http://www2.nidcr.nih.gov/sgr/execsumm.htm

http://www.cdhp.org/

http://www.cdc.gov/ORALHEALTH/publications/factsheets/adult.htm

Success By Six Advisory Council Urges Legislators to Protect Early Childhood Services

2009-04-14T13:36:00.010-04:00

United Way of Greater New Haven would like to share a letter from Co-Chairs John Leventhal and Stephanie Redding on behalf of the Success By Six Advisory Council that was recently mailed to area state representatives and senators from the following towns UWGNH serves:

Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange,West Haven, and Woodbridge

April 8, 2009

Connecticut State Senate
The State Capitol
Legislative Office Building

Hartford, CT 06106-1591

Dear Senator,

As Co-Chairs of United Way of Greater New Haven’s Success By Six Advisory Council, we are writing to urge you to protect critical early childhood services from the Governor’s proposed budget cuts as well as act upon early care and education funding opportunities through the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It is our hope that as leaders who care about early education, you will continue to work with us toward our goal of ensuring that all children in our region are healthy, nurtured, supported and have the tools and skills they need to learn and succeed when they enter kindergarten by improving access to quality early childhood programs.

Not only are quality early childhood programs good for children, research shows that investing in such programs can generate government savings that more than repay their costs and produce returns to society that outpace most public and private investments. To that end, we urge you to at least maintain funding levels for Care4Kids, state funded child care centers, quality enhancement, school readiness and health services. In addition, your efforts to effectively advocate for early care and education federal funding opportunities around the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Head Start, IDEA and No Child Left Behind will enable area agencies to provide more families with quality early care and education services.

We also encourage you to support interagency coordination, partnerships and accountability so that the state can continue to build an early care and education system across government agencies system. Such a system would make it easier for families with young children to navigate the different programs with their different requirements and would ensure that the state’s resources are being well-used. The Early Childhood Education Cabinet was an important entity in promoting coordination and accountability, and we encourage you to keep this structure in place.

Similarly, the Governor’s recommended elimination of the Commission on Children as well as Children’s Trust Fund will take the state several steps back in its early care and education efforts. The recommendation that core grant programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect be consolidated into the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is concerning because the success of the Children’s Trust Fund is the result of its singular focus on the prevention of abuse and neglect. In addition, a distrust of DCF by many families would create a barrier to important preventative services.

Thank you for working to meet the needs of our children now in order to avoid costly remedial strategies.

Respectfully,

Dr. John Leventhal

Medical Director, Child Abuse Programs

Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital

Success By Six Advisory Council Co-Chair
Professor of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine

Stephanie Redding
Assistant Chief of Police, City of New Haven

Success By Six Advisory Council Co-Chair

Chris Alexander United Way of America’s 2009 Community All-Star

2009-04-02T14:21:00.016-04:00

United Way of America has named Chris Alexander, founder of the New Haven Book Bank, the national 2008 Community All Star. Through United Way’s partnership with the NFL, Chris and her husband Bruce, recipients of UWGNH 2008 Alexis de Tocqueville Society award, were invited to attend Super Bowl XLIII. "It was truly a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you!, said Alexander.

To read the full story about Chris and the Community All Star Program click here

What Nonprofits Need to Know About The Federal Recovery Act

2009-04-02T10:52:00.002-04:00

The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy invites staff and trustees of grantmaking organizations and their nonprofit grantees to:

What Nonprofits Need to Know About The Federal Recovery Act

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will bring close to $3 billion to Connecticut, and additional funds will be available on a competitive basis nationally. There will be opportunities for nonprofit organizations and groups of organizations to compete for this national money as well as money that will flow through the state and municipalities.

At this forum, nonprofit and philanthropic leaders will exchange information about three
key issues:

What opportunities are there for nonprofits to access stimulus funding?
How will state and local governments direct the funds from the Recovery Act?
Are there areas where nonprofit organizations should advocate for policies and practices that would be needed for the stimulus package to succeed?

An overview of the Recovery Act will be followed by breakout sessions with experts focused on early childhood, education, transportation, housing, environment/energy, health, workforce/job training, and the arts.

Presenters:
Shelley Geballe, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Connecticut Voices for Children
Stewart J. Hudson, President, Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation

The forum will be offered on the following three dates in three locations. Register for the forum using the registration on the date you intend to participate.

***************************
Hosted by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy.
Monday, April 13, 20098:30 am – 12:00 pm (registration begins at 8:30 am; program promptly at 9:00 am)
Adanti Student Center, Southern Connecticut State University , New Haven, CT(Directions: http://www.southernct.edu/aboutscsu/map/ )

Register for the New Haven area forum: send an email to: events@cfgnh.org

****************************
Hosted by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy.
Tuesday, April 14, 20098:30 am – 12:00 pm (registration begins at 8:30 am; program promptly at 9:00 am)
Bruyette Athenaeum, Saint Joseph College, West Hartford, CT(Directions: www.sjc.edu/content.cfm/pageid/264)

Register for the Hartford area forum at: http://www.hfpg.org/events/EventReg/default.asp code: ARRA414

******************************

Hosted by the Fairfield County Community Foundation and the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy.
Friday, April 17, 20091:00 – 4:30 pm (registration begins at 1:00 pm; program promptly at 1:30 pm)
PepsiCo Theater, Norwalk Community College, Norwalk, CT(Directions: http://www.ncc.commnet.edu/directions.asp)
Register for the Fairfield County forum at: http://www.fccfoundation.org/Join/WorkshopRegistration.php

Additional presenters and information will be available at www.ctphilanthropy.org
or by calling the Council at 860-525-5585.
Space is limited, and reservations are required.
The following foundations worked with the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy to design this program: Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Fairfield County Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut.

Orange Seniors Join N2N Effort

2009-03-31T13:04:00.004-04:00

The members of the Orange Senior Center have been most enthusiastic about supporting the Neighbor to Neighbor Program of United Way of Greater New Haven and the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven. We have been collecting monetary donations throughout the month of March in our little houses built especially for this project and placed around the senior center. The members are impressed by the program because 100% of the donations go to help local organizations who serve the homeless and the poor. Our senior members, though affected themselves by the downward turn of our economy, are most generous when asked directly to give to a good cause. It has been our pleasure to help in this very small way to be Good Neighbors.”

Quote from Joanne Byrne, Town of Orange

United Way of Greater New Haven Sponsors Bill Harley Event in Madison

2009-03-19T12:58:00.004-04:00

United Way of Greater New Haven is hosting a family concert with two-time Grammy Award Winner Bill Harley. The event will take place Sunday, April 5th at 2pm at the Polson Middle School in Madison, Ct. Ticket proceeds will benefit the Shoreline Arts Alliance and the Women and Family Life Center.

Bill Harley uses song and story to paint a vibrant picture of growing up, parenting and family life. Bill is also a regular commentator for NPR's All Things Considered and featured on PBS. Harley joined the National Storytelling Network's Circle of Excellence in 2001 and recieved the Magic Penny award in 2008 from the Children's Music Network. Creator of "Monsters in the Bathroom", "You're in Trouble", "Dad Threw the TV Out the Window" and "50 Ways to fool Your Mother".

Bill is from Seekonk, Massachusetts , and tours nationwide as an author and performing artist.

Please join us for this special family event! Tickets may be purchased on line at http://www.shorelinearts.org/. For more information, call SAA at 453-3890 or WFLC at 458-6699.

Increasing Access to Quality Food for Children in New Haven

2009-03-17T16:08:00.005-04:00

The Connecticut Food Bank and United Way of Greater New Haven are partnering to increase the number of children in New Haven receiving nutritious meals on weekends and during school holidays.

United Way of Greater New Haven worked with a group of community volunteers to discuss the needs in our community around emergency food and food insecurity and to identify possible strategies to address those needs. The Kids BackPack Program was selected for funding because it addresses food insecurity among low-income children in New Haven by working with schools to provide food to children who may not have enough to eat at home on the weekends. Bags are packed with nutritious food such as fresh or canned fruit, cereal bars, peanut butter, and juice.

As an increasing number of families are experiencing economic difficulties, more children face inadequate access to food on the weekends. This partnership has enabled the Connecticut Food Bank to respond to this need by expanding the Kids BackPack Program by 29% in New Haven from the previous year.

Since September, over 2,000 backpacks of food have been distributed to children attending the Wexler Grant School, Katherine Brennan School, Hill Central School, Troup Magnet Academy of Science and Vincent E. Mauro Elementary School in New Haven. In January, The Connecticut Food Bank also implemented this critical service in the West Haven Public School system.

FedEx Office Free Resume Printing Day on March 10

2009-03-06T09:47:00.001-05:00

WHAT:
FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko’s) is offering free resume printing on March
10, 2009, at the company’s 1,600+ FedEx Office Print and Ship Center locations
in the United States.

WHY:
FedEx Office understands the economy has affected many people in a very
profound way and wants to help by leveraging its printing services to assist job
seekers across the country.

The nation’s unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent and the number of unemployed persons increased to 11.6 million in January 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
On February 18, the Federal Reserve projected the country’s unemployment rate could rise to as high as 8.8 percent by the close of 2009.

OFFER DETAILS:
- Available at any U.S.-based FedEx Office Print and Ship Center
- Up to 25 black and white resume copies per customer
- Valid for orders placed in-store on March 10 during regular business hours
- Place orders by submitting resume in printed format or as a digital file
- Copies will be printed single-sided on resume-quality paper
- Completed orders must be picked up in-store

To find the nearest location and confirm operating hours, visit www.fedex.com or
call 1-800-Go-FedEx (1-800-463-3339).

ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION:

FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko’s) provides access points to printing and
shipping expertise with reliable service when and where you need it. The Dallasbased
company has a global network of more than 1,900 digitally-connected
locations. FedEx Office services include copying and digital printing,
professional finishing, document creation, direct mail, signs and graphics,
Internet access, computer rental, FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping,
and more. In addition, the company offers FedEx OfficeSM Print Online, an
online printing solution for business and personal printing, at home, at the office
or on the go. Products, services and hours vary by location. For more
information, please visit www.fedex.com.

Connecticut Mission of Mercy Free Dental Services

2009-03-02T20:20:00.014-05:00

For many individuals living on small incomes or without dental insurance, dental care is a luxury that they cannot afford. Many go for years, sometimes even decades without seeing a dentist. In communities with a significant impoverished population, individuals (primarily the working poor, the elderly, the disabled, or the uninsured) are often left without any dental care, and face extreme pain, discomfort, and embarrassment.

Connecticut Mission of Mercy is a multi-day dental clinic open to the public. Dental services will be provided to anyone (children, adults and the elderly) who is without dental insurance and in a low-income situation. Patients will be screened and treated based on their most urgent dental needs. Most importantly, all treatments and services are completely free. Services will be provided by volunteer dentists, U Conn dental students dental hygienists and dental assistants. All services will be on a first come, first serve basis. No appointments.

Connecticut Mission of Mercy 2008 Slide Show!

Slide show courtesy of Connecticut State Dental Association

Services Provided:
Cleanings, Fillings, and Extractions.

WHEN: April 17th-18th, 2009 (Volunteer opportunities available April 16th-19th)

WHERE: New Haven Public Field House (James Hillhouse High School) 480 Sherman Parkway, New Haven, CT‎.

United Way in Challenging Times

2009-02-23T13:39:00.002-05:00

The times continue to challenge us all and the United Way of Greater New Haven is not an exception. We have seen our modest reserves drop dramatically in value, we are concerned about our ability to collect on pledges and we have seen the continuing increase in demand for services throughout the entire region. These are the times that try our resolve and our patience---these are the times for leadership.

We have done much thinking and reflecting on how the United Way should respond to the challenges we now face and those we know we will face in the near future. We are hopeful and we believe we will arrive at a future that includes a vibrant and sustainable economy, broader participation in prosperity, a stronger sense of regional community and a dramatic increase in civic engagement. We also know that the current circumstances we have with economic and educational disparity do not support our achieving this vision. We have behaved our way into the conditions we find ourselves now experiencing and our only option is to behave our way out.

First, we need to provide some stability. Hundreds of citizens and dozens of leaders have made this stability their work. The leadership of Andy Eder and Boris Mizen with fundraising and the work of Kate McAvoy, Maria Mojica, Paula Crombie and volunteers from both United Way and The Jewish Federation in making wise and timely decisions on investments in emergency services have mobilized the whole region’s understanding of the crises many of our neighbors are experiencing.

Second, we must continue to work on the root causes of the region’s disparity. Early childhood education and development must remain an intense focus regardless of economic conditions because that is how we break the poverty cycle. Stable housing and skill development must be a commitment we keep because people need these in order to participate as fully engaged citizens.

We believe that now is the time for us all to live united. We will continue to provide opportunities for the citizens of Greater New Haven to give, to advocate and to volunteer. We believe these to be the behaviors that lead us to our vision of the future. We deeply appreciate your support.

Jack Healy
President and CEO
United Way of Greater New Haven

2009-02-19T12:51:00.007-05:00

Please join us at Artspace for the Grand Opening Reception of the February Exhibitions and Artist Talks by Gail Biederman & Steven Millar.

Featured artists include: Jeremy Bell , Geoffrey Detrani, Steven Millar, David Borawski, Kwadwo Adae, Gail Biederman, Mark Mulroney

WHEN: Thursday, February 19th, from 6–8PM (Artist Talks at 6:30)
WHERE: 50 Orange St., New Haven, CT 06510

United Way of Greater New Haven has been invited to speak about Neighbor-to-Neighbor LifeLine, a collaboration between UWGNH and The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, to help the growing number of families and individuals who find themselves facing food and housing crisis in this economic downturn.

100% of the dollars raised will be distributed immediately by volunteers, through local programs providing emergency assistance for housing, food and other basic needs.

For more information about Artspace, call (203) 772-2709
For more information on Neighbor-to-Neighbor LifeLine visit www.n2nlifeline.org

White Collar Homelessness

2009-02-13T16:04:00.007-05:00

Every now and then I run into a blog post that perfectly captures an important idea that we should have a conversation about locally. Most recently I found an post entitled “The Coming Crisis: White Collar Homelessness”; a relevant subject when you consider just a few local facts.

The number of homes lost to foreclosure in New Haven has risen steeply in 2008 (293 during the first three quarters of 2008, compared to 165 for all of 2007).
In New Haven there are 769 vacant dwellings and approximately 1,000 homes in the last stage before foreclose.
In New Haven there has been a 5% increase in homeless individuals and in Connecticut a 13% increase in families this year, compared to last year.
In New Haven there has been an increase of almost 13% in the number of homeless single women. Women are also losing their children to foster care once they are no longer able to provide shelter.
Before the overflow shelter opened in November, Columbus House was turning away 8-10 men a night. They would be referred to Emergency Shelter Management Services (Immanuel Baptist), which is also operating at capacity.

From the Article:

“Last month, unemployment rates surged to a startling 7.6 percent. As the jobless population is becoming older, many are ending up with no job prospects, no health insurance, and - before long - no home. Homelessness blogger Shannon Moriarty is worried about what will happen next, as shelters and community safety nets are already buckling under shrinking budgets and increased demand.”

Read: “The Coming Crisis: White Collar Homelessness”

Jack Healy
President and CEO
United Way of Greater New Haven

The Annual United Teen Connection and Centro San Jose Valentine Banquet

2009-02-13T09:12:00.008-05:00

Dear Community Leaders,

The United Teen Connection and Centro San Jose, invite you to it’s ANNUAL VALENTINE DAY BANQUET, honoring teens making a difference, individuals working behind the scenes, and recognizing youth service programs.

Youth from all over the City will be Honored by Rosa DeLauro for their outstanding contribution in the mentioned areas. These youth have been nominated by Community Agencies and Youth Programs in which they attend and are active participants.

WHEN: Saturday February 14th from 1:00-3:30 p.m
WHERE: Centro San Jose (290 Grand Avenue, New Haven, CT.)
SUGGESTED DONATION: $5

For more information or to volunteer, contact Mindy Centeno at (203) 777-6771 or Sharon Henninger at (203) 824-8336

We look forward to your support in this important event!

TGWNN Happy Hour for n2n LifeLine

2009-02-09T11:22:00.002-05:00

It started out as an idea to have a happy hour at Dolci, a new restaurant/lounge in New Haven. It seemed like the perfect location, and a good way to get out the word to those who hadn't yet been there. But what began as a purely social event took on much more meaning.

I became a member of The Group with No Name (TGWNN) when I moved to New Haven in 2006, while looking for ways to meet other local, young professionals. TGWNN describes itself as a way to turn residents into citizens through social, civic, and educational activities that increase their understanding of and commitment to city issues and city life. While my idea for a TGWNN happy hour initially was much less ambitious--I just wanted an excuse to gather together friends)--it ended up being a rewarding way to help the New Haven community.

As a social worker in a New Haven school, I have been witnessing how problems with the economy are affecting local families, especially those that rely on social service agencies for their basic needs. Many of the families I work with have received some kind of assistance--whether it be food from local pantries or housing in shelters. These families are often dealing with multiple other stressors; they should not also have to worry about where they will be living or where their next meal is coming from. It's frustrating for me to see how these families are being affected yet not be able to do anything concrete to reduce their stress. I feel good knowing that, through the efforts of the United Way and the Jewish Federation, there will continue to be funding for these basic, immediate needs.

Did you know that:

* In New Haven there has been an increase of almost 13% in the number of homeless single women. Women are also losing their children to foster care once they are no longer able to provide shelter.

* In New Haven there has been a 5% increase in homeless individuals and in Connecticut a 13% increase in families this year, compared to last year.

But there are ways that we can help. Host a fundraising party, happy hour, or similar event with friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. It really was effortless to organize, and made me feel more connected to my community. The economic crisis is affecting everyone; we have an obligation to help our neighbors, but it's also possible to have fun while raising awareness.

Submitted by
Su-Lin Carbonelli

Healthcare4every1 UPDATE

2009-01-16T12:08:00.006-05:00

On January 13, an estimated 1,000 people packed the room at Union Station in Hartford to hear about the new heatlth care plan and come together to call for action.

Healthcare4every1 officially released thier new proposal, called SustiNet, to provide quality, affordable health care to everyone in Connecticut. The creators say SustiNet is groundbreaking because it controls skyrocketing costs and provides quality care that puts a premium on preventing illness and coordinating care.

Their next step is to deliver this proposal to Connecticut's legislators and Governor.

To join the campaign and to receive updates, click here. Regular phone calls and emails to your representative and senator will make sure bold action on health care remains a top priority.

For more information please visit healthcare4every1.org.

To read more about Connecticut and health care reform, please visit the following sites.

MLK Day of Service

2009-01-14T14:52:00.006-05:00

During the 1950s and ’60s, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. recognized the power of service to strengthen communities and achieve common goals. Initiated by Congress in 1994, King Day of Service builds on that that legacy by transforming the federal holiday honoring Dr. King into a national day of community service grounded in his teachings of nonviolence and social justice. The aim is to make the holiday a day ON, where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to improve lives, bridge social barriers, and move our nation closer to the “Beloved Community” that Dr. King envisioned. With thousands of projects planned across the country, the 2009 King Day of Service on January 19 promises to be the biggest and best ever!

This year’s King Holiday is one day before the Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The President-elect will participate in community service on King Day and is asking Americans to serve on the holiday and make an ongoing commitment to service. Organizers hope the President-elect’s call to service will lead to millions of Americans honoring Dr. King through community service.

Courtesy of MLKday.gov

United Way has partnered with Epsilon Omega Chapter Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Greater New Haven NAACP, to bring you MLK Conference 2009, Building the Beloved Community: The Time is Now. There will be workshops for community members of all ages, speakers, and performances that are all focused on mobilizing community members and strengthening the community as a whole.

For more information, or to volunteer, click here.

For more opportunities and events, visit www.USAservice.org, or click here.

Local Non-Profit Leader Receives National Honor

2009-01-14T12:32:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan 14, 2009
Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

Local Non-Profit Leader Receives National Honor

New Haven (January 14, 2009)- Christine Alexander, Executive Director of New Haven Reads has been recognized as The Home Depot and United Way 2008 Community All-Star. This award recognizes one individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in community service and who has devoted their time and efforts to make long-lasting contributions to their local community.

Alexander is the founder and volunteer Executive Director of New Haven Reads, which provides adults and children access to free books as well as tutoring opportunities in order to improve literacy skills and success in the region. In 2006, New Haven Reads distributed over 135,000 books to children and adults and offers a free tutoring program which has 280 students enrolled and 100 on a waiting list.

Alexander knows that literacy is the largest barrier between poor and rich children, and that literacy rates directly affect a person’s quality of life.

“Reading and having access to books is a start to solving this problem our community faces,” said Alexander.

Through United Way’s partnership with the NFL, as this year’s Community All-Star, Alexander was invited to attend Super Bowl XLIII taking place on February 1, 2009 in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Along with this national honor, Alexander and her husband, Bruce Alexander, were recently honored with the 2008 United Way of Greater New Haven Alexis de Tocqueville award for their sprit of giving and volunteerism in this community.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of people to create change in our region and to improve lives. We strive to be a catalyst for identifying community needs and opportunities for change; to focus on specific community priority areas and initiatives through which we have the best opportunities to improve lives and change conditions; and to engage donors, organizations and community leaders to improve the social and civic health of our region.

More information about United Way’s work to improve lives and communities can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

About New Haven Reads:
The overall goal of New Haven Reads is to provide an environment where children and adults have access to free books and tutoring to increase their literacy skills and academic performance. During the past six years, New Haven Reads has grown from a powerful idea to a thriving center of literacy located in the Dixwell neighborhood of New Haven. With each of our four locations, we have nearly doubled our physical size and the number of students and groups we serve.

For more information about New Haven Reads can be found at http://www.newhavenreads.org/

-# # #-

Third Annual Point in Time Homeless Count

2009-01-05T14:32:00.008-05:00

Join other concerned community members and service providers in New Haven for a Point-in-Time Count of the Homeless. Teams of 2-3 volunteers and an experienced leader will canvass the New Haven area conducting surveys of homeless individuals. The more we know about our homeless population, the more we can help them and better coordinate our services. This Point-in-Time Count is not only a chance to learn how many people are homeless and where they are located, but also information about how they became homeless and what services they need to help them. The numbers from this count are also important for homeless assistance grants funded by HUD, State of Connecticut, and City of New Haven.

When:
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 from 6 pm to 11 pm

Where:
Volunteers will meet in the parking lot at Presbyterian Church in the Owens Community Building (704 Whitney Avenue, New Haven.)

Register to sign up at or call (203)495-1773 x 4040, leave name and contact information

For information about the Statewide Count: Contact Sarah Zucker, Project Assistant, CT Counts 2009, at 860-721-7876 xt 111 or szucker@cceh.org

Join Us on the Road to a Healthier CT!

2008-12-03T14:31:00.005-05:00

2009 offers a historic opportunity to solve Connecticut's health care crisis and lead the way for the nation. Connecticut can provide health care coverage that is:
UNIVERSAL...covers us all
CONTINUOUS...stays with us from job-to-job and in between
AFFORDABLE...for our families and our businesses
SUSTAINABLE...for our state's economy
HIGH QUALITY...supports good health.

Join us on December 10 to learn how the healthcare4everyone1 campaign will provide affordable, high-quality coverage to your non-profit organization and to the people you serve. Business owners, faith leaders, elected officials, human service and health care providers, and residents from all walks of life will gather in Hamden to learn how we can win quality, affordable health care for everyone.

healthcare4every1 event:

Wednesday, December 10, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Hamden Middle School
2623 Dixwell AvenueHamden, Connecticut 06518-3304

Learn more about healthcare4every1 and RSVP.

Register to volunteer for the event.

Learn more about United Way's work to improve people's health in Greater New Haven.

Convening Organizations:American Federation of Teachers, Christian Activities Council, CT Center for a New Economy,CT Parent Power, Grand Avenue Village Association, Fair Haven Health Center, Hill Health Center,Spring Glen Church, United Way of Greater New Haven,Yale Students for Health Care Coalition

Become a Volunteer Tax Preparer

2008-11-24T11:05:00.012-05:00

Help hard-working families claim the Tax Credits they’ve earned!
One hour of your time can boost a family’s annual income by an average of $1,700!

We need Volunteers who are interested in:

Learning how to prepare taxes and become certified by the IRS.
Interacting with individuals and families within our communities.
Giving back to this community by helping residents in need of this service.

We will provide a FANTASTIC volunteer opportunity!

No experience needed.
Supervising tax professional on site at all times.
No liability to the tax preparer (Sites are IRS approved & insured).
Flexible hours.
Great sense of personal satisfaction that you made a difference!

To volunteer contact Cristalyn Vargas (203) 777-0313 or email: Cristalyn@newlifecorp.org

“You can help working families receive what belongs to them. Plus, you get the satisfaction of seeing the smiles of relief when they hear how much money they are getting back from the IRS.”
- A volunteer tax preparer

Data Snapshot - Basic Needs Are Increasing In Our Region

2008-11-19T11:49:00.007-05:00

Data Snapshot - November 2008

Utilities/Heat

There has been a 35% increase in service requests to 2-1-1 for utilities/heat assistance from • our region (1,136 requests in October 2008 compared to 858 requests in October 2007).
There has been a 79% increase in the energy assistance caseload for our region (managed by • Community Action Agency) between November 2007 and November 2008, from 2,586 cases in 2007 to 4,637 in 2008.

Food

There has been a 13% increase in service requests to 2-1-1 for food assistance from our region • (424 requests in October 2008 compared to 375 requests in October 2007).
Comparing July – September 2008 to the same period in 2006, the Community Soup Kitchen • in New Haven has experience a 25% increase in the number of people served (based on an unduplicated count). According to the CT Food Bank, the increase in meals served and number of people served by the Community Soup Kitchen is typical of the increased need and demand evident throughout the greater New Haven service area.

Housing – Shelter

In New Haven there has been a 5% increase in homeless individuals and in Connecticut a 13% • increase in families this year, compared to last year.
In New Haven there has been an increase of almost 13% in the number of homeless single • women. Women are also losing their children to foster care once they are no longer able to provide shelter.
Before the overflow shelter opened last week, Columbus House was turning away 8-10 men a • night. They would be referred to Emergency Shelter Management Services (Immanuel Baptist), which is also at capacity.
The overflow shelter, which opened last week, is already serving 50 men a night. The capacity • is 75 men.

Housing - Foreclosure

The number of homes lost to foreclosure in New Haven has risen steeply in 2008 (293 during • the first three quarters of 2008, compared to 165 for all of 2007).
The majority of foreclosures affect owner-occupied housing. •

Overall data

2-1-1 data show a marked increase in calls from towns of Hamden, East Haven, North Haven, • and North Branford when comparing October 2008 to October 2007.

*Correction: There has been a 79% increase in the energy assistance not a 179% increase as previously indicated.

New Haven Organizations Reach Out to Growing Homeless Population

2008-11-12T12:05:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2008
Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

New Haven Organizations Reach Out to Growing Homeless Population

On Saturday, October 25, 2008, United Way of Greater New Haven as well as service providers and volunteers came together to help out the growing homeless community. Project Homeless Connect, held at Wilbur Cross High School, was designed as a one-stop opportunity for the homeless population to receive and get access to all types of services.

This was the second year that the program has been held and over 400 people came to utilize the services provided. The range of services offered during Project Homeless Connect was vital to the project’s success. Many families came out, and in anticipation of this, there was an entire children’s area devoted to keeping the kids entertained with face painting and other fun activities. While the kids were occupied, the parents had time to seek out the services that they needed. Flu shots, hair cuts, housing services information, and care packages were top priority to most people attending the event. Other services offered were mammograms, substance abuse counseling, social security assistance, and legal counseling.

“Project Homeless Connect was so successful this year was because of the outpouring of support from the community. With about 68 volunteers at the event helping to set up, serve lunch, and guide people around, everything ran smoothly. Also, over 60 agencies, including Planned Parenthood, Columbus House, and North Haven Academy (a Paul Mitchell partner school), donated their time and services to make this event possible,” said Cecily Jones, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator of United Way of Greater New Haven.

To lend a helping hand in your community and to influence the condition of all please visit www.uwgnh.org.

About United Way:

United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at www.uwgnh.org.

-# # #-

National Make a Difference Day in Guilford

2008-10-29T16:00:00.002-04:00

Make a Difference Day is one of the largest national events for helping others-a celebreation of neighbors helping neighbors. Created by USA weekend magazine, Make a Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. Making this year's date October 25.

In greater New Haven, Guilford Social Services(GSS) reached out their hands and made a difference for all of their hungry neighbors. GSS galvanized volunteers accross the community to collect and sort canned goods and toiletries to stock the shelves of the Guilford Food Bank (GFB). The postal service in Guilford collected the donations on rural routes and drove them to the GFB. One by one they drove in with boxes of food and smiling faces.

Tammy DiFrancesco, Executive Director of GSS says, " I have been organizing this event for 13 years and feed an average of 200 families per month". In these trying economic times and with economic and educational disparities growing, many people will have to rely on community drives and the kindness of strangers to meet basic needs.

As I walked over to Tammy to give her a food donation and financial donation from United Way, I quickly thought to mysef, " is this going to be enough"? and then I realized, as I looked at all of the volunteers furiously sorting and collecting food, yes, for today it is. It was enough because I saw people connecting and working for a common goal. United Way of Greater New Haven recognizes the power of civic engagment and the connections we create when we all join together for the common good. Wether it be matching companies to a meaningful community project, holding a regional diaper drive or collecting food for families-It is about Living United.

Many people are currently facing some of the worst decisions in their lives with regards to heating their homes and feeding their families. This is the time to connect, to engage and to give to those less fortunate. When we reach out a hand to one, we change the conditions for all.

See the gallery.

See a slide show here.

College to Community Book Drive Collects 5,000 Children's Books

2008-10-29T14:57:00.001-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 29, 2008
Media Contact: Michelle Wade, 203.772.4202
Cell – 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

College to Community Book Drive Collects 5,000 Children’s Books

Local Colleges and Universities Partner with United Way

Six area colleges including Albertus Magnus College, Gateway Community College, Quinnipiac University, Southern CT State University, University of New Haven and Yale University came together during United Ways Days of Caring 2008 to collect 5,000 children’s books which will be distributed to families across Greater New Haven through New Haven Reads and Read To Grow.

After leading the Yale University Days of Caring Book Drive for three years, Diane Turner, Associate University Librarian for Human Resources, Staff Training, and Security proposed expanding the drive to other local college campuses and agreed to chair this effort. In their first effort, the College to Community successfully reached their goal of 4,000 books. This year, Turner again chaired the six campus effort and surpassed last years collections by more than 1,000 books.

“We know that reading to our children is a critical part of early development and yet many families unfortunately lack access to books in our community. By working together to increase the number of books available for young people throughout Greater New Haven, colleges and universities showed that each seemingly small act of charity can benefit the lives of many. Classrooms as well as families that might not otherwise have the means to purchase new books can now enjoy all the benefits of reading as a result of this exciting partnership,” said Amy Townsley, community impact coordinator of United Way of Greater New Haven.

Our community can continue to make a difference. For further information on donating books or volunteer opportunities please visit our website at www.uwngh.org

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at www.uwgnh.org.
-# # #-

United Way Healthy Baby Diaper Drive Collected Over 100,000 Diapers

2008-10-29T14:54:00.002-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2008
Media Contact: Michelle Wade, 203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

United Way Healthy Baby Diaper Drive Collected Over 100,000 Diapers
Diapers to be distributed around the region

NEW HAVEN, Conn., October 27, 2008– With a total of over 100,000 diapers worth $20,000, United Way of Greater New Haven and all of its Days of Caring participants were able to provide relief that will help children in our community start life healthy and ready to learn by ensuring families have access to diapers.

As the cost of basic needs – food, heating, transportation – continue to rise, many families are facing a terrible choice between food or heat or diapers for children. An adequate supply of disposable diapers can cost a family over $100 per month. In low-income households, babies often spend the entire day or longer in a single diaper because the family cannot afford to buy an adequate supply of diapers. Without clean diapers, babies are too uncomfortable, and sometimes too unhealthy, to play and learn. Parents can also become disheartened and disconnected when they struggle to care for their babies.

The first annual Town of Branford and United Way Touch-A-Truck event brought in over 25,000 diapers from 1,300 Branford residents who supported the event, making it a wonderful family outing, while raising awareness and collecting diapers. Covidien Surgical Devices whose global headquarters are in North Haven and their U.S headquarters in Norwalk also participated in the United Way Diaper Drive, and collected over 31,000 diapers that were donated to The Diaper Bank.

“Thank you to the 49 companies that collected diapers in support of The Diaper Bank at over 68 sites that will be distributed to families in need across Greater New Haven. in support of The Diaper Bank to be distributed to families and children in need. We more than doubled our original, ambitious goal of 50,000 diapers! This is a huge benefit for families,” noted Amy Casavina Hall, Director of Community Impact at United Way of Greater New Haven “whose children cannot attend childcare unless the family can supply diapers. A lack of diapers can jeopardize a family’s ability to remain economically stable, as well as their child’s health.”

The following are all the companies who helped make the Diaper Drive possible and helped us reach over 100,000 diapers. New Haven: Yale New Haven Hospital, Carmody & Torrance, Murtha Cullina, The New Haven Register, Proliance International, Inc., TD Bank north, Webster Bank, Wilbur Smith & Associates and WTNH. North Haven: Covidien, ACES, Connex Credit Union, Marlin Fire Arms, Petra Construction Corp., the Town of North Haven and the Joyce C. Budrow Senior Center. Hamden: Amphenol Corporation. Guilford: Barnum Financial, Wal-Mart, Webster Bank and Guilford Savings Bank. Branford: Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford Parks and Recreation, Controlled Air, Neurogen and Webster Bank. Norwalk: Covidien. West Haven: Eder Brothers and Vine Products Manufacturing Company. Trumbull: Girl Scouts of CT. Orange: Hubbell, Town of Orange, UPS and Webster Bank. Stratford: Sprint Nextel. Woodbridge: Stop & Shop. East Haven: Webster Bank and Town Fair Tire. Madison: Webster Bank and Madison Exchange Club.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

-END-

One Community, One Voice: A Benefit Concert for Shelter Now

2008-10-27T14:38:00.026-04:00

One Community, One Voice is a joint effort by Yale University and United Way of Greater New Haven to help raise awareness and much needed financial resources for a recently initiated effort called Shelter Now which is working to raise money for the emergency shelters across New Haven. Yale acapella groups who are participating include: The Whiffenpoofs, Redhot and Blue, Whim ‘n Rhythm, Something Extra, The Duke’s Men, The New Blue, Spizzwinks?, Shades, The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, and the Academia Nuts. Please come join us for an entertaining, and very important cause!

WHEN: November 2nd, 3:00- 5:00pm

WHERE: Battell Chapel (400 College Street, New Haven)

Tickets are available at the door- $10 for adults, $5 for students, children are free.

UPDATE:

The concert last week was a huge success! Thank you all that came out to support Shelter Now, and enjoy the wonderful songs sang by Yale's top a cappella groups. Because of your support we were able to raise 3,000 dollars for the emergency shelters this winter. A special thanks to Mark Dollhopf for hosting the evening, and to all of the a cappella groups who graciously donated their time and talent to such an important cause.

For more information, or to donate, please contact Cecily Jones at cjones@uwgnh.org, or call at (203) 691-4211

Donate now online to Shelter Now

or donate using Paypal

Civic Engagement Conversation

2008-10-27T12:17:00.022-04:00

Wednesday, October 29, 2008
New Haven Free Public Library
133 Elm Street, New Haven
6:00-8:00 p.m.

featuring:
Eric Etheridge, Author, Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders
&
Freedom Riders
Rev. Reginald Green, Ellen Ziskind
and Lula White

Discussion will be moderated by Cheryl Greenberg,
Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of History at Trinity College

Free & open to the public / Free parking

Presenting Sponsor - Roz and Jerry Meyer
Additional Support from NewAlliance Bank and Yale University

Presented by The New Haven Free Public Library & Patrons of the New Haven Public Library
For more information please call Barbara Segaloff, 203.946.8130 ext. 314

Thoughts on Living United

2008-10-24T14:41:00.000-04:00

This last month has been like few I have experienced in the last thirty five years. As we conduct the annual campaign we have the opportunity to visit a number of very diverse companies and talk to people who are working for minimum wage, others who are part of the middle class and many professionals who are well compensated. People from all walks of life are deeply concerned and genuinely fearful about the future. People understand or at least clearly see that there are no silver bullets that can fix the financial mess we are experiencing. Some try to blame the greedy Wall Street elite and others blame the borrowers of the sub-prime mortgages, but those arguments are short lived as no quick fix solutions emerge from the blame conversation. Fear takes over as people consider the very real possibility that we have lost our way, maybe lost our moral compass and it’s time to reconsider our values and what really matters.

I believe we have arrived at a “tipping point” in this country and in Greater New Haven. I think we have arrived back at the place that Alexis de Tocqueville identified one hundred and eighty years ago. We once again understand that in this American democracy our individual success is only sustainable when we pay attention to the common good. We are seeing that it is not society’s job to support the economy but rather it is the economy that has been created to support society and in a sustainable way. We all have the right to study hard, work hard, to sacrifice, or do whatever it takes to thrive and succeed but we don’t have the right to keep others from having the same opportunity. The tipping point will begin to show up in community conversations about what we value and what we see as a possible future for our children and grandchildren. It will show up in a wave of volunteerism and personal giving that will make us all proud.

In the presentations we make to employee and civic groups we talk about what it means to “Live United” – to understand that when we reach out a hand to one person in need we influence the condition of all. We talk about how we are all diminished when a teenager turns to a life of ignorance and crime or when a family looses their home and finds themselves living in their car before they find a shelter. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we are all stronger when a fourth grader finds a mentor he respects and for the first time has a glimpse of hope or when a young mother graduates from high school and enters higher education with a path to a job and career. We are seeing this Live United message about the common good engage people in a manner we have not seen in a long time.

As the crisis we face with economic conditions causes hardship for our fellow citizens, we must Live United. We must come together to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens have the help they need right now while we continue to focus on the action that leads to longer term stability for all through educational opportunities, job training, stable housing and health. United Way of Greater New Haven is grateful for all of the contributions we have received during this campaign and we ask those who have not yet given to Live United and make a gift to this community campaign.

Greater New Haven Performs Acts of Kindness

2008-10-22T16:52:00.001-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 22, 2008
Media Contact: Michelle Wade, 203.772.4202
Cell – 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

Greater New Haven Performs Acts of Kindness

Community’s commitment to volunteerism and civic engagement
illustrated through Days of Caring efforts

(New Haven, Conn.) United Way of Greater New Haven engaged thousands of local volunteers right here in New Haven, Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, West Haven and Woodbridge through its week-long community service event, Days of Caring. From Sept. 15-21, over 3,000 Days of Caring volunteers participated in over 130 projects which logged volunteer hours worth approximately $100,000 to benefit the region’s nonprofit agencies, schools and parks.

The annual celebration of volunteerism serves as a kick-off to United Way’s workplace campaign, presently taking place. Company teams and volunteers participated in projects like beautifying and renovating facilities, creating games and "hands-on" information stations for kids, sorting supplies, planting and landscaping, and planning or donating to a collection drive from school supplies to diapers. These projects helped build relationships between volunteer groups and nonprofit agencies in the Greater New Haven area and raise awareness of critical community issues related to education, income and health.. To view photos from the various events visit our photo gallery at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

“The drives throughout the region collected more than 5,000 books, over 100,000 baby diapers, and 29,000 school supplies,” said Amy Casavina Hall, Director of Community Impact at United Way of Greater New Haven. “Together we can achieve results that no one can accomplish alone. With, with all of our outstanding results, and over $100,000 worth of volunteer hours and $20,000 in donated diapers, the most important part is that volunteers were able to touch the lives of those in need and influence the condition of us all.”

“Civic Engagement is one of United Way’s strategies to improve lives and build stronger communities,” said Jack Healy, Chief Executive Officer of United Way. “Through Days of Caring, we strive to increase the number of people who are active, engaged citizens in their communities by providing a wide spectrum of opportunities while at the same time raising awareness about the many hard-working non-profits in our region.”

United Way of Greater New Haven would like to extend sincere thanks to its Days of Caring partners Yale-New Haven Hospital, Covidien Surgical Devices, Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, and WTNH News Channel 8/MYTV 9 for their support and commitment to our community.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

-# # #-

One Community, One Voice

2008-10-22T16:50:00.002-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 22, 2008
Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

One Community, One Voice
A concert to benefit the homeless this winter

On Sunday, November 2, 2008 Yale acapella groups will be performing at Battell Chapel from 3:00-5:00 p.m. to benefit Shelter Now, an initiativeprogram supported by Columbus House and Yale Hunger and Homeless Action Project (YHHAP)to raise $100,000 to fund keep open New Haven’s emergency shelters from November through April. Many prominent Yale acapella groups agreed to perform for free in order to support Shelter Now, and make the concert possible.

Eliza Schafler, a YHHAP member said, "As the acapella benefit concert demonstrates, Shelter Now is important not just to students within the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project, but to all Yale students. We are moved to help because Shelter Now is a fight to save lives in our own neighborhood, to preserve a basic human right for people in our community. Yet we also understand that shelter is more than just immediate relief; it is a first crucial step for those struggling with poverty toward a better life."

“Due to today’s struggling economy and as winter approaches, many of the New Haven shelters are filling up quickly leaving no room for additional people. This is the time when we as a community need to come together and protect out neighbors. When we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all,” said Cecily Jones, volunteer engagement coordinator of United Way of Greater New Haven.

Tickets will be available at the door, $5 for students, and $10 for adults; children accompanied by adults will be admitted free. The Whiffenpoofs, Whim ‘n Rhythm, Something Extra, The Duke’s Men, The New Blue, The Spizzwinks (?), Redhot & Blue, The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, Shades, and The Academia Nuts are all scheduled to perform.

Join us in the fight to keep New Haven’s overflow shelters open this winter. For further information, contact Cecily Jones at (203) 691-42211 or CJones@uwgnh.org.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of people to create change in our region and to improve lives. We strive to be a catalyst for identifying community needs and opportunities for change; to focus on specific community priority areas and initiatives through which we have the best opportunities to improve lives and change conditions; and to engage donors, organizations and community leaders to improve the social and civic health of our region.
More information about United Way’s work to improve lives and communities can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

Too Scared To Scream- Fright Haven

2008-10-15T16:56:00.002-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2008
Media Contact: Fright Haven
Frighthaven@aol.com
www.frighthaven.com
203-799-FEAR

TOO SCARED TO SCREAM

October 14, 2008---West Haven - The state's newest and scariest haunted attraction, Fright Haven, is now open! Fright Haven, located at 480 Sawmill Road in West Haven, exit 42 off I-95 (former Staples building, across from Wal-Mart), is made up of three entirely separate haunted houses encompassing 25,000 square feet, all under one roof. For those who are leery of the darkness and the unknown, nightmares are around every corner at the Frightmare Fear Institute Pitch Black Haunt, a sensory experience encompassing all of one's fears and phobias. Another attraction, the 3-D Carnival of Evil, envisions a no-man's land where the old (and perhaps deceased) clowns of carnivals past have returned to seek revenge on those who abandoned their old stomping grounds, such as Savin Rock Amusement Park, Coney Island and other long-gone meccas for carnival clowns.

The 3-D effect is breathtaking, as are the demented clowns who invade the haunt. The final attraction, Dead End Manor, is an old-fashioned traditional haunted house with ghosts, zombies, vampires and other undead creatures roaming every rooms, hall and area of the dilapidated mansion. Be careful, because among the dead, there are actual live mice eating away at a trapped victim! As scary and morbid and macabre as it sounds, it's all in good fun, of course, as Fright Haven's "Team of Terror" are actors professionally trained in the art of scaring and startling. Being indoors, Fright Haven has the benefit of being able to be remain open even if it rains. Scares take place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through November 1st. Additionally Fright Haven will be open the Tuesday and Wednesday of Halloween week. Doors open to the public nightly at 7pm. The month-long attraction is sponsored by WTNH Channel 8, WEBE 108 radio station and Boppers DJs Entertainment, and the benefiting charity is United Way of New Haven in support of their statewide 2-1-1 community and human services information and referral program.

Last year, during the Halloween season, the haunt attracted approximately 18,000 people with a passion for getting scared, and was rated the top new haunted attraction in America. This year, with an investment in state-of-the-art animatronics, Fright Haven has added new scares and fun features to bring it the level of a world-class haunted attraction. Due to the intensity and fear factor of FRIGHT HAVEN, those with weak hearts, health conditions, young children and pregnant women are advised to enter under their own risk. Mark Kirschner, one of the project managers and a professor of psychology, suggests that people do not visit FRIGHT HAVEN alone. "Be sure that you are accompanied by friends, family and those you trust to keep you safe from the evils and the unknown contained within the haunted walls of this attraction," remarks Kirschner. As Fright Haven boasts, "you'll be too scared to scream."

Admission is only $10 per attraction, with a special discounted combo pass for all three haunts available for $20. There is also a special V.I.P. speed pass combo ticket which entitles visitors to front-of-the-line privileges and a souvenir t-shirt. Advance tickets are available online, along with further information, at http://www.frighthaven.com/. Group discounts are available by phone at (203) 799-FEAR, which is also the haunt's info line. - end -

About Fright Haven:
Connecticut's Newest and Greatest world-class Haunted Attraction comprised of three separate themed haunts all under one roof -- 30,000 square feet of fun-filled and fear-filled terror designed to maximize scares and future nightmares. Visit the "attractions" page for descriptions of the three haunts contained within Fright Haven. You'll be too scared to scream!

-# # #-

United Way Calls Together Emergency Food Ad Hoc Committee

2008-10-07T16:10:00.006-04:00

Food insecurity unfortunately impacts our community everyday, leaving many families having to choose between paying for food, rent or utilities. To that end, UWGN convened an Emergency Food Ad Hoc Committee made up of community stakeholders to identify emergency food needs and resources in our community. Charged with recommending the most effective way to impact the region, the Ad Hoc committee asked UWGNH to partner with representatives from food pantries and soup kitchens in the Dixwell, Newhallville and Highwood neighborhoods around ways to build the organizational capacity of emergency food providers in order to improve access to food. Representatives from the Ministry of Helps Foundation, St. Martin De Porres, God’s Miracle Unlimited Outreach Ministry, Community Soup Kitchen, Varick Church, St. Andrew’s Food Pantry, Village of Power, Glorified Deliverance Center Church and Love Center Deliverance Ministry came together on October 6, 2008 at the Varick Church to begin discussions of how best to ensure that all families in our region are food secure.

See Channel 8 Video Here

211 Call Data Shows Rising Requests for Energy Assistance

2008-10-01T13:24:00.009-04:00

The Community Results Center is launching an initiative that showcases the United Way 2-1-1 call data. Several times per year, the CRC will publish The 2-1-1 Barometer, a report that utilizes 2-1-1 data and other information to explore issues affecting Connecticut residents. 2-1-1 collects data on the information callers are looking for and the referrals that are made, thus creating a wealth of information that serves as a gauge of the needs present in the state. The first edition focuses on energy assistance.

You can view the full report here.
You can also see more local 211 statistics here.

United Way "Touch a Truck" Event a Success

2008-09-16T13:23:00.011-04:00

United Way partnered with the Town of Branford to organize Branford’s first ever Touch-A-Truck event!

Touch-A-Truck was a unique, family-oriented one-day event, featuring trucks and cars to touch, climb on and take pictures alongside. The "price of admission" was disposable diapers that will be distributed free, in partnership with The Diaper Bank, to local nonprofits serving families in need. Over 1,300 people attended the event and over 25,000 diapers were donated.

You can view a video of the event on YouTube.

See the longer version

See event pictures (slideshow)

We have also put together some brief video tours of four of the trucks at the event for your kids to check out.

1. Fire Truck
2. Bucket Loader
3. Big Dump Truck
4. Vac and Jet Truck

United Way organizes a region-wide Healthy Baby Diaper Drive

2008-09-10T14:24:00.003-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 10, 2008
Media Contact: Michelle Wade, 203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

Ensuring Babies Are Dressed For Success- Sept. 15-21

NEW HAVEN, Conn., September 10, 2008– As part of Days of Caring 2008, United Way is organizing a region wide diaper drive to help children in our community start life healthy and ready to learn by ensuring families have access to diapers. The drive will run from September 15-21 and their goal is to collect 50,000 diapers.
As the cost of basic needs – food, heating, transportation – continue to rise, many families are facing a terrible choice between food or heat and diapers for children. An adequate supply of disposable diapers can cost a family over $100 per month. In low-income households, babies often spend the entire day or longer in a single diaper because the family cannot afford to buy an adequate supply of diapers. Without clean diapers, babies are too uncomfortable, and sometimes too unhealthy, to play and learn. Parents can also become disheartened and disconnected when they struggle to care for their babies.
Change the lives of children by donating diapers to various diaper drop-off sites around Greater New Haven. Sites in Guilford: Wal-Mart and Barnum Financial, Sites in Branford: Blackstone Memorial Library and Branford Parks and Recreation, Sites in North Haven: North Haven Town Hall and North Haven Senior Center, Sites in New Haven: 900 Chapel Street Building, Webster Bank (Elm St.), Webster Bank (Whalley Ave.), TD Banknorth (Orange St.), Stop and Shop (Amity Rd.) and Yale New Haven Hospital (Volunteer Services), Sites in Orange: Orange Town Hall. The diapers will be distributed to families in need through local agencies across Greater New Haven and through United Way’s partnership with The Diaper Bank.
To learn more about the Healthy Baby Diaper Drive and to search for additional diaper drop-off sites please visit http://www.uwgnh.org/.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.
More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.
-END-

United Way Annual Region-Wide Days of Caring to take place Sept. 15-21

2008-09-10T13:58:00.002-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 10, 2008
Media Contact: Michelle Wade, 203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

Volunteer Projects still available

Days of Caring is an annual United Way of Greater New Haven week-long event where thousands of volunteers from around the region work on one-time improvement projects. This year’s Days of Caring will take place September 15-21, 2008.
Volunteer projects help regional nonprofits that may not have the time, financial resources or ability to perform the work needed. Projects widely vary and consist of activities like beautifying and renovating facilities, creating games and "hands-on" information stations for kids, organizing donated items, planting and landscaping, and planning or donating to a collection drive for anything from school supplies to diapers.
“We hope to encourage individuals, families, friends, and co-workers to support our community and volunteer for Days of Caring,” said Jack Healy, President and CEO of United Way of Greater New Haven. “Days of Caring is one of the largest volunteer events in the state and we hope to take the week to new heights this year.”
The theme for Days of Caring 2008 will be “Live United.” United Way believes that when we reach out a hand to one we influence the condition of us all. Please lend your muscle, join hands, find your voice and open your hearts to help your community.
This year’s Days of Caring presenting sponsor is Yale-New Haven Hospital. Also supporting this years’ Days of Caring Activities will be Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield and WTNH/MYTV9.
To search available projects and register to volunteer for Days of Caring 2008 please visit www.uwgnh.org.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.
More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at www.uwgnh.org.

-END-

Closing the Educational Achievement Gap

2008-09-03T17:22:00.004-04:00

What are the challenges and opportunities for public education in our region? How can we close Connecticut’s educational achievement gap which is one of the largest in the nation? On October 3, United Way is bringing together our region’s leading philanthropists and practitioners including Dacia Toll, President of Achievement First, and Fran Rabinowitz, Superintendent of the Hamden Public Schools to discuss this important issue. We invite you to participate by adding your comments below.

To learn more about what United Way is doing in this area click here or read the powerpoint from the State of Connecticut on high school reform below.

View full screen

Facts

By the age four, the average low-income child has heard 30 million fewer words than his or her higher income peers.
On the 2007 CAPT test 58% of Grade 10 White students met goal on all four sections of the test, compared with 18% of Hispanic students and 15% of Black students.
Approximately 23% of students attending a Community and Technical College in CT are enrolled in at least one basic skills course in math or English during any semester.
The median annual salary for employees with a bachelor’s degree is 62% higher than those with only a high school diploma.

The State of United Way, CEO Letter

2008-08-26T16:59:00.003-04:00

A few years ago, United Way of Greater New Haven convened the Community Compass project, a collaborative of over 30 business and community organizations focused on identifying our region’s greatest needs and best opportunities for change. Through data analysis and community interviews, Compass partners identified economic and educational disparity as the most significant challenges faced by our region.

In response to the Compass results, United Way’s Board of Directors and other lead volunteers decided to focus the organization’s efforts in three areas where we believed we could have the greatest impact on improving lives and changing conditions in our region: education, income and health.

In many ways, this focus takes us back to the roots of United Way. Over 80 years ago, when we were known as The Community Chest, local leaders came together to discuss the challenges faced by the people of our region and to undertake a coordinated response. Our current commitments reflect our history, while addressing the very real needs that families in the Greater New Haven region face today: ensuring that all children, beginning at birth, have quality learning opportunities that prepare them for school and life success; supporting families who are working to achieve economic stability and success; and helping people access affordable health care and be civically engaged and connected to each other.

Our work remains guided by community volunteers in partnership with strong local agencies. What has changed is that our work is driven by measurable goals and focused on results. And while United Way investments continue to help people in crisis, we are increasingly focused on prevention and opportunities to change conditions. For example, United Way still makes investments in local programs that provide emergency shelter. Increasingly, however, United Way is also working with and investing in programs that provide job training for homeless individuals, because a person who is supported in his or her efforts to get and keep a job is more likely to be able to acquire permanent, stable housing.

Early childhood is an area where our investments in prevention have yielded excellent results and was one of the key areas of need identified through Compass. Our work in early childhood is guided by the knowledge that what happens during a child’s earliest years lays the foundation on which the rest of her life experiences are built. We know that by the age of four, the average low-income child has heard 30 million fewer words than his or her higher income peers. This gap has long-term consequences: in one study, the vocabulary gap at age three predicted language scores in third grade. In fact, researchers now document that half the academic achievement gap evidenced in grade 12 can be attributed to gaps that already existed in first grade. Why is this important? Because Connecticut has the largest achievement gap in the nation between poor and non-poor children in both reading and math. It is in our best interests for all students to have the reading and math skills they need to be successful, for they are our future workforce, future community leaders, and future parents. The good news is that we also know that whatever their social or economic background, children who have supported, engaged parents and attend a quality preschool are more likely to be ready for school and continue to succeed throughout their school years.

Over the past four years, United Way has invested nearly $1.6 million through our Success By 6 initiative to support young children and their families. These efforts, in conjunction with community partners, have resulted in more parents in our community having the knowledge, skills, and support structure they need to be their child’s first and best teacher. United Way has also focused on helping more children benefit from high quality early care and education in child care centers and licensed family child care homes. Thanks to United Way’s efforts, almost 2,000 children have benefited from quality early care and learning programs. Through Success By 6, United Way has also provided leadership to a number of local early childhood councils, provided opportunities for community dialogue that engaged parents, professionals and community leaders, and mobilized hundred of volunteers to support parents and local early childhood programs. While we are pleased with our results to date, we know that there is more to do. Working together, we can ensure that all young children in our region have the kinds of opportunities that prepare them for school and life success.

There are many more stories to share about how your contribution is changing lives and making our community stronger. I invite you to visit our website (www.uwgnh.org) to learn more about the challenges we face as a community in these challenging economic times and how we can address them together.

Sincerest regards,

Jack Healy

President and CEO, United Way of Greater New Haven

A Growing Mind Won't Wait!

2008-08-19T14:15:00.003-04:00

About the Event: Parents of young children from Branford, Madison and Guilford were invited to join Dr. Dia Flanagan of Madison Pediatrics, Priscilla Russo RN of Read to Grow, and Amy Townsley of United Way of Greater New Haven for a conversation on early childhood development and learning. The evening event informed parents about the importance of early development, children’s language and literacy development and provided them with information on the building blocks that will help ensure their children’s success in life.

When: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: RJ Julia’s Booksellers, 2nd Floor, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison, CT

Facts:
A 40-year study showed that every $1 invested in early education saves $17 down the road, with results including lower crime rates, fewer single parents and higher individual earnings and education levels.

Children with engaged, supported parents and quality preschool experiences are more likely to read at grade level by 3rd grade, score well on the 4th grade CT Mastery Test, avoid juvenile justice system, and stay in school.

Touch A Truck!

2008-08-13T13:07:00.011-04:00

Saturday, September 13 from 10:00am to 2:00pm
Rain or Shine at Branford High School, 185 Main Street, Branford, CT 06405

United Way has partnered with the Town of Branford to organize Branford’s first ever Touch-A-Truck event!

Touch-A-Truck is a unique, family-oriented one-day event, featuring trucks and cars to touch, climb on and take pictures alongside. The "price of admission" is disposable diapers that will be distributed free, in partnership with The Diaper Bank, to local nonprofits serving families in need.

The event will include vehicles from various municipal offices, including the Branford Fire Department, Branford Police Department, Parks and Public Works Departments, as well as vehicles from local construction companies.

United Way of Greater New Haven Supports A New Haven Summer Youth Program

2008-08-13T11:59:00.002-04:00

Douglas Bethea, Founder and Director of Nation Drill Squad & Drum Corp. in New Haven, has organized a trip to the Elk’s Lodge Drill Team National Championships for the last 20 years. The program keeps inner city youth off the streets during the summer and provides youth with an opportunity to travel throughout the country. While the team has placed in the top 3 in recent years, the New Haven Register reported that the 46 member team won this year’s prestigious national title. United Way of Greater New Haven sponsored 2 team members to travel to Detroit, Michigan for this year’s championships. Douglas and United Way of Greater New Haven look forward to future partnerships and the team’s continued success. We invite you to explore UWGNH videos and listen to Douglas's story.

United Way shoots for 2008 volunteers for 2008 Days of Caring

2008-08-12T14:08:00.004-04:00

Marna Borgstrom, President and CEO of Yale New Haven Hospital helps United Way of Greater New Haven promote Days of Caring 2008 (September 15-21st, 2008). The TV spot will air on WTNH News Channel 8 throughout the fall and encourages citizens to go out and make a difference within their communities.

Click below to view the TV spot:

Experience Corps Beginning Third Year in Hamden

2008-08-06T09:07:00.002-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 5, 2008
Media Contact: Michelle Wade
203.772.2010, Ext.202
Cell – 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

National program seeks older adult volunteers to tutor in Hamden elementary schools, help improve reading skills

Experience Corps Greater New Haven founded by United Way of Greater New Haven and the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut, is recruiting volunteers age 55 and above who are interested in tutoring children in grades K-3 as part of the 2008-2009 Experience Corps program in Hamden.

Experience Corps is a national Civic Ventures initiative that trains older adults (55+) to work with elementary school children in kindergarten through third grade to improve their reading skills. No prior tutoring experience is required and volunteers from all professional backgrounds and walks of life are welcome to attend an information session and screening. A partnership with Americorps provides stipends for volunteers who meet certain requirements.

Information sessions will be held at:
The Miller Memorial Library (Friends Room) 2901 Dixwell Ave., Hamden, CT
Thursday, August 14, 2008 10:30 am
Monday, August 18, 2008 1:30 pm
Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:30 am
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 10:30 am

Since its inception in March 2007, thirty-eight Experience Corps members have tutored over 600 students through small group and individual sessions. They have contributed a total of over 4000 hours to the program. Volunteers tutor children from 10-20 hours per week and receive ongoing training in literacy tutoring skills.

For more information please call Sheila Greenstein, Experience Corps Program Director, at 203-752-3059 x 2900 or email volunteer@aoapartnerships.org

About United Way:
United Way mobilizes the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; and connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities. More information about United Way can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

About the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut:
The Agency on Aging works to provide a continuum of opportunities, care and support services that allow older Americans to remain in their homes and communities, avoid unwanted and unneeded institutionalization, and to age in place with dignity, respect and maximum independence. The Agency on Aging hosts additional volunteer programs including the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), a program that coordinates senior volunteers and the Senior Benefits Connection, a program in which senior volunteers conduct financial benefits and services eligibility screenings for other seniors. More information about the Agency on Aging can be found at www.aoapartnerships.org

-###-

United Way Announces 2008 Campaign Chair

2008-07-17T12:09:00.003-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2008

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
United Way of Greater New Haven
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

Media Contact: Joel Weinberg
Covidien
Work: 203.492.5576
Cell: 203.812.9398
joel.weinberg@covidien.com

Editor note: see photo below

President of Covidien Surgical Devices Named
2008 United Way Campaign Chair

New Haven--July 17, 2008--Jack Healy, president and CEO of United Way of Greater New Haven, announced today that Scott Flora, president of the Surgical Devices Global Business Unit of Covidien in North Haven, has been named Chair of United Way’s 2008 Campaign.

“We are honored to have such a valuable and dedicated partner leading the United Way campaign,” said Healy. “As campaign chair, Scott is committed to engaging corporate leaders and promoting local fundraising efforts to reach our campaign goal of $6 million.”

Prior to joining Covidien (formerly Tyco Healthcare) in November 2006, Flora had 27 years of healthcare experience in surgical devices and pharmaceuticals management including 18 years of senior leadership positions at Smith and Nephew.

“It is truly an honor to accept the chairmanship for the 2008-2009 campaign,” said Flora. “United Way, through its many community programs and commitments from donors and dedicated volunteers, exemplifies two of Covidien’s core values compassion and collaboration. Like United Way, we at Covidien are committed to improving the health and well-being of people in our communities. We look forward to partnering with United Way to ensure that employees at businesses throughout the New Haven area are aware of the benefits that support of this campaign will bring to all of us,” added Flora.

North Haven, Connecticut is the global headquarters of Covidien’s Surgical Devices business unit. The location is home to a growing research and development function and large manufacturing facility where surgical staplers, sutures and numerous other products are made. Covidien is one of Connecticut’s largest employers with over 2,900 people employed in North Haven and over 3,400 statewide. Covidien’s success as a global healthcare leader provides it with a unique ability and opportunity to give back to the communities where it operates and where its employees live. Covidien encourages employees to volunteer their time to local organizations throughout the year and is active in United Way’s annual Days of Caring volunteer activities. During this year’s Days of Caring, Covidien will focus its efforts around activities that encourage good health in youth in Greater New Haven.

About United Way:

United Way brings together the caring power of people to create change in our region and to improve lives. We strive to be a catalyst for identifying community needs and opportunities for change; to focus on specific community priority areas and initiatives through which we have the best opportunities to improve lives and change conditions; and to engage donors, organizations and community leaders to improve the social and civic health of our region.

More information about United Way’s work to improve lives and communities can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

About Covidien:
Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in four segments: Medical Devices, Imaging Solutions, Pharmaceutical Products and Medical Supplies. With 2007 revenue of nearly $9 billion, Covidien has more than 42,000 employees worldwide in 57 countries, and its products are sold in over 130 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our business.

United Way in the News: Charity Getting Face Time on Facebook

2008-07-15T10:41:00.003-04:00

When you think of giving to charity, Facebook may not be the first thing that comes to mind.

The social-networking Web site is better known for members’ keeping in touch with friends and posting photos, but for United Way and other charities, it’s the new way to raise money and recruit volunteers to get involved in their communities. Read more: New Haven Register:

Other Print and Internet Postings:

Boston.com:
Connecticut charity getting face time on Facebook - Boston.com

WTIC News:
WTIC News/Talk 1080 - CT Charity Getting Face Time on Facebook

Courant.com:
Connecticut charity getting face time on Facebook -- Courant.com

NewsTimes.com:
Connecticut charity getting face time on Facebook - NewsTimes.com

WWLP 22 News online:
WWLP 22 News Springfield Connecticut charity getting face time on ...

Connecticut Post:
Charity getting face time on Facebook - The Connecticut Post Online

Television:

WVIT Channel 30
http://www.nbc30.com/news/16876636/detail.html

WTNH News Channel 8
WTNH.com, Connecticut News and Weather - United Way gets face time ...

FOX 61 News

United Way in Business New Haven on 07/07/2008

2008-07-09T10:19:00.006-04:00

Doing More with Less
In era of diminishing government support, non-profits find they must get creative to meet growing needs

..."It is driven by the fact that we see so much need in the community," Heath explains. "So we understand that the fundraising climate might be tougher, but we know that the needs are greater and want to make sure that we have the resources to try to address some of those community needs."...

United Way of Greater New Haven Earns $1,500 in Facebook Challenge

2008-06-23T13:48:00.005-04:00

Last week, United Way of Greater New Haven competed against other United Ways across the nation in a race to recruit the most new members to it's Facebook Causes page, which focused on raising awareness for the Success by 6 campaign. With over 900 new members recruited in only seven days, UWGNH took second overall and received a $1,500 prize. The winnings will be invested in the community to help area youth. Thanks to everyone who joined the cause, and if you haven't, you can still join by clicking here. (be sure that you click the “join” button)

Success By 6® (SB6) is United Way’s initiative to ensure that more children come to school ready to learn. The years between birth and six are a time of tremendous growth and development. The experiences children have in their earliest years determine the actual structure of their brain and lay the foundation for their ability to learn, as well as their emotional and behavioral well-being. Please, join then invite others who are interested in supporting the community, young children, and the United Way of Greater New Haven. Thanks!

Connecticut United Ways Unite for 2-1-1

2008-06-18T11:40:00.001-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2008

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

How will you spend the longest day of the year? On Saturday, June 21st, United Ways across Connecticut are joining forces for a “Day of Action” to spread the word about one of our state’s most valuable resources – 2-1-1. There are people in Greater New Haven who need essential services, want to help others, or seek advice but they don’t know where to turn. 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects people with important community services and volunteer opportunities.

In Greater New Haven, more than 51,638 local residents called 2-1-1 for information and referral last year. The most frequently requested services were for:
· Housing and shelter
· Information services
· Substance abuse services
· Utilities/heating assistance
· Outpatient mental health care

Callers to 2-1-1 reach knowledgeable, multi-lingual call specialists who are available 24 hours a day to find the answers needed. 2-1-1 can direct callers to summer youth programs, services for older adults, support groups, CPR training, volunteer opportunities, open child care slots, information about the HUSKY health care program, and much more. 2-1-1 also has a comprehensive service specifically for child development programs and concerns.

On June 21st, United Way of Greater New Haven is asking YOU to get involved and take action by getting informed about 2-1-1 and spreading the word:
· Go online to http://www.211ct.org/ to see what information is available;
· Tell 5 friends, neighbors or co-workers about this valuable service available free in Connecticut;
· Become an advocate by displaying 2-1-1 print materials at your office or with a civic organization.
· Set up a web link to 2-1-1 for your clients, customers, employees or friends to find help when they need it.

United Way 2-1-1 is a 24-hour, 7-day a week toll-free information and referral helpline, available anywhere in the state of Connecticut.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. Together with community partners, United Way identifies our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raises dollars and invest those dollars for results and connects people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

-# # #-

United Way Partners With New Soundview Family YMCA in Branford

2008-06-12T12:08:00.003-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2008

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

New Haven (June 12, 2008)- United Way of Greater New Haven (UWGNH) has joined in a partnership with the Soundview Family YMCA in Branford. Building on the new YMCA is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009. Key elements of the partnership include a total pledge of $100,000 from UWGNH over the next four years, a United Way office within the YMCA building, and an agreement to work together to create programs to support early childhood learning, including parenting programs, at the YMCA.

“After forty years of talking about creating a community center, purchasing the land made the YMCA a reality. Partnering with United Way truly validates the Soundview Family YMCA and makes me hopeful that this will make a difference in the lives of the people in the area,” said Doug Shaw, executive director of the Soundview Family YMCA.

The Soundview YMCA capital campaign will publicly kick off at the end of June. The financial goal is $10 million, with $6 million already collected from private donations. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall.

“This partnership is totally in line with United Way’s work to bring communities together, to bring families together, and provide resources to help them grow, learn, and be healthy,“ said Jack Healy, CEO of United Way of Greater New Haven.

The Soundview Family YMCA will serve the communities of Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Madison and North Branford. The new Soundview Family YMCA will offer a fitness and weight room, two swimming pools for competitive and recreational swimmers, aquatic classes, a teen center, sports courts, and a childcare center.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. Together with community partners, United Way identifies our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raises dollars and invest those dollars for results and connects people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

About Shoreline YMCA:
The Soundview Family YMCA presently serves over 3000 members through our summer day camps, aquatic swim lessons, aquatic exercise classes, sailing lessons, sports, pre-school, youth and teen programs and so much more………..Imagine how many shoreline residents we will serve when our facility is built!

-# # #-

Gallagher To Announce National United Way Goals

2008-05-13T12:57:00.005-04:00

In a report to be released on May 14, United Way will issue a challenge to our nation to join all who are working day in and day out to strengthen lives and communities. There are basic things that everyone needs for a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, income that can support a family through retirement, and good health. Far too many people in our country do not have these basic building blocks. What's worse, we're seeing disturbing national trends on several key indicators:

Education: Children entering school ready to learn; 4th graders who are proficient in reading; young people who graduate from high school on time; and young adults who successfully transition from school to work life

Income: Lower-income working families who spend less than 40 percent of their monthly income on housing; have checking or savings accounts and at least $300 saved for emergencies; and own their own homes

Health: Babies born with normal birth weight; children with health insurance; and youth and adults who are healthy and avoiding risky behavior

In his keynote address to the United Way Community Leaders Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, United Way of America President and CEO Brian Gallagher will urge the country to put a stake in the ground to turn around these disturbing trends, and will outline three specific goals to advance the common good over the next 10 years.

Here at United Way of Greater New Haven we are throwing our resources behind this effort, and we'll be inviting everyone from the nonprofit, business and government sectors in this region to join us to achieve these goals and create opportunities for a better life for all.

If you'd like to watch this important address live, please join the webcast of the conference at 3:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 14. (Instructions for accessing the webcast are below.)

The report will be available at http://www.blogger.com/www.liveunited.org/goals on May 15.

We hope you'll agree that the goals are worthy of our collective commitment, and we look forward to our continued partnership.

Instructions for viewing the live webcast:

Confirm that your computer can connect to the webcast by performing a system self-test ahead of time.
Click here to test: http://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

Make sure your PC speakers or headset is working. The sound for the webcast will be coming through your PC headset/speakers only.a
(Note: There is no dial-in number for this event.)

To log in to the webcast, go to http://uwa.acrobat.com/clc2008 at least 10 minutes before the session.

In the Adobe Connect login screen, use the first login option to login as a GUEST. Please enter your first and last name.

If you need technical assistance, please contact Marcia Struniak, United Way of America Registrar, at 703.836.7112, ext. 237, or Marcia.struniak@uwa.unitedway.org.

A life changed, one sentence at a time

2008-05-05T11:34:00.000-04:00

How United Way investments are helping local residents overcome illiteracy

When West Haven resident Annette Sessions was ten years old and her mother fell ill, she took a job working in a cotton field, earning $3.50 for every 100 pounds of cotton she picked. She continued to work to support her family, eventually started a family of her own and never went back to school.

But because she left school so young, she never learned to read. “My mom felt like education was something you could always go back and pick up,” Annette says. “But taking care of your siblings was needed right away. I was illiterate but not by choice.”

Annette struggled for years to find jobs that didn’t require reading. Annette explains that being illiterate is “like walking around with a 100 pound yoke around your neck, praying that no one will ask you to read something.” When her boss at a coat factory called her “an illiterate,” she didn’t know what the word meant and thought it was a racial slur. He told her he knew she couldn’t read because she couldn’t fill out the paperwork necessary to earn her well-deserved promotion. She left the factory that day determined to change.

She was so determined—and so successful—that other students working to overcome illiteracy are today honored with the “Annette Sessions Student of the Year Award.”

An eager student with a mile-wide smile and a soothing, mellow voice, Annette turned to Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven, a funded agency of United Way of Greater New Haven that trains and certifies volunteer tutors to work with adults who need help with basic literacy or English skills.

One of those tutors was Margie Watson, who realized Annette’s immense potential. Within a few years, Annette received her high school diploma and sent a copy of it to her boss at the coat factory. When he offered her a job for $10 per hour, she politely declined. Her career path has instead made her today an extremely effective Community Outreach Coordinator for Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven.

When working with others learning to read, Annette is careful to mention that she was motivated by desire, hope, and drive. Her message to others learning to read is simple. “If you’re tired of being in the closet, of accepting what other people give you and you want to speak up for yourself, call Literacy Volunteers because it has really been an inspiration to me.” Doss Venema, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers says, “Annette is a determined young woman. She believed in herself. She never says no to a challenge.”

Venema points out that problems with reading are not just for those who have left school like Annette did. The National Adult Literacy Survey estimates that approximately 22%, or 40 to 44 million of the 191 million adults in the United States, “demonstrated skills in the lowest level of prose, document, and quantitative literacy proficiencies.” That population of 40 to 44 million people includes many high school graduates.

Many of those surveyed can read well enough to get by in daily life. For example, they could write a deposit slip at a bank or read dates and times listed on a schedule. But when tested, they could not read and comprehend full paragraphs. Venema says that these people have “simply fallen through the cracks.”

It isn’t easy for most to admit that they can’t read. In fact, Venema says, many people will take great pains to disguise their problem. Annette carried a newspaper under her arm while walking down the street. Others point to a map when asking for directions despite the fact that the map is unintelligible to them. Simply getting by means carefully memorizing directions and names. It also means yielding to others. If a contract needs to be signed, you can’t review its content. “You must settle for someone else telling you the truth,” Venema says. “Someone else must tell you what the contract you’re about to sign says and you have no control.”

Many students at Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven are learning English as a second language. Venema says these students are eager to learn so they can get a job, communicate effectively, and become productive members of their communities.

She described one young woman who was having trouble reading at school, partly because her first language was Spanish and partly because of basic reading problems. This student was shuffled into a bilingual class which didn’t help her because she couldn’t read in Spanish either.

“She kept getting bumped around,” Venema says. “She didn’t get the help she needed.” But at Literacy Volunteers, this student attended weekly one-on-one classes with her certified literacy tutor and ultimately learned to read. Instead of disappearing into the back of a classroom, she finally got the individual attention she needed.

Stories like these only come out of years of hard work by students and tutors. Those who learn to read gain control and confidence they’ve never had. Annette Sessions, who is now writing her autobiography, says, “Set a goal. It can be a six month or 12 month goal. Learn how to read.” Because whether following directions, getting a driver’s license, earning a GED, understanding a doctor’s diagnosis or finding a job, being able to read means the difference between a frightening, defeating experience or a successful and triumphant one. Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven, together with United Way of Greater New Haven, is making a difference in people’s lives, one sentence at a time.

United Way of Greater New Haven is an outlet for your compassion, caring and concern for your community. To find out more about how you can get involved, go to www.uwgnh.org or telephone United Way of Greater New Haven at (203) 772-2010.

Teaching others to truly see-How United Way investments are helping a local child to thrive

2008-05-05T11:29:00.000-04:00

When New Haven resident Angela Russell was looking for child care for her ten-month-old daughter, Brianna, she wanted a place that would foster curiosity and confidence in her child. The search for quality day care can be stressful for any parent, but it was especially challenging for Angela because Brianna is blind.

Angela found Creating Kids at the Connecticut Children’s Museum, a New Haven child care center that is dedicated to serving the needs of children and their families.

Brianna is now a very busy and curious six-year-old who loves music, Barbie dolls and The Wizard of Oz. “She has blossomed into an independent and curious little girl,” her mother says. “She’s very bright.”

Successes like that are why United Way of Greater New Haven and Creating Kids team up to provide the highest quality early education possible. Sandy Malmquist, director of Creating Kids, says that tuition support from United Way helps kids like Brianna receive an education that “supports multiple ways of learning and being in the world.”

Creating Kids is providing the early intervention that The American Foundation for the Blind says is needed to improve the educational outcomes for blind children. Because of Brianna’s blindness, the teachers at Creating Kids began to emphasize new ways learning for all their students.

To encourage three-dimensional learning, instead of simply showing the children a picture of an orange, teachers would pass an orange around the classroom, giving each student an opportunity touch, smell, and describe the orange.

Malmquist says, “It was as if Brianna had come to Creating Kids with a bag full of 3D glasses, a pair for each of us sighted people. With her help, we were all learning to see the layers, corners, sounds and shapes in the world.”

Children’s picture books were brailled and Malmquist says that both teachers and students learned to read descriptively and with a “sense of touch.” When describing a room, teachers would carry Brianna around the perimeter of the classroom, feeling the straight walls that created the word “room.”

Everything in the classroom, from art supplies to a bucket of toy dinosaurs, is labeled in English, Spanish and Braille. And often, Malmquist says, teachers find sighted children running their fingers across the Braille as they recognize a toy or a book’s cover.

“Teaching any child means giving them opportunities to learn and lead,” Malmquist says, and Brianna is no exception. During Nocturnal Animal Week, Brianna and her friends were tucked away in a makeshift tent in a darkened room as they learned about owls, raccoons, possums and mice by listening to their distinctive sounds. Malmquist remembers all the children asking Brianna, “Which animal is that?” She knew them all.

Brianna’s mother says, “There are no words I can use to describe how she’s benefited. Part of the reason Brianna blossomed was because of her wonderful relationship with a high-school student, Jessie, who volunteered [link: http://www.uwgnh.org/volunteer/home.cfm] at Creating Kids one summer. Jessie is also blind and says Brianna never worried about her own blindness or let it get her down.”

Jessie fondly remembers the summer she worked with Brianna. “The first word that popped into my head when I met her was ‘feisty,’” she says. “That was her in a nutshell–joking around with the staff, jumping from one activity to the next at lightning speed, constantly asking questions about everyone and everything.”

Malmquist describes how, upon their first meeting, Brianna gave Jessie a guided tour of the daycare center: “Imagine, for a moment, the confidence of this four-year-old, holding the hand of a 16-year-old, describing the play yard and providing accurate directions as they both traversed it.”

As a parent of five children, Brianna’s mother Angela says that Creating Kids relieved immense burdens for her. “The school has really embraced us as a family and not just as a child in their care who has special needs,” she says.

And the impact of a quality, encouraging education has been immeasurable for Brianna. “She still remembers stories from years ago,” Angela says. “She loves to play make believe stories and to teach her siblings.”

It is difficult to determine who is more thankful for Brianna’s years at Creating Kids, the day care staff or Brianna and her family. Malmquist says that her school’s language became fuller and more descriptive. Teachers used to tell the children, “Come, look at this bird in the window!” But now, teachers say, “Come, listen to the bird at the window!”

Brianna’s mother says, “I am just so thankful because Creating Kids helped make sure that Brianna got what she’s entitled to. They have always gone the extra mile. Always.”

Or perhaps the most grateful person is that gifted high school student, Jessie, who saw the bright spark in her young friend. “I’ll never forget one little girl in particular, the most rambunctious of them all, as she took my hand that first day and teased me, ‘Come on, Jessie, what do you think you're doing? Jump with me!’”

Finding every child’s strength

2008-05-05T11:25:00.000-04:00

How United Way’s support of Clifford Beers Guidance Clinic helps children recover from trauma and find ways to thrive.

At the Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic, a nonprofit psychiatric, community-based mental health agency, clinicians are more than just one-hour-a-week counselors for children, adolescents and their families.

“We try to solve the whole picture, not just treat the child,” says Kate Dombrowski, Events and Marketing Coordinator at Clifford Beers. “We look for the strength in the family.”

Many of the children seen at Clifford Beers suffer from mental health challenges like depression and anxiety because of trauma like sexual abuse or violence. Those children are at greater risk for truancy, drug abuse, academic failure and criminal activity.

Clifford Beers’ specialized, holistic approach helps make a huge difference in the lives of those served by the clinic. But finding a family’s strongest member may be a bit of a challenge. “The family’s strength may not necessarily be a parent. It may be an aunt or an outside person,” says Kate. That was the case with Kevin*. At about eight years old, young Kevin’s parents were facing life-threatening illnesses and the stress from that caused him to act out. He was having major difficulties in school and at home and the clinician could tell that he needed more than just regular therapy.

“He needed an outside force,” Kate says. “So his clinician connected him with a big brother.” That big brother was a local college student who took his role as a big brother quite seriously. He brought Kevin to his house and introduced him to his family. “He showed him what a ‘normal’ family experience was like. He integrated the boy in his home life and took him on outings.”

Kevin made a huge turnaround. “This big brother finally gave this little boy someone to look up to.”

“Therapy isn’t just a one hour session,” Kate says. “The clinicians are an advocate for a child. They want to find what will make a difference in the child’s life.”

That’s just what they did for little Megan who was struggling in school and couldn’t find her niche socially or intellectually. “Her strength was in the arts,” Kate says, “so we connected her with an outside art organization and that really made a difference in her life.”

Often the children who visit Clifford Beers have gone from foster home to foster home. “The clinician might be the only constant factor in the child’s life,” Kate says. “So it’s important that the clinician find the child’s strength and help collaborate with others to make the most of that strength.”

Finding that strength and focusing on it can be what helps a child truly thrive. And the therapy can be more effective if the child begins to feel positively about him or herself.

To measure how their young patients are faring during and after therapy, the clinicians at Clifford Beers gathered six months of data on the treatment of 30 sexually abused children and their non-offending parents.

They wanted to know if the children had an increased sense of security and they found that 98% of the children were better at tolerating discussion regarding sexual abuse. 60% of the children learned that the sexual abuse wasn’t their fault, and 90% could identify the ways their behavior changed before, during and after the sexual abuse.

The clinicians also wanted to understand if their work with the parents could decrease the amount of miscommunication and conflict in those families. Clinicians were able to help 87% of the non-offending parents understand the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse. And 80% of the parents learned to discuss the sexual abuse without blaming the child.

Lastly, the Clifford Beers clinicians were hoping that the therapy and its benefits would help the children avoid troubling behaviors such as social isolation, truancy and inappropriate school relationships. During their study, they found that the children were indeed having an easier time at school. 63% of them had at least two close friends, 83% were attending school regularly and 63% were performing at or above average in their school work.

It’s important for any social agency to ensure their treatments are effective. Clifford Beers’ careful research and outcomes assessment makes them an agency that United Way is proud to support.

Not only do the clinicians help find and focus on the strength of the child and his or her family, they ensure that the family learns to communicate effectively and to leave the clinic feeling healthier and happier. It is this kind of crucial, life changing work that helps children recover from trauma and avoid the risks they would otherwise face because of their troubling experiences.

*All names have been changed to protect the privacy of children and their families.

One woman fights her way to sobriety and employment and teaches others to do the same

2008-05-05T11:23:00.000-04:00

How United Way investments are helping people get back to work and out of the streets

Patricia Rivers-Barnes has lived through some incredibly difficult times. For nine years, she was addicted to alcohol and crack cocaine. She used drugs to escape loneliness, low self-esteem, sexual, physical and emotional abuse. Because of her drug use, she lost custody of her four children, the first of whom she gave birth to at age 15.

“I had a $300, or more, a day habit,” Patricia says. More than once, she tried to end her life.

One night, after Patricia spent all her family’s money on drugs, she walked into her house and saw her oldest son standing at the open refrigerator, searching for food. The look on his face convinced her that she was harming her children with her drug habit.

Patricia made the painful decision to free her children from her substance abuse by phoning DCYS and telling them about her addictions and her inability to care, protect and provide for her children.

“Before I used drugs I was a good mother. Now, I’m a good mother. I was a good mother then for calling DCF, for protecting my children, because I couldn’t,” Patricia says.

After a stay in prison, 10 failed attempts at finding sobriety at various treatment facilities and the subsequent troubling relapses, Patricia hit rock bottom. On December 6, 1997, she begged for assistance from a local mental health agency. It was only then that she found a good counselor and began to explore the secrets and traumas in her life and why she chose men who were abusive. Finally, Patricia began to recover.

Once off drugs, Patricia worked minimum wage jobs at a donut shop and a drug store, trying to save enough money for furniture and basic necessities. While working at the donut shop, Patricia noticed a customer that looked familiar. It was her counselor from the inpatient facility. The counselor was so impressed with her progress that she offered Patricia a job on the spot.

Patricia has now been sober for six years. She is a full-time case worker for The Connection, an agency that provides support services like drug treatment and mental health counseling to parents working to regain custody of their children from the Department of Children and Families. She has regained custody of her four “beautiful children” and is an integral part of the staff at The Connection because she can truly relate to clients, their addictions and crises.

“I have helped so many people by just being honest and sharing my story,” Patricia says. “I get so many letters from clients thanking me for helping them. A lot of them say my honesty helps them. I was homeless for the nine years of my addiction. I know what it’s like to be at the bottom.”

United Way of Greater New Haven invests in The Connection Inc.’s job training and placement program. Part of Patricia’s job is to help clients prepare for interviews with a good resume and proper dress. Together with The Connection’s Sharon Kupiec, clients learn to fax resumes and make effective and professional phone calls.

Patricia helps keep clients inspired by sharing the rewarding feeling she still gets every time she receives a paycheck. “When I got my first job and I received my first paycheck, I felt so good. I felt so important because I could say, ‘I’m going to work today.’ It meant so much that I could take care of myself. For so many years, I had to depend on men. When I could depend on myself, when I opened my first checking account, I was so happy.”

Patricia’s words are clearly resonating with The Connection’s clients. In a recent six-month period, the attendance rate at the job training program was 83 percent (up from 65 percent the previous year). Nine out of 15 clients have enrolled in a GED, trade school or college course. Ten out of 14 people have secured employment and 9 out of 10 of those people have stayed employed for three months or longer.

Patricia’s passion is to help people crawl back from the dark place she knows so well. “In my one-on-ones with clients, I try to get them to see that honesty is the best policy. If you don’t share your secrets, they will keep you getting high.” And she says that nothing compares to getting clean, getting back on your feet, and becoming self-reliant. Those paychecks still mean the world to her. They mean that she has succeeded, that she has bounced back from the depths and has become a healthy, productive, drug-free person. “When I get my paycheck, I’m happy. I know that I’m reliable. I’m dependable,” she says.

Patricia’s goal is to help others find their way to such happiness. “I try to tell people that there is hope out there. There really is hope.”

Local support group helps end the cycle of abuse

2008-05-05T11:08:00.001-04:00

The Domestic Violence Services sponsored support group in Milford consists of a dedicated group of women who count on each other for bluntness and honesty. They know that finding safety and happiness in themselves and in their relationships requires support, hard work and a lot of deep self-exploration.

They also know that the road to safety is not always straight.

In fact, statistics show that a woman will go back to the same relationship seven times before she finally leaves. Or, she may get out and go on to a new but equally abusive relationship.

The emotions involved in leaving an abuser include guilt, remorse, self-blame, fear of being alone and insecurity, and they can tangle themselves so deeply inside a survivor that she’ll repeatedly find herself in a perilous position.

That’s when the members of domestic violence support groups blow the whistle on one another.

Sarah Sorenson, shelter coordinator at Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven, says, “as they’re talking with each other about a great new relationship, the other women will ask if he’s been asking you for money, if he’s been putting you down, asking for things.”

If the answers are yes, Sorenson says, “Support group members will be honest because these women have been through it. They’ll say, ‘I’m picking up bad signs.’”

“Sometimes,” Sorenson says, “women say, ‘I am already going down that road’ and the other women say, ‘It’s okay. You may make that mistake again but we’ll always be there for you.’ There’s no judgment because they’ve been there. A support group makes it possible for them to have a safe space.”

And the fact is that there are times when the support group’s insights aren’t enough. Sorenson explains, “Sometimes people stop coming because they’re involved, because they’re in a bad place and don’t want others to know. But if they come back, they don’t have to explain.”

Most of the women in the Milford support group originally came to it after contact with the core programs at Domestic Violence Services—emergency shelter for women and children or the 24-hour crisis hotline. Those two programs, which United Way of Greater New Haven invests in, get measurable results. http://www.uwgnh.org/commimpact/successbytown2002.cfm
Click here, to read about a woman who participated in a Woodbridge support group last year and finally left a violent relationship.

Sorenson says, “What we provide to the women is a unique understanding of what domestic violence means in their lives and an ongoing source of connection and support.” Whether it is via the hotline, the shelter, or an ongoing support group, “We’ve been told that the one thing that kept a woman going was that there was a warm voice speaking to her, someone who understood.”

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven’s 24-hour hotline at (203) 789-8104. Outside the greater New Haven area, please call toll free 888-774-2900.

Jose Alvarez- FatherCare participant

2008-05-05T11:04:00.002-04:00

Jose Alvarez is a 17-year old father with a happy one-year old daughter, Saileen. A grant from United Way of Greater New Haven’s “Project Graduation” collaboration with Sikorsky Aircraft is helping him get the support he needs to be a responsible father and plan for his family’s successful future. After involvement in the Elizabeth Cellotto Child Care Center at Wilbur Cross High School for two years, he recognizes that he is “one of the few lucky ones.”

When Jose describes the director of the FatherCare program, Rich Bryant, he says that Rich is always there to talk and as a mentor.

“He [Rich] has helped me turn a negative into a positive, which is something that I had great difficulty with when I entered the program. Since that time, I have done a complete 360. I used to find the easy way out and struggle with stress and balancing my life. I have become a completely different person, in a good way.”

Jose is not the only one who enjoys the FatherCare program. “My daughter loves to go to day care,” he said. “She walks in with a smile and leaves with a smile every day.”

When Rich talks about Jose, he could not sound more proud, “I met Jose when he came to us from Florida. His girlfriend informed him about the program, and he took it upon himself to contact us. He knew that he needed to enroll in school in Connecticut and get a job. He is a very articulate and bright young man, who just needs a little guidance. Once he has a diploma, he can do anything. I have helped several young men, and he is a shining example of motivation, talent, and understanding of what it means to be a father.”

Jose now has a savings account for his daughter and plans to go to Gateway Community College and earn his degree in automotive mechanics. Eventually, he hopes to open his own automotive shop. In the meantime, he is receiving assistance with job applications for local companies.

“More than anything, I wish that Shaileen will be able to do everything in the world… dance, sing, anything she wants,” said Jose.

The Student Parenting & Family Services was created in 1992 to respond to the large dropout rate among teen parents in high school. The FatherCare program of SPFS recently received a grant from United Way of Greater New Haven’s “Project Graduation” collaboration with Sikorsky Aircraft, designed to conquer the multiple barriers that teenage fathers face in completing their educations and becoming self-supporting. The program targets adolescent fathers who are involved in or plan to be involved in their children’s lives. The program has plans to expand, enabling a case manager to provide intensive services to 15-20 teen fathers targeting high school and post-high school success as well as child development and parenting success.

Jose Alvarez- FatherCare participant

17 years old
New Haven, CT
has a 1 year old daughter (Saileen) who attends daycare

What was life like before FatherCare?
Before I found out about the day care, I was so stressed by my relationships with my family and girlfriend. The day care supplies diapers, and so many other opportunities that are big things to us and little things to the day care.

How has the program helped you?
There’s a whole lot. It’s having someone to talk to. Rich is someone that I can look up to. He has helped me turn a negative into a positive, which is something that I had great difficulty with when I entered the program. Since that time, I have done a complete 360. I used to find the easy way out and struggle with stress and balancing my life. The whole staff has always been there for me. My daughter loves coming to the day care. She walks in with a smile and leaves with a smile every day. This is better than any other day care. I have heard from friends that their children’s experiences were nothing like my daughter’s.

What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
I have started a savings account for my daughter. I plan to go to Gateway to get my degree in automotive mechanics. I hope to move forward as much as possible and go as far as I can. Eventually, I want to take some business classes and start my own automotive business. I hope to take my daughter out of New Haven and introduce her to bigger and better things.

The last two jobs that I held were because of Rich. He just drove me to I just dropped off an application for a new job. Wherever I have to go, he finds the time to take me. He has been helpful in every way possible.

What are your hopes for Saileen?
“I wish she could do everything in the world, dance, sing, anything she wants.”

What is your relationship like with Saileen’s mother and your family?
She graduated from high school and is in Gateway community college for forensics. They have their own place and split the parenting 50/50.

Jose’s mother lives around the corner and babysits.

Rich, is there anything you would like to add?
Rich- “I met Jose when he came to us from Florida. His girlfriend informed him about the program and he took it upon himself to contact us. He knew that he needed to enroll in school in Connecticut and get a job. He is now in the adult ed program, which he will be finishing soon. He is a very articulate and bright young man, who just needs a little guidance. He is extremely talented and knows everything about cars. He just needs to get a diploma and he can do anything. I have helped 15-16 young men, and he outshines them with his motivation, talent, and understanding of what it means to be a father.”

Struggling local residents get legal assistance and find hope

2008-05-05T11:02:00.000-04:00

Another example of United Way of Greater New Haven’s investments paying off

When someone in the Greater New Haven area is unable to obtain legal services because of income, age, disability, discrimination or other barriers, New Haven Legal Assistance Association, Inc. (LAA) can help.

LAA is an organization of attorneys and paraprofessionals who work together to provide high-quality legal services. United Way of Greater New Haven provides essential funding to LAA to help ensure that the association’s attorneys and paraprofessionals are able to meet their clients’ needs.

Below are just a few of the many success stories* shared with us by LAA’s agency representatives. These stories exemplify how those who may feel like they’re alone and without help or hope can receive attentive and thorough legal representation.

*Names have been changed to protect LAA clients.

Ms. G.:
Ms. G. was being evicted for non-payment of rent in a subsidized housing apartment. After reviewing her file, the advocate at New Haven Legal Assistance Association discovered that the amount of rent requested had inappropriately been doubled.

The correct information was sent to the management company who reworked the numbers, refunded Ms. G. $1658 and withdrew the eviction action. LAA’s representation not only prevented Ms. G from being homeless, but returned to her the money she had been improperly charged.

Ms. M.:
Ms. M. is a 19 year old woman whose I.Q. is in the 50s. Her father died before she was born so, as a result, she received Social Security Survivor’s benefits in Puerto Rico. But when she came to New Haven, those benefits were terminated.

New Haven Legal Assistance lawyers discovered that her Survivor’s benefits should not have been terminated. In addition, they determined that she was eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) because of her own severe mental challenges. LAA attorneys were able to help her with both of these Social Security problems, something she could not have done on her own.

Mr. D.:
In the Spring of 2002, 70-year-old Mr. D. suffered a heart attack. After a few weeks in the hospital, he was sent to a convalescent home. While in the convalescent home, his social security checks were diverted to pay for his medical expenses, leaving him no money for rent.

He explained his predicament to the housing authority manager during his convalescence, but the housing authority still filed an eviction action against him for nonpayment of rent.

Mr. D. contacted the New Haven Legal Assistance Association after receiving notice that judgment had entered against him in eviction court. There is a five-day period in which to open a default eviction judgment and Mr. D. called the law offices on the fifth day. Mr. D. was unable to come to the law offices because he uses a wheelchair and is continuously on oxygen so the LAA attorney traveled to his apartment, completed the motion to open the pleadings and filed them in court that same day.

The attorney was able to prove to the housing authority that Mr. D. was in the convalescent home for several months and that his social security checks were diverted to pay for his care. The housing authority then adjusted his rent to a zero hardship status. The eviction action was withdrawn and Mr. D. can now rest at ease back home in his own apartment.

Miss L.:
Miss L. is a nine year old girl who was twice denied Supplemental Security Income. She has been in and out of St. Raphael’s Children’s Psychiatric hospital for the past three years.

She was diagnosed with major depression with psychotic features, post traumatic stress disorder and chronic conduct disorder. Miss L. suffers from auditory hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and is now in the Shoreline Partial Hospital Program five days a week during the daytime.

The attorneys from New Haven Legal Assistance assembled all of the necessary and appropriate medical information and wrote an accompanying brief. The material was deemed proof enough that Miss L. should be granted Supplemental Security Income on the written record which means that Miss L. was spared the trauma of a hearing.

Teen Mother Beats the Odds with Help from Local Agency

2008-05-05T11:00:00.001-04:00

When Janira* was 15 years old, she became pregnant. Her mother learned of the pregnancy and soon left the state, leaving her young daughter entirely alone. Janira had no family in the New Haven area and now she had no home, no job, no savings, no resources and she was only a freshman in high school.

Left with no other options, Janira moved in with her boyfriend and his family and soon gave birth to a healthy baby boy. But she started to have frequent arguments with her boyfriend’s sister and when the arguments progressed into serious verbal fights, Janira’s boyfriend’s mother told Janira and her son to leave the house.

As the fifteen-year-old mother of a newborn, Janira was placed into a homeless shelter by
The Connecticut Department of Social Services. But the shelter was designed for adults who were homeless and Janira found it hard to adjust to shelter rules. Soon, she and her son were kicked out.

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) then placed Janira and her son in a foster home. This situation could have worked but Janira soon realized that the foster mother was controlling and mean. She would lock the kitchen cabinets and the freezer that held food.

When the foster mother hit Janira’s son with a curtain rod, Janira asked to be removed from the foster home. DCF agreed and placed Janira and her son into their own supervised apartment.

But the trouble still wasn’t over. Janira’s boyfriend came to her apartment one night and discharged a handgun into the wall. She was kicked out and was again homeless.

The Department of Social Services then placed Janira and her son in a homeless shelter 45 minutes from New Haven. Again she found that most of the residents were adults and by this time, Janira was still only 18 years old. After one long month at the shelter, DCF again agreed to place Janira and her son into their own supervised apartment.

Janira’s story is not an unusual one. In New Haven high schools last year, over 200 teenage women became mothers. Often when a woman this age faces a pregnancy, her hopes of finishing high school are slim. She might be forced to leave school because she can’t afford child care, because her family no longer supports her, or because she is simply overwhelmed. Studies such as Community Compass [http://www.uwgnh.org/compass/index.cfm] show that teen pregnancy and parenting threatens the development of teen parents as well as their children. Teen moms are less likely to find adequate prenatal care and are less likely to have the financial and social resources needed for healthy child development.

Considering all of those factors, this could have been the beginning of a long, sad, downward spiral into life-long homelessness and poverty for Janira and her son. But during her homelessness and many moves, the one stable factor in Janira and her son’s life was the Elizabeth Celotto Child Care Center at Wilbur Cross High School, part of Student Parenting and Family Services [http://www.uwgnh.org/commimpact/studentparenting.cfm], a United Way supported agency.

The day care there enabled Janira to make it to school every day. She brought her son with her and left him in the day care, confident that he was getting high quality care while she focused on trying to graduate from high school. And despite being a poor, often homeless young mother, Janira managed to focus and do well in school. Because of her own determination and the flexibility and security provided by the child care, she was able to maintain good grades.

Lorraine DeLuz, Program Director at Student Parenting and Family Services, says “Initially, Janira was a very angry young woman. She didn’t trust adults and she would explode when asked simple questions about simple things like immunization records for her son. But we stuck by her.”

Janira soon began to see that these adults were here to help her, not hurt her. The staff at the day care followed through on their commitments, unlike the other adults in Janira’s life, and she soon saw that they cared deeply about her young family. This kind of help has meant the difference for many young women in the Greater New Haven area. The Elizabeth Celotto Day Care Center helped 30 young women stay in school last year. Lorraine DeLuz says, “We had a one hundred percent graduation rate last year. Sixteen teens graduated. Fifty percent graduated from another school that did not have the same support services.”

Janira was one of those who did graduate. And at the end of high school, she applied to a private university and was accepted with a scholarship. She attended the university, majoring in English and Legal Studies, and graduated in 2003. She will soon start working on a graduate degree in social work.

Looking back, Janira recalls, “It was hard but I just couldn’t give up,” she said. “When you’re fifteen you think differently. But I’m grateful for all the help now.” When asked why she wants to go into social work, she responded, “Because the teenagers need it. Sometimes you need that push.” She still visits the daycare center at Wilbur Cross High School and when she does, she recalls her earlier self, saying “Who was that person? That wasn’t me.”

*name changed

Dr. Donald W. Kohn- Alexis de Tocqueville Society member

2008-05-05T10:55:00.001-04:00

Focus: Community Wellness- Health

Members of United Way of Greater New Haven’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society are generous philanthropists in our community. Dr. Donald Kohn and his wife Candace are valued members of the Society. We sat down recently with Dr. Kohn to learn more about what he hopes his philanthropy can achieve and why giving back is so important to him.

Donald and Candice Kohn were inspired to become United Way Tocqueville Society members after attending a dinner to honor their friends, Annie and Ben Kaplan, who are members of the Society.

In addition to their regard and faith in the work done by and through United Way, becoming members of the Tocqueville Society seemed a practical option for the Kohns because of the convenience and consolidation provided by United Way. For instance, they appreciate receiving information about all of the organizations their donations benefit, and find that it makes planning for giving easier the following year.

Donald initially saw the work and benefits of United Way of Greater New Haven funding for child health programs while he was the Chief of Dentistry at Yale New Haven Hospital for 25 years. While Chief, Donald founded the Yale-New Haven Pediatric Dentistry Center and the postdoctoral specialty training program in pediatric dentistry.

Donald is founding partner at Pediatric Dentistry Associates, LLC, with offices in New Haven and Madison, continues to participate in the Yale Pediatric Dentistry Center as a member of the voluntary teacher. He also supports the arts as president of the New Haven Chorale and a member of the Yale Camerata.

As a teacher and an involved community member, Donald offers advice to young people about philanthropy, “Just make it a part of what you do. It sounds kind of trite, but just make it a part of who you are if you are in a position to do so. If you can find an organization like United Way that is trustworthy and has an impeccable track record, then you can join a community of donors and make your money that much more effective.”

Donald stresses that his volunteer activities profoundly impact his giving. “I can now see where the needs are in our community and that helps me to focus my gifts through United Way,” said Donald. “Likewise, my continuing awareness of the need that I see every day at my practice, volunteer activities, in the hospital, and at the organizations I am active in motivates me to continue my support.”

It is in the spirit of Alexis Charles-Henri Clerel de Tocqueville that the United Way of America created the United Way Tocqueville Society in 1984. Tocqueville was only 26 years old when he traveled all over the United States in 1831. One of his most important observations was that Americans hold in common a unique willingness to work for the public welfare- a tendency to lend faithful support to neighbors and countrymen, especially in times of need. Today, the Society is one of the world’s most prestigious institutions for individuals who are passionate about improving peoples’ lives and strengthening communities. Membership to the society is granted to individuals who contribute at least $10,000 annually to the United Way.

How did you first get involved with the United Way?

Originally, I was an indirect recipient of the benefits of United Way because I was the Chief of Dentistry at Yale New Haven Hospital for 25 years. Later on, our friends, Annie and Ben Caplan, told us about the Tocqueville Society. We attended a Tocqueville dinner to honor their donations and were inspired to become members ourselves.

What inspired you to become a Tocqueville Society member?

I initially became involved because of the very practical sense. Donating to United Way consolidates the process and makes it much simpler to reach those in need. I can just zip off an email and donate. I also get a list of all the places my money has benefited, so I can plan my giving for the following year.

What piece of advice would you share with young people today about philanthropy?

Just make it a part of what you do. it sounds kind of trite, but just make it a part of who you are if you are in a position to do so. If you can find an organization like United Way that is trustworthy and has an impeccable track record, then you can join a community of donors and make your money that much more effective.

Do you have a most important volunteer experience?

That’s hard to choose. I do a lot. Right now I am president of the New Haven crawl, volunteer teaching, and founder of the Yale Pediatric Dentistry Center. I am also active in other aspects of health care and the arts. Although I enjoy all of these things, I especially love teaching young dentistry residents.

How have your volunteer experiences influenced your giving?

Profoundly! I can now see where the needs are in our community and that helps me to focus my gifts through the United Way.

What motivates you to continue to support charitable causes with your time, talent, and money?

My continuing awareness of the need that I see every day at my practice, volunteer activities, in the hospital, and at the arts organizations I am active in.

What is your professional life like?

I own Pediatric Dentistry Associates, LLC in New Haven and Madison.

Patricia B. Sweet- Alexis de Tocqueville Society Member

2008-05-05T10:51:00.001-04:00

Focus: Successful Children and Youth

Pat Sweet became an Alexis de Tocqueville Society member because it “made sense” to her, as she has always had a passion for giving.

“I care about what happens to the future of our world,” said Pat. “I don’t think we can tolerate a society in which there are people who are not given the chance to be fully included. If we [Connecticut] continue to have the largest achievement gap in the country, in 10-15 years the price for that will be huge. If things do not change, in that short amount of time we will have already kept a huge percentage of the population out of the workforce.”

Pat began working on projects with the United Way over twenty years ago when she was president of the Waterbury Foundation. She later continued her involvement as Senior Vice President responsible for the corporate communications of Centerbank, now part of Wachovia. In her position, she appointed the campaign coordinator for her workplace and guided decisions about corporate gifts for the bank. Pat continued her volunteer work by serving on United Way of Greater New Haven Board of Directors for six years. She has also served on various committees at United Way throughout the years.

Pat is so dedicated to her community, that she decided to leave her successful career at the Regional Water Authority, not to retire, but to become the Director of External Relations at Achievement First in New Haven Connecticut, a nonprofit organization that aims to bring to scale the dramatic, life-changing student achievement results produced at Amistad by creating a school system of achievement-gap closing charter schools in New York and Connecticut.

While working at the Regional Water Authority, Pat was responsible for organizing the donation of a large fountain to beautify the New Haven Green. As a leader and a dedicated volunteer, Pat urges others to reach out to the community. Recognizing that some people are not in the position to donate a significant amount of time to volunteering, she asks that young people put pressure on their corporate leaders to incorporate volunteerism and social responsibility into company practices.

Through her various volunteer experiences, Pat has been influenced to dramatically increase her level of giving. Particularly, she loves the idea of family philanthropy. She said, “I think it is important and very meaningful when families are engaged in philanthropic causes together and promote a giving spirit amongst one another. I would urge every young person to think about including such a philosophy in their households.”

Pat concluded, “I think that as a society we should look at our assets and incorporate a giving standard into our lives.”

It is in the spirit of Alexis de Tocqueville that the United Way of America created the United Way Tocqueville Society in 1984. Tocqueville was only 26 years old when he traveled all over the United States in 1831. One of his most important observations was that Americans hold in common a unique willingness to work for the public welfare- a tendency to lend faithful support to neighbors and countrymen, especially in times of need. Today, the Society is one of the world’s most prestigious institutions for individuals who are passionate about improving peoples’ lives and strengthening communities. Membership to the society is granted to individuals who contribute at least $10,000 annually to the United Way.

Patricia B. Sweet

Pat Sweet is the Director of External Relations at Achievement First (AF) in New Haven Connecticut. AF is a charter school management organization started in 2003 by the leaders of Amistad Academy, a high performing charter school in New Haven. As a nonprofit organization AF aims to bring to scale the dramatic, life-changing student achievement results produced at Amistad by creating a school system of achievement-gap closing charter schools in New York and Connecticut.

“Working at AF has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. This organization is reaching out to some of the poorest people in our community and helping them to gain access to high-quality education. You cannot change people’s lives without giving them access to an education. I’ve been blessed to have had access and support in gaining a wonderful education and I think that every person deserves that same opportunity.”—Pat Sweet

How did you first get involved with United Way?

I began my relationship with United Way over 10 years ago when I worked at Center Bank [a branch of Wachovia]. I was a workplace campaign coordinator which meant that I was the one who organized fundraising efforts at the Bank for United Way. However, because I was responsible for the Bank’s visioning project,[ through which the company tried to figure out what people in the community wanted from a bank] it was natural that I was in communication with United Way in this capacity as well. United Way is very knowledgeable about community needs so professionally the organization was a great resource to me.

What inspired you to become a Tocqueville Society member?

Mainly, because it made and still makes sense to me.

What piece of advice would you share with young people today about philanthropy?

I would urge every young person to set aside some amount of money in their budget to help meet community needs. No matter how small the amount, people should be engaged in solving problems. Volunteer work can sometimes be tricky if you are not in a leadership position because you are not always allowed to take time off to volunteer and are sometimes too tied up with building a career at the start of your professional life to devote a significant amount of time to volunteer work. So, leaving room in your budget for philanthropy is an easy way to incorporate it into your life if you don’t necessarily have a lot of time to spare. However, that being said, I do think that it is important to give your time as well as money so I would also urge young people to pressure their corporate leaders about incorporating volunteerism and social responsibility into company practices. I also love the idea of family philanthropy. I think it’s important and very meaningful when families are engaged in philanthropic causes together and promote a giving spirit amongst one another. I would urge every young person to think about including such a philosophy in their households.

Please share your most important volunteer experience.

It’s hard to choose but one that does stand out in my mind is my experience as a member of the Choate Rosemary Hall High School Board. This experience showed me just how effective a board of directors can be, especially when the staff is in communication with and on the same page as members. Through my experience there I saw the ways in which boards could be huge assets in terms of strategic planning. I think another reason that this particular activity has been so rewarding to me is because of all of the board members’ strong commitment to the school and the meetings. At Choate, the Board is comprised of people from around the world, we meet for two days every seven or eight weeks and have a 95% attendance rate at each meeting. The way in which this board organizes is extremely effective as well. Small task forces are assembled to study and deal with specific issues. I’ve found that this technique is a great way of using the members’ talents and it also speeds up our processes.

How have your volunteer experiences influenced your giving?

They’ve led me to dramatically increase my level of giving.

What motivates you to continue to support charitable causes with your time, talent and money?

I care about what happens to the future of our world. I don’t think we can tolerate a society in which there are people who are not given the chance to be fully included. If we [Connecticut] continue to have the largest achievement gap in the country, in 10-15 years the price for that will be huge. If things do not change, in that short amount of time we will have already kept a huge percentage of the population out of the workforce.

Do you have any additional comments?

Something that has really stayed with me I heard in a commencement speech given by Paine Webber’s CEO. In this speech he encouraged all graduates to give away 5% of their budgets to philanthropic causes. I love this idea. I think that as a society we should look at our assets and incorporate a giving standard into our lives.

Additional Email comments

I actually was not the workplace campaign coordinator for the United Way. I was a Senior Vice President responsible for the Corporate Communications Division which managed all the corporate giving for the bank. As such, I appointed the in-house United Way campaign coordinator and guided the decisions about the corporate gift for the bank, which had a presence throughout all of central and south central Connecticut..

Centerbank (please note spelling) was the second largest bank in Connecticut. It is not a branch of Wachovia. In 1996 it was merged with First Union which ultimately merged into Wachovia.
So the best way to describe Centerbank would be to say Centerbank, now part of Wachovia.

My relationship with United Way goes back over 20 years, when I was president of the Waterbury Foundation and we did joint projects together.

United Way in Earth Times on 05/03/2008

2008-05-03T11:14:00.000-04:00

Comcast Partners with Seven Connecticut Nonprofits

on Annual Day of Community Service

Local Volunteers Join Over 50,000 Nationwide On Annual Comcast Cares Day

"United Way is proud to be connected to such an exciting project that will benefit families and children in our community," said Jennifer Heath, Vice President of Community Impact for United Way of Greater New Haven. "Comcast is creating a fun and effective way for parents to teach their children the kinds of skills they need to be prepared for school success through the installation of the state's second 'Born Learning Trail.' Comcast is really serving as a local business leader through this project and we hope more companies will follow in their footsteps to address the needs of young children and their families in New Haven."

Build Your Skills, Get Others Engaged

2008-04-23T17:38:00.006-04:00

Community Mediation offers Facilitation Training

Facilitator training prepares you to moderate group discussions, promoting dialogue that is communicative, effective, balanced, and productive.

Community Mediation held a facilitator training in January.

Facilitators moderate groups using the Study Circles model of discussion. A successfully facilitated discussion Circle:
- Achieves participation from multiple people
- Embraces diversity
- Shares knowledge, resources, power, and decision-making
- Combines dialogue and deliberation to build understanding and explore a wide range of solutions
- Connects dialogue to action, creating real change: social, political, attitudinal and personal.

Facilitator training is hands on and interactive. You will have a chance to practice and get feed back on the skills you have learned.

Community Mediation-trained facilitators have moderated forums on:
- Police-Citizen relations
- Racial tension in New Haven
- Stereotypes in faith communities
- Commercial development in residential areas
- Ex-offenders’ transitions into society
- The use of the “N-word” in schools
- Armed patrols in city neighborhoods

For more information, contact Penny Rogers, Director of Community Programs
at (203) 530-2486 or penny.rogers@community-mediation.org

Community Mediation
32 Elm Street
New Haven, CT 06510

Facilitator Training pamphlet

United Way Helps Bring Discounts on Prescription Drugs

2008-04-23T17:38:00.004-04:00

Download the Card Now!

"Too many American families have insufficient or no prescription drug coverage at all," said Jennifer Heath, Vice President for Community Impact at United Way of Greater New Haven.

"Healthcare costs are one of the top concerns for people in our community and the FamilyWize discount prescription drug cards will help families who otherwise could not afford to buy the medicine they need.

Prescription drugs are vital to preventing and treating illness and help to avoid more costly medical problems. New Haven suffers from a high rate of poverty and an unemployment rate of 10.6%. There is a high immigrant population in New Haven and there are many uninsured individuals. Recent economic indicators reveal:

A 14.9% uninsured rate in New Haven compared to 6.4% in the state of Connecticut
27.2% poverty rate, higher than the State of Connecticut and the U.S.
The median income in New Haven is $32,574, lower than the income of Bridgeport and the state of Connecticut on average.
In 2005, 9% of adults 18 years of age or over reported that they did not purchase needed prescriptions due to cost.
In 2005, 1.9 million people did not get needed prescriptions and 15 million did not get needed medical care due to cost (Health US, 2007).

Spending in the United States for prescription drugs was $ 200.7 billion in 2005, almost 5 times more than the $ 40.3 billion spent in 1990 (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2007). Prescription drug coverage has been one of the fastest growing components of health care spending, increasing in 2003 at double digit rates compared to single digit rates for hospital and physician services. Consider the following:

From 1994 to 2005, the number of prescriptions purchased increased 71% (from 2.1 billion to 3.6 billion).
The average number of retail prescriptions per capita increased from 7.9% in 1994 to 12.4% in 2006.
The percentage of prescription drug expense was 59% (for those under age 65) and 92% for those 65 and older.
Prescription drug prices increased an average of 7.5% a year from 1994 to 2006 almost triple the average annual inflation rate of 2.6%.

The US Department of Health and Human Services expects the United States prescription drug spending to increase to $497.5 billion in 2016, up from $ 200.7 billion in 2005, a 148% increase in 11 years (Health US, 2007). The annual increase is expected to rise from 5.8% in 2005 to 9.4% in 2016. Prescription drug spending as a percentage of overall health spending is projected to increase to 12% in 2016, up 2% from 2005 (Health US, 2007).

The FamilyWize discount prescription drug cards will help families get the prescriptions they need at a discounted price or the pharmacy’s retail price-which ever is lower. To get a list of pharmacies, or check discounted drug prices visit www.familywize.org.

Please send a fax to (203) 789-8167or call the United Way of Greater New Haven at (203) 772-2010 if you are interested in receiving a supply of these cards. You can also visit www.familywize.org for more information or to print additional cards.

Agency offers free tax assistance

2008-04-23T17:36:00.001-04:00

By: Maria Garriga, New Haven Register 2008-01-17

NEW HAVEN — In 2007, New Life Corp., a nonprofit agency with just five employees, helped draw $4.8 million in federal tax refunds and credits by assisting 2,060 low-income workers prepare tax returns and claim federal Earned Income Tax Credits for low-wage workers.

New Life kicked off the 2008 tax preparation season Wednesday at Centro San Jose on Grand Avenue, one of its six tax preparation sites, with several key legislators present.

“EITC is not a handout. It’s a program only for working people. EITC brings in millions to communities for people who are living on very narrow margins,” said state Sen. Martin Looney, D-New Haven, Senate majority leader and longtime champion of the EITC.

Looney announced he will again seek to get a state Earned Income Tax Credit passed this year for low-income working families. The state credit would be worth 20 percent of a recipient’s federal EITC. Looney estimated it would cost the state roughly $40 million.

New Life gives free tax preparation help to qualified filers in New Haven and West Haven. “This is one of few programs out there that have a return on the dollar. This is not about giving away money,” said New Life Executive Director Ariel Martinez.

“We need to keep the momentum going,” said John M. Picard, mayor of West Haven, where 380 tax filers received free help from New Life volunteers.

State Sen. Toni Harp, D-New Haven, co-chairwoman of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, said the program has been key in helping low-wage workers build assets that could lead to home ownership or educational opportunities.

Looney and Harp said Rell’s administration refused to consider the proposal last year, which contributed to delay in budget approval.

“Opponents argue that this would be a windfall for people who do not pay taxes. That’s short-sighted. Low-income workers pay sales tax, gasoline tax and property tax through their rents,” Looney said.

Last year, tax filers aided by New Life’s volunteers received $1.28 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (a payment of up to $4,700 the federal government gives to qualified low-income workers as an incentive to stay employed ) and $3.04 million in federal tax refunds.

Yet 20 percent of those who qualify for the EITC do not claim it, or may not even know of it. Additionally, many other tax filers give returns, often quite simple, to large accounting firms.

New Life recruited and trained 80 community volunteers to process returns, giving workers alternatives.

New Haven offers a separate free tax assistance program through New Haven Economic Security Coalition. In 2005, that program helped 2,484 New Haven residents claim more than $3.6 million combined in federal and state refunds.

* * *

Tax help available at these locations

NEW HAVEN — New Life Corp. will offer free tax preparation assistance for wage earners with income less than $40,000 a year.

Help will be available at: New Life, 540 Ella Grasso Blvd. and Centro San Jose, 290 Grand Ave., and the West Haven Community House at 227 Elm St., West Haven, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturdays; at R’ Kids Family Center, 45 Dixwell Ave., from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays; and the United Shoreline Federal Credit Union, 107 Whitney Ave., by appointment only Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with walk-ins Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Bring W-2 forms and 1099 forms, a copy of 2006 tax return, original Social Security cards or individual taxpayer identification numbers for all family members. Those who would like their tax refunds and Earned Income Tax Credits deposited directly into bank accounts should bring account information. To request tax help or make an appointment, call New Life at 777-1319. To volunteer for training as a tax preparer, call New Life at 777-0313.

Maria Garriga can be reached at mgarriga@nhregister.com or 789-5726

Is an Earned Income Tax Cut in Your Future?

2008-04-23T17:35:00.000-04:00

The Center on Budget Policy and Priorities has created an EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) estimator. Try out this easy to use tool and share it with friends and colleagues.

Try the EITC Estimator Now

CBPP has launched a campaign to raise awareness and use of the Earned Income Tax Credit.

"For nearly 20 years, the Campaign, which includes community organizations, employers, social service programs and government agencies, has promoted the Earned Income Credit (EIC), the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and free tax filing assistance for low- and moderate-income workers. Each year millions of eligible workers risk missing out on these important federal tax benefits because they do not know they qualify, do not know how to claim the credits or do not know where to find free tax filing assistance. Your outreach efforts can ensure that eligible workers can receive the tax credits they’ve earned."

Download the 2007 EITC kit

View the CBPP's Money Talks website

Center on Budget Policy and Priorities

State sees strengths, weaknesses reflected in results of annual nationwide education study

2008-04-23T17:34:00.001-04:00

State sees strengths, weaknesses reflected in results of annual nationwide education study

By: Elizabeth Benton, New Haven Regsiter Staff 2008-01-10

Connecticut schools received mixed marks in a national report released Wednesday, ranking at the bottom nationwide in improvement in student test scores and in closing the achievement gap, yet among the best in preschool enrollment and high school graduation.

The nonprofit Education Research Center released its annual “Quality Counts” report Wednesday, grading the nation’s schools on 150 indicators, including equity of school funding, teacher training and student achievement.

“Connecticut is a high performing state. Top 10 in current levels of achievement, but near the bottom in improvements over the last years. It’s dead last in the poverty gap. There are serious issues, real stagnation. And really serious issues in poverty,” said Chris Swanson, project director of Quality Counts.

Connecticut received a C-plus, a notch above the national C average, says the report, published in Education Week.

Read the full New Haven Register story at www.nhregister.com

Download the Quality Counts report

U.S. Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations for Preventable Deaths

2008-04-23T17:33:00.000-04:00

The U.S. places last among nineteen industrialized countries when it comes to deaths that could have been prevented by access to health care

By: Philanthropy News Digest 2008-01-09

The United States places last among nineteen industrialized countries when it comes to deaths that could have been prevented by access to timely and effective health care, a new report funded by the Commonwealth Fund finds.

Published in the latest issue of Health Affairs, the study, Measuring the Health of Nations: Updating an Earlier Analysis, finds that while other nations dramatically improved their preventable death rates between 1997-98 and 2002-03, the United States rate improved only slightly. If the United States had performed as well as France, Japan, and Australia -- the top three countries in the survey -- there would have been 101,000 fewer deaths per year by the end of the study period.

Authored by Ellen Nolte and Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the report, which looked specifically at deaths "amenable to health care before age 75," found that while other countries saw these types of deaths decline by an average of 16 percent, the United States experienced only a 4 percent decline. "It is difficult," Nolte and McKee noted, "to disregard the observation that the slow decline in U.S. amenable mortality has coincided with an increase in the uninsured population."

While the United States ranked fifteenth out of the nineteen countries on the "mortality amenable to health care" measure in 1997-98, it had fallen to last place by 2002-03, with 109 deaths amenable to health care for every 100,000 people, compared to 64 in France and 71 in both Japan and Australia.

"It is startling to see the United States falling even farther behind on this crucial indicator of health system performance," said Commonwealth Fund senior vice president Cathy Schoen. "By focusing on deaths amenable to health care, Nolte and McKee strip out factors such as population and lifestyle differences that are often cited in response to international comparisons showing the United States lagging in health outcomes. The fact that other countries are reducing these preventable deaths more rapidly, yet spending far less, indicates that policy, goals, and efforts to improve health systems make a difference."

"New Study: U.S. Ranks Last Among Other Industrialized Nations
on Preventable Deaths." Commonwealth Fund Press Release 1/08/08.

Read the full report

Comcast Staff Donate Over 100 Coats to Winter Wear Drive

2008-04-23T17:27:00.001-04:00

As a result of Comcast’s state-wide coat drive in November 2007, Brad Palazzo from Comcast delivered 16 bags and 4 boxes of coats to United Way for distribution to those who need them. Because of the generosity of the Comcast employees, over 100 men, women and children in our community will be warmer this winter.

Comcast believes when we invest time and energy in the community, we all win. Get more information about Comcast here.

Brad Palazzo (r) Community Relations for Comcast
delivers the collected coats to UW

United Way in The New Haven Independent on 04/08/2008

2008-04-08T11:10:00.000-04:00

“Civic Engagement” Oscars Awarded

Patti Scussel was one of the crowd members not receiving an award at Anthony’s Ocean View Thursday night. But she played a role in what was being celebrated — and specifically in the work of one honoree.

The event was a United Way awards dinner. This year the event focused on New Haven people and organizations helping “citizens to connect with their community.”......

UPS NAMED TOP UNITED WAY CORPORATE LEADER FOR 8TH YEAR

2008-03-26T12:21:00.002-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2008

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

(New Haven, Conn.) –March 26, 2008- United Postal Service, the world's largest package delivery company and an employer of 425,300 worldwide, raised nearly $61 million during the 2007 United Way, campaign, retaining their place as United Way ‘s top supporter for the 8th consecutive year. In the 26 years that UPS has supported United Way, the company and its employees have donated an astonishing $872 million to help the communities and the individuals they serve. In the Greater New Haven area, the North Haven and Orange UPS locations have donated over $250,000 in just the past five years.

UPS employees nationwide have also contributed time and talent by volunteering in their communities. In 2007, UPS employees donated more than 960,000 hours of their time through Global Volunteer Week and UPS's Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, a company-wide volunteer initiative that matches employees and their families with volunteer opportunities based on their interests, skills and availability. In Greater New Haven, UPS has donated time in many ways, such as through United Way’s annual Days of Caring, a week-long event where thousands of volunteers from around the region work on one-time improvement projects. One recent volunteer project involved painting the Orange Department of Community Services building.

“UPS sets the bar for community leadership in the workplace and I find their dedication to the community truly inspiring,” said Jack Healy, CEO of United Way of Greater New Haven.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. Together with community partners, United Way identifies our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raises dollars and invest those dollars for results and connects people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

-# # #-

United Way of Greater New Haven Announces Partnership with American Red Cross South Central Connecticut Chapter

2008-03-24T12:25:00.001-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2008

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

United Way of Greater New Haven is pleased to announce a new partnership with American Red Cross of South Central Connecticut, which includes a $75,000 grant towards increasing community awareness about the importance of disaster preparedness and providing education and training across the life spectrum of the community in 2008.

“By partnering with the American Red Cross, United Way hopes to develop the awareness that families, individuals, and at-risk populations need to prepare for the effects of a disaster in our community before one occurs,” said Roland Lemar, Director of Community Solutions at United Way of Greater New Haven.

As a result of the partnership, American Red Cross can expand its scope of educating youth, families, seniors, and those with special needs in our region about the importance of disaster preparedness. They will reach out to each population in settings, such as classrooms, senior centers, and at community events and will distribute over 5,000 brochures and over 500 disaster kits.

American Red Cross also plans to train an additional 200 citizens in First Aid, CPR, and disaster response, and will increase public awareness through community activities, events, and public advertising.

“With the support received through United Way, American Red Cross will be able to increase and deepen the work we are doing daily to train volunteers and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies in our region,” said Charles Frey, CEO of American Red Cross of South Central Connecticut. “Our community needs to be ready for whatever comes our way.”

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

About American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest U.S. supplier of blood and blood products. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. For more information about how you can help visit http://www.arcsct.org/.

-# # #-

United Way grants 13 IBM computers to local non-profits

2008-02-06T11:51:00.002-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 6, 2008

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

For the past nine years IBM has partnered with United Way of Greater New Haven to provide computers to deserving area non-profits. Since 1999, 46 computers have been granted in the Greater New Haven region. The recipients were chosen through United Way’s request for proposal process. The computers donated were desktops, laptops, and “Little Tikes” computers, which are designed specifically for pre-school and early learning purposes.

“This partnership with IBM is a great example of how collaboration can move change in a community forward,” said Jennifer Heath, Vice President for Community Leadership at United Way of Greater New Haven.

This year, the IBM computers were granted to New Haven Reads, East Haven Family Resource Center at DC Moore Middle School, Concepts for Adaptive Learning, STRIVE, and Easter Seals Goodwill Industries. The various organizations are utilizing the computers to improve computer literacy, internet research, and writing skills among children and adults, specifically disadvantaged residents of Greater New Haven who are unemployed.

For example, New Haven Reads and the East Haven Family Resource Center are utilizing the “Little Tikes” computers to enhance education in the areas of reading, math, and even science among children ages three to five. Many of the students using the computers do not have computers in their homes, but are eager to use them.

“The one-on-one time that a student gets with the computer and a tutor is a stark contrast from the chaotic experience that school can sometimes be and differences are recognizable almost immediately,” said Chris Alexander, Director of New Haven Reads. “Thanks to IBM and United Way, more children are being given access to technology that will support their learning and prepare them for a bright future.”

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

-# # #-

United Way in Business New Haven on 02/04/2008

2008-02-04T11:01:00.001-05:00

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Actions Speak Louder than Words
Community pillar John Crawford has spent a lifetime leading by example

"John has been one of the greatest forces for civic engagement, civic participation, civic leadership that I've seen in the 11 years I've been in New Haven," says Jack R. Healy, president of the United Way of Greater New Haven. "He is a champion of people taking responsibility for their community, and he does it with a very soft touch and is very inspirational and very engaging."

Richard and Brigitte Cogswell: Parents with a Purpose

2008-02-01T11:40:00.000-05:00

Richard and Brigitte Cogswell may not be the image that comes to mind when you think “soccer mom”, but that’s exactly what they are. Their children are the center of their lives. Shuttling daughters Agape and Destiny, ages 11 and age 8, to ballet, gymnastics, Girl Scouts, choir, and yes, soccer are what their days revolve around.

Brigitte originally came to United Way when she was Vice President of Nonprofit Strategies Group. She was hired as a consultant to transform the allocations process. Many years later she returned in volunteer capacities as the co-chair of the Community Impact Cabinet and a Board member. Said Brigitte, “I’ve seen what United Way is about from the inside out. First as a consultant carrying out the work of United Way; then as an Impact Cabinet and later a Board member setting the direction for United Way, to benefiting from agencies that are funded by UW, like the Girls Scouts, which my daughter's are now a part of.”

Richard became aware of United Way through workplace campaigns at Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Hospital of St. Raphael’s where he was employed. He received first hand knowledge of United Way as a Loaned Executive for the 1997 campaign. “It was then that I learned how many organizations and people really are helped. And it was interesting to go and solicit companies for support. The Loaned Executive experience, the relationship and teambuilding training has been very useful in furthering my career. It allowed me to understand there are no barriers.”

In addition to their full-time jobs, both Richard and Brigitte are in school furthering their education. Brigitte, who is working towards her Master’s degree said, “I want my girls to know how important it is to never stop learning. Advancing your education is key to designing your own future. In our house, it’s God, family, community and education. Those are our priorities."

The Cogswell’s try to do as much as they can as a family. Although a great deal of their time is taken up by the many activities their daughters are involved in, they find time to give back by making their volunteerism family oriented. That way they are able to carve out the time to be involved in the community without taking time away from their family, while demonstrating first hand the kind of citizens they want their daughters to grow up to be.

Whether it’s through teaching at Children’s Church, serving pancakes at a fundraiser for their school, or as a volunteer soccer coach for New Haven Park & Recreation Youth Soccer, they are living examples of the virtues they want their daughters to embrace. Said Richard, “Coaching gives me an opportunity to be out in our community working with kids from all ethnic, social, and economic groups. The kids get to see a positive, African American, male, role model. It might sound hokey, but when I coach the girl’s soccer teams, I tell them there is no ‘I’ in team. We’re here to have fun and we’re here to work together. We win or lose together. Isn’t that what being a community is all about?”

Toro Snow Blower donated to New Haven Home Recovery

2008-01-18T12:16:00.002-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan.18, 2008

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

United Way of Greater New Haven is proud to announce that a partnership with local news station WTNH/MYTV 9 and Toro resulted in the donation of a brand new Toro snow blower to New Haven Home Recovery in order to help the organization function more efficiently during winter storms.

“We are thrilled to receive the Toro snow blower,” said Kellyann Day, Executive Director at New Haven Home Recovery.

“It will help us tremendously to ensure the safe and comfortable transportation of our guests during the winter months.”

New Haven Home Recovery is a local non-profit with several sites for women and children’s transitional housing. Its mission is to promote the independence of women and children confronting homelessness, HIV/AIDS, and behavioral health issues in a supportive environment where their potential can be realized.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

-# # #-

United Way in Business New Haven on 07/07/2008

2008-01-07T10:40:00.001-05:00

John on the Spot

"Longtime area business leader John J. Crawford will be honored with a doctor of business administration degree during winter commencement exercises January 19 at the University of New Haven... Crawford has also held numerous leadership positions in the community, serving on the boards of United Way of Greater New Haven, Shubert Performing Arts Center, Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority, and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, among others."

Robert and Que Payne: Making an Everlasting Impact

2007-12-05T11:24:00.002-05:00

Experience Corps members mentor Hamden elementary school students

Que and Robert (Bob) Payne are in their 70’s and live in Hamden. Que has been retired for seven years; Bob retired two years ago. They were both surprised at how little free time retirement has provided them. Originally they had thoughts of traveling together after Bob finally retired from Yale-New Haven Hospital after 32 years of service. But between their grandchildren, church, activities at the senior center and the two teams Bob bowls on, life was full. Still they felt something was missing.

When a family friend told them about Experience Corps, a program that engages people over 55 to help elementary school students improve their reading skills, it sounded like exactly what they were looking for. So they attended an informational session but left the meeting feeling unsure about whether this opportunity was right for them.

“It was a big commitment...15 hours a week for a year. We’re older folks you know. We’re not sure that we’d always be physically able to do that. What if we were sick or if the weather was bad or if we were just plain tired? We have to think about things like that.” said Que.

Think about it they did. It was a significant commitment on their part, but eventually they decided Experience Corps was the right activity for them. Explained Que, “I can’t tell you how glad I am to be doing this. I only pray my health holds out. I look forward to getting up in the morning and getting out of the house. I’m not so focused on myself anymore. I’m not thinking about my health declining or growing older anymore.”

Bob is also enjoys seeing the kids. “They know who I am. They see me coming and shout, Mr. Payne! Mr. Payne! They noticed I shaved off my goatee before anyone else did!” In the beginning, Bob was a little hesitant about the idea of mentoring. He worried that his academic skills were a little rusty, but after the first day, realized the skills are secondary. “I had a boy who was not interested in math because he couldn’t read the instructions. I went over the instructions with him word by word, explaining each problem. The teacher doesn’t always have the time to do that. I have the time and the patience. When I was able to give that time to him, he was able to get it.”

Shared Que, "There was a little girl; she’s in the second grade. The reason the teacher had me work with her one-on-one is because the little girl is very quiet. They do a sharing time on Monday morning where the teacher puts them in little groups and they tell what their weekends were like. Apparently this little girl never shared. Her teacher thought that being with me one-on-one, maybe she would be more comfortable sharing.

I introduced myself and told her a little about me. Then I asked her a couple of questions. She kind of nodded. The minute I hit on, “Do you have any siblings?” she began to tell me how her mom is pregnant and how her mom is going to have this baby in four days and how she is so looking forward to having this little brother, how the nursery is all set, and how her mother moved her into another room and that it’s a bigger room and she got to say what color she wanted this room to be (purple.) We talked and talked about this gift of a baby brother until time was up.

When I brought her back, the teacher asked how things went. She said, “She didn’t talk at all, did she?” “Oh, yeah!” I said, “She talked a lot! She told me all about her baby brother and her favorite color and everything!” Now the teacher had more insight into something that she could talk about with her.

It’s really been a two way street. I feel like I get a whole lot more than I could give out. I don’t know how many times in my life I’ve heard a successful individual say that a neighborhood person, or a teacher, or a mentor, said something or did something that made a change in them. You’re not just working with a child today. You’ve making an impact that could be everlasting.”

Experience Corps - Greater New Haven is a program that recruits, trains and places teams of older adults as tutors to students in grades K-3 in elementary schools. Experience Corps members work an average of 12-20 hours per week helping students to improve their reading and writing skills, working with small groups, in the classroom, and one-on-one. Training and supervision are provided. AmeriCorps stipends are available: $1500 per year for those who commit to serve 300 hours or $2500 for those who commit to serve 450 hours over the course of the year.

Experience Corps - Greater New Haven is a partnership between the Agency on Aging of South Central CT and United Way of Greater New Haven, in collaboration with Hamden Public Schools. This project is supported by the Connecticut Commission on National and Community Service, a partnership of the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps) and the Connecticut Department of Higher Education. For more information please visit www.agencyonaging-scc.org

Show you care during the Holiday Season

2007-11-30T12:48:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 30, 2007

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

United Way’s “Holiday Help” website listing back this year

United Way of Greater New Haven has dedicated part of its website to listing opportunities for community volunteer projects this holiday season that are appropriate for families, friends, and the workplace. Opportunities include wreath making, decorating Christmas trees, adopting a family, and donating various items including food, clothing, and toys. The dates of events and locations for drop-off sites are posted in addition to contact information for each event. Visit United Way of Greater New Haven’s website at www.uwgnh.org.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at www.uwgnh.org.

-# # #-

Donate Diapers to the New Haven Diaper Bank

2007-11-30T12:43:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 30, 2007

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

United Way is a convenient drop-off location

What is a better gift for the holiday season than one that is needed year-round? The New Haven Diaper Bank hopes to provide one of the most basic needs for New Haven’s youngest residents this holiday season and United Way of Greater New Haven is partnering with them as a drop-off location. United Way is located at 71 Orange Street in New Haven between Chapel Street and Crown Street. Diapers can be dropped off between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The New Haven Diaper Bank’s yearly goal is to provide 250,000 diapers to local families in need, with a hope of increasing the amount of diapers to 1,000,000 in the near future. The Diaper Bank accepts diapers of all sizes, but is especially in need of size 6 and Pull-Ups.
To find other drop-off locations, visit www.newhavendiaperbank.org/.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

-# # #-

Volunteers needed for New Haven’s First Project Homeless Connect

2007-11-29T12:58:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 29, 2007

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

New Haven will hold its first Project Homeless Connect on December 12, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 592 Ella Grasso Boulevard, New Haven. Project Homeless Connect is a national initiative that has been implemented in over 130 cities and is a one-day event that provides immediate access to services and information for people who are homeless. It is anticipated that over 500 people who are homeless will take part in the New Haven event.

Service providers from across the region will be on hand that day with information about and applications for housing, legal services, healthcare, employment services, and other basic needs for individuals, families, and youth.

Volunteers are needed for various tasks including: set up and break down of event, creation of care packages for attendees, guides who will welcome, assist and escort attendees to ensure they get to the services they need. Volunteers from our community are also offering haircuts, manicures, meals, and other amenities.

Project Homeless Connect New Haven is presented by The Continuum of Care, a city-wide collaboration of agencies and individuals committed to addressing issues of homelessness in New Haven. United Way of Greater New Haven, a Continuum member, is recruiting volunteers for the event. For more information about volunteer descriptions or to register visit www.uwgnh.org and click “Volunteer now!” or contact Amy Casavina at (203) 772-2010 x214 or acasavina@uwgnh.org.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at www.uwgnh.org.

About The Continuum of Care:

The Continuum of Care is a city-wide collaborative of agencies and individuals who are committed to addressing issues of homelessness in New Haven. The Continuum is responsible for securing funding through the Federal Office of Housing and Urban Development, which this year will result in over $5million for housing and services. In addition, the Continuum provides outreach and education to the community, organizes the annual Homeless Count, and works with the City of New Haven on the implementation of the New Haven 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. Project Homeless Connect is spear-headed by agencies from the Continuum membership.

-# # #-

United Way in Business New Haven on 11/12/2007

2007-11-12T10:50:00.000-05:00

Doing Well by Doing Good

They work just as long and hard as the rest of us. But these area business people find time to roll up their sleeves and help others beyond the office

"United Way always has been and will continue to be a volunteer-led organization. This is true for the volunteers who serve on the board and committees, but many of our initiatives go through a volunteer process to identify a direction and see it through."

United Way staff member appointed as Co-Chair of the New Haven School Readiness Council

2007-11-02T12:54:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 2, 2007

Media Contact: Michelle Wade

203.772.4202
Cell – 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

United Way of Greater New Haven is proud to announce that its own Vice President for Community Leadership, Jennifer McGrady Heath, a resident of Hamden, has recently been appointed as Co-Chair of the New Haven School Readiness Council by Mayor John DeStefano, Jr.

As Vice President for Community Leadership at United Way, Heath is responsible for all the ways United Way works in the community to improve lives and change conditions, including grantmaking, community partnerships, and initiatives such as Success By 6®. Heath was a member of the New Haven School Readiness Council for a year before being selected as Co-Chair.

State legislation requires all towns that receive funding for school readiness programs to have a local council. The New Haven Council currently has 26 members and 2 co-chairs. The council is comprised of a broad group of New Haven residents interested in working with young children and their families. The council acts to raise community awareness around the issue of school readiness and manages the funding that is received from the federal government, United Way of Greater New Haven, and The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

As co-chair until August 2010, Heath will be responsible for promoting collaboration between various organizations and encouraging new ideas and strategies to improve early childhood education. Heath will meet with officials, run the Council meetings, and provide direction for the Council, ensuring that time is used effectively. In addition, she will head a task force created by the mayor to strategize a new plan for early childhood education.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at www.uwgnh.org.

-# # #-

The Yale Whiffenpoofs to Perform at Fundraiser for United Way

2007-10-31T13:30:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2007

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
Work: 203.691.4202
Cell: 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

Eight a cappella singing groups to perform

The Greater New Haven Community is invited to attend "United in Song for the United Way," a benefit concert for the United Way of Greater New Haven, presented by Whim 'n Rhythm and the Yale Whiffenpoofs. The concert will take place in Battell Chapel at Yale on Sunday, November 4, 2007, at 3:00 p.m. Suggested donations are $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students and children are free if accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available at the door, and all proceeds will benefit the Yale United Way Campaign.

Other Yale undergraduate singing groups scheduled to perform are The New Blue, Mixed Company, The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, the Spizzwinks, Something Extra, The Dukes Men, and The Baker's Dozen. Mark Dollhopf, Director of the Association of Yale Alumni and former Yale Whiffenpoof, will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

“Yale's United Way campaign is such a great cause, and this concert will really be something special,” said Danielle Gilbert, Business Manager for Whim ‘n Rhythm, Yale’s all-senior Women’s’ group. “It will be so incredible when we [Yale Singing groups] all do this together.”

This concert is a rare opportunity for the entire Yale and greater New Haven communities to hear such a broad sampling of songs and styles by Yale's famed a cappella singing groups. “This promises to be a wonderful afternoon of singing for a very worthy cause,” notes Gilbert.

For more information, please call Michelle Reid at the United Way of Greater New Haven, (203)691-4208, or email her at mreid@uwgnh.org .

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

-###-

United Way Honors Guilford Couple at Annual Leadership Reception

2007-10-29T13:51:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 29, 2007

Media Contact: Michelle Wade

203.772.4202
Cell – 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

Special appearance by Herbert Pearce

United Way of Greater New Haven honored its leadership donors at a reception held at New Haven Colony Historical Society on Oct. 16, presenting its annual Alexis de Tocqueville Award to Catherine and John Crawford of Guilford. The event featured a special appearance by Herbert Pearce to talk about the history of United Way of Greater New Haven.

Each year, the Alexis de Tocqueville Award is presented to an individual or couple who embody the spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy observed by Alexis de Tocqueville, a French explorer, as he traveled through America in the 1800’s. John Crawford, president of Strategem consulting firm, and his wife, Catherine, were recognized for their commitment and philanthropic concern for the community.

In addition to working and raising a family, the Crawfords have sat on the Boards of the Guilford Chamber of Commerce, the Guilford Interfaith Housing Project, the Regional Growth Partnership, the St. Martin de Porres Academy and United Way of Greater New Haven, as well as volunteering their time at Yale Center for British Art, working with children waiting to be adopted as a Guardian Ad Litem, and teaching CCD.

The reception was highlighted by the special appearance of Herbert Pearce, a New Haven native known for his business sense and ingenuity in the real estate business. Pearce was one of the first to receive the Alexis de Tocqueville Award in 1998 and he chaired the annual United Way campaign back in 1970. Pearce reminded all those present how far United Way has come in such a short period of time. The event also featured opening remarks from Jim Torgerson, CEO of The United Illuminating, Co. and the 2007 United Way Campaign Chair.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.
More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at www.uwgnh.org.
-# # #-

Curtis Hill- Grant Review volunteer

2007-10-26T10:39:00.000-04:00

After spending many years in the corporate sector at Hewlett Packard, Curtis Hill opted for an early retirement and in July of 2002 found his passion in Concepts for Adaptive Learning. Curtis is now the Executive Director for Concepts for Adaptive Learning, a non-profit organization that aims to help public school children improve their education through the use of technology.
As a businessman with a specialization in technology, Curtis understands how important it is for young children to embrace the newest trends, for they will soon become the standard. “There is nothing like watching a child explore on a computer and helping to give them the opportunity to learn,” said Curtis.

In addition to Concepts for Adaptive Learning, Curtis is often busy mentoring at Conte West Hills School, and attending meetings as a board member of the New Haven Family Alliance, the Greater New Haven Literacy Coalition, and the New Haven Network for Public Education. He is a community volunteer with Casey Family Services and has also volunteered with United Way of Greater New Haven for three years.

When Curtis first volunteered with United Way, he thought it would provide him with the opportunity to expand his knowledge of the large non-profit community in Greater New Haven and allow him to meet other people with similar goals to his own, but he learned even more.
“I have a greater knowledge of the needs of the community, and I could have never achieved that without volunteering for the grant review process,” said Curtis. “The significant degree of need shocked me, but I was also shocked by the degree of amazing work being performed by the agencies.”

Seventy-five volunteers and nine United Way of Greater New Haven staff members participated in the 2007-2008 Grant Review Process. The reviewers were responsible for reading and evaluating 8-10 applications as well as conducting 2-4 site visits. Applications were assigned to a volunteer based upon expertise, interest, and avoiding conflicts of interest. Each of the 126 applications that were received from Greater New Haven non-profit organizations were reviewed by at least 5 volunteers. In the end, $1.5 million dollars was distributed to non-profit organizations in Greater New Haven.

Company/Position
Concepts for Adaptive Learning. Help public school children improve their education through the use of technology. (www.eachchildlearns.org) The organization has been active since 2001 and I have been involved since July 2002 as the Executive Director. I left Hewlett Packard through early retirement to help this organization.

Other volunteer activities?
I mentor 3 children a week at Conte West Hills School. I am on the boards of the New Haven Family Alliance, the Greater New Haven Literacy Coalition, and the New Haven Network for Public Education.

I have volunteered with United Way of Greater New Haven for three years. I also am a community volunteer with Casey Family Services and I am a reviewer for them.

Why did you choose to be a part of the Grant Review process?
I thought it would be a good opportunity to expand my horizons in terms of learning about the non-profit community.

How did the process impact your views of the community?
I have a greater knowledge about the needs of the community. I could never have achieved that without volunteering for the Grant Review Process.

The significant degree of need shocked me, but I was also shocked by the degree of amazing work being performed by the agencies.

The most challenging part is the end point where you have to make choices to distribute a limited amount of funds to a significant amount of need.

Was there any part of the process that you found particularly rewarding?
You form relationships. It became a wonderful networking opportunity.

The whole experience was very rewarding. I gained great knowledge and relationships. I have volunteered to be a part of the process in the future as well.

Greater New Haven Performs Acts of Kindness

2007-10-11T14:33:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 11, 2007

Media Contact: Michelle Wade, 203.772.4202
Cell – 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

United Way’s commitment to volunteerism and civic engagement
illustrated through Days of Caring Efforts

(New Haven, Conn.) United Way of Greater New Haven engaged thousands of local volunteers right here in New Haven, Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, West Haven and Woodbridge through its week-long community service event called Days of Caring. From Sept. 9-15, Days of Caring volunteers logged over 3,300 hours worth approximately $100,000 to benefit the region’s nonprofit agencies, schools and parks.

The annual celebration of volunteerism serves as a kick-off to United Way’s workplace campaign, presently taking place. Company teams and volunteers participated in projects like beautifying and renovating facilities, creating games and "hands-on" information stations for kids, sorting supplies, planting and landscaping, and planning or donating to a collection drive for anything from school supplies to diapers. These projects helped build relationships between volunteer groups and nonprofit agencies in the Greater New Haven area. To view photos from the various events visit our photo gallery at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

“Drives throughout the region collected more than 3,800 books, $2,500 worth of food, 3,500 baby diapers, 1,000 baby wipes, 100 toys, and 108 backpacks filled with school supplies,” said Jennifer Heath, Vice President for Community Leadership at United Way of Greater New Haven. “Days of Caring reminds us that together we can achieve results that no one can accomplish alone.”

“Civic Engagement is one of United Way’s strategies to improve lives and build stronger communities,” said Jack Healy, Chief Executive Officer of United Way. “Through Days of Caring, we strive to increase the number of people who are active, engaged citizens in their communities by providing a wide spectrum of opportunities and raising awareness about the number of hard-working non-profits.”

United Way of Greater New Haven would like to extend its sincere thanks to its Days of Caring partners for all of their continued support: Yale-New Haven Hospital, Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, and WTNH News Channel 8/MYTV 9.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

-# # #-

Nilda Aponte- Grant Review Volunteer

2007-10-05T10:45:00.001-04:00

Nilda Aponte, Family and Childcare Licensing Coordinator at the non-profit organization All Our Kin, has lived with her five children in New Haven since 2003. She came to Connecticut on vacation from her home in Puerto Rico to visit her brother in Stratford. While here, she saw the opening for the position at All Our Kin and applied, feeling the need to make a change. Her caring and friendly demeanor landed her the job and she moved to New Haven permanently.

“I fell in love with New Haven,” said Nilda. “The best part is there is always some kind of activity or entertainment for my children and oftentimes it’s free. New Haven is a wonderful place to live.”

At All Our Kin, Nilda helps childcare providers receive their state license and she teaches them how to manage a business. She conducts an interview with the applicant, and proceeds to walk him/her through the appropriate paperwork, all while advocating to the state on behalf of the childcare providers. Her career at All Our Kin connected her with United Way of Greater New Haven and in the 2006 she became involved with their grant review process.

“I learned a lot about what other programs are offering through the grant review process and I learned what organizations can do with what they receive,” Nilda said.

Nilda found volunteering for the grant review process particularly rewarding because she is now able to refer her clients to some of the other unique non-profits in the region. In addition to her volunteer involvement with United Way, she is a member of the Teach Our Children Advocacy Program, a group of parents who are highly involved with their children’s education and well-being.

“All of these programs are running thanks to the consistent support of United Way, not just financially, but also technically. There’s a connection that I think is very important. The smallest programs wouldn’t be possible without the caring attitude of United Way.”

Seventy-five volunteers and nine United Way of Greater New Haven staff members participated in the 2007-2008 Grant Review Process. The reviewers were responsible for reading and evaluating 8-10 applications as well as conducting 2-4 site visits. Applications were assigned to a volunteer based upon expertise, interest, and avoiding conflicts of interest. Each of the 126 applications that were received from Greater New Haven non-profit organizations were reviewed by at least 5 volunteers. In the end, $1.5 million dollars was distributed to non-profit organizations in Greater New Haven.

Career
Family and Childcare Licensing Coordinator at All Our Kin. People find out about All Our Kin through word of mouth and 211. Those who are interested set up appointments for a brief interview. I provide the paperwork that they need and walk them through it. We also provide workshops and networking opportunities for the childcare providers. The process can take up to nine months, so I am constantly working with the state and advocating on the caregivers’ behalf. I also conduct a pre-inspection before someone from the state comes down to ensure that everything is in order.

How long have you lived/worked in Greater New Haven?
4 years. My brother lives in Stratford and I came to New Haven on vacation from Puerto Rico. I saw the position at All Our Kin and decided to apply. My family thought I was crazy to start up in a new country, but I needed a change. I fell in love with New Haven. As a single mother of five children, I make it a point to always know what is going on in the city, and there are so many free activities and entertainment. It is a wonderful place to live.

What specific United Way programs/committees have you been involved with? When?
I was a part of the Grant Review Process and a recipient of United Way support through All Our Kin.

Why did you choose to be a part of the Grant Review Process?
To be honest, I didn’t choose. I was asked by my supervisor and agreed.

How did the process impact your views of the community?
I learned a lot about what other programs are offering. I learned what organizations can do with the little they receive.

How do you think the community has benefited from United Way?
All of these programs are running thanks to the consistent support, not just financially, but also technically. There’s a connection that I think is very important. The smallest programs, that are still so important, wouldn’t be possible without the caring attitude of United Way.

Was there any part of the process you found particularly rewarding?
Now that I know more about other services, I can refer my clients to them. I never knew exactly what Clifford Beer’s Clinic did and it’s something so unique and helpful for our community.

In what other ways are you involved in the community (outside United Way)?
I am a part of the Teach Our Children Advocacy program- a group of parents who are highly involved with their children’s education and well-being.

Why should others become more involved in the community and with United Way?
Having the support from United Way, in my opinion, is a stamp of excellency. When you see that an organization is supported by United Way, you know that it provides quality products and services.

Sherese Ward- Grant Review participant

2007-09-28T10:47:00.001-04:00

Living and working in Greater New Haven her entire life has provided Sherese Ward with the opportunities to learn that caring about others is what really matters. She has always been passionate about volunteering and is currently on the Board for the YMCA, the Board of Higher Heights, a grant reviewer for the Community Foundation, and is working towards creating a young African American professionals group.

“I think, as a young professional, that any conscious person has a responsibility to give back,” said Sherese. “Everyone should care about the well-being of their community and United Way provides the opportunities to show how much you care.”

Sherese is employed by a large corporation in New Haven as the market development coordinator, which includes tasks like philanthropy fundraising and grant distributions. When the opportunity for involvement in United Way’s 2007 Grant Review Process presented itself, Sherese was compelled to become involved.

Her favorite aspect of the Grant Review Process was having a partner with whom she could learn and explore the various non-profit organizations, and she found that meeting new people helped her to gain new perspectives. “I could just listen to everyone talk and deliberate, and it would make me question and reform my own opinions,” said Sherese. Not only did Sherese reform her opinions, but she became more aware of her surroundings. During the Grant Review Process, Sherese found that there were many more organizations that do “wonderful things” than she had ever realized through her prior experiences. As a Grant Review participant, she had the opportunity to meet the “movers and shakers” in the community and discovered all of the things that people are trying to do in order to make a difference. She explained that we can all see the community’s challenges on the news, but we do not see nearly enough of how people are helping each other in amazing ways.

Before volunteering as a Grant Reviewer, Sherese became involved with United Way through Days of Caring, when she organized a group of employees to participate in a volunteer project. “United Way is such a staple in any community, said Sherese. “It is a life line and the reason that many non-profit agencies exist. Every year, employees are encouraged to give to the annual United Way Campaign and it truly creates awareness in the community about the non-profits. United Way provides so much support. I don’t know what we would do without it, especially in a tight-knit community like New Haven.”

Through the Grant Review Process, Sherese established an even stronger sense of community and seeing others work so diligently reinstilled the passion she has for her hometown.

Seventy-five volunteers and nine United Way of Greater New Haven staff members participated in the 2007-2008 Grant Review Process. The reviewers were responsible for reading and evaluating 8-10 applications as well as conducting 2-4 site visits. Applications were assigned to a volunteer based upon expertise, interest, and avoiding conflicts of interest. Each of the 126 applications that were received from Greater New Haven non-profit organizations were reviewed by at least 5 volunteers. In the end, $1.5 million dollars was distributed to non-profit organizations in Greater New Haven.

Career
Market Development Coordinator for Bank of America

How long have you lived and/or worked in Greater New Haven?
My entire life, 27 years.

What specific United Way programs/committees have you been involved with? When?
The Grant Review Process for 2006-2007 and I have organized groups of employees from Bank of America to volunteer for Days of Caring.

Why did you choose to be a part of the Grant Review process?
I do very similar things for my job, working with the community, determining grants, and I became involved with United Way through my affiliation with Bank of America. My boss had been a part of the review process in the past and asked if I would step in and take his place on the Success By 6 reviewing committee. He knew that I was interested in the community and I felt that the process was my opportunity to become even more involved.

What made you want to be involved?
For me, so much of what I do is similar to what United Way does. I work with non profits all the time and provide grants from Bank of America, but we have very specific criteria. There are so many more organizations than I realized, that aren’t eligible for grants by the bank, but do such wonderful things.

How did the process impact your views of the community?
I became so much more aware of what is going on around me. I now know who the movers and shakers are and what people are trying to do to make a difference. We all know the problems, we all read about it, but you don’t always know what others are doing to help.

How do you think the community has benefited from United Way?
United Way is such a staple in any community. It is a life line and the reason that many non-profit agencies exist. Every year, Bank of America employees are encouraged to give to the Annual United Way Campaign and it truly creates awareness in the community about non profits. United Way provides so much support, I couldn’t imagine New Haven without it.

Was there any part of the process that you found particularly rewarding?
You were partnered throughout the process and it was wonderful to hear the opinions of someone from a different background. I was partnered with a woman who works in the non profit sector and I truly gained new perspectives from working with her and the others.

This might sound silly, but what stands out most in my mind was being in the presence of truly informed people who are so passionate about their community. I could just listen to them talk and deliberate and it would make me question and reform my own opinions.

In what other ways are you involved in the community (outside United Way)?
Community Foundation Grant Reviewer, on the Board of the Y, on the Board of Higher Heights, and my friends and I have started a young black professionals groups, which we are trying to get up and running

Why should others become more involved in the community and with United Way?
I think, as a young professional, that any conscious person has a responsibility to give back, not necessarily as much as I have, but something. My experiences have also shown me how many volunteer opportunities there are. Everyone should care about the well-being of their community and United Way provides the opportunities to show you care.

Loyal Contributor and Leadership Circle Member Interview

2007-09-26T16:10:00.003-04:00

Mr. Tony J. Vallillo
United Illuminating Company

Q: How long have you been a contributor to United Way?
A: I was introduced to United Way in the early 70’s through the employee campaign at United Illuminating Company. At the time, I had a lot competing for my time so I was not yet focused on community involvement. However, my interest grew as I listened to the presentations by United Way and the compelling stories they brought forth.

Q: Can you share with us an experience that has inspired you to continue to contribute?
A: Years ago, I took an opportunity to visit a United Way program that dealt with substance abuse. I was just overwhelmed by what I saw. The people who were being helped looked pretty desperate, but I could also see hope in their faces. I was also struck by the passion of the people who worked there. It was so real; there were people who really needed help and they were receiving it. That has left a lasting impression on me and is one reason I always contribute.

A: As a parent what did you teach your children about giving?
I told them, that there is nothing certain in this life, you can’t take things for granted and most importantly whenever you can reach out and help people, you should. They have grown to be sensitive to people facing challenges; now rather then trying to shy away from it, they try to help. That, I think, is a big accomplishment.

Q: How is United Way addressing the challenges in our community?
A: In the last 5 to 10 years United Way has really made a lot of improvements by looking at community challenges and focusing on results. United Way’s work with children and early education is a good example. Some time ago, everyone started recognizing that there were some gaps. United Way asked how we, as a community address that challenge? This has helped to attract volunteers and leadership who understand that addressing our community’s challenges is bigger then just funding. To see more results with the same amount of money you have to leverage your investments, have community dialog, civic engagement, and leadership.

Bitsie Clark- Grant Review Volunteer

2007-09-26T10:31:00.001-04:00

Bitsie Clark is well-known as a New Haven Alderwoman for Ward 7 since 2003 and lived in New Haven since her graduation from Vassar College in 1953, to be with her husband while he studied at Yale Law School. Shortly thereafter she took a position with Girl Scouts of America, supported by United Way of Greater New Haven, organizing, training, and employing the troop leaders for the region. Bitsie says it was here that she learned some valuable lessons that have helped her throughout her life such as how to effectively teach and find a person’s strengths, lessons that cannot by learned in a classroom.

After ten years of working for Girl Scouts, Bitsie took time off to raise a family. During this time, she continued to be active in the community as President of the Girl Scouts Council as well as serving on United Way of Greater New Haven’s Board of Directors. Years later, Bitsie became recognizable to many as the director of the Arts Council in New Haven, where she worked for twenty years. Since her retirement, Bitsie has been more involved than ever as a member of the Greater New Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau, president of the Audubon Court Condominium Association, on the boards of the Shubert Theater and the International Arts and Ideas Festival, and, of course, as an alderwoman.

Recently, Bitsie has dedicated some of her time to United Way of Greater New Haven through the volunteer-led grant review process, which evaluates applications received by the non-profit community and designates the donations received throughout the year to the non-profits in need based upon the priority areas. “I was dealing with things I knew nothing about,” said Bitsie of the grant review process. “Prior to this experience, I was so involved in the arts that I didn’t realize just how many wonderful social services there were in our area.”

Bitsie volunteered for the grant review process because of her earlier volunteer involvement in the priority area selection. Through a lot of dedication and many committee meetings, she helped to establish United Way of Greater New Haven’s community action plan that, using data from a recent needs assessment, identified critical areas of focus from which United Way funding decisions would be made. The grant review volunteers looked at these priority areas and the goals attached to them and then evaluated non-profit organizations based upon their ability to address those main problems. Bitsie says she continued to volunteer through the grant review process because she was committed and wanted to see the process through to the end.

"It was fascinating. They paired us with people we didn’t know and some of them are now very close friends. We had the chance to visit as many organizations as we wanted or had the time to and the whole process was flexible. Visiting the organizations was very interesting. I was often impressed by how well the staff managed, despite meager facilities. You could sense where their hearts were and the amount of energy they had. The final meeting, where decisions were made, was so intense. Everyone was extremely passionate and with a few words, could sway the crowd’s opinion. We all wished there was more money to give away, but I think we came out of the process with the best judgments we could have made. "

Seventy-five volunteers and nine United Way of Greater New Haven staff members participated in the 2007-2008 Grant Review Process. The reviewers were responsible for reading and evaluating 8-10 applications as well as conducting 2-4 site visits. Applications were assigned to a volunteer based upon expertise, interest, and avoiding conflicts of interest. Each of the 126 applications that were received from Greater New Haven non-profit organizations were reviewed by at least 5 volunteers. In the end, $1.5 million dollars was distributed to non-profit organizations in Greater New Haven.

Company/Position and Volunteer Activities
I have been a New Haven alderwoman since 2003 and chair of the Youth Services committee. I was the director of the Arts Council for 20 years prior to my retirement. I attended Vassar College and I am also on the Greater New Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau, on the board of the International Arts and Ideas Festival, on the board for the Shubert Theater, and president of the Audubon Court Condominium Association.

I first came to New Haven right out of college, when my husband was studying at Yale Law. At that time I took a job working for the Girl Scouts of America and was there for 10 years where I learned some of the most valuable lessons that have helped me through my life. The Girl Scouts was a United Way agency and I organized, trained, and employed the troop leaders.

Two of the most crucial things I have learned are “start where you are.” This means that you should find out as much about the person that you are working with as possible. That way, you can relate things to their experiences and you know how far you can push them. You should also know that “feelings are facts.” If someone feels something, you can’t tell them that they are wrong. You can give them evidence that might change their mind, but you can’t simply disagree with them.

After the Girl Scouts I took 16 years off to raise my family. During this time I remained heavily involved with volunteering. I was the President of the Girl Scout Council and served on the United Way Board of Directors.

Why did you choose to be a part of the Grant Review process?
I was involved in selecting the Priority Areas and had participated in many meetings. I felt that the Priority Area selection was a wonderful way to engage the community and it helped to recruit for the Grant Review Process. Often times organizations will ask for people to participate in their grant review process and people will come in without knowing what the problems are. I participated in the Grant Review Process because I was already committed and wanted to see it out to the end.

They asked me if I would do it again this year, and unfortunately my term is up for Alderman and I need to campaign during the same time period. Otherwise, I would have liked to do it again.

How did the process impact your views of the community?
I was dealing with stuff that I knew nothing about. Prior to this experience, I was so involved in the arts that I didn’t realize just how many wonderful social services were in our area. It truly expanded my knowledge of the community and all of its opportunities.

Was there any part of the process that you found particularly rewarding?
It was fascinating. They paired us with people that we didn’t know and some of them are now very close friends. We had the chance to visit the organizations and the whole process was very flexible. We read to learn about many of them, but we could also visit as many of the organizations as we wanted or had the time to.

Visiting the organizations was very interesting. We met the staff and the board and saw the facilities. I was often impressed by how much the staff managed with facilities that weren’t great. You could sense where their hearts were and the amount of energy that they had.

The final meeting when the decisions were made for the grants was quite intense. So many people were so passionate and with a few words, had the power to sway the crowd and change decisions.

All in all, it was an enormous amount of work, but also very rewarding and satisfying for all of the reasons above, especially for the friends I have made.

I was struck by how seriously everyone took the process. Usually, some people are more committed than others, but that wasn’t so here, and we had very large groups of people. We all wished there was more money to give away, but I think that we came out of the process with very good judgments made.

Who is… the Altieri Family

2007-09-26T10:26:00.001-04:00

Joseph Altieri, a chemical operator, and Ivette Altieri, an administrative assistant, explain that they are first and foremost proud parents of five wonderful children, who range in age from eleven to sixteen. Joseph is a lifetime resident of New Haven and Ivette has been a resident of New Haven since 1997.

In 2006, the oldest Altieri son, Anthony, attended High School at Sound School, where he was required to obtain community service hours as part of the curriculum. After completing the necessary hours, he wanted to continue serving the community.

“Young people participating in volunteering teaches us about respect, maturity and helping others less fortunate or those that may be struggling at one point in their life,” said sixteen year old Anthony. “It is a good thing because it helps our environment and community.”

The Altieri’s saw Anthony’s passion for helping others as an opportunity to become more involved. Ivette sent an email to members of their extended family, asking if they would be interested in participating in a service project. She received an overwhelming number of responses, and realized that she needed some guidance to find non-profits in need. At this time she contacted United Way of Greater New Haven for some direction and the Altieri Family has volunteered almost once a month ever since.

“We enjoy demonstrating to our children how to give back,” said Ivette.

A few of the organizations to benefit from the Altieri’s generosity are Life Haven, New Haven Home Care Recovery, the Emergency Men’s Shelter, New Haven Homeless Resource Center, and Taking Initiative Center. Most recently, the Altieris organized a clean up of Lighthouse Point Park through United Way’s annual Days of Caring.

The Altieris are also great supporters of the American Diabetes Association and the American Cancer Society and have involved their children’s schools in fundraising events for those causes. In April 2007, the Altieris organized their own fundraiser by contacting local business owners, writing letters, preparing flyers, and making phone calls. The event was a true success, raising nearly $3,000 for cancer research, which they donated through Relay for Life. The family plans to make the fundraiser an annual event.

A story that is close to the hearts of everyone in the family is depicted below:

After the annual American Diabetes Association Walk-a-thon in New Haven, our family decided to grab a quick bite at McDonald’s in Wallingford, still wearing our Walk-a-thon shirts. Out of the blue, the cashier said “Oh, you guys did a diabetes walk?” He looked at us with a heartfelt and sincere voice and said “Thank you. I’ve been a diabetic since I was a teenager and it really means a lot to me. Thanks for walking and raising money for something that’s important to me.” It caught all of us off-guard and the feeling was indescribable. We know people appreciate our volunteer work, but hearing about the widespread impact we can have was absolutely amazing.

In the past few years, the Altieri Family has grown to exemplify the best of Greater New Haven community citizens and role models for other families. “Everyone should become involved in our community simply because we all need a little help from time to time,” said Ivette. “I must say that United Way has been a tremendous part of our life. Our family has become stronger and more united within our community. The best part is helping and involving our youth. They are our future.”

With parents like Joseph and Ivette, the future of the Altieri family seems promising not only for the family members, but also for the non-profits for which they volunteer. “Volunteering is fun because even though you don't get a prize for it, you still get rewarded with a clean and cool environment,” said thirteen year old Ashley. “Plus the smiles are priceless. I think other people should volunteer so they can experience all the things my family has.”

Careers
First and foremost we are proud parents of five wonderful children. My husband (Joseph Altieri) works at Enthone in West Haven and I work at Aetna in Middletown, which has offered their employees the benefits of Telework/WAH advantages. I have been working at home since June 07.

How long have you lived and/or worked in Greater New Haven?
My husband has lived in New Haven (East Rock neighborhood) all his life. I moved to New Haven in 1997. We currently reside and are homeowners in the Fair Haven area.

What specific United Way programs/committees have you been involved with? When?
We try and obtain volunteer projects once a month. During the Holidays of 2006, I reached out to the United Way. We've had the most overwhelming, heart-felt experience in cooking, serving and helping shelters in our community. In November, our family and friends cooked and served food at Life Haven on Ferry St. December was the best, we adopted a family for the holiday's from New Haven Home Care Recovery and cooked breakfast for The Emergency Men's Shelter (Immanuel Baptist Shelter) on Grand Ave, New Haven Homeless Resource Center on Ferry Street, and Taking Initiative Center on Whalley Avenue. It was truly a blessing. We are currently excited for Days of Caring 2007.

What made you want to be involved?
We have always been involved, once a year that is. We enjoy demonstrating to our children how to give back. Now, since they are older we have become more involved.

How did you become involved?
In 2006, my oldest son Anthony attended High School at Sound School, where part of his requirements were to obtain some community hours. He completed hours, but wanted to do more and that's when we became more involved. One day, I sent emails to family and friends to see who else would be interested. The responses were overwhelming, as many wanted to help volunteer their time or donate food items. I then realized I really needed to reach out to someone for more guidance and places to go. One organization that came to mind was The United Way of Greater New Haven. At first I was apprehensive, being that I was an individual and not part of any organization. I emailed and later spoke with Wendy Natter, what a wonderful lady. She was so helpful and answered so many questions. At first I'm sure she thought I was crazy; it was one Volunteer event after another. Since then it has been one blessing after another. In April of 2007, I had the pleasure of speaking with many business owners in the community and surrounding areas. Again I was apprehensive, but determined. With little knowledge of starting a fund-raiser, letters were prepared, flyer's were made, and telephone calls began. Going to supermarkets, bakeries, auto repair shops, even our very own New Haven County Cutters, you name it I was there. I was excited to discover that so many people are willing not just to volunteer but to sponsor events as well. With the assistance of Lisa Simeone and our sponsors, we kicked off our first fundraising event with great success. It was truly a lot of work, but so worth it! We continue to look forward to it each year.

How have you benefited from helping others?
Benefited...wow. We do it because it has become part of who we are. We enjoy volunteering, especially with family and friends. It’s been wonderful involving our children/teenagers!! What better way to show others it is easy to give back to the community- ask and you shall receive. Working together as a team, learning from one another and gaining new skills are just added bonuses. It builds self-esteem and confidence. You meet new people and help make a difference in someone's life. Whether you’re volunteering for a couple of hours, joining a walk-a-thon, or having a fundraiser the experience is unforgettable.

How do you think the community has benefited from United Way?
People benefit because they care and enjoy giving their time. They also focus on helping our children. Although not too many people have participate they have heard of them. We actually wish others could be more informed. It would be a wonderful idea to put up some billboards through the community.

In what other ways are you involved in the community (outside United Way)?
We are great supporters in the fight by participating in fund-raising efforts and activities for: American Diabetes Association and American Cancer Society, where we have involved schools in our community to be part of fundraising events all for a wonderful and important cause. I'm also a volunteer for School Volunteers for New Haven, Inc. I'm excited that my employer also encourages volunteering. I spend four hours a week in a 1st grade classroom at Clinton Avenue School.

Do you have a favorite story or experience you would like to share?
Aside from receiving emails from teenagers asking about our next volunteer project, I would have to say it was after our Diabetes walk a-thon in New Haven. We went up to Wallingford to enjoy a night at a Haunted Happening (it was in October). Nine of us went and still proudly sporting our Diabetes T-shirts. We entered McDonalds' to grab a bite and all we did was talk about the haunted house how fun it was, etc. Out of the blue the cashier gentleman said "Oh you guys did a Diabetes walk?" We said “Yes.” He looked at us and with a heartfelt sincere voice said "Thank you. I've been a diabetic since I was a teenager and it really means a lot to me. Thanks for walking and raising money for something that's important to me." It definitely caught us off guard. The feeling was indescribable.

We know individuals appreciate when people volunteer, but hearing it directly from someone while not at an event and out of the blue was something else.

Why should others become more involved in the community and with United Way?
Simply because we all need a little help from time to time. I must say the United Way has been a tremendous part of our life. Since my first email to Wendy Natter, our family has definitely changed. We have become stronger and more united within our community. It's about the little things in life, which make a big difference. The best part is involving our youth and that's one thing United Way and Us (The Altieri Family) have in common. Helping and involving our youth. They are our future.

Quotations from the children:

Ant (16yr): Volunteering is a good thing because it helps your environment and community, especially involving the youth. It teaches us about respect, maturity and helping others less fortunate or those they may be struggling at one point in their life.

Joseph (15yr): Volunteering is great because you can help other people if they need help. I like that you meet new people and have a good environment. I learned that one person can't do everything by themselves and team work is needed.

Ashley (13yr): Volunteering is fun because even though you don't get a prize for it, you still get rewarded with a clean and cool environment. Plus the smiles are priceless. I think other people should volunteer so they can experience all the things my family has.

Diamond (11yr): Its fun, you learn alot and its not only for adults. You can help people you never met or people you know. I participated in the walk for Asthma with my school and it was great cause I did it for everyone and my Mommy who has asthma.

Alex (11yr): I like Volunteering cause its fun and we can help others as a my family. Everyone should try it cause it makes you feel good.

Learn more about the Altieri family!

See the 2007 Days of Caring project photo gallery about the Altieri family
Watch a WTNH news clip about the Altieri family

United Way of Greater New Haven launches Born Learning Trail to promote early childhood learning

2007-09-24T14:04:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 24, 2007

Media Contact: Michelle Wade, 203.772.4202
Cell – 860.834.0128
mwade@uwgnh.org

(New Haven, Conn.)- On Sept. 12, 2007, Regional Water Authority employees in collaboration with United Way of Greater New Haven’s annual Days of Caring, dug holes and poured cement, posted signs, painted children’s games, and landscaped to erect the first Born Learning Trail in Connecticut at the Hamden Keefe Center on Pine Street.

Born Learning is a nation-wide public engagement campaign put together by United Way, the Ad Council, CIVITAS, and the Families and Work Institute that helps parents, grandparents, and caregivers explore ways to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities. Children are learning right from birth, and continue to learn through everyday moments and interactions. Their early years are the foundation for growth and development, and experiences they have each day with their parents and caregivers are very important. The Born Learning Trail is a great tool that supports this campaign.

“As a company with an active education and recreation program, the chance to be involved in the Born Learning Trail was a perfect fit,” said Donna DiGianvittorio, Human Resources Supervisor at the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. Each year, several dozen employees volunteer to support United Way’s Day of Caring as well as contribute to the company’s annual campaign.

The Born Learning Trail is an outdoor activity path for parents and caregivers to walk through with their pre-schoolers to encourage them to talk, listen, read, think, imagine, and create. The Born Learning Trail includes ten interactive stations, each with a different activity such as encouraging parents and caregivers to follow their child’s lead, building the child’s confidence and curiosity; talking and singing to a child, teaching the child words and preparing him or her to read; and a hopscotch game because physical activity exercises the child’s body and using numbers helps the child learn to count.

“The Born Learning Trail is a set of fun activities that shows parents and caregivers easy, everyday ways to help a child develop problem solving, critical thinking, and reading skills. The Trail reinforces the message that parents play the most important role in laying the foundation for a child’s development,” said Jennifer Heath, United Way of Greater New Haven’s Vice President for Community Leadership. “We hope many families will take advantage of this fun and educational resource.”

United Way of Greater New Haven hopes to work with other community partners to build more trails around Greater New Haven in the future. For more information about Born Learning, please visit http://www.bornlearning.org/.
The Born Learning Trail at the Hamden Keefe Center is open to the public every day of the week except from 2-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday when child care is in session. Visit the Hamden Keefe Center at 11 Pine Street, Hamden to educate a child close to you.

About United Way:
United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at http://www.uwgnh.org/.

-# # #-