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June 25, 2006

United Way of Greater New Haven Names Director of Finance and Administration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2006

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

Christian Diaba of Hamden Connecticut has recently been named Director of Finance and Administration for United Way of Greater New Haven. In this position, Diaba will be responsible for all financial and administrative functions within the organization. Newly appointed CEO Jack Healy says, “Because United Way of Greater New Haven is committed to financial transparency, we are thrilled to bring aboard an employee of Diaba’s caliber to maintain this level of precision.”

Before joining the United Way of Greater New Haven, Diaba held a position as Assistant to Fiscal Officer at Crossroads Inc. in New Haven, as well as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA) for both Southern Connecticut State University and the City of New Haven in which he prepared individual income tax returns for the community. In 2004, he received the Outstanding Service Award in the City of New Haven for his work at with VITA.

Diaba graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 2000 with a major in accounting. He also received his Master of Business Administration from Southern Connecticut in 2006.

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; 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.

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Local Professional Accepted into Prestigious Resident Fellows Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2006

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

Sarah McNeely, Program Director at the United Way of Greater New Haven, has been accepted into the inaugural class of United Way of America’s Resident Fellows Program. Newly introduced by the United Way of America, this Resident Fellows Program gives outstanding employees a chance to enhance their business core functions within United Way, in order to better their specific division. She will be joining 26 other United Way employees from all across the nation.

Looking forward to the start of this learning experience, McNeely says, “I’m very excited about being accepted to this program. I think that it’s a great opportunity that will help me to grow both personally and professionally.”

Throughout the year, Resident Fellows will focus on specific program objectives such as: networking, professional development, exposure to United Way Best Practices and Standards of Excellence and identifying United Way business issues and challenges in order to develop implications for change. During the program orientation, held June 19-23 at United Way of American in Alexandria, Virginia, the Fellows received customized learning based on the Consultative Selling principles.

“Sarah is one of that growing group of talented young professionals who are making New Haven their home, says Jack Healy, newly appointed CEO of United Way of Greater New Haven. ”We are fortunate to have Sarah working on a project as important as Success By 6® that has a profound impact on children’s lives. Sarah will learn from experts and other talented young professionals through this exclusive national program and bring that learning back to New Haven.”

A Hamden resident, McNeely is a 2004 graduate of Fairfield University with Bachelor’s degree in both Political Science and Spanish. After graduating, she completed a 5-month internship with the United Way of Greater New Haven, where she helped to manage campaign accounts in the New Haven region, as well as assisted in the development of effective marketing approaches. In January, 2005 she was hired as Program Coordinator for Success By 6®, a national United Way initiative which helps to ensure that all children are ready to learn upon entrance into kindergarten. Ms. McNeely is credited with the successful launching of the first and second grant cycles for Success By 6.

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; 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.

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United Way of Greater New Haven Appoints Director of Leadership Giving

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2006

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

John (J.R.) Logan, has recently been named Director of Leadership Giving, a newly created position at United Way of Greater New Haven. In this position Logan will focus his efforts on enhancing United Way’s relationship with its leadership level donors and deepening their understanding of United Way’s work.

Before joining the United Way of Greater New Haven, Logan held a position as Community Fellow at Aloha United Way in Honolulu. This position gave Logan the chance to experience each department of Aloha United Way by working with various accounts, helping to facilitate the grant making process, developing projects focused on community building, as well as participating in marketing and resource development functions.

Originally from Oxford Michigan, Logan graduated from Alma College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He then went on to get a Master of Public Affairs, with a concentration in Nonprofit Management and Public Management at Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Logan also received a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from The Fund Raising School at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. In addition, his credentials include an internship position in Warsaw, Poland at the Polish Agency for Foreign Investment.

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; 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.

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United Way Employee Selected Co-Chair of the Greater New Haven Association of Volunteer Administrators

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2006

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

Janitha McCray Price, Community Impact Associate and Volunteer Link Coordinator at United Way of Greater New Haven, has recently been elected Co-Chair of the Greater New Haven Association of Volunteer Administrators (GNHAVA). GNHAVA is a professional membership organization uniting individuals engaged in volunteer management and dedicated to enhancing the competency of volunteer administrators and strengthening the profession of volunteer resource management.

Founded in 1983, the main goal of GNHAVA is to promote combining efforts between agencies and volunteer administrators, creating an environment that supports the enrichment of volunteer programs by sharing information and resources. This organization also provides a significant opportunity for networking as members plan and act together on matters of common interest.

Since joining GNHAVA in 2002, McCray Price has served as the organizations membership chair. Her responsibilities included developing membership materials, creating and implementing new recruitment and retention plans, and corresponding on behalf of the Association with newsletters and notifications to members and other entities.

Her new position as Co-Chair entails committing to co-leading and working collectively as one of the principal officers of the Association. McCray Price will preside at all meetings of the Board and Executive Committee and appoint all standing and special committee chairs with the approval of the Executive Committee. McCray Price is responsible for selecting and appointing committee chairs while simultaneously serving and working on activities for each committee as needed.
GNHAVA’s 2006-2007 Annual Membership is $50.00 and includes one pre-paid seat at each of GNHAVA's three workshops during 2006-2007, one pre-paid seat at AVA’s Annual Meeting, Opportunities for networking and publicizing organizational events on GNHAVA's website and quarterly newsletter. For more information contact new Membership Chair, Beverly Kidder at (203) 785-8533 or choicessccaa@snet.net.

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; 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.

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United Way Announces New Chairs of Success By 6® Advisory Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2006

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

United Way of Greater New Haven has named two new Chairs to its Success By 6 Advisory Council. Dr. Cheryl S. Saloom and Dr. John Leventhal, both accomplished professionals in the fields of childcare and education, will guide a team of over 25 professionals on the Advisory Council of United Way’s early childhood initiative. Success By 6 works to improve the educational disparities of our region through the promotion of leadership, dialogue, public policy and regional planning involving early childhood-related issues.

Dr. Cheryl S. Saloom, former Executive Director of ACES in Hamden has an extensive background in the field of education. In addition to over a decade of experience in special education, professional development and curriculum development, Saloom holds an Ed.D. in Educational Administration from Columbia University. She is the founding member of the ACES Education Foundation and the Founding President. Saloom also serves on both the United Way of Greater New Haven Board of Directors and the Successful Children & Youth Action Team. Saloom is a resident of Avon, CT.

Dr. John Leventhal, Professor of Pediatrics at Yale University School of Medicine, has been at Yale-New Haven Hospital since 1978. He is a Board-certified Pediatrician and Medical Director of the Yale Child Sexual Abuse Clinic and Child Abuse programs, including a large prevention program at the Children’s Hospital. Leventhal is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his pediatric residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital and a research fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine. In addition to his work at Yale, Leventhal has participated in many community activities, including the Board of Directors of Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven and the Commission on Infant and Child Health and advisory groups for the Department of Children and Families. Leventhal is a resident of New Haven.

“As an educator in New Haven County, I have always been committed to providing quality education to children, from pre- school through high school, says Saloom. The issues
surrounding early care and education are multi layered and are critical to the healthy and successful growth of a family and of a community. I believe that the work of United Way, through its Success By 6 initiative, demonstrates that an active and committed public can move forward a critical agenda in our community.”

Leventhal adds, “I believe that Success By 6 can help our community in three critical ways. First, it can energize and focus our community on the developmental needs of young children and how we can improve services; Second, it can help identify promising programs that need funding and support so that these programs can be expanded to meet children's needs; and third, it can help to raise money through the United Way for these efforts.”

Together, Saloom and Leventhal will lead the Advisory Council to help advance the impact of Success By 6 on the Greater New Haven community and guide its work to address the regional opportunities to improve early childhood education.

About Success By 6®:
Success By 6 is the nation’s largest community based movement of public and private partners that work together to improve outcomes for children. In September 2004, United Way of Greater New Haven (UWGNH) became one of over 360 United Ways throughout the United States and Canada to adopt the initiative. UWGNH is committed to ensuring that the children of this region are ready to learn when they enter school and have a solid foundation for lifelong success.

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 Success By 6 or United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help please visit http://www.uwgnh.org/.

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NewAlliance Bank CEO Named 2006 United Way Campaign Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2006

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

Peyton R. Patterson, NewAlliance Bank’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, has been named Chair of United Way of Greater New Haven’s 2006 campaign, Jack Healy, CEO-elect announced today.

“We are thrilled to have such a dynamic and community driven individual on our team. In this leadership capacity, she will guide the annual United Way campaign which will enable the organization to continue the work of creating meaningful change in the community we all live and work in. “

The partnership between Patterson and United Way demonstrates NewAlliance Bank’s ongoing dedication to this community. This commitment is also seen through the work of the NewAlliance Foundation, which addresses the social and economic needs of the communities served by the bank. Recently, the NewAlliance Foundation made a generous, three-year commitment to United Way and Greater New Haven with an unprecedented $300,000 challenge grant aimed at increasing United Way giving and supporting Success By 6®. Success by 6, United Way’s early childhood learning initiative, is dedicated to giving children a solid foundation by improving early childhood development and school readiness.
Cont.

NewAlliance Bank’s contributions add up to more than just dollars. By participating as an active leader in the community, Patterson’s passion to improve lives in the area has extended to her staff as well. NewAlliance employees sit on various United Way committees and are involved with United Way volunteer projects such as Day of Caring and grant review committees.

“Our commitment to the community is core to who we are and how we do business,” said Patterson. “This partnership will help continue NewAlliance’s tradition of being an involved, generous and active member of the community.”
Patterson, who joined New Haven Savings Bank in January of 2002, has over twenty years of banking experience and has been named second among the “25 Most Powerful Women in Banking” for the past two years. In addition to her United Way leadership, she serves on the boards of the Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, as well as the Boards of the Consumer Bankers Association, America’s Community Bankers and the March of Dimes.

NewAlliance Bank is the sixth largest bank headquartered in New England and the third largest bank based in Connecticut. The Bank has 71 branches in six Connecticut counties, and at March 31, 2006, NewAlliance had $6.9 billion in assets and $3.9 billion in deposits.

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; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

For more information about United Way of Greater New Haven’s community leadership and how you can help please visit www.uwgnh.org.

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United Way invests $100,000 in local supportive housing programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2006

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

United Way of Greater New Haven has awarded a total of $100,000 to two new projects that will help increase access to affordable, supportive housing for families and individuals with special needs and disabilities. Both projects are collaborative efforts and involve a total of four local nonprofit organizations. United Way’s focus on supportive housing is a key component in their effort to create economically vibrant communities in the region. These investments support strategies from Mayor DeStefano’s 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. Supportive housing is defined in the 10-Year Plan as “affordable permanent housing that offers residents a range of services to enable individuals with a variety of challenges, such as mental illness, drug addiction, or low literacy levels, to remain stably housed.” That includes additional services, such as counseling or case management, to help ensure that people can live successfully on their own. United Way is the first local funder to strategically align its funding with the plan.

The nonprofit organizations who received grants are ALSO-Cornerstone, Inc. and Community Mediation; and Fellowship Place, Inc. and Columbus House.
The ALSO-Cornerstone/Community Mediation Project will hire a Supportive Housing Development Specialist to: help clients secure affordable housing; develop resources for case managers so they know more about housing resources for their clients; and form relationships with landlords to promote affordable supportive housing. As part of the project, Community Mediation will provide training in mediation and conflict resolution to staff so that they can help diffuse disagreements among tenants and landlords.

Fellowship Place and Columbus House will create the Supportive Home Ownership Program (SHOP), which will provide case management and educational programming to prepare mentally ill individuals for home ownership. The costs of their mortgage or long-term lease will be supported by Section 8 certificates. When individuals move from the Fellowship units to their own permanent housing, the door will open for more homeless, mentally ill individuals to secure housing at Fellowship.
Cont.
Funding decisions were made by a committee of volunteers from area organizations such as Coordinating Council for Children in Crisis, New Haven Family Alliance, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Empower New Haven, and Liberty Community Services.

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; 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.

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GoodSearch.com Offers a Way for Anyone to Support United Way of Greater New Haven Every Time They Search the Internet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2008

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

Goodsearch.com, a new search engine powered by Yahoo!, donates 50% of its revenue (approximately one cent per search) to charities and schools designated by the users. United Way of Greater New Haven hopes to take advantage of this free and easy to use fundraising tool.

Because all money is generated by advertisers, this great opportunity is free of cost for United Way. If 1,000 United Way supporters used GoodSearch.com twice a day, the organization would receive approximately $7,300 per year. Since it is powered by Yahoo!, it works like a normal search engine with one exception: upon the first visit each user must designate the organization they are supporting. After designating once, GoodSearch will remember the organization of choice each time the site is utilized by that user. Users are also able to download a GoodSearch tool bar in which they are able to search the web using GoodSearch without having to log on to the actual website.

GoodSearch has recently been featured in NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine, Fortune Small Business, and ABC News, as well as many other publications.

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; 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.

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Portion of New Haven County Cutters Game to Benefit United Way of Greater New Haven

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2008

Media Contact: Michelle Wade
203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

Friday, August 11th United Way of Greater New Haven will be teaming up with the New Haven County Cutters baseball team to host a United Way Night at the Ballpark. Fifty percent of each ticket purchased through United Way will benefit the local non-profit organization

Tickets can be purchased by calling United Way at 203-772-2010, and can be picked up at the United Way office on 71 Orange Street, New Haven or at “will call” on the night of the game. Tickets are $10 for box seats and $8 for general admission.

The Cutters will be competing against the Quebec Les Capitales, and attendees will enjoy games, contests and prizes, as well as a meet and greet with players shortly before the start of the game at 7:05 p.m. The stadium is located at Yale Field on 252 Derby Avenue in West Haven.

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; 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.

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