Monthly Archives: May 2012

My First Community Learning Center Visit!

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by Tim Harrison

Database Administrator

I spend most of my work day at a computer. While I love my job and recognize its importance to United Way of Salt Lake, it’s still easy to get jealous of the employees spending more time out in the community.  Last week, however, the organization provided me with the opportunity to tour our Community Learning Center at Oquirrh Hills Elementary.  The busy afternoon was so much more than an explanation of the facility and services they provide.  We got to meet Principal Marberger and even a passionate volunteer from Latinos in Action.  The recent high school graduate passionately relayed his story and what the group and the center mean to him.

On our tour, my colleagues and I were lucky enough to peek at the dress rehearsal for the Oquirrh Hills talent show, where I was interested to learn that performers were not allowed to lip sync. As someone who took the easy way out in his 6th grade talent show by beautifully lip-syncing N’SYNC’s “Bye, Bye, Bye,” I felt ashamed and humbled watching these gifted rugrats belt out Adele, leap like Martha Graham, and shuffle to LMFAO.  It was the perfect way to top off a fascinating tour of one of our newest Community Learning Centers.

It is truly inspiring to witness firsthand the Collective Impact approach through the strategies our coordinators and partners are implementing.  While any social change of this scale presents its fair share of challenges, the impressive individuals at Oquirrh Hills Elementary and beyond are ensuring that every child has the chance to succeed every step of the way.

A special thanks to Stephanie Linton of The Boys & Girls Club of South Valley for taking the time to show us around.

Thank you Swire Coca-Cola!

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by Shannon Harmon

Resource Development Executive

A big thanks to Swire Coca-Cola for a great 2011-2012 campaign!  We appreciate the participation of all their employees that contributed to making the employee workplace campaign as success!

We also appreciate Kurt Micka, Executive Director of Utah Partners for Health.  Kurt spoke to the Swire Coca-Cola employees and told the story of mobile medical clinic which offers medical care to members of the community who are under-insured or not insured at all .   We also heard from Sgt. Sweeten of the South Salt Lake Police Department.  He was invited to speak to the employees to describe that partnership between the City of South Salt Lake and United Way.  Both of these guest speakers did an excellent job!

Between guest speakers, several special events including a silent auction and basketball brackets, there was something for everyone.  Overall, the committee planning the campaign and all the employees successfully raised more than they did last year!

THANK YOU Swire Coca-Cola for matching employee donations and for being a part of our Cornerstone Partners program.  You help United Way change the odds for thousands of children and families in our community.  We couldn’t do this without you!

A Wonderful Celebration of Service!

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by Chelsea Nelson

Interactive Communications Director

Today, United Way of Salt Lake held our annual Celebration of Service event at the Little American Hotel with over 600 in attendance!  This is one of our favorite and most exciting events of the year!  We had the privilege of honoring people and organizations who have made an incredible impact in our community over the past year–as well as enjoyed a great lunch and cheered for a very happy finalist from our workplace campaigns who won a year lease on a Mini Cooper!

This year we honored Paula Green Johnson as our Volunteer of the Year, Tom Love as our Compassionate Leader of the Year, Comcast as our Outstanding Corporate Partner, and JP Morgan Chase took home the President’s Award of Excellence.  These individuals and organizations went above and beyond by giving of their talents, resources, time, and voices to help United Way of Salt Lake move forward with its mission to improve lives and build stronger communities.  Without Paula, Tom, Comcast, and JP Morgan Chase, United Way of Salt Lake would not have been able to create opportunities for children and families with the success that this past year has brought.  Community Learning Centers and Collective Impact work are thriving in so many ways because of their help.  We can not thank them enough for their efforts and support.

“I am honored to have the privilege of working side by side with these amazing individuals and organizations.  This year’s award recipients are true visionaries, believers in United Way’s mission, and dedicated advocates for change,” said Deborah Bayle, President and CEO.  “Their expertise, long-term commitment, and enthusiasm have been critical in helping shape the work we are doing to improve lives and build stronger communities for us all.”

United Way additionally recognized hundreds of supporters and partners who collaborate with United Way of Salt Lake to advance the education, income, and health of our neighborhoods and communities.

Today, we also presented our Annual Report to the Community for 2011-2012. You can find the report HERE and we hope you will all take time to read it to find out how United Way of Salt Lake is changing.  The Annual Report will also help in better understanding our vision for Collective Impact work and community problem solving by working across community sectors to achieve long-term, large-scale social change.

Also, a big congratulations to Elly Klatt with First National Bank of Utah who got the lucky key and started up the beautiful Mini Cooper!  She was the proud winner of Mini of Murray’s year long lease as well as a year’s worth of gas from Tesoro.  Thank you to both Mini of Murray and Tesoro for this awesome prize!  Elly, we hope you enjoy your new ride and we thank you for participating in your workplace campaign and supporting United Way of Salt Lake!

We hope you were able to join us for this great event and to help celebrate these wonderful partners, champions, and friends that we are so
proud to be connected with!

Our promise is to create opportunities so children- even in the toughest neighborhoods- have the chance to become productive, self-reliant members of our community and we know we couldn’t do it without this year’s award winners!

Thank you for LIVING UNITED! 

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Thank you to our generous sponsors: American Express, Savage, CHG Healthcare, Rocky Mountain Power, Wells Fargo, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, KSL,
Mini of Murray, Tesoro, and OC Tanner.

Without you, this event would not have been possible!

Celebration of Service Winner: President’s Award for Excellence, JP Morgan Chase!

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by Chelsea Nelson

Interactive Communications Director

Our Celebration of Service Event is on May 30th (TODAY)!  This event is to honor outstanding individuals and organizations because of their commitment to our community.

The President’s Award for Excellence recognizes individuals or organizations that champion United Way of Salt Lake’s efforts to create lasting change in our community through their collaboration, leadership, commitment, resources, and time spent working to solve community problems.  The award demonstrates outstanding commitment to the mission of United Way of Salt Lake.  We are honored to recognize JP Morgan Chase with the 2012 President’s Award for Excellence!

As United Way of Salt Lake has developed Promise Partnerships in neighborhoods and communities, Chase has helped in ways that go beyond donations–with ideas, connections, and employee volunteers. Across the country, JPMorgan Chase has been working with communities to develop strategies that ensure every child succeeds from cradle to career. They have led collaborative efforts that work across community sectors to create opportunities and break down barriers for children and families. United Way of Salt Lake has learned much from their expertise and leadership.

This year, Chase provided United Way of Salt Lake with critical seed money that has established the growth of our work in neighborhoods and Neighborhood Centers. As a strategic partner, Chase is a champion of our efforts and offers collaboration and resources to solve community problems. Cree Zischke, Vice President, Global Philanthropy, for Chase’s Northwest and Intermountain Regions, has provided valuable counsel as we’ve developed neighborhood strategies.  And local President and CEO, Craig Zollinger, sits on our Executive Committee and Board of Directors and is a dedicated champion and supporter of our Collective Impact work. He has been the catalyst for Chase’s involvement in our Collective Impact work.  In addition, Craig has served as our Audit Committee Chair for the past two years.

JPMorgan Chase has 1,300 employees here in Utah.  Both individually and collectively, they have been committed to United Way of Salt Lake for decades. Whether it’s serving on the board of directors, a campaign committee, helping out at a Day of Caring event, or gathering thousands of dollars’ worth of school supplies for our Stuff the Bus volunteer project, they are dedicated partners for community change. Their unwavering commitment to making a positive difference is an exceptional example of partnership.

Chase knows how to LIVE UNITED!!

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Celebration of Service Winner: Outstanding Corporate Partner, COMCAST!

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by Chelsea Nelson

Interactive Communications Director

Our Celebration of Service Event is coming up on May 30th (TOMORROW)!  This event is to honor outstanding individuals and organizations because of their commitment to our community.

Some organizations seem to stand out in the community.  Not only do they provide great products or services, they are also actively involved in making Utah a better place to live. The Outstanding Corporate Partner award is United Way of Salt Lake’s highest tribute to an organization that demonstrates strong community involvement through its support of United Way of Salt Lake. It is our honor to recognize Comcast with our 2012 Outstanding Corporate Partner of the Year award.

Comcast demonstrates outstanding support and commitment to United Way of Salt Lake and its mission. Since 2003, nationwide, Comcast employees and the Comcast Foundation, have contributed more than $35 million dollars and over 417,000 volunteer hours to United Way.

 

Locally, Comcast is a long-time supporter of United Way of Salt Lake. This year, they have done more than ever to encourage employees to GIVE, ADVOCATE, and VOLUNTEER. They have become a model for how to run a successful workplace campaign.  In one year, they increased their employee contributions by 70 percent and nearly tripled their corporate contribution. Beyond their financial support, they focused their Comcast Cares volunteer efforts this year in South Salt Lake, a United Way of Salt Lake Promise Partnership neighborhood. Hundreds of volunteers worked to restore city historic sites, encourage youth to take part in a citywide read-a-thon, and other much-needed projects to improve parks and schools in South Salt Lake.

Comcast shows extraordinary support for our LIVE UNITED advertising campaign. Their generous advertising sponsorship has contributed to the overall success and broad visibility of this campaign. Comcast also shares United Way’s messaging as a media partner by wrapping their entire building with LIVE UNITED branding each year.

Comcast’s enthusiastic leadership truly exemplifies the type of engagement that United Way of Salt Lake relies on to change lives and improve neighborhoods and communities. Their extraordinary involvement will not only make a difference today, but also for years to come.

Thank you, Comcast, for LIVING UNITED!

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