Monthly Archives: July 2012

2-1-1 Gets a Facelift!

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by Sarah Trescott

Website Development Director

A little over a year ago, 2-1-1 Utah joined the United Way of Salt Lake family. I have to admit, when I first heard the news that we would be gaining a call center I had no idea what to expect. It was a lot of fun getting to know everyone in 2-1-1 the first few months they were here! The ladies and gents that work in the call center are a blast! They have a great sense of humor and laugh at my lame jokes. I officially approve of keeping them!

Over the last 5 months I have been working with the 2-1-1 team to re-build their website, and I have learned they are so much more then a great group of people with a stellar sense of humor. They have real depth. Everyday they are asked tough questions, they talk with people who are desperately searching for any assistance, and they help get people involved in meaningful volunteering. Last year, 2-1-1 helped 117,000 people get connected with resources in our community. That is a lot of people who found the assistance they needed through a simple phone call. I think that is pretty incredible!

As I helped 2-1-1 build their website, I was able to learn more about their mission, vision, and ideals. Their goals are big and their tasks are astounding at times.  They work hard to make sure that there are up-to-date resource lists, that they are educated and informed on the needs of our communities, and that they can help people find awesome volunteer opportunities. Their work everyday is truly selfless.

Please take some time to look at their new website and search out ways to either find help or give help. The web address is the same, 211ut.org, but it is a whole new site! We would love your feedback on how to make this site more accessible and highlight the resources most needed.

2-1-1 is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/211utah) and Twitter (@211utah). Send some love to this great team of people, who work to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families in our neighborhoods and communities.

United Way 2-1-1 LIVES UNITED!

Young Leaders at the Zoo!

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by Chris Wood

Guest Blogger, Young Leader

The United Way of Salt Lake Young Leaders event at the Hogle Zoo last week was a great success.  Dozens of Young Leaders and their families got to enjoy one of Salt Lake’s treasures on a pleasantly cooler evening.

The Zoo was closed to the public, which made viewing the animals a much calmer, quieter, and less rushed experience than usual.  A quick dinner in the Shady Pavilion was a boon to tired parents, and the private “Elephant Encounter” was fun and fascinating.  I personally enjoyed seeing the new “Rocky Shores” exhibit, bringing polar bears, grizzly bears, and other North American animals closer than I have ever been to them.  Our kids absolutely loved it!  Many thanks to the United Way of Salt Lake staff for creating such a great opportunity.

The event made me think about some of the great benefits of being a United Way of Salt Lake Young Leader.  This particular event was especially attractive for families, but each Young Leader event carries a unique appeal for members of this broad, philanthropic group.  From the opportunities for service, to the lunch meetings with local leaders, working with policy on Capitol Hill, or the annual event with great music and fun friends–there is something for everyone who wants to make things better in our neighborhoods and communities.

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I hope to see you at the next Young Leaders event!

Women’s Philanthropic Network Summer Social!

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by Chelsea Nelson
Interactive Communications Director

Last night members of United Way of Salt Lake’s Women’s Philanthropic Network gathered at the beautiful OC Tanner building in downtown Salt Lake for their annual Summer Social. Members met to network and mingle and also hear more about WPN’s priority of Women for Educational Achievement. Everyone had a wonderful time enjoying the gorgeous surroundings and discussing the successes that WPN has seen over the past few years.

Jennifer Smith, the Women’s Philanthropic Network Chair, spoke about the great work that has been happening in United Way of Salt Lake Neighborhood Centers–thanks much in part to the generous donations from WPN members. She also discussed the struggles that Utah is seeing with young women finishing post-secondary education. Jennifer encouraged guests to take action and invest in WPN’s new priority, Women for Educational Achievement.  Utah currently ranks 26th in the nation for higher education completion and the gap between male and female’s attaining a four-year college degree in Utah has grown to 6 percent; no other state is even close to a gap that size. Jennifer was positive that with the commitment of WPN members, those statistics could change!

Thank you to everyone who came out and made this event such a success!

Also, a huge thank you to OC Tanner for generously hosting the WPN Summer Social and creating such a warm and welcoming atmosphere!

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To learn more about Women’s Philanthropic Network and how to get involved, please contact Megan Jones at megan@uw.org.

Summer of Service–Get Your Kids Involved!

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by Becky Figlioli
Guest Blogger, Summer of Service Participant

We are mid-way through our summer…and keeping five kids busy, entertained, and productive can occasionally become a little daunting.  However, we were able to find a great opportunity that was wonderful for all of us at the United Way of Salt Lake! As part of the Summer of Service program for youth, we volunteered for a couple of hours on Saturday, July 14th. We spent our time assembling brochures and coloring pictures that will be used in a later project.

All of our kids had an absolute blast! Our youngest three love to color.  They had so much fun drawing and scribbling pictures for others. My oldest two really enjoyed helping assemble the brochures that will be distributed to businesses. They kept looking for more to do and were sad when we were done. They kept commenting about how much fun they were having. The time just flew by.

As a mom, I am glad that we were given the chance to get involved in the community. It is so important to help my children understand that they are part of something more than what they see and do in their own little worlds every day. It was a fun opportunity to teach them about contributing, working, and making new friends. They not only enjoyed the work that they were doing, but they enjoyed interacting with the fantastic United Way of Salt Lake employees and the other volunteers. I am so grateful for the opportunity that we were given to serve as a family (particularly with our little ones), help in the community, and just have fun! Thanks United Way of Salt Lake!

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The next Summer of Service project will be held on Thursday, August 9th, at the Utah Food Bank. 1:30 p.m – 3:00 p.m.

Then, join us for the United Way 2-1-1 Summer of Service Recognition Event on Saturday, September 8th at 11:00 a.m. at Junior Achievement City at the Gateway!

Dial 2-1-1 for more details!

July Tip: Pay Down Your Debt Faster with Power Payments!

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Trying to pay down a significant amount of debt can be daunting. It could possibly take a lifetime to pay off debt. But here’s a tool that can help! With Power Pay, once you have paid off one debt, apply that payment to the payment of another debt. This increases the payment on the second debt. Continue the pattern for all of your debts until the last is paid. The good news is that you will significantly decrease the amount of time it takes to get out of debt!

You can access the Power Pay calculator here. Power Pay will calculate which debt will be in your best interest to pay off first and provide you with a payment schedule!

Visit the Believe website for more great resources to help you get out of debt.