This spring, hundreds of volunteers will be out serving the community.  But they haven’t been mobilized through volunteer agencies.  Their employers have provided the opportunity. 

Comcast and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield are two regional companies that are not only contributing philanthropic dollars to the community, they are also organizing teams of employees to volunteer.

Patrick and Julie Stowe always wanted to be youth mentors so shortly after they got married, they signed up together at Big Brothers Big Sisters.  It’s been nearly four years since Julie and Patrick were matched with Chase Valentine, then 6, and what began as a Big Brothers Big Sisters match is now more like family.

Ossai Muhammed Sharif looks like any other college student:  a pack on her back, cell phone in hand, and the weary look that comes with exams.  She meanders in and out of the crowd like a pro, smiling and waving to friends.  A brief interaction with Ossai could lead one to think she’d always lived this life.

But it took nearly 12 years, three countries, and the help of Refugee and Immigration Services for Ossai to realize the bright future she now has within her reach.

Over the course of a year in the Richmond region, between 4,600 and 6,900 people will experience a crisis that results in homelessness.  Last month, Homeward presented a plan to end that trend. 

Matt Paciocco was called into his supervisor’s office at First Market Bank and offered a promotion – from Product Manager to Commercial Credit Analyst (commercial lender in layman’s terms).  Of course, Matt eagerly accepted the opportunity and the training program the position would require.  Then his supervisor recommended that before Matt began the job training, that he first participate in United Way’s 12-week Emerging Leader Program. 

It’s shortly before 11a.m., and though the office of Meals on Wheels’ Willow Lawn operation appears quiet, the back is anything but. There is a rhythm to the activity, and the volunteers – from corporate employees to homemakers to retirees – know the rhythm well. First, check in with Jackie, the volunteer coordinator, then gather and pack meals, then load and begin the daily journey of carrying nourishment to the most vulnerable members of our community – the elderly, the frail and the homebound.

Many in our community know and value the sound leadership Sherrie Brach provides for United Way and for the non-profit community.  In April, Sherrie’s achievements will be publicly recognized when she is honored as one of the YWCA’s ten Outstanding Women of 2007 during the 27th annual Outstanding Women Awards Luncheon.

MARCH has been around for nearly 30 years.  It is a faith-based initiative that began when human service agencies and city leaders and church workers came together when they realized there wasn’t enough food available for those who needed it.  Most of the recipients have a place to live and just need some help to hold them over until they get their next paycheck.

Dominion allocates additional $1 million to EnergyShare Program EnergyShare, Dominion’s financial assistance program that helps individuals in need pay their home heating bills, recently received a big boost when the company announced they would add $1 million to the program.

When it was time for Boo and Drew Perkins to celebrate their son Joseph’s first birthday, they chose a theme (“Super Joe Sunday” since they love football and the party was on the Sunday before the Super Bowl) and then invited close to 50 family and friends over to help them celebrate.  They planned food and fun, but decided to forgo gifts for Joseph and instead request contributions from the guests so they could make a difference in someone else’s life.  “We feel so blessed; [Joseph] needs nothing,” said Mrs. Perkins. 

Learning begins at birth, and the early years are some of the most critical years for a child.  In order to ensure that children in at-risk families are afforded the same early benefits as their peers, specialized teams are going into the homes to create an effective and supportive partnership.

Leading the way to lasting change often involves bringing the community together for a common cause.  In Petersburg, children are the common cause for more than 25 service providers working together through The Petersburg Alliance for Children and Families (PACF).

What if you arrived at work one morning to find that your job no longer existed?  Who would you turn to for help?

In September, the employees at Ferguson Printing Company experienced this situation when they arrived at work to find a note explaining the plant had closed.  Within a few days though, a partnership of community agencies had come together to support the employees and address their many needs.

For all those who believe a United Way campaign consists of a long-winded speaker followed by a pledge card, think again.  Many of the more than 720 companies and state and local government agencies that are running employee giving campaigns have a unique community spirit.  Companies today are not only conducting a United Way campaign to raise much needed dollars for the community, they are also using it as an opportunity to team build with their employees, learn about the needs of the community, get involved and even have fun.

United Way leads the way in addressing the most pressing needs of our community. Specifically, we focus on preparing youth for tomorrow, stopping homelessness, and supporting older adults and their caregivers. Through our traditional funding process, United Way grants substantial dollars to programs that meet these objectives. This year, due to the recent sale of United Way’s building, an additional $1 million was available to be distributed over two years.

The result: funding for breakthrough programs in the areas of youth, older adults and homelessness. Grants have been made for the first year, and if the projects meet the expectations for accountability, the grants will be continued for a second year.

United Way’s volunteer committees work hard to find ways to improve the lives of those in need in our community.  One way they meet this objective is by funding programs through the Community Care Fund that focus on lasting change.  Another way is by examining the current group of funded programs and identifying any gaps in services that may exist.  These gaps may be underserved populations or neighborhoods, not enough affordable services, or simply a lack of programs where a high need exists.