Archive for 2014
All Staff Day of Caring: Holiday Edition
Tis the season to spread holiday cheer, and what better way to do that then by helping out those in need? This year, we decided to use our annual all staff holiday party as an opportunity for a Day of Caring. Back in August, our team rolled up their sleeves to give back in Battle…
Read MorePerfect Timing: Sweepstakes Win Meets Vehicle Need
When Brian Sharp told his girlfriend he’d won the United Way Sweepstakes for a new automobile, her reaction was one of relief. “Honestly, I think a few tears of joy came to her eyes because I’ve been frustrated with repairs on my current vehicle and have spent so much time looking at new cars debating…
Read More#GivingTuesday Energizes People for Community Change
For the third consecutive year, a national movement to engage people in support of their favorite charities is providing opportunities for local givers to make a difference. #GivingTuesday, which takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 2, is a campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season. Begun in…
Read MoreHappy Thanksgiving!
Maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices. —Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love I’m a fan of Gilbert’s advice. In our hustling, bustling, plugged-in world, it’s easy to let the power and…
Read MoreLeonce
“I WANT TO HELP OTHER KIDS WITH DISABILITIES LEARN.”
Read MoreHunger Awareness: Ending the "Rumblies"
In the classic cartoon, “Winnie The Pooh and The Honey Tree,” Pooh Bear sings of his love for honey to satisfy his hunger, what he calls a “rumbly in my tumbly.” But for more than 58,000 people in the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo region, hunger isn’t a happy song; it’s a daily question mark. That’s…
Read MoreUnited Way Builds on Momentum of Change
As we kick off our annual fundraising campaign, we’re looking to build upon positive changes made possible by community support. “Over the past year, we’ve made great progress through key initiatives, programs and partnerships in education, income and health,” said Michael Larson, president and CEO of UWBCKR. “Our region is changing the story because people…
Read MoreHave You Met ALICE?
There are 39,611 ALICE households in Calhoun and Kalamazoo County and more than 1.54 million households in the State of Michigan according to the recent United Way ALICE Report released by local United Ways. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are households earning more than the official U.S. poverty level but less…
Read MoreJulie
“I’VE BEEN SO HAPPY SINCE GETTING MY OWN PLACE. NOTHING CAN BREAK MY JOY!”
Read MoreAll Staff Day of Caring
Volunteerism is one of our pillars; we believe that it takes all of us working together to create lasting change. This is why we spent August 15 engaging our staff and board in a Day of Caring in Battle Creek. We had three projects set up with our partners at the Food Bank of South…
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