United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County |
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United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County UNITE PEOPLE. IMPROVE LIVES. STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY. UNIQUE APART UNITED 2015 LEADERS IN GIVING TOGETHER UNITED WAY OF ASHEVILLE AND BUNCOMBE COUNTY Dr. Leon Elliston 2015-2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR To be recognized as a leadership giver, a donor must direct his or her gift to United Way’s RECOGNIZING OUR DONORS Community Investment Fund or one of our current funded partners. I want to make the world a better What can United Way do to be numbers have improved greatly cherished community succeed. We go to great lengths to make sure each and every member of the Tocqueville Society, place and I love to be surrounded even more impactful? in the last few years, but a clear Peaks Society, Women’s Leadership Council and Highlands Circle, as well as all by people that want to do the disparity still exists. At the same WILL YOU HELP US TELL OTHERS? Diamond Donors and companies are recognized in our annual Leaders In Giving book. same. Is that so much to ask? We made a key decision to time there are more than 700 I want to thank you for saying Some donations, however, aren’t received in time to make it into the book. elevate our Middle School children who are homeless in yes to our call to action. Whether To make sure we show our appreciation to everyone, donors whose gifts are received I’m Leon Elliston and I’m serving Success Initiative. What does that Asheville City and Buncombe you’ve been saying yes for the after March 31 will be listed in next year’s recognition book. as board chair of United Way of look like? A better description can County Schools. Every one of past forty years, or are new to Asheville and Buncombe County. be found on the following page but these children is trying to navigate United Way, you are all important * Indicates deceased throughout this book. While we may not be able to the short version is this: an uncertain home life AND their to our story. change the whole world, we do homework. If you find any mistakes, or have updates as to how your name should be listed, have a big impact on the lives of It is critical to every child that they I have a request. We need YOU, please contact Elizabeth Allen, Leadership Giving Manager at 239-1048. those who live and work here in achieve a high school diploma Supporting kids so they do well our Givers, Advocates and Buncombe County. and have a plan for their life. in school is clearly important but Volunteers to help extend this Research tells us that if they do just as critical is making sure their invitation to others. Be it your LEADERSHIP GIVING We are so grateful for the support of the following businesses for their financial support of I hope you will take some time graduate, they will have better whole family and neighborhood is family, your friends, co-workers, our Leadership Giving and Affinity Groups. With their help we are able to hold events that to review this book in its entirety. job opportunities, better health, strong. That’s why United Way Facebook or Twitter following, we & AFFINITY GROUP allow us to engage and inform our existing donors as well as develop relationships with Among the names of your fellow more stable families and healthier is working with others to wrap hope you will help us spread the potential donors. Leadership Givers you will find children. Middle school is a critical support for them all at three word and ask others to join us. UNDERWRITERS stories about how your donations period in that journey and is often pilot middle schools - Enka, GOLD LEVEL and your time continue to referred to by educators as the Erwin and Asheville, by 2017. It’s easy to extend this invitation. strengthen our community. “last, best time” to reach students. Just share your story about why Middle school is the tipping point We already have three years of you give, why you volunteer and CONCENTRATING OUR IMPACT and as we conducted our own work under our belt at Enka why you choose United Way, and I have been a leadership giver community assessments, we Middle and are thrilled about then connect them to us. since 1986. I’ve seen first-hand saw there was a marked lack of what is beginning to unfold. As how, through United Way, we support for middle school youth. we move forward, United Way Thank you again for your enable our neighbors to become will do what we do best - gather continued generosity. Thank you better educated, financially stable In our community, children who resources, align support and for Living United! and healthy. But this past year, live in poverty graduate from serve as an organizer so that during the creation of our new high school at an average rate our nonprofits and schools can SILVER LEVEL three-year strategic plan, we of 77% while their classmates do what they do best - help asked ourselves the question: graduate at a rate of 90%. These our students, families and THE VAN WINKLE LAW FIRM YOUR SUPPORT REDUCES THE IMPACT OF POVERTY AND STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY THE COMMUNITY FUND UNITED WAY’S COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM MIDDLE SCHOOL SUCCESS When her school counselor suggested she attend an afraid of making mistakes.” Becca’s overall attitude, confidence STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS // HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS after-school club called “Girls In Charge,” Becca wasn’t and grades are improving. Which is the whole point of “Girls exactly thrilled. Becca is quiet and doesn’t like big In Charge” - a self-esteem building program that members of 2013-14 RESULTS: 62,945 LIVES IMPROVED groups, but she went anyway, and by the end of the 8 United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council help run. weeks admitted to having had fun. Best moment? When the group ended, Becca stood up and told Her teacher at Enka Middle School is amazed. “I can’t the volunteers “I know you are busy ladies and you could be believe how much more confident Becca is since she’s anywhere but you chose to be with us. Thank you.” been in this group. She’s raising her hand in class and less I am proud that our board and staff In 2014, our board of directors approved a new three-year strategic plan. Among the many We envision an engaged community We envision a thriving community We envision a safe community created a major strategic plan in details of this plan are exciting developments for our Middle School Success Initiative, our where each child develops and working together, fulfilling basic where everyone has the knowledge, 2014/15. We adopted a new role community and kids like Becca. succeeds academically, socially and needs and building economic resources, access and opportunities that elevates our Middle School emotionally. self-sufficiency for all. to be healthy. Success Initiative: organizing WHY MIDDLE SCHOOL? nonprofit and community We invest in a number of programs serving students of all ages. But in 2010, knowing there was a support for students, families and gap in services for middle school youth and just how critical this period is for the future success of each student’s life, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County’s board of directors agreed that it neighbors, and helping lessen 4,176 PEOPLE ACHIEVED SUCCESS AS A 15,571 PEOPLE ACHIEVED SUCCESS AS A 43,198 PEOPLE ACHIEVED SUCCESS AS A was time to concentrate our efforts and approved the creation of our Middle School Success (MSS) stress for our teachers. I am so Initiative. RESULT OF YOUR INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION RESULT OF YOUR INVESTMENTS IN INCOME RESULT OF YOUR INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH excited about this effort’s power to change our part of the world! Our goal at the time was to help our community increase the quality and quantity of programs - Dr. Leon Elliston preparing students to enter high school, ready to succeed. Our purpose has grown to encompass a PROGRAMS THAT TRANSFORM LIVES Board Chair, United Way of strategy to support students, families and their community - using the middle school itself as a hub During the 2013-14 funding year, we invested 2.4 million dollars in 81 programs dedicated to improving the Education, Income and Health of our Asheville and Buncombe County of supportive services for all. community. Among them are programs like these: CONCENTRATING OUR IMPACT yy Strengthening the life skills youth need for success. (Asheville City Schools Foundation//In Real Life, Children First- United Way is partnering with Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools, nonprofit CIS//Learning Centers, Girls on the Run//Girls on the Run Programs) I’ve been a school counselor for 20 organizations and institutions of higher education to create collaborative approaches to our common years. The support that is available challenges. With three years of work already underway, we are all working together to establish a community school strategy at Enka Middle, and will do the same at Erwin and Asheville Middle yy Improving adult literacy, language and vocational skills (Kitchen Ready & Job Training//Green Opportunities, Adult to me now has completely changed schools by 2017. Education//Literacy Council) what I am able to do for my kids. yy Removing barriers to safe affordable housing (Pathways to Permanent Housing//Homeward Bound, Emergency Home - Wendy Cuellar As we move forward, United Way will do what we do best - gather resources, align support and Repair//Mountain Housing Opportunities, Homebuyer Education and Rental Counseling//OnTrack Financial Education) Counselor, Enka Middle School serve as an organizer so that our nonprofits and schools can do what they do best - help students, families and communities succeed.