United Way of Bucks County Hunger
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BUCKS UNITEDANNUAL REPORT UNITED WAY OF BUCKS COUNTY& MAGAZINE MULTIPLIER AWARDS PAGES 12-15 BUCKS KNOCKS OUT HUNGER PAGES 32-35 5 WAYS TO BOOST EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT PAGE 47 Local perspectives on Education, Income & Health, 10 Reasons to Explore Bucks County, By the Numbers, United Way PLUS Books Every Bucks Countian Should Read, and more! of Bucks County TABLE OF CONTENTS 22 36 51 Featured Artist #girlSTEM Made in Bucks A look through the lens of a local Local girls explore the future of science, From grass-fed beef to local spirits, photographer. technology, engineering, and math. here's where to find the best local fare. ANNUAL REPORT AWARDS AND RECOGNITION 32 Bucks Knocks Out Hunger: Community Action, Collective 3 Letter from CEO Jamie Haddon 12 2015 Multiplier Awards Impact 68 Thank You to Our Leadership Donors 5 Letter from COO John Ramirez 36 #girlSTEM: Science, Technology, 5 Letter from CDO Marissa Christie 71 Spirit of Bucks Organizations Math, and Girls? 6 Board of Directors 72 Community Award Winners 38 Serving Bucks County: Volunteers 72 Pep Rally & Magazine Sponsors in Action 7 Community Conversations 40 EDUCATION: Calling All Scientists, 8 Kelton Award Winner: Nate Smedley BUSINESSES GIVING BACK Explorers, Musicians 10 Sauerbry Award Winner: Pat Walker 26 GE: Empowering and Inspiring 41 INCOME: JOBS: A Placement 59 United Way of Bucks County Each Other Program That's Working By the Numbers 28 National Penn: Superior Service to 43 HEALTH: Good Friends for the Customers and Community Greater Good 60 Thank You to Our Partner Companies 29 PECO: Putting Energy into 44 Beautiful Bucks County 62 Connect with UW Bucks Staff Community 47 Charity Begins at Work: 5 Ways to 63 Statement of Operations 31 Bucks VOAD: You Can't Prevent It, Boost Engagement 66 Making an Impact in Bucks County You CAN Prepare for It 48 All Star ECCs 70 United Way of Bucks County 51 Made in Bucks LOCAL PERSPECTIVES Funded Programs 53 How to Establish Good Credit 16 10 Reasons to Visit Bucks County in 2015 54 Why I Give: Donor Spotlights 21 Books Every Bucks Countian 56 Stuff the Bus to Give Kids a Should Read Great Start 22 Featured Artist: Michael Brooks 64 Heroes Are Here in Bucks County 1 FROM JAMIE HADDON, PRESIDENT & CEO, UNITED WAY OF BUCKS COUNTY At United Way of Bucks Hunger, and Stuff the Bus, we now have a central place for County, our mission is people to search for all types of volunteer work at many to help all people in our different organizations. Visit www.volunteerbucks.org to see community connect volunteer opportunities and special events from nonprofits to their best lives. We throughout our community. work to ensure that This platform is powered by Bucks County Voluntary everyone has access to Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), an initiative a quality education, a by the Bucks County Emergency Management Agency stable income, and good to prepare our county to respond to and recover from a health. This year alone, potential disaster. Bucks VOAD brings together individuals, over 125,000 lives will companies, and organizations who would want to help in Jamie Haddon, President & CEO, be touched; that's 1 in 5 serious times of need. As you explore this platform, keep United Way of Bucks County. Bucks County residents. this disaster response function in mind. Obviously, it takes a tremendous team to make this kind of impact. We currently work with thousands of donors, WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT advocates, and volunteers in Bucks County. People who, like Our impact in Bucks County continues to grow each year. In us, care about what happens to others. fact, over the past few years, we have literally doubled the Helen Keller once said, "Alone we can do so little. Together, number of lives we touch annually. Financial support is a non- we can do so much." I believe that. I hope you do, too, negotiable part of this process. because we need your help more than ever. Your financial support has a greater impact than you might imagine. $50 invested in Bucks Knocks Out Hunger provides WE NEED YOUR VOICE 100 nutritious meals and 50 pounds of fresh produce to This is the year we turn outward with intentionality. In a family that needs your help. $100 invested in our Bucks partnership with the Bucks County Division of Human County Women's Initiative sends four girls to the #girlSTEM Services, we are hosting dozens of Community Conversations Conference so they can learn about science, technology, all across the county. engineering, and math careers from women in these fields. We are focused on learning and listening. At the heart of our $1,000 invested in our Community Impact Fund can provide Community Conversations is the opportunity to tap in to the childcare so a low-income parent can get back to work, or knowledge and experience of hundreds of residents. This is a handicap ramp so that an older resident can stay in their not about "expert knowledge." This is about what real people own home, or emergency services for someone on the actually experience; what’s working and what's not in our brink of homelessness. community. It's about our aspirations, the opportunities we THE CHALLENGE yearn for, and the barriers we face. You may have heard of the many "challenges" in the nonprofit Community Conversations will help us address the things world — ice buckets, Twizzlers, Oreos. I have a challenge that matter most, uncover a sense of common purpose, that's even easier: The 15% Challenge. set realistic goals, and better inform our decisions going forward. Every single person who participates has a direct In 2015, I challenge you to give just 15% more. If you already impact on our community and helps guide positive change give $1 a week, consider giving $1.15 per week. If you give for the future. $500, consider $575. If you are already giving $1,000 (thank you, Leadership Donors!), just $150 more wins this challenge. We are looking for individuals and groups to participate. Please visit www.volunteerbucks.org/events or contact my With more community support, we can do so much more for colleague Matt Uhler ([email protected] or 215.949.1660, people who need our help. 15% in 2015. That's my challenge ext 119) to find out more. to you. I hope you will accept it. WE NEED YOUR TIME We are offering more ways to volunteer. In addition to big, one day opportunities like #girlSTEM, Bucks Knocks Out 3 FROM JOHN RAMIREZ, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, UNITED WAY OF BUCKS COUNTY Why participate in a Community Con- It means bringing together the right people and groups so versation? What do people get out of that we can find solutions. It means connecting with people it? My team was asked these questions ready and willing to participate. earlier in the year. We need people to join us; to share their passion, expertise, In response, a big, blank pa- resources, and experience. Advancing the common good John Ramirez, Chief per was hung, headed with requires the unity in community. Operating Officer, “Top 10 Reasons to Participate.” And what do people get out of it? When they join with us for United Way of Bucks County. Within a short time, my staff had things like Community Conversations, they put what mat- built a respectable list. "Not bad," we ters into words. This is important because we can't change thought. Until a colleague quickly scanned the list and said, what we can't name. They get to stand shoulder to shoulder “but, it’s not funny!” with others who care about our world and feel that connec- (Squares! We missed the Letterman meme.) tion. They get to be part of something bigger than them- selves – part of the change they wish to see. What do people get out of it? So you, your friends, neighbors, coworkers – join us. Funny That's not just a question about Community Conversations. or not, I know you will get something out of it. It's a question that pushes back against everything we ask people to do. Our mission is to advance the common good. That's big. It takes time and effort. Advancing the common good requires understanding people's aspirations and what gets in their way. FROM MARISSA CHRISTIE, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, UNITED WAY OF BUCKS COUNTY Want to know what you really care Here is the big question: What do you really care about? And about? if someone asked for evidence, would you be able to prove it? A few years ago, my husband and I were Everyone's favorite neighbor, Mr. Rogers, once said, "We meeting with Pastor Frey of Salem live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's United Church of Christ in Doylestown easy to say 'It's not my child, not my community, not my as we prepared for our wedding. The world, not my problem.'" Marissa Christie, Chief Development Officer, pastor said something that really reso- At United Way, we believe it is our child, our community, United Way of Bucks nated with me. County. our world, and our problem. We believe that we are all con- He said, "If you want to know what you nected and we all have a stake in making Bucks County the really care about, check your bank statement." best it can be. It makes sense. We all have our recurring expenses, mostly of We believe that what we care about is worth our investment. the no-fun and non-negotiable variety like rent and utilities.