United Way Receives AARP Grant to Help Kids Read

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AARP Experience Corps volunteer helps kids learn to read

AARP Foundation, a grantee of the Social Innovation Fund (SIF), has awarded a generous four-year grant to United Way California Capital Region to help grow Experience Corps, the evidence based AARP Foundation literacy program that improves the reading skills of children, enriches the lives of volunteer tutors, and strengthens schools in local communities.

Almost 70 percent of students in the U.S.—about 6.6 million children—are unable to read proficiently by fourth grade. AARP Foundation Experience Corps matches volunteers age 50 and up with students in kindergarten through third grade to help them improve their reading skills. The program offers both 1:1 and small group tutoring assistance.

United Way California Capital Region will work closely with AARP Foundation and an independent evaluator to investigate the expansion of small group tutoring and small group plus classroom-wide assistance models to accelerate literacy achievement.

“We know that improving children’s early literacy has a direct impact on their success in higher education, and we know that higher education is the equalizer that breaks the cycle of poverty,” said Stephanie Bray, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “This subgrant will allow us to build on the success of Experience Corps’ intergenerational model and help many more children grow up prepared for success.”

This subgrant award is the result of an open competition held by AARP Foundation to identify and select promising organizations in high need communities to implement and rigorously evaluate the Experience Corps model.

“Experience Corps’ proven track record of matching older adults as 1:1 volunteer reading tutors with children in grades K-3 is not only working but the results are most impressive. The Social Innovation Fund is eager to provide funding to this cutting-edge intergenerational model that is potentially increasing the number of children being served and expanding this volunteer delivery system to include smaller reading groups. We are looking forward to building a dynamic program with AARP Foundation that supports these efforts while creating new opportunities for people 50+ to be engaged in their communities,”  said Damian Thorman, director of the Social Innovation Fund.

The Social Innovation Fund requires that each federal dollar granted be matched dollar for dollar by intermediary grantees and again by the organizations they select to receive grants. Other subgrantees include Aspiranet in San Francisco, The Children’s Initiative in San Diego, Generation Inc. in Boston, Read to Succeed Buffalo, Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center and United Way Central Georgia.

For more than 90 years, United Way California Capital Region has brought people together to meet pressing needs in the Sacramento region and has changed the lives of hundreds of children, families and adults. Now United Way is mobilizing nonprofits, companies, schools, government and individuals across the region, state and country to make a collective impact in the areas of education, financial stability and health in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. To donate or volunteer, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org.

 

Holiday volunteer opportunities abound on United Way website

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Volunteers stuff holiday stockings at United Way

Looking for holiday donation and volunteer opportunities? Visit United Way California Capital Region’s online Volunteer Center at www.yourlocalunitedway.org to find more than a dozen needs in one place. Holiday volunteers and donors are encouraged to post photos of their work on social media using #happy2help.

“We are grateful to all of the community members who make a collective impact on our community’s most urgent needs during the holiday season,” said Stephanie McLemore Bray, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “Our Volunteer Center is an easy way to find opportunities all in one place and easily narrow them down to what is most convenient and affordable.”

Anyone can sign up to volunteer or donate, and most nonprofits across the region are eligible to add their volunteer opportunities, and can do so through the website. For questions, contact volunteer@uwccr.org.

United Way launched its online Volunteer Center in 2014 to provide an organized, community-wide portal that connects the Sacramento region’s volunteer and donor base with United Way’s 160 local nonprofit partners and other local organizations. The center is designed to connect individual donors and volunteers, as well as corporate or group volunteers, with opportunities of all sizes and commitments throughout the year. Community members can log onto the website and create a profile that lists their interests, become fans of participating nonprofits, join volunteer groups, donate unused materials and household items to nonprofits in need, learn about upcoming special events and fundraisers, and advocate for causes. The center was partly launched in response to United Way’s 450 corporate partners looking for a coordinated way to engage employees in corporate social responsibility through volunteer work, donation opportunities and events.

For more than 90 years, United Way California Capital Region has brought people together as first responders on needs in the Sacramento region and changed the lives of hundreds of children, families and adults. Now United Way is mobilizing nonprofits, companies, schools, government and individuals across the region, state and country to make a collective impact in the areas of education, financial stability and health in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. To donate or volunteer, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org.

 

1,000 Volunteers Needed for United Way’s Day of Caring

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United Way's Day of Caring

A thousand volunteers are needed to spend one day caring for the community on Sept. 11 by signing up for one of 37 volunteer projects happening across the region on United Way’s 3rd Annual Day of Caring, sponsored by Nationwide. The event, which kicks off the fall fundraising campaign, will start at 8 a.m. with a breakfast and rally at Cal Expo. Volunteer projects will begin at 9:30 a.m. To sign up: http://www.yourlocalunitedway.org/dayofcaring.

“This is what United Way does best – bringing together companies, volunteers, nonprofits and more to make a collective impact in our community,” said Stephanie McLemore Bray, United Way president and CEO. “This high-energy day has grown each year because people like having an opportunity to dig their hands in and care for their community.”

Last year, 662 volunteers completed 32 volunteer activities across five counties. Many of the participating nonprofits have expressed gratitude for the help volunteers bring on the annual Day of Caring.

“United Way has been a wonderful community partner for us throughout the years,” said Suzzanne Castaneda, public relations representative for nonprofit Atkinson Family Services. “We have made lasting relationships with the volunteers we get on Day of Caring. Many have continued to help up make a difference in the lives of our foster youth and our community long after Day of Caring is over.”

For more than 90 years, United Way California Capital Region has brought people together as first responders on needs in the Sacramento region and changed the lives of hundreds of children, families and adults. Now United Way is mobilizing nonprofits, companies, schools, government and individuals across the region, state and country to make a collective impact in the areas of education, financial stability and health in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. To donate or volunteer, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org.

Young professionals build Habitat for Humanity housing

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United Way Habitat Build

Twenty-five young professionals from United Way’s Young Leaders Society and Habitat Young Professionals joined together on March 21 to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento’s largest project to date on Indian Lane in Sacramento. The project will include 14 LEED-certified affordable single-family homes. Thank you to Univision19 for coming out to cover this event!

United Way’s Young Leaders Society is a diverse group of young professionals ages 21-40 that is focused on philanthropy and service in the greater Sacramento region. Members are committed to investing in health and education opportunities for students by volunteering their time, mobilizing social networks and raising money for a specific community impact project. For more than 90 years, United Way California Capital Region has brought together nonprofits, businesses, donors, volunteers, community leaders and more to meet the community’s greatest needs, give immediate aid and find lasting solutions for future generations. United Way mobilizes members of the community to be first responders in repairing the education level, financial stability and health of everyone in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties through donation and volunteer opportunities. To donate or volunteer, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org.

Habitat Young Professionals is made up of socially conscious professionals ages 21-40 who raise money, volunteer and create awareness for the work of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento. The group offers a combination of social and professional networking events, community outreach and volunteer activities that support the building of Habitat homes for qualified, hardworking low-income families in the Sacramento area. For more information, visit www.habitatgreatersac.org.

United Way Young Leaders volunteer for MLK Day

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Volunteers

Ten members of the United Way Young Leaders Society volunteered at Next Move Sacramento’s community donation center on Martin Luther King Day to honor Dr. King’s legacy of volunteerism. The group cleaned and reorganized the donation center, which provides free items for community members once homeless who need clothes and household goods. Thank you to News10, Univision19 and Fox40 for coming out to cover their service!

The United Way Young Leaders Society is a diverse group of young professionals ages 21-40 that is focused on philanthropy and service in the greater Sacramento region. Members are committed to investing in health and education opportunities for students by volunteering their time, mobilizing social networks and raising money for a specific community impact project.

For more than 90 years, United Way California Capital Region has brought together nonprofits, businesses, donors, volunteers, community leaders and more to meet the community’s greatest needs, give immediate aid and find lasting solutions for future generations. United Way mobilizes members of the community to be first responders in repairing the education level, financial stability and health of everyone in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties through donation and volunteer opportunities. To donate or volunteer, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org.