United Way Women’s Action Group Becomes Women United

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United Way California Capital Region’s Women in Philanthropy group is now United Way’s Women United, joining the global Women United network of more than 70,000 women leaders taking action in their communities. The local Women United action group is a force of 350 local women and supporters making sure local foster youth are prepared for success in college or career.

“The name Women United is a clear call to action for women of all ages and backgrounds to come together for an important cause,” said Stephanie Bray, president and CEO of United Way California Capital Region. “This makes it clear that we need all of women’s gifts, from donations to volunteer time. While our focus will remain the same, we will now be part of a global group of women, all working on their local community’s most pressing issues, most of which are related to children.”

The local Women United action group raises funds for special bank accounts that help foster youth leaving the system save for necessities such as rent, transportation and textbooks. Members and supporters also lead life skills workshops and trainings to help foster youth understand how to manage finances, navigate the college system, prepare for interviews, cook and more, and they participate in volunteer experiences and networking events. To learn more about Women United, become a member or make a donation, visit www.YourLocalUnitedWay.org/WomenUnited.

Women United’s local members and supporters focus on foster youth as part of the Square One Project, United Way California Capital Region’s 20-year promise to significantly increase the number of students who graduate from high school ready for success in college and beyond. Through nine decades of work and research across Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento, Placer and Yolo counties, United Way believes ending poverty starts in school and is working to ensure kids meet important milestones to prepare for success in college or career. To make a donation, visit www.YourLocalUnitedWay.org.

United Way Women Collect Towels, Toiletries, Luggage for Foster Youth

Posted on by kthebaud
United Way's Women in Philanthropy collects towels for Sacramento foster youth

United Way’s Women in Philanthropy collected 253 towel sets, 48 pieces of luggage and hundreds of toiletries last week for Sacramento County foster youth preparing to emancipate from the system and live on their own for the first time.

“I’ll never forget hearing an emancipated foster youth talk about drying herself off with her clothes because she didn’t have a towel,” said Lorrie Wilson, co-chair of United Way’s Women in Philanthropy. “And many foster youth leave their foster homes carrying their clothes in a garbage bag instead of a suitcase.”

The drive supported Sacramento County’s Foster Youth Emancipation Basket program, which receives the towels and toiletries. Luggage is given to foster youth in United Way’s financial stability initiative that is working to ensure more households in the region, including foster youth living on their own, are financially literate and able to save for the future. Through the initiative, foster youth take financial literacy courses and can earn funds toward matched savings accounts.

“These towels, luggage and toiletries are a concrete way that we can address these kids’ immediate needs, but it’s critical that we also prepare them for the future,” said Ruth Miller, co-chair, United Way’s Women in Philanthropy. “United Way and its partners are making a collective impact on these kids’ lives by helping them save money, learn how to use their resources wisely and make decisions that will set them on track for the rest of their lives.”

United Way’s Women in Philanthropy brings local women together to help local foster youth across Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. A dynamic group of businesswomen, homemakers and community leaders, Women in Philanthropy members are first responders in repairing the financial stability of local foster youth by raising funds for United Way to provide financial literacy courses and matched savings accounts designed specifically for foster youth. Members also hold drives and provide trainings. Women in Philanthropy is part of United Way’s team of nonprofits, businesses, donors, volunteers and community leaders working to meet the community’s greatest needs, give immediate aid and find lasting solutions for future generations in the areas of education, financial stability and health. To become a member, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org/wip.

 

 

 

 

Local foster youth meet with leaders at State Capitol

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United Way Women in Philanthropy Day at the Capitol

Kome Ajise, chief deputy director of the California Department of Transportation, was one of eight leaders who spoke to local foster youth about his experience working in government at United Way Women in Philanthropy’s 3rd Annual Day at the Capitol. Forty local foster youth toured the State Capitol on March 24 and participated in roundtable discussions with leaders in government. Participating foster youth were from Amador-Tuolumne Community Resources, Child Abuse Prevention Center, Koinonia Homes for Teens and New Morning Youth and Family Services, which are partners in United Way’s financial stability initiative that is working to financially prepare foster youth for emancipation.

United Way’s Women in Philanthropy brings local women together to help local foster youth across Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. A dynamic group of businesswomen, homemakers and community leaders, Women in Philanthropy members are first responders in repairing the financial stability of local foster youth by raising funds for United Way to provide financial literacy courses and matched savings accounts designed specifically for foster youth. Members also hold drives and provide trainings. Women in Philanthropy is part of United Way’s team of nonprofits, businesses, donors, volunteers and community leaders working to meet the community’s greatest needs, give immediate aid and find lasting solutions for future generations in the areas of education, financial stability and health. To become a member, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org/wip.