United Way to Hold Beer and Trivia Night Fundraiser

Sacramento-area young professionals can show off their knowledge of early 2000s trivia while raising funds to help local kindergarteners save for college at United Way’s Young Leaders Society’s annual Brews & Brains trivia night on Feb. 8 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Sacramento Masonic Temple, 1123 J Street. Guests, who must be age 21 or older, will enjoy beer, food and chances to win prizes. Guests who register as a team of six by Jan. 28 will receive the early bird rate of $135, which includes a Brews & Brains pint glass, and food and drink tickets for each team member. Individuals and couples can register for $25 each to be placed on a team and receive food and a drink ticket. To learn more: www.yourlocalunitedway.org/brewsandbrains2019.

“Whether you want to show off your useless knowledge, enjoy beer, help kids or all of the above, this is the event for you,” said Creston Whiting-Casey, chair of United Way’s Young Leaders Society. “The energy in the room is always a lot of fun as we tackle questions ranging from pop culture to politics – all to help kids in our region get excited early about going to college.”

Research shows that children with even modestly funded college savings accounts are three times more likely to attend college – and four times more likely to complete college – than those without a college savings account. Parents and guardians who attend two free financial education and empowerment courses earn a $200 college savings account for their kindergartener. Parents, relatives and friends may make additional contributions to help grow the student’s account. The program recognizes that early intervention and continued parental involvement dramatically increase the probability that children will achieve higher education.

“We want to create the expectation very early in every child’s life that higher education is both a desirable and achievable goal,” said Stephanie Bray, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “It’s fantastic to see young professionals coming together to make sure all kids have the same access to education beyond high school.”

For nearly 100 years, United Way California Capital Region has brought local people together to make community change happen. Today, the nonprofit is bringing people together across Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento, Placer and Yolo counties for its Square One Project, a 20-year promise to significantly increase the number of students in our region who graduate from high school ready for success in college and beyond. United Way believes ending generational poverty starts in school and is working to ensure kids meet important milestones and their families receive support and resources. To learn more and make a donation: www.yourlocalunitedway.org.

United Way Unveils Hydration Stations at Sacramento Schools

Students at Taylor Street Elementary School in Sacramento celebrate their new water bottles and installation of a hydration station

United Way’s Young Leaders Society raised $25,000 to fund the purchase and recent installation of five hydration stations at all five schools in Robla School District in Sacramento. The stations, which provide drinking water and encourage kids to choose water over sugary drinks, were unveiled at each school on Feb. 5. United Way’s Young Leaders Society members descended upon the schools to pass out United Way reusable water bottles to all 2,500 students in the district. In preparation for the unveiling, students received in-classroom education on the health benefits of drinking water instead of sugary drinks through a partnership with the Health Education Council.

“Our kids are fascinated by technology, so we know these hydration stations will be a far bigger draw for the kids than traditional drinking fountains,” said Ruben Reyes, superintendent, Robla School District. “And because the kids are excited about the hydration stations and have been receiving important education about the dangers of sugary drinks, we know we will see more kids drinking water and making healthy choices.”

The stainless steel hydration stations are mounted on walls and include a cooler and bottle filling station in an ADA-compliant design. Each station holds up to 3,000 gallons of filtered water, and an LED light shows students when their bottle is full. United Way’s Young Leaders Society plans to install five more stations this summer.

“The hydration stations play an important part in educating children to make healthier choices every day,” said Lindsey Smith, chair, United Way’s Young Leaders Society. “Being able to be a part of this initiative from start to finish and to see how excited the students are about the Rethink your Drink program has been extremely gratifying. The fact that we are able to make a difference in these students’ lives and create a partnership with the Robla School District helps us realize the potential of our future Young Leaders Society projects.”

United Way’s Young Leaders Society unites young professionals to make a collective impact on health and education for kids through volunteer work and financial support. 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.

Young professionals build Habitat for Humanity housing

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.

Young professionals raise $4K for schools at United Way fundraiser

Brews and Brains fundraiser

As 125 Sacramento-area young professionals worked together to solve trivia questions over beers at Yolo Brewing Company, they also exceeded their goal of raising $3,000 to increase access to healthy drinking water at Sacramento elementary schools. United Way’s recent Young Leaders Society Brews & Brains event raised more than $4,000 toward the group’s Hydration Station Initiative, which will fund the purchase and installation of hydration stations in target schools, provide every student at the school with a reusable water bottle, and educate students on the importance of drinking water and using water resources wisely during the California drought.

“There was so much energy in the room as we enjoyed solving trivia questions, drinking beer and eating from Fuzion Eatz food truck – all while raising substantial funding to make sure kids in our area have access to drinking water throughout their day,” said Dustin Humes, chair, United Way’s Young Leaders Society.

Thirty-two percent of youth in the region are overweight or obese so United Way California Capital Region and its partners are working to reduce the number of overweight people in the region by 20 percent. To assist in reaching this goal, United Way’s Young Leaders Society is focusing on ensuring students have access to water as a healthy beverage, and education about why water is such a valuable resource to protect. The group’s goal is to raise $25,000 for the project in 2015. To make a donation or to join United Way’s Young Leaders Society, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org/young-leaders-society.

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.

 

United Way Young Leaders volunteer for MLK Day

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.