Ambassador Newsletter - December 2013
Cheers To You - Our Workplace Ambassadors
United Way sends a very special thank you to each Ambassador. We greatly appreciate the time, commitment and dedication you put into making your organization's campaign a success. We look forward to great things for our community in 2014 thanks to your generous support.
United Way Celebrates a Successful Campaign - $52.8 million
Thanks to your generous support, United Way of Greater Milwaukee raised a record $52,826,484 during the 2013 Community Campaign. Campaign co-chairs, Linda Benfield, Managing Partner, Milwaukee Office, Foley & Lardner LLP, Brad Chapin, Executive Vice President, U.S. Business Banking, BMO Harris Bank and Greg Oberland, Executive Vice President, Products, Sales & Marketing, Northwestern Mutual, ahosted the field trip-themed celebration and announced the fantastic results on December 12 at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Read more.
These four United Way supporters walked away winners in the 2013 Give & Win Sweepstakes. Congratulations to the following people:
- Spring Break: Two tickets to the NCAA Final Four in North Texas, plus $3,000 for travel and expenses. Donated by Northwestern Mutual and Greg & Rhonda Oberland.
Winner: Rafael Luna
- Winter Windfall: $5,000 "Holiday Bonus" Mastercard® gift card to spend, share and save. Donated by BMO Harris Bank.
Winner: Kelly Flanagan
- Summer Cycle: 2014 Sportster SuperLow® XL883L motorcycle. Donated by Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Transportation and set-up provided by Hal's Harley-Davidson.
Winner: David Kennedy
- Autumn-obile: NEW 2013 Ford Focus 4-Door Sedan SEL donated by Johnson Controls.
Winner: Linda Stewart
Learn more about our Give & Win™ Sweepstakes.
Save the Date for Read With Me Week - March 3-7, 2014 
Join United Way of Greater Milwaukee for Read with Me Week in honor of National Reading Month. Volunteers will read to and with local children, act out stories and have fun. Share your love of reading by Living United.
It's easy for everyone to get involved:
- Morning & afternoon timeslots
- Individual & group options
- Varying time commitments of 45 minutes to two hours
An official announcement email with instructions on how to sign up will be sent to all ambassadors the first week in January.
Reading Tutors Needed for Milwaukee Succeeds Pilot Project
What: Work one on one with K5 or 1st grade level students during the school day at a Catholic elementary school that serves primarily low-income children to help improve their reading skills. Tutors will work with kids on specific reading skills and also read with the students to help build knowledge and concepts.
When: Tutors are needed for an hour or more anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, starting in the first week in February, 2014.
Where: St. Catherine's School, 2647 N. 51st St., Milwaukee
Training and materials: Tutors attend an initial training session on one of the following dates, if possible:
- Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6-8 PM
- Wednesday, Jan. 22, 4-6 PM
Interested? Contact Audra Brennan at abrennan@milwaukeesucceeds.org.
Did You Know
- United Way has consistently reached and exceeded its community campaign goal for the last 11 years. Cheers to our generous community for making that impressive feat possible.
- United Way partners with Target each year to donate display Christmas trees to local agency partners and families in need of some holiday cheer. This year, we are anticipating being able to distribute over 20 trees to brighten the spirits of local families
Our Community Impact
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Education: Young Philanthropists Learn From the Best
Nicole Angresano, VP of Community Impact, hosted nine future philanthropists from Silver Spring Neighborhood Center last month at United Way to learn about making grants and helping the community. The participants, ranging from 7-12 years old, are learning that through their time, talent and treasure they can contribute and inspire others to contribute to their communities. They heard about different needs in the community, as well as the tremendous assets, and they shared what they thought were some of our community's greatest strengths.
The youth have started their own fundraising efforts - candy sales and UWGM awarded them $250 in "seed money," which they will in turn grant to a non-profit agency in the community that they choose as a group.
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Income: Grant Increases GED Testing Capacity
Changes are coming to the GED test series and the consequences could be significant for Wisconsin residents looking to complete the GED (a series of five exams). New requirements dictate that even if an adult has passed a portion of the exams, they must complete and pass the entire series before December 31 or they will have to start over with all exams.
In order to address this critical community issue, UWGM made a $28,000 grant to a key testing site in Milwaukee. In order to meet the projected increased demand for GED testing and preparation, UWGM funds have allowed UMOS to add three more testing sessions per week and add a part time math teacher to provide additional needed tutoring. The three-month GED Plan at UMOS is expected to offer 720 additional GED testing slots - 100% more than the pre-grant testing capacity.
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Health: Affordable Health Care Act - Education Events
The Milwaukee Enrollment Network (MKEN) is promoting almost daily education and enrollment events this month to build awareness and assist with reviewing insurance options available through the Health Insurance Marketplace. While open enrollment will continue through March 31, 2014, December 23 is the last day individuals can enroll to ensure insurance coverage by January 1, 2014.
Open to the general public, the enrollment events include information, education and often, assistance enrolling in BadgerCare Plus or the Health Insurance Marketplace.
MKEN is a consortium of more than 100 organizations committed to promoting adequate and affordable health insurance coverage, with a focus on low-income uninsured and underinsured people in Milwaukee County. Learn more.
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Make it Fun - Successful Employee Engagement
- Give - Calling all bakers: host a holiday cookie bake sale at your office with proceeds going to United Way.
- Advocate - Join the Conversation. Follow us on social media and encourage your colleagues to do the same.
- Volunteer - It's the holiday season and many of our agency program partners are looking for corporate groups to adopt classrooms, youth programs or families and donate small holiday gifts. Help make a local families holidays a bit brighter this season.
If you are interested in working with United Way to develop a customized employee engagement plan, please contact Karissa Gretebeck (Kleven) at kgretebeck@unitedwaymilwaukee.org or by phone at 414.263.8160.
Dates to Remember - Stay Involved
UW-Milwaukee Men's Basketball Live United Game Day
January 24
U.S. Cellular Arena
Business Journal Book of Lists Event
February 6
Pfister Hotel
Bucks Free Throw Challenge Preliminary Trials
February 7
Northside YMCA
Annual Meeting
February 26
US Bank Galleria
Read With Me Week
March 3-7
Greater Milwaukee
Music Under the Glass
March 6
Milwaukee Domes
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