tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56039338118218325032011-08-27T12:21:49.651-05:00Welcome to our blog! Here we'll share the work being done by United Way of East Central Iowa to help those most in need in our communities. We focus our efforts in three primary areas: education, income and health, and we work to help children START STRONG, youth GROW STRONG and families STAY STRONG.Terry Bergenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05110962463287708468noreply@blogger.comBlogger421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-79819225595721110072011-05-24T15:14:00.000-05:002011-05-24T15:14:58.290-05:00

The enthusiasm was noticeable and the energy of several hundred elementary school students was high as native Cedar Rapidian and hometown hero Zach Johnson was on hand to launch the new Kids On Course program,  developed by the board of the Zach Johnson Foundation in cooperation with United Way of East Central Iowa and the Cedar Rapids Community School District. Before the morning press

Terry Bergenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05110962463287708468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-40502105131017661642011-04-27T07:43:00.019-05:002011-04-27T08:26:02.702-05:00

RSVP Volunteers contributed 75,000 volunteer hours in 2010. The value of this work exceeds $1,500,000 to the community. Below are a few examples of of the how RSVP volunteers are impacting the community:RSVP Couple Volunteers Together In Different RolesJack and Mary Uthe both volunteer at the CR Art Museum and Linn Community Food Bank. We are part of a small crew at the Cedar Rapids Museum that

Sue Driscollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062100933589607843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-17444038532688530722011-04-12T08:41:00.064-05:002011-04-13T10:33:15.878-05:00

April 10-16, Is National Volunteer Week! This is an opportunity to inspire, recognize and encourage people to engage in their community through volunteering. Volunteers are a huge asset to our community. United Way of East Central Iowa recently conducted a volunteer needs assessment survey. The survey results indicate that in 68% of local nonprofits, volunteers play a large role in their

Sue Driscollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062100933589607843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-66805116777256044292011-04-04T15:06:00.009-05:002011-04-04T15:21:57.436-05:00

What is National Volunteer Month?National Volunteer Month is about recognizing and encouraging people to seek out ways to engage in their community. It is an opportunity for individuals, families and nonprofit organizations to celebrate the people who accomplish extraordinary things through service. Events and opportunities will take place throughout April to highlight volunteerism and the

Caitlinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-9515850628358544642011-03-17T23:15:00.002-05:002011-03-17T23:35:57.355-05:00

Today is our last day together and it is a mixture of relief, a sense of accomplishment, sadness and celebration. There are so many lessons learned in these 2 weeks. The luxury of having time to think, plan, and create is a wonderful gift. I felt like a college student again. A dorm room, meals that were prepared and the dishes cleaned up. No laundry, no responsibilities except for myself and

Lois Buntzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06159596747466463101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-67011034837122566792011-03-17T22:57:00.002-05:002011-03-17T23:15:07.391-05:00

The Dragonfly Effect was the topic of our morning discussion. We reviewed the power and technique of social media as well as some case examples. The ability of a viral community to create change and make a difference are astonishing. Why don't we all use this medium more? Lack of knowledge and expertise are only excuses for those who are afraid of the risks of transparency. The afternoon was a

Lois Buntzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06159596747466463101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-56018569626597175162011-03-15T22:45:00.002-05:002011-03-15T22:55:35.097-05:00

Can nonprofit organizations develop social enterprises and not compromise their mission? This question was debated among our group for several hours today. Using case study examples and a philosophical approach, our instructor, Bill Barnett lead us through a fascinating discussion. We examined how social change occurs and how social innovation develops. I am continually amazed at the great minds

Lois Buntzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06159596747466463101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-32174005686424265882011-03-14T22:58:00.002-05:002011-03-14T23:19:21.970-05:00

How can we use computer games to engage community members, donors and develop staff? This was one of the questions posed by our first speaker, Byron Reeves. Fascinating information about how to use games in many social sectors and his research prompted me to consider many ideas about integrating games into our work. Secondly, we explored the topic of capacity management and how to best serve

Lois Buntzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06159596747466463101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-89341316743485580362011-03-13T12:41:00.002-05:002011-03-13T13:10:19.405-05:00

Is the development of social innovation, social enterprise and social entrepreneurship a response to market failures? Are these an alternative to public intervention? These were some of the questions that were discussed during our Friday session. We examined four projects: OneWorld Health, Benetech, Project Impact and Waste Concern. All of these are global programs that were started by an

Lois Buntzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06159596747466463101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-53172140050551540292011-03-10T22:51:00.002-06:002011-03-10T23:15:33.660-06:00

Defining social value in an economic model for nonprofits was the topic of this morning's session. Too often we fail to inject the projected costs or savings that relate to our work into our budgets. For example if we invest $1.00 in early childhood education it will save over $17 in a lifetime. Finding the right metrix to explain this social value is always the challenge. Fortunately our

Lois Buntzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06159596747466463101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-19989197803672388142011-03-09T23:35:00.002-06:002011-03-09T23:53:15.047-06:00

Our discussion today focused on two case studies of nonprofits that were at transition points. The critical question is how to integrate mission and strategy? Frequently nonprofits are so engaged in their mission that they don't develop good economic models and a strategy for growth or sustainability. Although this was not new information, the process to analyze the organization was very

Lois Buntzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06159596747466463101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-88829993842585423452011-03-08T22:17:00.002-06:002011-03-08T23:15:42.977-06:00

Do you know what goes through your mind when you are at the top of a 50 foot swaying pole and trying to stand up and balance on the 2x 2 board at the top? "I'm crazy, very determined or an absolute idiot for enrolling in this program!" Well, that's part of what I was thinking today as the Catalyst Center for Experiential Learning led our group through a series of physical challenges at the Santa

Lois Buntzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06159596747466463101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-11661438174787731332011-03-07T17:46:00.002-06:002011-03-07T18:19:02.190-06:00

My head is spinning, my brain is buzzing. I'm loving very minute of this great experience. After one evening and a full day of engaging conversation, I feel energized, optimistic and a bit exhausted. 55 nonprofit leaders from 12 countries have assembled on the Stanford campus. The range of nonprofit representation is varied, I am the only United Way here. That is an advantage, I believe. We are

Lois Buntzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06159596747466463101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-78797630215059142082011-03-02T09:13:00.002-06:002011-03-02T09:14:44.879-06:00

Linn Area Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) is hosting an Emergency Volunteer Center Training on Saturday, March 5, at River of Life Ministries, 3801 Blairs Ferry Road NE. Check in begins at 7:45 am. Training runs from 8:00 am– noon. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required. This training program is a great way to promote emergency preparedness in our

Terry Bergenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05110962463287708468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-22542775615111019762011-02-17T08:30:00.000-06:002011-02-17T08:30:35.207-06:00

United Way of East Central Iowa (UWECI) announced at their Campaign Celebration on Thursday, February 10, that its annual fundraising campaign has reached an all-time record of $10,512,000. During a reception attended by more than 200 volunteers and supporters at the new Human Services Campus of East Central Iowa, campaign chairs Barry and Gilda Boyer announced that the 2010 campaign set a

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-90280048450714950422011-01-28T15:46:00.003-06:002011-01-28T15:47:49.299-06:00

We're getting geared-up for our annual Campaign Celebration, to be held on Thursday, February 10, 5:30-7pm at the Human Services Campus (317 7th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids). Join us for drinks and hors d'oeuvres as we recognize the outstanding work of many individuals and companies, announce the four Step Up Challenge grand prize winners and reveal the results from our 2010 campaign! A special

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-69642563855197303662011-01-28T14:54:00.004-06:002011-01-28T14:57:37.134-06:00

United Way of East Central Iowa and the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids honored 21 area middle and high school students at the 25th annual "Remembering Martin" Luncheon on Monday, January 17, at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel. This was the first time in the event's history that we've sold out at maximum capacity of 600! Click here to see photos of the event! The students were selected by their

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-35010945349818180042010-11-30T07:49:00.000-06:002010-11-30T07:49:00.633-06:00

CorridorVolunteers, United Way of East Central Iowa’s online matching service for volunteer opportunities, will celebrate its four-year anniversary on November 30. Nonprofit agencies can register on the site and create a volunteer opportunity listing to recruit volunteers to match their needs. Volunteers can visit the site to find local, regional and statewide links to volunteer opportunities. In

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-29574272959873796552010-11-23T15:13:00.002-06:002010-11-23T15:14:59.138-06:00

During our annual campaign, we are fortunate to have a number of Loaned Executives (LE’s) who act as account mangers by working with United Way staff for 14 weeks to plan and implement the campaign. Organizations support the LE program by either “loaning” an employee to work for United Way or by sponsoring an individual to represent their company. With the 2010 campaign two thirds of the way

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-58218018098214462532010-11-04T13:35:00.000-05:002010-11-04T13:35:03.560-05:00

On Wednesday, November 10, from 4:30-6pm, United Way of East Central Iowa’s Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) will host an Open House & Tour of the Community Health Free Clinic (CHFC). While the clinic has been in Cedar Rapids for nearly 20 years, many in our local community do not know the full impact this organization has on those most in need. The Free Clinic was established in 1992 to

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-73538022251479973482010-10-05T07:45:00.004-05:002010-10-05T07:54:43.306-05:00

To help reinforce the critical nature of programs which support early childhood learning, United Way of East Central Iowa has asked several of our area's education, business and civic leaders to join an education advisory team which will be led by United Way's new "education champion", Dr. Kate Mulholland, Superintendent of Linn-Mar Community Schools.The advisory team includes: Dr. Dave Benson,

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-4800665009902148882010-04-22T10:17:00.005-05:002010-04-22T10:34:18.516-05:00

Join with hundreds of your friends and neighbors who help young people achieve their full potential, who are promoting financial independence and stability for individuals and families, and who are helping people maintain their health.Did you know that 85+ volunteers lead our Community Impact process? Or that these volunteers put in over 1,300 volunteers hours to identify community needs, develop

Sue Driscollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062100933589607843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-25456487930707734332010-04-15T08:45:00.007-05:002010-04-15T09:10:57.881-05:00

She's 60 years old and spends several days a week reading to kids. He's the president of a local bank who donates his time on several nonprofit boards. They are a family of four that delivers meals on wheels every week. And he's a 20 year old from half way across the country that came here to help people recover from the 2008 flood. These are just some of the faces of volunteerism in our

Sue Driscollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062100933589607843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-4240933190495187082010-04-08T08:41:00.004-05:002010-04-08T09:02:10.861-05:00

Volunteers give of their time and talent with the intention of helping others, but did you know that as a volunteer you could receive greater benefits than those who receive support from volunteers?According to the Corporation for National and Community Service report, The Health Benefits of Volunteering, "Volunteers report greater life satisfaction and better physical health than do

Sue Driscollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062100933589607843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-57159429704784306072010-03-31T16:09:00.011-05:002010-11-04T09:35:11.569-05:00

Today, April 1, kicks off National Volunteer Month. National Volunteer Month is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to engage in the community It is about coming together to share your talents. National Volunteer Month is an opportunity to celebrate people who accomplish great things through service. Take a moment to look at the people around you and how they provide service.

Sue Driscollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062100933589607843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-26117032537192684752010-03-24T15:00:00.002-05:002010-03-24T15:11:05.055-05:00

United Way of East Central Iowa's Day of Caring is closely approaching! We bring volunteers from local companies and organizations together to complete services projects at non-profit agencies. This year's event has been set for Wednesday, May 12.Why participate in Day of Caring, you ask? There are a number of ways participating in Day of Caring makes a difference - The benefits of company

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-87419299944091572162010-03-02T11:15:00.003-06:002010-03-02T11:18:31.281-06:00

United Way of East Central Iowa’s Women’s Leadership Initiative will sponsor a spring Well Women Week, April 12-16, in partnership with Healthy Linn Care Network. Women ages 19-39 with no medical insurance qualify for a free pap test, and women ages 40-64 with no medical insurance qualify for a free pap and mammogram. Income guidelines apply. Appointments are required are available on a first

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-83872562342086846672010-02-10T15:19:00.000-06:002010-02-10T15:19:36.344-06:00

Who do you call when you need food for your family? Or when your electricity is shut off and you can’t pay the bills? What do you do now that you’re unemployed? Is there affordable housing available for your family? United Way 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects individuals and families to community resources and the services they need. When you dial 2-1-1, a trained

Terry Bergenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05110962463287708468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-89565814126719892032010-01-15T08:08:00.004-06:002010-02-02T13:33:05.779-06:00

United Way of East Central Iowa (UWECI) announced at their Community Celebration, Thursday, January 14, that its annual fundraising campaign has surpassed the $10 million mark for the third year in a row, despite challenges presented by difficult economic conditions. “Thanks to the continued generosity of local companies and donors United Way will continue to invest in community programs that

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-83360838052323491762010-01-13T07:44:00.001-06:002010-01-13T07:46:31.316-06:00

On Monday, January 18, 2010, United Way of East Central Iowa will be honoring 20 area students at the annual “Remembering Martin” Luncheon. The ceremony will be held in partnership with the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids, at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm.The 24th annual luncheon commemorates the life and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by recognizing student

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-45330511766915261582009-12-07T15:28:00.000-06:002009-12-07T15:31:02.713-06:00

United Way of East Central Iowa President & CEO, Lois Buntz, announced today that the organization, which provides funding support for 40 local nonprofit agencies and services like United Way 2-1-1, projects it may not reach this year’s campaign goal without some additional community support over the final weeks of December."We’ve had some great success stories in this year’s campaign, with a

Terry Bergenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05110962463287708468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-48858574846680594842009-11-25T08:24:00.000-06:002009-11-30T13:10:06.665-06:00

Corridor Volunteers, an online matching service for volunteer opportunities, will celebrate its three-year anniversary on November 30. Nonprofit agencies can register on the site and create a volunteer opportunity listing to recruit volunteers to match their needs. Volunteers can visit the site to find local, regional and statewide links to volunteer opportunities. In the Cedar Rapids area alone

Sue Driscollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062100933589607843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-982721526072637952009-11-03T13:52:00.000-06:002009-11-03T13:55:03.473-06:00

United Way of East Central Iowa is in its 95th year of supporting outstanding programs and services that continue to improve people’s lives right here in our communities. Over nearly a century of existence, the mission of our United Way has transformed into an even more focused effort to target and meet the critical needs of our communities. Our success over the years has been realized because of

Terry Bergenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05110962463287708468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-63953505143342372092009-09-21T13:34:00.000-05:002009-09-21T13:37:14.333-05:00

United Way of East Central Iowa will host a Community Leadership Summit focusing on the Importance of Early Childhood Education, on Thursday, October 1, 7:30-9:30 am at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, 350 1st Avenue NE in Cedar Rapids.Keynote speaker Rob Grunewald, Associate Economist with the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank will speak on Early Childhood Development: Economic Development

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-53744323238560453622009-09-18T08:35:00.000-05:002009-09-18T11:41:09.965-05:00

United Ways across the country have made investments in great programs for years. But in the last ten years it has become more and more clear that problems weren’t going away even though we kept giving millions of dollars every year. People, donors especially, began asking us for a different result. And so in Eastern Iowa we began asking ourselves how we could invest money for the benefit of the

Terry Bergenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05110962463287708468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-42995908724626064532009-09-03T10:06:00.000-05:002009-09-03T10:09:20.951-05:00

During United Way of East Central Iowa’s 2009 campaign, we are looking for people to share with us how they LIVE UNITED. Do you contribute financially to a local non-profit? Do you wear your LIVE UNITED t-shirt to show your support of United Way? Or do you volunteer your time at a local homeless shelter serving meals to those in need? Whatever it is, we want to know about it!Everyone has

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-82728539114289678032009-08-28T20:35:00.000-05:002009-08-28T20:39:37.205-05:00

United Way of East Central Iowa provides a free online volunteer matching service to help you find one-time or ongoing volunteer opportunities that match your interests and skills. The site is www.corridorvolunteers.org and is sponsored by Rockwell Collins.Corridor Volunteers connects you to hundreds of local volunteer opportunities with over 50 local nonprofits. Corridor Volunteers works on a

Sue Driscollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062100933589607843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-64889685780725141382009-08-13T16:22:00.000-05:002009-08-13T16:24:09.159-05:00

United Way of East Central Iowa held their annual CEO Breakfast on Tuesday, August 11, at the Cedar Rapids Country Club. Nearly 100 company executives attended the breakfast to learn more about what United Way has done over the past year and to get details about the upcoming campaign.Larry Helling, United Way Board of Directors Chair and Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust President welcomed the crowd.

Jenna Flugumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11440954716280923046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-73982976052377576812009-07-30T16:00:00.000-05:002009-07-30T16:00:01.399-05:00

Save-the-date for United Way of East Central Iowa's 2009 campaign kick-off on Thursday, August 27, at 11:30 am. The program, including the announcement of this year's campaign goal, will begin at Noon. The event will be held at the Rockwell Collins Sports Complex in Cedar Rapids.This year's campaign co-chairs are Dennis Jordan, Priority One, and Beth Malicki, KCRG-TV 9. Pacesetter Companies for

Terry Bergenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05110962463287708468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-24303104175560523282009-07-27T08:37:00.000-05:002009-07-27T08:45:51.811-05:00

On July 3, 2009 the East Central Iowa Volunteer Center celebrated its first year anniversary. The Volunteer Center is a partnership between United Way of East Central Iowa, Community Corrections Improvement Association and AmeriCorps VISTA. The focus of the Volunteer Center has been working with flood recovery. Since July 3 the Volunteer Center has fielded 32,400 calls, coordinated 263 volunteer

Sue Driscollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062100933589607843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-60092825867347964402009-07-21T15:18:00.000-05:002009-07-21T15:49:28.079-05:00

It really is more than a t-shirt.As the newest staff member at United Way of East Central Iowa, the blush is still on the rose. I'd always known the immense amount of work done by the staff at United Way in Cedar Rapids, but I had no idea what really went on behind the scenes.The Community Impact folks are like grad students forever embroiled in the dissertation of their lives, running focus

Libbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15282845203863936239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603933811821832503.post-60363907934835486682009-06-26T10:27:00.000-05:002009-06-26T10:28:07.884-05:00

Dear Friends:Just Over a year ago we collectively held our breath and hoped against hope that our homes, businesses and lives would somehow be spared from the looming disaster. Then we sat in silence and watched the flood ravage our communities and turn thousands of lives upside down.Much has been written about the events of June 2008 and the massive challenge left behind as we attempt to recover

Terry Bergenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05110962463287708468noreply@blogger.com0