Day of Action – June 21, 2014

Each year on June 21, communities around the world come together to harness the volunteer spirit and improve the conditions in which they live.

Now in its sixth year, United Way Day of Action is an invitation for people and organizations around the world to LIVE UNITED and take action to address a variety of challenges. It is a day that we ask you to help us put our mission into action by improving the building blocks for a good quality of life –education, income, and health.

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United Way to Distribute $1.84 Million to Community Services and Programs

The United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties’ Board of Directors voted on May 19, 2014 to approve $1,842,300 in distributions to local community programs and services for the upcoming fiscal year (starting 7/1/14).   This is a flat level of funding from the previous year.

Partner Agency Allocations:
The bulk of the funding ($1,385,340) will go to United Way’s 32 Partner Agencies to fund 51 programs.  Funded programs will essentially receive the same funding level as last year. An additional $70,870 will be distributed to local agencies based per donor designations. This means a total of $1,456,210 will be distributed to nonprofit agencies.

Funding recommendations and decisions were made by volunteers and based on the type of program, the quality of the services provided, the impact that the program has on its target population, and the long-term goals of the United Way to advance the common good in Volusia and Flagler Counties.  Ten review panels utilizing nearly 70 volunteers performed site visits, reviewed financials and scored programs based on pre-defined evaluation criteria.  Eighty-nine percent (89%) of all programs reviewed had quality scores of Excellent (90% or higher) or Good (80%-89%).

“United Way, like many other nonprofits, continue to struggle to raise the funds necessary to create lasting change in our community. We are very proud and thankful to each and every person and company that invested in this year’s campaign,” said Ray Salazar, President of United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties.  “The good news, is that we are seeing areas of improvement and new investments in our community that we hope to increase in the upcoming years.”

The funds distributed will go to help improve lives and create lasting change in Volusia and Flagler Counties. More than 188,000 individuals will utilize services funded by United Way. Programs represent a wide range of human services that help everyone from infants to the elderly; that provide food and shelter to those that need it most; that effect the root causes of problems and that advance the common good in Volusia and Flagler Counties.

“Participating in the Citizen’s Review Process is one of the most awarding experiences a volunteer can have” said United Way Fund Distributions Chair Joyce Shannahan. “Volunteers get to really see the work that our Partner Agencies are doing right here in our community and see that the United Way is such a great steward of the funds that donors invest.”

Funded Partner Agency Programs:
(excludes $70,870 in donor designations to nonprofits, including Partner Agencies)

• Essential Services– These programs provide for basic needs, which include food, clothing, and emergency shelter. $528,249 or 38%
• Critical Services– These programs provide services for crisis support such as: maintaining or obtaining employment (including child care support), crisis medical care, and crisis mental health services. $401,038 or 29%
• Treatment and Residential Services– These programs provide ongoing services for substance abuse, health, mental health, disabilities, and support. $217,855 or 16%
• Prevention, Education and Recreational Services– These programs provide services with long-term outcomes relating to prevention, education, recreation, and outreach. $238,198 or 17%

Additional Community Distributions:

An additional $386,090 will be distributed to other community programs including:

• 2-1-1/First Call for Help (an information and referral line that anyone can call to get connected to local area services);
• The Volunteer Center (which supports more than 100 local nonprofits in the recruitment, placement, training and recognition of volunteers);
• ReadingPals (an early reading initiative that focuses on other community programs, grants or initiatives;
• United Way Women’s Initiative Grants in both Volusia and Flagler Counties that go to help homeless women and children;
• Campaign for Working Families (United Way’s prosperity campaign to help ensure financially stable communities);
• and other United Way programs and initiatives.

United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties is this region’s most comprehensive health and human service umbrella organization.  United Way donations are one of the largest single sources of funding for local non-profit agencies, with the exception of local, state, and federal governments.

The United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties improves lives and builds a stronger community by bringing together hearts, minds and resources from across the region and by developing effective partnerships with businesses, government and nonprofit organizations. For more information, please visit the web-site http://www.LiveUnitedInVolusiaFlagler.org or call 2-1-1 (386-253-0564) if you or someone you know needs help or wants to learn how to Give, Advocate, or Volunteer.

 

 

United Way Funded Partner Agency	Programs Funded for 2013-2014 Fiscal Year
American Red Cross	Disaster Services: Home Fires Services to the Armed Forces (SAF)
Arc of Volusia	Life Skills Development Level 1 Life Skills Development Level 1
Boy Scouts – Central Florida Division	Multi-Cultural Emphasis Scouting in Volusia and Flagler Counties
Boys and Girls Club of Volusia	Youth Development Program
Catholic Charities	Family Emergency Assistance/Food Pantry
Center for the Visually Impaired	Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
Children’s Advocacy Center	Child Protection Team Rape Crisis Services
Children’s Home Society	Residential Services Clinical Services Visitation Center-Family Violence
Community Legal Services of Mid-FL	Volusia and Flagler Counties Foreclosure Defense Project
ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions	Comprehensive Housing Counseling
Council on Aging of Volusia	Senior Services
Domestic Abuse Council	Emergency Shelter – Victim Services
Early Learning Coalition	School Readiness
Easter Seals	Community Equipment Loan Program Pediatric Audiology (Infant Hearing Screening) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Child Development Center
Family Life Center	Outreach Program Emergency Shelter
Family Renew Community	Transitional Housing for Homeless Families with Children
Flagler County Schools Adult and Community Education Summer Camp	Summer Camp
Flagler Volunteer Services	Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
Girl Scouts of Citrus Council	Girl Scout Leadership Experience: ‘Girlz Go Fit’
Halifax Urban Ministries	STAR Shelter Emergency Assistance – Homeless Prevention Traveler’s Aid – Emergency Assistance
Haven Recovery	Residential Treatment
The House Next Door	Family Therapy Services Homework Club
The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia	Emergency Shelter/Homeless Prevention Food Assistance
PACE Center for Girls	Leadership and Life Skills Development
Salvation Army	Emergency/Transitional Shelter and Meals Family Social Services
Second Harvest Food Bank	Food Distribution to Volusia and Flagler Counties
St. Gerard Campus	Maternity Home Residential Program
Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare	Project WARM (Women Assisting Recovering Mothers)
WORC	Developmental Training
Volusia-Flagler Family YMCA	After School Enrichment/Childcare Aquatics – Learn to Swim Membership, Health and Wellness Summer Day Camp Summer Resident Camp Youth Sports
Volusia Literacy Council	Adult Literacy Training
West Volusia Police Athletic League	PAL Recreational and Educational Activities for Youth

 

 

 

United Way Honors Intracoastal Bank

“United Way Honors Intracoastal Bank”

Palm Coast, FLA: The United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties recognized Intracoastal Bank as the Live United Community Award winner for the first quarter of 2014 on May 7, 2014 at Intracoastal Bank off Palm Coast Parkway. Employees of Intracoastal Bank, located in Flagler County, mobilize to support the community from January 2014 to March 2014 by sponsoring a number of events to benefit local charities such as the Eagle Boy Scout Dinner, Flagler Education Mardi Gras and a Fearless & Focused Luncheon to benefit the United Way’s Women’s Initiative Flagler Chapter.

Engagement in the community is nothing new for Intracoastal Bank. Intracoastal’s company culture promotes employee involvement and leadership within the community. “What makes this bank unique in our community is that leadership understands the concept of ‘grow our community and our bank will grow.’ The entire leadership team is committed to community service, volunteering their time and talent to numerous not for profit organizations. We are proud that Bruce Page sits as a member of United Way’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee and sets the standard of service for his management team to follow.” said United Way President, Ray Salazar.

Intracoastal Bank continues to support community initiatives through their participation with United Way. Intracoastal Bank employees serve on the United Way Board and both Women’s Initiative Chapter’s; Flagler and Volusia.

Employees of Intracoastal Bank illustrate the company culture of social responsibility by being involved with other community organizations such as the Flagler Education Foundation, Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Health, Flagler Chamber of Commerce and Florida Hospital, just to name a few.
The Live United Community Award started in 2010, and is given each quarter as recognition to one organization which has made outstanding contributions to our local community by giving, advocating, and volunteering. Intracoastal Bank has shown that they Live United and because of that, United Way is proud to honor this outstanding member of our community.

Give Local on May 6th!

United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties is proud to be participating in Give Local Flagler, Putnam, and Volusia on May 6, 2014.

A 24-hour online giving challenge designed to encourage EVERYONE to support their favorite causes and organizations right here in our local communities.

Give Local Flagler, Putnam & Volusia – is One Day of Online Giving on May 6, 2014, from midnight to midnight (Eastern Time). On that day, anyone can go to the event website, www.givelocalecfl.org  hosted by the community foundation and donate to as many participating nonprofits as they want as many times as they want.   All donations made during the Day of Giving are 100% tax deductible and will have the opportunity to be matched or multiplied by our match/prize rewards each hour.

Donate directly to United Way VFC on May 6th by going to http://bit.ly/givelocaluw

During the Give Local Day, in order to make the event fun and encourage donations, real-time donation totals will be shown on the event website for each nonprofit and “prizes” will be awarded throughout the day.

 

Allocations Volunteers Needed!

United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties, Inc. is actively recruiting volunteers for one our most important core functions: Allocation Review Panels.

 

Each year residents of Volusia and Flagler Counties provide an invaluable service to our community by serving as allocations’ volunteers, determining how donors’ dollars will be spent. These volunteers review our agencies’ programs and make the often difficult decisions regarding the amount of funding those programs receive. Last year we were able to distribute nearly $1.4 million to local programs through this process.  

 

The schedule for this year’s allocations process will include a volunteer training/orientation session on March 12 from 5:30-7:30pm.  At this session, you will learn about the application that our funded agencies submit, the process we use to “score” the applications, and what the expectation is for you as a panel volunteer.  You will be given a handbook that walks you through the process and will also receive copies of the agency applications that you will be reviewing based on the panel of your choice.  Generally a panel has 6 or 7 volunteers who review 3-5 agency applications.  Panels will take tours of specific agency to see where the programs occur and will reconvene in a conference format to review the application and to meet with the agencies to ask questions about the application.  That is the extent of the commitment.  Each panel has a chair, and the chairs will meet again after the process to make the final recommendations for funding. 

 

This year the panel reviews and conferences will occur sometime between March 17^th and April 25^th.  Your commitment to a panel (there are ten panels to choose from) will include the training orientation mentioned above and the tours and panel conference.

 

If you are interested in volunteering please

 

1)  Click on the following link to review the panel schedules.  https://skydrive.live.com/view.aspx?cid=25DC7D58F433FF60&resid=25DC7D58F433FF60%21197&app=WordPdf&wdo=1

2)  Email lwilary@unitedwayvfc.org with your Panel Number choice(s). There are seven openings per panel.

3)  Watch for an email confirmation from VolunteerSpot. We’re using VolunteerSpot, the leading time-saving online coordination tool, to help us organize the panels.

4)  Contact Loretta at 386.366.9070 or email at lwilary@unitedwayvfc.org if you have any questions or need assistance.

United Way Impact Week!

Florida’s 32 United Ways have joined forces to address two key issues during the 2014 Florida Legislative Session: access to quality early education for all children and access to affordable healthcare for all Floridians.

To raise awareness in Tallahassee, and around the state and nation, we need your help!

On Monday, February 3, 2014, at 2 pm, Florida’s United Ways will host an hour-long TweetChat, using #LiveUnitedFL.  United Ways will discuss the importance of working together, engaging partners and taking part in social media to move the needle on pertinent issues.

We have secured two expert panelists to help us answer questions and offer guidance: early education expert Phyllis Kalifeh Ed.D., president and CEO, Children’s Forum; and former U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire, SVP, Public Policy and Community Engagement, Florida Blue.

Here’s how you can help:

1)    Promote the #LiveUnitedFL TweetChat to your networks via emails, Facebook and Twitter, inviting them to raise their voices on Feb. 3 at 2 pm.

2)    Tweet messages before and during the TweetChat, remembering to tag your Florida legislators, early learning and healthcare advocates and media; always using hashtag #LiveUnitedFL.

For example:
Twitter:

• Join #LiveUnitedFL for a TweetChat, Feb 3, 2pm: take action for early education & affordable healthcare during the FL Legislative Session
• Learn what #UnitedWay is doing to improve our lives in #Florida. On Feb. 3 at 2pm join our TweetChat #LiveUnitedFL
• Want to learn more about #earlyed & healthcare legislation in FL? Join [your united way twitter handle] & all FL United Ways, Mon, 2pm on #LiveUnitedFL

Facebook:

• Join all 32 Florida United Ways for a TweetChat on Feb. 3 at 2 pm, to learn how you can take action and push for early education and affordable healthcare during the Florida Legislative Session.  Search for #LiveUnitedFL on Twitter for more information.
• Help make quality early education and access to affordable healthcare in Florida a priority during the 2014 Florida Legislative Session.  Join us Feb. 3, at 2 pm, on Twitter by searching #LiveUnitedFL to learn more.

3)    Join us on Twitter on Feb. 3, at 2pm, search for #LiveUnitedFL and take part in the conversation.

But the action doesn’t stop on Monday!  The whole week, we will be focusing on ways that United Ways are advancing the common good in the areas of Education, Financial Stability and Health.

• Monday – Launch the 2014 United Way Impact Week with a TweetChat using #LiveUnitedFL to explain the Florida United Way Consensus Legislative Agenda
• Tuesday – Quality Early Learning
• Wednesday – Access to Healthcare
• Thursday – Financial Stability for Florida’s Future
• Friday – Call to Action – how can Floridians, corporations and organizations make a difference

Thank you for everything you do to make Florida a better place for all!

Flagler Charities Friend-raiser Event

United Way Staff at Event

Thanks to the generosity of one very special donor, United Way helped to organize a very unique Friend-raiser event at Hammock Dunes on November 20, 2013.

The event featured 15 charities that serve Flagler County residents along with entertainment and gourmet delights.  Guests were Hammock Dunes residents and club members that got the opportunity to learn about the various organizations and learn about volunteer, investment and advocacy opportunities

“We wanted to expand knowledge,” said Ray Salazar, president of the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties. “Let residents know they can volunteer, write a check or do advocacy.”

Special thanks to the media for coverage of the event.  Flagler Charities Article from the News-Journal.