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• Upcoming Events
• Recent Events
• Volunteer Opportunities

Upcoming Events

9 Ways to Live United in 2009
Every few weeks, we'll introduce a new promotion that highlights the greatest needs in our community, and offers you the opportunity to give, advocate and volunteer. Each promotion will focus on one of our ten Agenda for Lasting Change goals.

Make an impact on homelessness in our community this month. On June 26, in just 9 hours, 9 people will be charged to raise $9,000—the cost to move two families from a shelter to stable housing. Find out about the other ways to get involved!

Leadership Speaker Series—September, November
Graves 601 Hotel
6-7:30 p.m.
Learn from top Twin Cities’ business and community leaders as they share their leadership stories and advice to connect the dots between our economy, our community and you.  Each event integrates themes of leadership and community engagement into unique learning opportunities. Expand your leadership abilities by developing ways to directly impact community issues of the Greater Twin Cities region.

• Thursday, September 17
  Dave St. Peter, president, Minnesota Twins
• November TBD

Series events are free for members of United Way Community Builders and United Way Emerging Leaders (who give $500 or above) and $20 per event for non-members.  Click here for more details and to RSVP.

Sponsored by :

Official Print Media Sponsor

Networking with United Way
Social networks are the hottest new thing—so what better way to for United Way to get involved than by having our own pages!  Now you can learn about United Way in a new and exciting way, get involved in our events, talk to us on "the wall" or simply become a "fan/friend" to show your support.  With exciting events on the horizon and volunteer opportunities, you're sure to find something that interests you.  If you're a Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter member log on today to see how you can make a difference.

Recent Events

United Way at the Saints—May 22
Peanuts, Cracker Jacks, and over 600 guests of United Way’s R.B.I.- Readers Batted In program filled the stands at Midway Stadium to watch the St. Paul Saints on Friday, May 22. United Way partnered with the Saints for a fun filled night to reward kids in grades K-3 around the importance of reading proficiency which is a pivotal benchmark for success in school and beyond among the 10 goals in our Agenda for Lasting Change. Six local United Way agencies took part in the event where each attendee received a t-shirt and wore it proudly. The game kicked off with our special guest, Senator Moua, throwing the honorary opening pitch. United Way also launched its mobile giving campaign where guests could donate $5 to Greater Twin Cities United Way by simply texting the word “TCUNITE” to 864833.  The night capped off with a Saints win and many smiling faces as the children exited the ball park.   Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped and to everyone for coming out to enjoy a great game!

                                              
                                       Friends and family gather in                                     Mudonna greets children and fans
                                 celebration of their reading efforts.                                      of all ages during the game.

View a slideshow of all of the pictures

Women's Leadership Council 2009 Grants Reception—May 14
The second-annual Women’s Leadership Council Grants Reception was a great success!  Our 2009 grant recipients were announced and attendees heard about how their gifts are improving the lives of families in our community. Representatives from each funded program were there to connect with Council members.  Congratulations to this year's funded programs:

• Community Initiatives for Children (CIC) Literacy Initiatives for Family Education (LIFE)
• Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners Caring for Kids Initiative  
• Jabbok Family Services Innovative Supports to Empower Parents  
• Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Minneapolis Parent Child Home Program
• Lifetrack Resources Home Visiting Demonstration Project  
• Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center Cherish the Children Learning Center
• Southside Family Nurturing Center Center-Based Early  Childhood Education Services
• St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development Early Childhood Outreach and Consultation Program
• Washburn Center for Children Family Focused  

Click here for more information about the Council and how to become a member.
Check out a slideshow of event photos.

                             
       The 2009 Women's Leadership Council grant recipients.          The Steering Committee was all smiles at the reception!

Thank you to our sponsor:

Lend a Hand Hear the Band—April 16
Northrup Auditorium
"Sweet and Low" was certainly a hit with the crowd at the third Lend a Hand Hear the Band concert at the University of Minnesota.  In partnership with the Minnesota Student Association, students are encouraged to volunteer at least ten hours throughout the school year in order to receive a free ticket to a concert in the spring.  This year the headlining act for the concert, Augustana, performed for more than 700 students with more than 41,000 volunteer hours having been logged by those and other U of M students.  It's true, the philanthropic spirit is live and well within our next generation of leaders!  View a slideshow of photos from the event.  Photography provided by Scott Theisen.

• Learn more about the Lend a Hand Hear the Band program.
• Find volunteer opportunities in your area.
• Contact us for information about how to bring the program to your high school or college campus.  

                  
           Augustana captures the attention of                       United Way interns, Alissa Maier, Christa Buhl and
           more than 700 U of M students.                             Casey Mikolayek invite students to volunteer
                                                                                             and join us on Facebook and Twitter.

United Way Best Of Awards—March 19
Orpheum Theatre
Once a year, United Way brings our corporate and agency partners together to celebrate all of the time and talent they put in to help make the 2008 United Way campaign a success. Over 450 people gathered at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on March 19 to celebrate and honor the best of the best.  Additionally, the event was the perfect place to announce our 2008 campaign results—$94.9 million, of which $88.9 million was generated by the annual campaign—a record year!  The evening included special guest presenters from the Minnesota Lynx and Vikings, anchors from WCCO TV and KARE 11,  Mayor Chris Coleman, The Steeles, Tim Mahoney, and previous Best In Show winners among others.  After the show, guests were invited onto the historic stage to enjoy live music from The Steeles.  We look forward to seeing the different and unique campaigns that 2009 will bring. 

                                          
          The Orpheum Theatre marquee               YWCA of Minneapolis was all smiles                 Fred and JD Steele put on
                 lit up United Way style.                         after winning Best Agency Partner.                a great show at the after party.

                             
     Comcast accepting their award for Best Year-Round                Capella Education Company gathers for a group shot     Partnership  from Frank Vascellaro and Amelia Santinello.                    during the reception before the ceremony.

Click here for more details about the event, pictures and the winners.  Watch for our ad featuring all of the winners in the May issues of Twin Cities Business Magazine and Mpls St. Paul Magazine.

Thank you to our sponsors:

United Front: Engaging Nonprofit Board and Executive Leadership Facing Unprecedented Challenges—March 13
Hilton Minneapolis
The economic downturn and its effects on human services organizations lay on the minds of the 650 people in attendance at the event on Friday, March 13.  Folks gathered to hear about the current economic status, state and federal budget updates and to converse with other leaders about how we can work together to create solutions.  From the line-up of speakers including Mike Opat, Hennepin County Commissioner; Mayor Chris Coleman; Tom Stinson, Minnesota State Economist: Ellen Luger, Executive Director, General Mills Foundation; and Jon Campbell, CEO, Wells Fargo, Minnesota Region, to the electronic keypad response system the event was a success.  Information on resources were provided in addition to the open forum for related services to come together and discuss ideas for working together to better serve communities.  Check out the full details and download materials from the event. 

                       
                        Nearly 650 attendees listen intently                                               The organizational cohorts provided
                               during the general session.                                                 a venue for discussion across ten topics.

Thank you to our partners

Check out the additional capabilities of the keypads provided by iml Worldwide

Volunteer Opportunities

Event Volunteers
Our event volunteers help to promote and create awareness for United Way at community events around the metro area. Opportunities are e-mailed approximately two weeks prior to each event and include an event overview and specific job duties. For complete volunteer descriptions and ways to get involved, please see our Internal Volunteer section.

Internships
Greater Twin Cities United Way offers semester, summer, j-term and year-round internship opportunities in our marketing department.  Visit our Human Resources page for more information and position descriptions.

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For more information about any of these events, please contact:
Ami Cervin at cervina@unitedwaytwincities.org