United News April 2019

April Edition

Introducing Salesforce Philanthropy Cloud

Today’s employees and customers are socially conscious, and more engaged with their local communities than ever before. That’s why Salesforce.org and United Way have partnered to create Salesforce Philanthropy Cloud, the next-generation philanthropy platform.

Salesforce Philanthropy Cloud combines the expertise of United Way in community building, fundraising and impact with the state-of-the-art technology of Salesforce. The platform gives every employee access to a global network of opportunities to donate, volunteer and advocate for any cause. It also powers all of your company’s social impact initiatives: employee giving, volunteerism, matching gifts and grants management.

Salesforce Philanthropy Cloud connects workplaces and employees to causes they care about. The technology offers exciting features and benefits that make it easier than ever before to make a difference:

• Align your personal and professional values
• Empower your employees to make donations of their choice
• Discover the most personally meaningful ways to volunteer
• Optimize your corporate social responsibility programs
• Measure your personal and corporate impact

To learn more about Salesforce Philanthropy Cloud and how it will benefit your employees and your company, set up a demo today.

Contact Maura Cook, Director of Community Engagement and Marketing at 860.493.1131 or mcook@unitedwayinc.org for more information.

ALICE Challenge Launches in Wethersfield

In an effort to support ALICE individuals and families in Wethersfield, residents and community leaders have partnered with United Way for the ALICE Challenge. The goal of the ALICE Challenge is to implement a long-term solution that will have a positive and lasting impact on the community.

ALICE is a United Way-coined acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

Despite working hard, ALICE families struggle to cover basic necessities and often have to make tough choices among housing, child care, transportation, food and health care.

ALICE lives in every town and every city in Connecticut. In Wethersfield, 34 percent of households are struggling to make ends meet, according to the 2018 Connecticut United Ways ALICE Report. This is an eight percent increase in ALICE households since the release of the first ALICE Report in 2014.

Residents and community stakeholders see this as an opportunity to continue their partnership with United Way and identify ways to help local families achieve financial security.

The community’s third and final Challenge session with United Way staff and volunteers is May 8. Residents are focused on making existing community resources, such as child care and food, available to everyone. United Way has committed $20,000 to a solution put forth by residents and community stakeholders upon completion of the Challenge.

United Way continues to invest in programs, services and initiatives that have a direct impact on ALICE households, including quality early childhood education, economic mobility and access to nutritious food and health care.

Stick with United News for more on the community’s progress.

Boogie for Books Raises Nearly $22,000

United Way’s Emerging Leaders Society hosted its 4th Annual Boogie for Books April 27. The group’s signature fundraiser brought in nearly $22,000 and counting (you can still donate HERE) to support Summer Smarts, a United Way initiative that provides summer learning and nutrition programs to nearly 3,400 local children.

Learn More

Thank You: United Way Readers

Mobilizing volunteers is a crucial part of our work. As the academic year winds down, we’d like to thank all of you who volunteered an hour of your time each week to read to a child.

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Support Youth Success

Hartford and New Britain are two local communities participating in a national effort to increase the number of children reading at grade level by the end of the third grade. Research shows that children who achieve this milestone are less likely to drop out of high school. Our United Way is leading Hartford’s Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, a partnership with the City, school district, Achieve Hartford!, CREC, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Hartford Partnership for Student Success, Hartford Public Library, Lincoln Financial, Mega Education and The Fund for Greater Hartford. To learn more about the Hartford Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, sign up below for a monthly newsletter.

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ALICE® Saves

At least 46 percent of Connecticut residents don’t have money set aside to cover expenses for three months in case of an emergency such as illness or the loss of a job, according to the 2018 Connecticut United Ways ALICE Report. Connecticut United Ways have joined together to promote financial stability for working families statewide by launching ALICE® Saves – a new program that rewards individuals for saving money. People can earn $60 just by saving $20 a month for six months and gain access to free online financial counseling.

Learn More

United Way Women United 8th Annual Power of the Purse Luncheon and Silent Auction – June 13, 2019

11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Connecticut Convention Center | Hartford, CT

Presented by TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, event proceeds support programs and collaborations that help families get on the pathway to a financially secure future. Since 2011, our Women United has raised more than $1 million to provide financial services for women and families in Greater Hartford.

BUY TICKETS

United Way Day of Action – June 21, 2019

3:00-7:00 p.m. | Rawson Elementary School | Hartford, CT

On June 21st, United Way Day of Action, in partnership with End Hunger Connecticut!, Hartford Public Library, Hartford Public Schools and the City of Hartford will focus on helping families in Hartford access nutritious summer meals and engaging children in summer learning.

REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER

United Way Employee Engagement Summit

8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Hartford Yard Goats’ Dunkin’ Donuts Park | Hartford, CT

Save the Date! United Way is hosting our inaugural Employee Engagement Summit!

Are you responsible for employee engagement at your workplace? Are philanthropy and corporate citizenship a focus of your organization? If you answered “yes” to any of these, or you are looking to start, this summit is for you! The Employee Engagement Summit will be free to attend. In addition to the keynote featuring Stan Phelps, there will also be a panel discussion and breakout sessions. Light refreshments will be provided.