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| Save The Date |
May 5, 2009
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
2009 Annual
Awards at Four Season's Biltmore
September 19, 2009
18th Annual Day of Caring
Page Youth Center - "PYC, the place to be!"
October 10, 2009
Red Feather Ball at Fess Parker's DoubleTree Resort
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United Way Announces Opening of New Office in Santa Ynez!
United Way is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Solvang. The office will be opened in partnership with United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County, Court Appointed Special Advocates, and Community Action Commission.
The new location will allow us to extend existing partnerships with organizations including People Helping People, Valley Haven Senior Services, County of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County Education Office and others.
In addition, having a physical presence in the area will enable us to reach out to new community partners. We hope to work with community members and organizations to assess community needs, offer long-term solutions, and use community resources more effectively. This will have a tremendous impact on the disadvantaged population in the area.
United Way would like to thank Enterprise Rent-A-Car for generously donating desks, chairs, and cubicles to furnish the building for us and our partners. Enterprise is a major supporter of the annual workplace campaign and various volunteer events throughout the year.
Judy Stoltz and Mike Edwards from Enterprise Rent-a-Car and Eve Liebman of United Way of Ventura stand with Joel Dinan and Paul Didier of United Way of Santa Barbara County
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Young Leaders Society Volunteers With Diabetes Resource Center to Implement Gardening Program at Franklin School
Casey Kilgore, Principal of Franklin School, with YLS volunteers Yesenia Placencia with her daughters, Genevieve Lund, and Eric Bravo with Priscilla Hernandez, Director of DRC Childhood Obesity Program
On Saturday, March 21, 2009, volunteers from Young Leaders Society of Santa Barbara County combined forces with the staff of Diabetes Resource Center to build vegetable beds and flower beds in an effort to implement the organic gardening program at Franklin Elementary School.
"Franklin School has the highest obesity rate of any school in the Santa Barbara Public School District," states Priscilla Hernandez of the Diabetes Resource Center, "more than 55% of the school's children are obese and many are morbidly obese. Our organic gardening program exposes kids to fruits and vegetables they'd normally not eat, and they have a tendency to eat the produce because they have grown it themselves."
Diabetes Resource Center staff posted the volunteer opportunity and Young Leaders Society sprung into action to fulfill one of their goals which is giving back to their community. They saw this as a great volunteer opportunity to introduce their unique group to Santa Barbara County before their official launch and networking event on April 6, 2009 at Arnoldi's Café.
Young Leaders Society is a new group formed by United Way of Santa Barbara County and local business volunteers. The Society is geared towards young motivated professionals who want to get involved in their community and gain professional development through a variety of volunteer opportunities, networking events, and leadership training.
For more information on Young Leaders Society, join us at our launch event on Monday, April 6, generously sponsored by Arnoldi's Café!
Young Leaders Society Kick-Off Event!
April 6, 2009
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Generously Sponsored by
Arnoldi's Cafe
600 Olive Street (corner of Cota)
Featuring Guest Speaker:
Randy Weiss
Vice President of Corporate & Community Relations
Santa Barbara Bank & Trust
Please consider YLS for volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.
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United Way of Santa Barbara County Presents
86th Annual Awards Celebration!
Tuesday May 5, 2009
6:00 pm Cocktail Hour
7:00 pm Dinner, Awards & Dancing
Partially Sponsored by
Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore
$75 per person
$700 per table of 10
R.S.V.P by clicking here by or call
Juli Askew at 805-965-8594
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United Way of Santa Barbara County Announces First Disbursement of Tea Fire Response Fund Checks
The Santa Barbara Tea Fire Response Fund (SBTFRF), a collaborative community partnership formed in the days following the devastating Tea Fire of November 2008, disbursed the first installment of the funds on February 23, 2009. The SBTFRF was established to address the longer-term recovery of the community and help residents rebuild their lives.
Twenty-one applicants received a combined total of $77,203.87. The average award was $3,500. 91% of funds for this disbursement went towards self-sufficiency and 99% of the applicants were renters.
In order to respond to the immediate and longer-term needs, disbursement of funds will continue to be made on a periodic timetable, with all funds being disbursed no later than December 1, 2009.
Individuals and families affected by the fire who desire assistance must apply at The American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County Chapter at 2707 State St. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Fund to date has raised over $434,000! However, in every disaster the need outstrips the money available. You can still help those affected by the fire by donating now to The Santa Barbara Tea Fire Response Fund. Donate online Today!
To make a gift by mail, send your gift to:
United Way of Santa Barbara County
320 E. Gutierrez Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
To make a gift by phone, please contact Jerry Newton: 805-965-8591
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Power of Partnership Initiative and Santa Barbara City College Adult Education Conduct Community Listening Sessions
Last month, the Power of Partnership Initiative's Vision Council reviewed the results of dozens of community listening sessions and engagements with more than 100 local organizations as well as the results from more than 5,200 completed community surveys. The results of this community engagement combined with the input from the Power of Partnership Initiative's Steering Committees and Expert Forums, enabled the Vision Council to reach agreement on the desired Outcomes for Children, Seniors, and their Families that our community will come together to pursue over the next ten years.
This decision represents the first time in the history of Santa Barbara County that the community has come together in favor of a single Outcome for any of these populations.
Summary of the community's top choices for Children, Seniors, & their Families:
Children & Families Top Choice Outcome:
Children enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed.
Seniors & Families Top Choice Outcome:
All seniors will stay independent and live safely in their homes as long as possible.
The next steps in the Initiative will involve asking "how" we as a community can best achieve these top selected Outcomes. In this important round of engaging the community for their feedback, there are still many ways to get involved:
1. Attend one or more of the community listening sessions this Spring, offered through Santa Barbara City College Adult Education at the Schott Center, free and open to the public. Next meeting dates:
- Come and discuss "Strategies for Success" for Seniors & Families on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
- Come and discuss "Strategies for Success" for Children & Families on Tuesday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
2. Get your group involved by scheduling a "Strategies for Success" listening session. Call Jerry Bellamy at (805) 882-0503. We want to hear from you!
Thank you to the thousands of participants who have participated in community listening sessions and responded to the community survey.
Thank you again for your support and involvement!
For more information, please contact the Power of Partnership Initiative staff at popi@unitedwaysb.org or Jerry Bellamy, Initiative Project Leader at (805) 882-0503.
Connect - Create - Change
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"My Healthy Child" Strategy Launched!
Dr. Neil Sullivan of Eastside Neighborhood Clinic
The Campaign Kicked-Off at Eastside Neighborhood Clinic and Health Program with an introduction from staff pediatricians, program partners, and an unveiling of the new materials and resources now available for families.
Parents view their child's doctor as their most trusted source of information for their child's development. With this in mind, First 5 Santa Barbara County, United Way of Santa Barbara County and local pediatricians have teamed up to launch My Healthy Child, a new initiative designed to give Santa Barbara County parents vital information about their child's development and to connect them with resources for health, education and special needs for their youngest children, ages birth through 5.
My Healthy Child materials will be available in English and Spanish through doctors at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, Sansum Medical Clinic, Franklin Clinic, and the Children's Medical Clinic.
For more information visit myhealthychildsb.org, or www.unitedwaysb.org, or contact Jeanette Delgado at jdelgado@unitedwaysb.org or call 965-8591 x 107.
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United Way of Santa Barbara County Provides Affordable Prescription Drug Discount Cards
United Way's FamilyWize Prescription Drug Discount Card enables clients to receive discounted pricing on prescription drugs. The cards can be used for any prescription not covered by insurance. There is no fee for the card and no age or other eligibility requirements, waiting periods, enrollment or paperwork.
Clients simply present their card with each prescription from their doctor to the participating pharmacy at the time of purchase to receive the discount. 95% of all U.S. pharmacies accept the card and it can be used as often as needed. The card is not an insurance card, therefore, no personal information will be collected or shared.
"We are pleased to be partnering with FamilyWize and local pharmacies in bringing this important benefit to the Santa Barbara area. The prescription drug discount cards will help individuals and families who otherwise could not afford to buy the medicine they need," said Paul Didier, President and CEO of United Way of Santa Barbara County.
To print out your own free Prescription Drug Discount Card go to Familywize.com or pick one up at United Way offices at 320 E. Gutierrez St., Santa Barbara, CA, 93101.
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Fun in the Sun 2009 Planning Underway!
Serving even more kids this year at Fun in the Sun becomes a greater reality each day! United Way is still securing funding and will have an update for numbers of children able to participate in the coming weeks.
The program will take place at four sites in 2009: Canalino Elementary in Carpinteria, Franklin Elementary and La Cumbre Jr. High in Santa Barbara, and Ellwood School in Goleta.
Potential program partners have submitted budget proposals and contracts and are up for review in the coming weeks. We look forward to implementing as many enrichment activities as possible!
The building of a brand new Fun in the Sun website is currently in progress and will soon be ready to officially launch. The website is an exciting new tool for FITS Lead Agencies, staff, program partners, volunteers, and others involved with this expanding program.
Speaking of volunteers, Lunch Bunch recruitment is just around the corner! New and former Lunch Bunch volunteers can expect their sign-up information in the mail by the end of March. Simply post a sign-up sheet and poster in a common area in your workplace, get co-workers to sign-up and fill out Volunteer Waivers, and send them back to United Way. Or sign up online at www.volunteersbc.org. Easy!
For more information on Fun in the Sun, please contact Jenny Lewallen at 965-8581 x138 or jlewallen@unitedwaysb.org.
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Do You Have A Volunteer Opportunity?
Are You Looking For One?
VolunteerSBC.org currently has almost 450 volunteer opportunities available in the Santa Barbara area!!! Go to www.volunteersbc.org to see if any opportunities are right for you!
VolunteerSBC.org is the best way to find volunteer opportunities - and to post them! Non-profits, churches, schools, etc - this is for you! Make a difference in your community!
Look for our weekly ad in Santa Barbara News-Press!
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