Service Committee Social/Meeting

Meet up with the Service Committee this Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. at Sumo (151 Main Street, across from the Galleria).

Please email ljones1@onealsteel.com to RSVP by Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Happy Holidays!

Join us Nov. 17!

Join us at Rojo for the United Way Young Leaders Society's End of the Year Bash! Come enjoy appetizers and drinks from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 17, to network, learn more about UWYLS Committees and the United Way Campaign, and socialize with other Young Leaders. New members are welcome, so bring a friend!

Please spread the word! See you on the 17th!

Email youngleaders@uwca.org if you have any questions.

Send Us Your Recipes by 10/31

We will still collect recipes for our finger-foods, party-themed cookbook through Oct. 31.

Submit your recipes to Arlene at: arlene.brown09@yahoo.com.

Thanks for your contributions!

A Look Back: 2011 UWYLS Kickoff Luncheon

The United Way Young Leaders Campaign Kickoff Luncheon was a huge success! Thank you to Kimberly Jackson and the Membership & Community Development Committee for putting on such a wonderful lunch.

Thank you to Alabama Power for sponsoring the event and to Robert Aland, the 2011 United Way Campaign Chair, for speaking to the group. The purpose of the lunch was to ensure that all Young Leaders are engaged in the United Way campaign and in giving back to the community. We want to be part of the change and want to encourage all Young Leaders to give to the campaign and to give their time through volunteerism. Robert Aland spoke of his own personal experience in supporting the community and why we as young professionals should step up and give back to those in need.

Matt Chapman, UWYLS president

April Helms and Bob Ashburner, UWYLS Steering Committee

Help Us Collect Recipes For the UWYLS Cookbook!

The Service Committee is collecting party food recipes for the cookbook fundraiser. Submission deadline is October 17. Please contact Arlene Brown for more details or to submit a recipe at arlene.brown09@yahoo.com.

October’s Committee Meetings

Service Committee: October 13, 6 p.m. @ Taziki's (301 18th Street S.)

Communications Committee: Oct. 13^, 5:30 p.m. @ O'Henry's at Brookwood
RSVP: jenniferdome@gmail.com

Join Us Oct. 21 For Our Monthly Agency Tour!

The Crisis Center, a United Way of Central Alabama agency, has been providing 24-hour, 365 day per year support, crisis and suicide intervention, community information and referrals through telephone counseling since 1970. An integral part of that mission is to correlate our services to the diverse and changing needs of the community. For more information, please join us on the tour and visit www.crisiscenterbham.com.

Friday, October 21

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

3600 8th Avenue South

(United Way Building)
Suite 501

Lunch will be provided!! There is limited space so please sign up ASAP! You can reserve a spot by emailing youngleaders@uwca.org or calling 458-2033.

YLS Campaign Kickoff Luncheon

Join us on Sept. 19 at 11:30 a.m. at the Alabama Power Co. Auditorium (600 18th Street North) for an exciting luncheon to kickoff our 2011 campaign! Our featured speaker will be 2011 United Way Campaign Chairman Robert Aland of National Bank of Commerce.

Please RSVP to youngleaders@uwca.org today!

September Service Project: Read and Romp Birmingham

Read and Romp Birmingham will take place at Railroad Park on Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. for families to bring their children ages 3-5. There will be 11 activity tables set up for kids to participate in activities related to books. Each family will have a passport they will take to the tables to be stamped after participating in the activity. When leaving they will show the passport to the check out table and will receive a bag of 7 brand new books to take home with them. There will also be face painting and some APT characters there. We need volunteers to help out at the tables with the activities. The organizations at the tables include groups such as McWane Science Center, the Zoo, Birmingham Museum of Art, Childcare Resources, etc. There will also be a hike
through the park with Fresh Air Family and will need some volunteers to go on that with the kiddos and their parents.

When: Saturday, September 17, 2011
Where: Railroad Park
Time: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (you can stay the entire time or work a 2-hour shift: 8 a.m.-10 and 10-12:30 p.m.)
RSVP: arlene.brown09@yahoo.com as soon as possible.

Service Committee Social Event!

The UWYLS Service Committee is having a social at the Wine Loft (2200 1st Ave. N.) tomorrow, Thursday, August 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Wine Loft is offering $5 glasses of wine.

Please RSVP to Arlene (arlene.brown09@yahoo.com) as soon as possible.

July's Playground Build: A Personal Perspective

By UWYLS member Ashley Marshall

I awoke to warm sunlight streaming through the blinds in my bedroom. Climbing out of bed, I pulled on my work pants and an old T-shirt, filled up my water bottle, grabbed my scribbled directions and headed out the door. I was on my way to my first service project with the United Way Young Leaders Society.

I had received an email in my inbox a few weeks before from Arlene Brown and Lisa Jones-Boyd, the service committee chairs, about a playground build in Lipscomb, Alabama, that Saturday, July 23. They were asking for volunteers and needed at least 10 members to attend. Even though I had never built playground equipment before and couldn’t locate Lipscomb on a map, I wasn’t discouraged. I emailed Arlene back and told her that I would be there. Spending part of my Saturday assembling a playground for children seemed to me to be a worthy endeavor, plus working with a group of other service-oriented young people sounded like a lot of fun.

The sky was a bright summertime blue with a few puffy clouds lazily drifting by as I drove down I-20 West toward Lipscomb. I turned off the highway and drove past small houses with scraggily lawns, over an old railroad track and past a large brick church. Angels in the Sky Daycare, where we would be building the playground equipment, was on my left. I turned onto the road and parked my car. In the small driveway behind the daycare I met Nikki, one of the other Young Leaders there to help for the day. Uncertainly I asked her if this was where the playground build was taking place, she said yes and introduced me to the United Way project manager, Beth Johns. Some of the other Young Leaders were gathered around the project manager; they smiled welcomingly at me. The project manager explained that the playground equipment that we were going to assemble that day had been purchased with a grant that United Way had received. By purchasing and installing playground equipment in daycares in low-income areas, United Way was hoping to encourage more physical activity for the children. On the day of our playground build, they had already built more than 20 playgrounds at daycares.

Ashley and Nikki (Photo by James Cartee)

Our three expert playground-building contractors had already assembled part of the plastic playground structure. It sat uncertainly in the middle of the grassy yard. Eagerly we gathered around the crew for our instructions. Tony gave us screw guns and wrenches and we worked in groups of twos to attach plastic feet onto the equipment. Then Resee, Nikki, Tony, and I attached the plastic steps to the equipment platform. It was tough and frustrating, but we felt a sense of accomplishment when we finally got the screws to catch. Unfortunately it had to be unattached and reattached later, but we just joked that it was easier the second time. Soon, more Young Leaders arrived and pitched in where ever they were needed. Everyone was willing to help.

Rahkia Nance (Photo by James Cartee)

While a group of us continued assembling the new playground, another group got out the rags and cleaning solution and wiped down the old playground equipment. It was sparkling by the time they were through! When we weren’t working, we were hanging out in the shade of the porch, talking, sipping water, and eating the generous amounts of snacks provided by United Way. After our break, we all grabbed rakes and shovels and pitch forks and began spreading the mulch around the assembled playground equipment. One of the contractors would bring a load of mulch over in the Bobcat, dump it next to the legs of the playground and we would start spreading it around. It was hard work, but with all of us working together it didn’t take too long. Once we had finished spreading the mulch and stepped back, we were amazed. The yard had been completely transformed from an empty piece of grass into a beautiful new playground! Proud of our accomplishment, we gathered around the structure and took pictures. It was such a great feeling!

(Photo by James Cartee)

(Photo by James Cartee)

We gathered on the porch one more time, sipping water, and saying our good-byes. I looked at my watch, it was only noon. What a great day! I had met some nice, funny, dedicated people, assembled a playground for lots of cute daycare children, and still had half of the day left to do other things. I will definitely be back for the next service project, and I hope to see you there too!

Visiting Allocation Team

Here's a volunteer opportunity for this fall: Serve on a United Way Allocations Team!

Each year over 600 community volunteers participate in the United Way of Central Alabama’s annual Allocations Process as Visiting Allocation Team (VAT) volunteers. Through this citizen review process, United Way campaign dollars are distributed to partner agencies and initiatives throughout the United Way service area. Ideal volunteers should have a strong desire to make an impact in our community and the flexibility to attend a few week-day meetings this fall.

To register and/or obtain additional details, please visit www.uwca.org/RegisterVAT. The website provides a full description of the roles and responsibilities of a VAT volunteer, the 2011 Allocation timeline, a downloadable recruitment flyer, and our on-line registration form. If additional assistance is needed, please contact Sonya King at 205-458-2063 or via email at vat@uwca.org.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: AUGUST 19, 2011

July Agency Tour Recap: Glenwood Autism & Behavioral Health Center

By Bob Ashburner, Hospitality Committee Chair

The purpose of UWYLS agency tours is to expose young leaders to the wide variety of services and volunteer opportunities provided through many of the United Way agencies.

The tour in July took place at Glenwood Autism & Behavioral Health Center. For an hour, our group was given a private tour of the campus. Glenwood specializes in "providing behavioral health care and educational services that are responsive and complimentary to a continuum of care for persons with unique mental health disorders. Glenwood supports mental health and educational professionals and promotes research in these specialized areas." They are considered an expert and leader in autism services ranging from outpatient, education, residential and consultation/training. Nearly 1 in 110 children born today will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. 1 in every 17 boys are born with autism. Autism is widely considered as a national epidemic. What a blessing to have a facility that focuses on this mental health disorder.

There are a myriad of opportunities to volunteer or get plugged in with Glenwood. Some of the volunteer activities are landscaping, scheduled "fun days", fencing, construction, and mural design and painting. If you would like more information on Glenwood, go to www.glenwood.org. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Rebecca Sibley @ rsibley@glenwood.org.

Thanks to everyone who planned and participated in the tour. Be on the lookout for information on our next one!

Communications Committee Meeting

The next Communications Committee meeting will be August 18 at 6 p.m. at Jackson's, SoHo area of Homewood.

Please RSVP by emailing: jenniferdome@gmail.com

August Agency Tour

This month's Agency Tour will take place on Friday, August 19!

We have moved the agency tour to Friday again this month. Please join us at Gateway on Friday, August 19, from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. for a tour of the Rushton School and to learn more about Gateway.

Helping families and children in need… For more than 120 years, that’s what they've been doing at Gateway. Whether with family counseling, foster care, credit advice or transitional living programs, we've helped thousands of Alabamians – children and adults – put their lives back together and face the future with a new sense of hope.

Email youngleaders@uwca.org to reserve a spot for the tour! Only 20 spots available!

Tonight! Membership & Community Development Meeting

The next Membership & Community Development meeting is today!

Summer is coming to a close and we are gearing up for the United Way campaign this fall. Join us for a meeting on Wednesday, August 10, at 5:30 p.m. at Jackson's to learn more.

Service Committee Meeting

The next YLS Service Committee meeting is tomorrow, August 11, at 6 p.m. at Jackson's in Homewood. Please RSVP to arlene.brown09@yahoo.com as soon as possible.

Communications Committee Meeting

Monday, July 18, 6 p.m. at Rogue Tavern, 2nd Ave. North

RSVP: Jennifer Dome, jenniferdome@gmail.com or 908-670-2282

July Agency Tour: Glenwood

Sign up today for this month's agency tour!

Glenwood is an autism and behavioral health center that was founded in 1973. From the beginning, its mission was clear: form an agency devoted to providing treatment, education, and research in the area of children’s mental health. With its current ability to provide 2,000 individuals with care in a wide variety of settings including home and school based services, campus based programs, and services offered in communities and neighborhoods statewide, Glenwood’s leadership in autism and behavioral health programming continues in providing excellence in client care.

Friday, July 22, 11:30-12:15 p.m.

150 Glenwood Lane Birmingham, AL 35242

Email youngleaders@uwca.org to reserve a spot!

Only 20 spots available!

July Service Project: Playground Build

Come join us this Saturday, July 23, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Angels in the Sky Development and Learning Center: 5700 5th Street S Lipscomb, AL 35020.

Duties include: painting/refinishing existing equipment, moving some equipment, spreading mulch, assembling the special project, etc.

We need 8-10 volunteers.

Email Arlene if you want to volunteer: arlene.brown09@yahoo.com

The United Way Young Leaders Society will host “Cooking for a Cause” June 23 from 5:30-9:00 p.m. at the Alagasco Center for Energy Technology. The event will benefit the Jefferson County Health Action Partnership, Healthy Kids Healthy Communities, and the United Way Young Leaders Soceity.

General admission to the event ($25) will include a silent auction, live music, wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and drink tickets. To participate in the cooking demonstration with Chef Chris Vizzina and also receive the general admission benefits, the ticket price is $50. This will include a reserved seat in a private cooking demonstration with Chris Vizzina, heavy tastings of each dish, wine pairing, Q&A session with the chef, and a recipe to take home.

To purchase tickets, please visit www.uwca.org/youngleaders

A Nice Pleasant Surprise

At our General Body meeting on June 9, the Steering Committee for United Way Young Leaders Society had the pleasure of meeting a number of new people interested in community involvement and the work of the United Way. One such young leader is James L. Cartee III, who graciously wrote a post for us on his first impressions...

Walking into the grand ballroom with an open bar and a small table of appetizers for delighted guests (everyone likes a good party), I set eyes upon a familiar face, Matt Chapman, the president of the United Way Young Leader’s Society. I had exchanged several emails with Matt over the last few weeks about the society and how I might get involved with a zealous, enthusiastic bunch of business professionals and volunteer entrepreneurs seeking together to make a difference in our beloved city of Birmingham, Alabama. I was relieved to at least know one person since Matt and I went to high school together, but individuals like Jennifer quickly made me feel right at home.

I brought amateur photography and writing skills to the table where I gladly shared my recent photography and poetry book with Jennifer Dome, co-chair for the Communications Committee. We seemed to strike up a rapport instantly, considering many of our talents and skills lined up in the same general interest categories. I did not really need to investigate the other committees much further. It was like two stars aligned with the suggestion Matt had given me from the very start to meet up with the Communications Committee members. Like all the leadership involved, Jennifer cordially welcomed me to the group and offered different ways I could contribute to the already astounding success of this young elite and eager team who clearly affect the lives they so desperately seek to serve.

Being involved in our community is easy. I think sometimes individuals lack the initiative because there is this initial hesitance that one day doesn’t really matter or I just won’t fit into that social clique. Frankly some people become complacent with bills, a job, and maybe a few small family activities a week. We are in the middle of a crisis here in our home state with storms that turned metropolitan areas into desert wastelands, and our brothers and sisters of Alabama cannot wait for persons to be compelled. Sometimes you must just do. Do not overanalyze, complain, or criticize. Just go do something for someone else!

By doing you find where you are needed and where your specific gifts and talents lie. I did not know what to expect from the Young Leaders meeting...if I expected anything it was a lemonade stand with a bunch of uptight country club folk from our well-to-do suburbs around Birmingham. I found quite the opposite to be true—these were just normal people trying to do extraordinary things by focusing on the small things we can each do for each other. There were no big heads. In fact, most people, including Jennifer, were humble and just generally friendly.

So I and the rest of those who have just started with the Young Leaders would love to see you in action, but most importantly, you must discover where you fit in. Although love at first sight might be a dramatization of what happened for me Thursday night, there was a homey feeling about this group of people. Regardless of who it is or what, seek and you shall find. If you search for your calling, the funny thing is, when you least expect it, you might find just what you’re looking for.

Glad to contribute my thoughts here,
James L. Cartee III

REMINDER: General Body Meeting

REMINDER: General Body Meeting for ALL UWYLS Members!!!

Thursday, June 9th at 5:30 pm

Protective Life Corporation

2801 Highway 280 South

Join us for our first general body meeting! This is an opportunity to network with other Young Leaders, learn more about YLS and how to get involved. Thank you to Protective Life for hosting! Email: youngleaders@uwca.org to reserve your spot!!!!

YLS June Service Project: Blood Drive

The Young Leaders Society will be hosting a Blood Drive for our June Service Project.

Dates:
June 13-14: 12pm-5:45pm
June 15-16: 9am-2:45pm
June 17: 8am-1:45pm

Location: American Red Cross, southside, 100 Ridge Park, Ste. 1000, 1130 22nd Street South

Email: Lisa with the date and time you would like to donate- ljones1@onealsteel.com

Thanks!

YLS General Body Meeting

Mark your calendars to attend a meeting and reception at Protective Life on June 9th at 5:30 to get a full report from the Young Leaders Steering Committee. Email youngleaders@uwca.org to reserve a spot. Everyone is welcome to attend!!

YLS General Body Meeting

Hello Young Leaders Society,

Just a quick note to inform everyone that more information will be posted soon in regards to our General Body meeting. Please stay tuned!

Thanks

Communications Committee Meeting

Please come to a Communications Committee meeting Monday, May 30, at 6 p.m. at the Starbucks in 5 Points. We will discuss the press release for our Cooking for a Cause event, and how we'll get the word out about this exciting fundraiser!

Contact Jennifer Dome with questions: jenniferdome@gmail.com

Coming June 23: Cooking for a Cause!

The United Way Young Leaders Society will host “Cooking for a Cause” June 23 from 5:30-9:00 p.m. at the Alagasco Center for Energy Technology. The event will benefit the Jefferson County Health Action Partnership, Healthy Kids Healthy Communities, and the United Way Young Leaders Soceity. General admission to the event ($25) will include a silent auction, live music, wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and drink tickets. To participate in the cooking demonstration with Chef Chris Vizzina and also receive the general admission benefits, the ticket price is $50. This will include a reserved seat in a private cooking demonstration with Chris Vizzina, heavy tastings of each dish, wine pairing, Q&A session with the chef, and a recipe to take home.

Last summer, the United Way Young Leaders Society put on a Healthy Kids Healthy Communities event at Pepper Place market. We continue to focus on the issue of childhood obesity and to raise awareness and funding for the Jefferson County Health Action Partnership and Healthy Kids Healthy Communities. "The United Way Young Leaders Society created this event to support the wonderful efforts of the Jefferson County Health Action Partnership, Healthy Kids Healthy Communities Initiative, and many of our United Way agencies who strive to fight obesity in Central Alabama," says Matt Chapman, president of the United Way Young Leaders Society. "Cooking for a Cause is an invitation for our community to come see how delicious, practical and wonderful healthy food can be."

The United Way Young Leaders Society would like to thank their sponsor, Alagasco, an Energen Company, for their support.

For more information, click here for our website.

UWYLS Collects Goods for Tornado Relief

In effort to help with tornado relief, YLS would like to provide 200+ care packages for people in the Pratt City and Forestdale area. Below is a list of items that we need. We would like to have all items by June 7. We will assemble the care packages at O'Neal Steel at 6 p.m. that day. Drop off items to Lisa (ljones1@onealsteel.com). Please let Lisa know what and how many you are donating. If you want to help assemble please contact Arlene at arlene.brown09@yahoo.com.

Also, we are having a clothing drive that Liz Harrison is heading up. If you want to donate please contact her at 336-558-0757 or eharrisonus@yahoo.com.

Water
Snacks (chips, granola bars and etc.) – individually wrapped only or fruit
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Deodorant
Soap
Female Products
Hand Sanitizer – small/medium bottles or Anti-Bacterial Wipes
Zip Loc Bags – Gallon size
Lotion
Combs
Brushes
Monetary Donations

Hygiene items will need to be able to fit into a gallon size zip loc bag.

All items will be delivered Saturday, June 11.

Tornado Relief Telethon: Today!!

Don't forget to call in to the tornado relief telethon today!

For more details, visit this article on Alabama 13's website.

May Service Project: Habitat Build!

Sign up now for the May service Project!

We will be doing a Habitat for Humanity build on May 21st. We will be working with the Knight family and have shifts from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you would like to volunteer or have questions, please contact Arlene Brown at: arlene.brown09@yahoo.com.

Shifts: 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Upcoming Committee Meetings!

If you haven't yet, join an UWYLS Committee!

Hospitality: Meet on Wednesday, May 4 at 6 p.m. at Jackson’s in Homewood. Anyone interested in helping with the Cooking for a Cause fundraiser (more details to come soon!), please join us! RSVP to: Frances Richardson at fcrich@gmail.com

Membership Development: The Membership & Community Development committee will meet Wednesday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m. at Dram in Mountain Brook. RSVP to: Kimberly Jackson at KIJACKSO@southernco.com.

Service: The Service Committee will hold its next meeting on Thursday, May 12 at 6 p.m. at O’Neal Steel. RSVP to Arlene Brown at arlene.brown09@yahoo.com.

Communications: If you are interested in joining the Communications Committee, please join us Monday, May 16, 6 p.m. at Starbucks in Five Points. Please RSVP to: jenniferdome@gmail.com

May Agency Tour

Come with us to visit the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama!

The Food Bank operates as a central clearinghouse for collecting food that might otherwise be wasted. The Food Bank solicits and receives both new and commercially excess but fully edible food from many food industry sources such as manufacturers, distributors, warehouse and storage operations, grocery chains and individual donors. Given the recent tornado disaster, we can see what role the Food Bank plays in distributing goods to various agencies and places where people are in need. The Food Bank is currently serving over 200 organizations in 12 counties in Central Alabama.

Come join us!
Tuesday, May 17th
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Community Food Bank of Central Alabama
107 Walter Davis Drive
Birmingham, AL 35209
www.feedingal.org

To reserve your spot and for more information, email Kate Watson at: youngleaders@uwca.org.

Tornado Relief: How You Can Help!

We hope that you and your families are safe and well after the tornado disaster in Alabama. United Way of Central Alabama is committed to the long term recovery efforts in our community. While many projects and initiatives will be going on for days, weeks, and months to come, we wanted to update you on a few of the many things that United Way of Central Alabama and its partners are doing in response to the disaster…

Hands On Birmingham
Hands On Birmingham, a program of United Way of Central Alabama, is working feverishly to mobilize volunteers to help those in need. Please check their website regularly as projects are being posted constantly. Follow this link and their Facebook page for updates. Projects are being organized as quickly as we can fill them!

United Way’s 2-1-1 Line for Disaster Relief
United Way is taking calls on our 2-1-1 line for non-emergency assistance. We have been flooded with calls and have staff and volunteers operating our call center 24/7 to help victims get access to food, shelter, and other assistance they may need. Volunteers are still needed to cover round the clock shifts for the next few weeks. Email 211volunteer@uwca.org if you are interested in helping out this week!

United Way’s Tornado Disaster Fund
United Way of Central Alabama has set up a disaster relief fund where we will be taking donations to address unmet needs in our community as the relief efforts move forward. You can donate online and find more on our website: www.uwca.org

Text TORNADO to 50555 to give $10!
Text TORNADO to 50555 to give a $10.00 donation to The United Way of Central Alabama’s Tornado Disaster Fund. Charges will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Message and Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to 50555 to STOP. Text HELP to 50555 for HELP.
Full Terms: www.mGive.org/T. Privacy Policy

Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions about our work or ideas or ways for the Young Leaders Society to help play a role in this important relief effort. Email youngleaders@uwca.org or contact Kate Watson at 458-2033. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates as well.

Upcoming Committee Meetings!

Communications: If you are interested in joining the Communications Committee, please join us Monday, April 18, 6 p.m. at Starbucks in Five Points. Please RSVP to: jenniferdome@gmail.com or 908-670- 2282.

Membership Development: The Membership & Community Development committee will meet, Tuesday, April 19 @ 5:30 p.m. @ Dram in Mountain Brook. Please RSVP to Kimberly Jackson at KIJACKSO@southernco.com.

Service: The Service Committee will hold its next meeting while assembling Easter baskets for Bunny Aid! Please join us on Tuesday, April 12, from 6pm- 8pm at Sweet Bones at the Summit. Email arlene.brown09@yahoo.com to RSVP.

April Agency Tour: Camp Fire USA

Camp Fire USA Central Alabama Council serves approximately 16,000 children, youth and families through leadership programs offered in schools, enrichment activities offered during out-of-school time, and outdoor education programs offered at camp. The majority population served is primarily low-middle income, under-served, families the majority of which cannot afford extra-curricular activities, enrichment opportunities, or a week of residential camp. Current program fees are discounted well below costs, made possible only by significant United Way funds as well as corporate sponsorships, grants, foundation gifts and fundraising. Come check out what Camp Fire is doing in Central AL!!!

Tuesday, April 19

11:30am – 12:15pm

Camp Fire USA

3600 8^th Ave. S., Ste. 502

Birmingham, AL 35222

To reserve your spot and for more information, email Kate Watson at: youngleaders@uwca.org.

Last Chance!! Sign up for Project Homeless Connect

Donate just a few hours of your time this Saturday, April 9, with approximately 1,500 volunteers at Boutwell Auditorium to help people who are homeless in our community through Project Homeless Connect. This one-day event focuses on breaking the cycle of homelessness, increasing access to services and ending chronic homelessness in Central Alabama.

For one day, Project Homeless Connect will give people experiencing homelessness the opportunity to access an array of services in a system that is often difficult to understand and navigate. Project Homeless Connect links homeless individuals, veterans, and families to housing, medical services, identification services, veterans' services, employment services, pet care and haircuts.

Be a part of Birmingham's solution to homelessness.

Shifts:
6:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Please email Arlene today at arlene.brown09@yahoo.com if you want to volunteer.

For more information, see Hands On Birmingham's Project Homeless Connect webpage.

Help Project Corporate Leadership With This Survey!

Hey Fellow Young Leaders of the United Way Members,

I'm in the 2010-2011 class of Project Corporate Leadership and my team's major project is focusing on community involvement.

Our idea is to challenge everyone in the Greater Birmingham metropolitan area to complete 24 hours of volunteer service in a given year. One week with Habitat for Humanity, 2 hours per month helping someone learn to read, coaching a little league team, teaching Sunday School, fund-raising for your favorite organization, anywhere you feel lead to give back. Can you imaging what kind of impact our collective effort would have?!

We're putting together a proposal for how a project like this can be rolled out—by companies, communities, churches, etc.—and we need some feedback from people in the community on their experiences with volunteering and where they see opportunities for improvement. This is where I need your help. Please take a few minutes to look over the attached flyer that summarizes our project idea. Then fill out a short survey (4 questions) at the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K8HGLV5

The survey is anonymous—we’re not tracking who is responding, just what the responses are. I promise it will only take a minute and you will be helping me out tremendously! Also, feel free to pass this along to your friends and family. The more responses the better!

Let me know if you have any questions about it.

Thanks so much!

Nick Maroules

Birmingham Twestival 2011
Benefitting United Way of Central Alabama!

When: Thursday, March 24, from 4-7 p.m.
Where: Parkside Cafe, 4036 5th Avenue South,
What: A great opportunity to relax, have a drink and chat with Twitter users from across the Birmingham area, all while helping a great cause.

Why: To help UWCA support the Imagination Library, a fantastic program that provides free monthly books to children across the region.

How you can help: Spread the word! Tell your friends, coworkers and fellow Twitterers to come out and help make a difference in our community.

For More about Twestival 2011, visit the site sponsored by Luckie & Co.

Help Design Our T-shirts!

United Way Young Leaders Society would like to design a T-shirt that we can aware to service projects and other events around the city.

If you can help design a white T-shirt for UWYLS, please send all design suggestions by April 1 to Lisa: ljones1@onealsteel.com.

April Service Project: Project Homeless Connect

On Saturday, April 9, approximately 1,500 volunteers, public servants, non-profit agencies, faith-based organizations, and citizens will assemble under one roof to help people who are homeless in our community through Project Homeless Connect. This innovative, one-day event is about breaking the cycle of homelessness, increasing access to services and ending chronic

homelessness in Central Alabama. For one day, Project Homeless Connect will give people experiencing homelessness the opportunity to access an array of services in a system that is often difficult to understand and navigate. Project Homeless Connect links homeless individuals, veterans, and families to housing, medical services, identification services, veterans' services, employment services, pet care and haircuts.

Be a part of Birmingham's solution to homelessness.

Shifts:
6:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Please email Arlene at arlene.brown09@yahoo.com if you want to volunteer. We need your
name, email address, and shift preference by March 18.

For more information, see Hands On Birmingham's Project Homeless Connect webpage.

March Service Project: Bunny Aid

source

The United Way Young Leaders Society and Hands on Birmingham are partnering again this year for Bunny Aid. Easter baskets will be delivered to children at Pathways, YWCA, BAO, Children's Aid Society, the Salvation Army, AIDS Alabama, Jesse's Place...just to name a few!

All donations can be dropped off at O’Neal Steel (744 41st North, Birmingham, AL 35222 / Lisa @ 205-283-7463 or ljones1@onealsteel.com) or United Way (bboylan@handsonbirmingham.com) by March 25. You can also bring your items to our social event on March 25 from 6-8p.m at Rogue Tavern, 2312 2nd Ave. N.

Items needed: Candy, ribbon, small wrapped toys, plastic eggs, stickers, coloring books, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, bottles of bubbles, grassy filling, ribbon, tissue paper, colorful bows, cellophane wrap or bags, Easter baskets, or monetary donations to buy the items.

Goal: to fill 30 baskets, so 30 pieces of all items are needed!

Email ljones1@onealsteel.com to let us know what you will bring and how much.

Join Our Next Agency Tour!

March’s Agency Tour Tuesday will be at Big Brothers Big Sisters on March 15 from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

According to the BBBS website, for more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6-18, in communities across the country.

Come with us to learn more about this United Way agency!

Tuesday, March 15

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

1901 14th Avenue South

Birmingham, AL 35205

To reserve your spot and for more information, email Kate Watson at: youngleaders@uwca.org.

Smiles and Sundaes at Ronald McDonald House

On Saturday, February 26, a group of volunteers from the Young Leaders Society gathered at Ronald McDonald House in downtown Birmingham for movie night.

The group provided make-your-own sundaes and popcorn to families while showing “Toy Story 3.”

These families are staying at Ronald McDonald House while their child receives medical care in the area. With chocolate ice cream, sprinkles, Buzz and Woody on hand, a great time was had by all!

UWYLS is Hands On!

This week, members of the Young Leaders Society visited a truly inspiring United Way agency: Hands On Birmingham.


The goal of Hands On, as explained to us by programs manager Melissa Fierstine, is to provide volunteer opportunities for anyone who is looking to lend a hand. Last year, more than 6,700 volunteers donated 23,000 hours of service in the Birmingham area. Wow!

Melissa speaks to UWYLS as chair Matt Chapman looks on.

Taylor, Kate, Arlene and Bob attended this weeks Agency Tour Tuesday.

We learned of a few ways that we at UWYLS can get involved:

1. April 9—Project Homeless Connect. Look for an email coming to your inbox soon about how UWYLS will volunteer on this amazing day when our local homeless population can receive much-needed services, such as obtaining ID, having a tooth pulled, etc., all in one spot in an expedited timeframe.

2. April 16—Bunny Aid. A fun project that lets us channel our Martha Stewart skills! (You know you men out there have some lovely bow-tying abilities!) Bunny Aid collects Easter baskets for homeless children...we can help by putting the baskets together or collecting items for the baskets.

There are other volunteer opportunities that Hands On helps arrange, such as Southern Summer Night in August, and a Back to School Drive for backpacks and school supplies. But if you're just looking for another opportunity to volunteer on your own, let Hands On hook you up! Contact the friendly staff there, or fill out a volunteer profile at their website, and they will find a volunteer opportunity that fits your schedule and your interests.


If you want to learn more about the agencies that United Way works with, such as Hands On Birmingham, attend the next Agency Tour Tuesday! Check back here for updates on our next tour soon.

February Service Project: Movie Night at Ronald McDonald House!

Come join us at the Ronald McDonald House on Saturday, February, 26th at 6:00 p.m. for our February Service Project.

How can you help? Sign up to volunteer or bring any of the items listed below! If you can bring one item from the list or get with a group to bring a few items, any contribution will help. If you are interested in volunteering and/or bringing items, please contact Arlene Brown at arlene.brown09@yahoo.com.

Needs: ice cream (4 gallons), chocolate & strawberry ice cream (1 gallon of each), chocolate syrup (4 bottles), strawberry syrup (1 bottle), sprinkles (3 jars), chopped pecans & walnuts (1 pack of each), whipped cream (4 spray cans), plain M&M's (2 large bags), peanut M&M's (2 large bags), gummi bears (2 bags), popcorn (6 boxes), bottled water (24 bottles), plastic bowls (40), napkins (Large Pack), ice (4 Bags), spoons (40), ice cream scoop (3), and 1 cooler.

Please e-mail Arlene for current needs.

Thanks!

Agency Tour Tuesdays!

Please join us on Feb. 15 for a tour of Hands On Birmingham from 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Hands on Birmingham is the volunteer resource for Central Alabama. You can utilize their services to find service projects in your area that interest you. Hands On Birmingham believes that volunteers can inspire change in the community—One Hour. One Day. One Month. They provide resources to help mobilize volunteers and help groups like the Young Leaders Society volunteer together. They are a part of United Way, so please come learn how to use their services!

Tuesday, February 15th

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Hands On Birmingham

3600 8th Avenue South

Birmingham, AL 35232

To reserve a spot, email Kate Watson at youngleaders@uwca.org.

Welcome!

The United Way Young Leaders Society of Birmingham wants to hear from you! This blog will be a great way for our members to keep in touch about upcoming events, and to post journal entries about their experiences with United Way programs and volunteer opportunities.

So, if you're involved with a service project and you want to let others know about it, email us! Or, if you'd like to post pictures and a short testimonial about a service project you participated in, let us know! This blog is for you.

For more information about the United Way Young Leaders Society of Birmingham, visit the United Way of Central Alabama's website.

Email blog submissions to: jenniferdome@gmail.com

Thanks!! Check back often!!

Your Communications Team,

Jennifer Dome, chair

Rachelle Walker, co-chair