The United Way of Montgomery, Radford and Floyd just released a news update as to what has or is taking place within the organization.

2007-2008 Resource Development Drive Kicks-off

United Way of Montgomery, Radford & Floyd kicked off the organization's yearly resource development drive on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at Outback Steakhouse. More than 100 local businesspeople, volunteers and representatives from United Way's Community Partners attended, along with VA Tech football players Scott King and Vince Hall.

RU Head Basketball Coach Brad Greenberg gave the keynote address, asking those in attendance to remember the importance of keeping the local community strong.

Voice of the Hokies Bill Roth emcee'd the event, while deejay Earl Brown (former Board Member of NRV Agency for Persons with Mental Retardation, one of United Way's community partners) provided entertainment.

Outback Steakhouse graciously sponsored the entire event, including venue and a sit-down meal for attendees. THANK YOU!

United Way's Resource Development Chair, Anita Lilly of Sungard Workflow Solutions in Virginia Tech's Corporate Research Center, stresses the importance of keeping the local community strong after tragedy such as April 16, 2007.

"That tragedy showed clearly and unequivocally the need for strong health and human services," Lilly says . "So many agencies and programs were there to jump in and provide support - what would the aftermath have been like if they hadn't existed because of funding issues? And our community hasn't fully recovered yet - full recovery may take years, while these agencies are stressed to the max. Our local community needs our support."

Lilly encourages local businesses to provide support through corporate gifts and providing their employees with the opportunity to give through payroll deduction. She also asked individuals to remember the local community when planning their charitable giving.

Our gratitude goes out to those who have already turned in information and pledges for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. For example:
    q    Scott & Stringfellow
    q    Revivicor
    q    Long & Foster REALTORS, Inc. has already raised $5,570 for UWMRF this campaign - with an astounding $4,410 raised at an auction alone! Real Estate Resource Development Chair for UWMRF, Linda Deemer, hopes local REALTORS will raise $10,000 for UWMRF this year!

Other companies already working on campaigns include: Alliant TechSystems, Carlion NRV Medical Center; Carter Bank & Trust (formerly Blue Ridge Bank); Danaher Motion; First National Bank; J.C. Penney; Lowes; Montgomery County; Montgomery County Public Schools; HHHunt & Foxridge; Rohm & Haas Electronic Materials; SunTrust Bank; Target ; United Way of Montgomery, Radford & Floyd; Wal-Mart; and Warm Hearth Village.
(Company results not posted in UWMRF News Updates until all reporting is complete)

United Way a partner in VT-Engage

Virginia Tech has announced a new initiative called VT-ENGAGE (www.engage.vt.edu) to honor the victims of April 16, 2007 and their commitment to service worldwide and reaffirm its commitment to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).
 
The volunteer service campaign began with a kickoff event on the Virginia Tech Drillfield on Tuesday, October 16. Non-profit, community, and other service organizations had booths at which Virginia Tech students, faculty, staff, alumni and family and friends of Virginia Tech could learn about volunteer opportunities and pledge at least 10 hours. Two United Way staff attended the event and disbursed information to attendees.

United Way's online volunteer-matching and donated goods-matching system, Volunteer Solutions, is the first link listed on the VT Engage website for people to click on to find opportunities. Volunteer Solutions currently boasts more than 190 different volunteer opportunities from more than 50 different local agencies.

"We're thrilled that Volunteer Solutions could serve as an effective mechanism for so many," said UWMRF Executive Director Kymn Davidson-Hamley. "And we're thankful to the Town of Blacksburg and Verizon Foundation for providing us with grant funding to bring Volunteer Solutions to this area."

For more information, go to www.unitedwaynrv.org and click on Volunteer Solutions.

United Way Website and Materials Receive Facelift - More Items Available for Download Online 

Check them out! United Way's yearly brochure, website and many other materials recently received overhauls-and the website includes a new, thirty-second video PSA. Resource development materials - including the new brochure, pledge forms, client profiles and Q&A sheets - are available for download at the website: www.unitedwaynrv.org
 

United Way Recruiting Community Ambassadors
 
 Ambassadors play a crucial role in United Way's resource development and community building efforts by assisting United Way staff and board in educating individuals, companies, and other organizations about United Way's impact and role in the community.  Ambassadors provide experience, leadership, education, resource development, and networking to the United Way.
Ambassadors' duties include helping with the following:
-         Participate in an orientation training.
-         Analyze past giving history of accounts, work with staff to gain current status on accounts and developing strategies.
-         Plan and implement United Way resource development efforts with company coordinators.
-         Develop relationships with prospective companies and develop plans of involvement with United Way.
-         Provide outstanding customer service in support of all company efforts.
-         Arrange for presentations at employee rallies and other related activities.
-         Participate in various meetings, events and celebrations.
-         Assist with community building programs such as Product Connections, Gifts-In-Kind, Volunteer Solutions, VT Engage, Prescription 
          Medication Discount Cards, etc.
-          Assist other volunteers and ambassadors.
Benefits of the Position:
-         Excellent opportunity to improve communication, public speaking, leadership, management and teamwork skills.
-         Great way to gain promotion and resource development experience.
-         Provides opportunities to network with local business leaders.
-         Fantastic and efficient way to improve the strength of the local community.
Skills Necessary:
-         Leadership qualities
-         Works well independently, learns quickly, comfortable meeting new people
-         Can speak publicly with small audiences (10-30)
-         Has own transportation; can lift up to 25 lbs.
-         Wants to serve the local community in a meaningful capacity

 United Way United in Caring Fund Update

UWMRF launched the United in Caring fund the day after the tragedy, with the express purpose of raising resources and awareness to:

    q    Support community-wide recovery and healing through programs such as mental health support services and children's programs to address 
                 school violence.
    q    Fulfill unmet needs of the victims and their families, such as immediate unmet emergency family needs, unmet medical, transportation, and 
                 other costs, and mental health services.
 
The United in Caring Fund is the only fund established to address community-wide recovery. We are facing a challenging time in our community this year and possibly the next several years as tremendous mental health needs emerge from this crisis. The United in Caring Fund exists to aid our community in its recovery - and provide help and hope to those who need it.

Administration of the fund is led by a volunteer committee including members from the VA Tech administration and student body, local clergy, the Commonwealth Attorney's office, and local charities including the Mental Health Association of the NRV, American Red Cross, & United Way.

The first funds distributed to victims or their families were made available within two weeks of the tragedy as an immediate distribution. The second phase of distribution - more needs-based - is underway. (The fund is currently split approximately 50/50 between victim and community needs.)

Grants to local organizations submitting proposals to address mental health needs in our community, or provide children's programs to address school violence, were awarded this month. A short description of the awards is as follows:
· $24,943 to the Mental Health Association of the NRV to provide support to local law enforcement personnel and other local public safety personnel
· $24,620 to the Mental Health Association of the NRV to provide support to the NRV's clergy and faith community
· $23,500 to the Women's Resource Center of the NRV to expand Peaceline, the organization's school violence prevention education program.
· $9,000 initially (with another $9,000 available after program evaluation midway into the year) to New River Community Services for school-based crisis and risk-assessment services
· $16,640 to the Mental Health Association of the NRV to provide support to non-traditional caregivers and adult caregivers
· $6,013 initially (with another $6,013 available after program evaluation midway into the year) to the YMCA for New River Valley Healing Workshops.
· $10,500 to the Mental Health Association of the NRV for a mental health stigma reduction campaign to encourage and facilitate local residents to seek out professional post-disaster mental health treatment if indicated or desired.
· $1,525 to HERE (Honoring Experiences, Reflections and Expressions), a local arts-based organization, to help provide support for the creation of arts-based opportunities for our local community's processing and healing after the April 16, 2007 tragedy.
 

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