Save the Date: May 19th “Day of Caring”
Plan to participate Wednesday, May 19, 2010 as we once again help the Valley’s non-profit organizations. Private individuals and volunteers from companies across the Mat-Su Valley will spend the day helping our local nonprofit agencies and organizations on May 19. Volunteers may assist by raking up leaves, painting, making general repairs, gardening, sorting donated clothing or any number of other needed options. The volunteers save the agencies a tremendous amount of money in improvement expenses and as one volunteer said , "It was a wonderful opportunity to give back to my community, it made me feel great!"
For more information or to volunteer for the "Day of Caring" contact Linzi Rothermel at 373-5802 or lrothermel@unitedwaymatsu.org
Pick.Click.Give "Do Over"
It's a chance for all of us to come together and give a little extra. As of now
10,000 donations have been made to non profits in Alaska through this
program. This easily exceeds the 7,500 contributions made last year.
If you filed for your PFD earlier and were unable to use the PICK CLICK GIVE
option, a system has been created to allow for a "do-over". Between April 5
& May 31,2010 every Alaskan will have a second chance to make a PICK
CLICK GIVE donation. This option is available to people who tried
unsuccessfully to donate, would like to make additional donations or would
like to make new donations.
If you have not filled out your Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend form yet, go
on-line to the myAlaska website. There you will see the option called "The
Gift of Giving". Search for United Way of Mat-Su, click and follow the instructions provided. To find out more about the program, point your web browser to: www.pickclickgive.org
If we each give $25, it will add up to $15 million to provide for the homeless, hungry and neglected in our state. Visit: www.pfd.state.ak.us/
First Quarter 2010 Newsletter Now Available
Check out the latest edition (.pdf) of your local United Way's newsletter.
2009 Dorothy A. Jones Volunteer of the Year awarded to Helen Munoz
Find out more about the Dorothy A. Jones Volunteer of the Year award and read more about Helen's dedication to our community
Champion the Cause - Support United Way’s National Public Policy Work
Free Books for Children under 5
If you know of young children that have a 99654 or 99687 zip code, and they are under the age of 5 - they are eligible to get a book in the mail addressed directly to them every month. FREE!! Last year this program was just available in the Meadow Lakes area, this year they have expanded to include Wasilla, and the hope is to expand to Palmer and the rest of the valley in coming years.
Please see the attached document with information about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The online registration (below and on the attachment) takes about 2 minutes.
http://matsuschoolsfoundation.com/ILregistration.html
Consistently reading together with children is one of the best ways to establish a love for books and learning!
Consider a donation to help the people of Haiti
On the evening of January 12, 2010, a major 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti. It is the most powerful quake to hit the impoverished country in more than 200 years. The tremor struck 15km (10 miles) south-west of the capital Port-au-Prince, and was quickly followed by two strong aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude. Reports describe the destruction to affect as much as 70 percent of the buildings, with debris filling the roads making emergency response difficult.
The Prime Minister reported on January 13 that hundreds of thousands of lives may have been lost.
You can help people affected by donating to the United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund. Gifts to the Fund support long-term recovery efforts to rebuild lives and infrastructure devastated by disaster and to address educational, financial and health-related challenges.
United Way Worldwide members in the Caribbean region have mobilized their staff, volunteer leaders and resources in response.
Pick. Click. Give.
There's a new way to reach out and help Alaskans. Apply for your Alaskan Permanent Fund Dividend on-line and you can share part of your dividend with some of your favorite Alaskan nonprofits. It's a chance for all of us to come together and give a little extra. Just Pick. Click. Give. United Way of Mat-Su is pleased to be part of the new PFD Charitable Contributions Program for 2009. When you go on-line to sign up for your dividend on the myAlaska website, you will see the option called "The Gift of Giving". Search for United Way of Mat-Su, click and follow the instructions provided. To find out more about the program, point your web browser to www.pickclickgive.org
Fourth Quarter '09 Newsletter Available
Check out the latest edition (.pdf) of your local United Way's newsletter.
Learn More about Community Impact
For most of its history, United Ways worked to improve lives by mobilizing the financial resources of businesses, individuals and foundations in support of direct service programs—the foundation of our work, now and into the future. However, despite the money raised and all the services provided, many problems in our community continued and some even grew worse. Read more.
Data Project Report and Data Report Summary Available Online
The Mat-Su Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (MSAPC) completed its first data project in April 2009.The data project was planned by the Data Committee and conducted by the Co-Occurring Disorders Institute (CODI) through a grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation. Read more in the Data Report Summary (.pdf) and the Data Project Report (.pdf).
Media Release - United Way of Mat-Su Impact Councils Explore Issues and Needs
A community cannot be built by agencies or government or other outside entities. It must be born, developed, nurtured and sustained from within the community by the individuals, families, associations and institutions who live and work there. Read more here. (.doc)
FamilyWize Prescription Drug Savings Card Program
The FamilyWize prescription program card can help families and individuals stay healthy and stretch their income when times are tight. United Way of Mat-Su is promoting the FamilyWize program throughout the Valley, which offers discounts at many Mat-Su pharmacies, with savings averaging from 20%-35% per prescription. Click here to learn more, print a card and start saving. (.pdf)
