SWEETWATER COUNTY — United Way of Southwest Wyoming hosted the 35th Annual Celebration Event, You Are The 1, at the Holiday Inn of Rock Springs on April 25th to celebrate donors and volunteers during UWSW’s 2013 annual fundraising campaign.
“Each of you has chosen to BE THE ONE by stepping up and offering support by way of giving back in the communities where you live and work,” stated UWSW Board Vice President Anne Marie Covey as she welcomed the crowd. “Rest assured that your donor dollars have accomplished amazing results in the past year!”
Covey explained that the over the past year the board and staff had revised the strategic plan to keep pace with the needs and changes in the community.
The strategic plan defines three goals that guide the work of UWSW.
Health: UWSW will build and participate in collaborations that will improve access to and availability of healthcare.
Education: UWSW will build and participate in collaborations that will affect a measureable increase in kindergarten readiness, third grade reading scores, and high school graduation rates.
Basic Needs: UWSW will foster an integrated set of community wide services to optimize an individual’s ability to meet their basic human needs in the areas of food & shelter; safety; transportation; crisis services and financial stability.
Covey also highlighted a new collaboration called Life R U Ready. It is a coalition comprised from law enforcement, emergency management, school districts, health providers, various service providers and city administration from both cities of Rock Springs and Green River. This initiative is addressing issues shown in the County Health Rankings report regarding risky behaviors of youth that our communities face.
Covey gave an overview of three programs coordinated by United Way: Community Diaper Bank, Big Sandy Medical Clinic, and FamilyWize.
- A Community Diaper Bank was established through collaboration with other agencies in Southwest Wyoming. The diaper bank assists families struggling to make financial ends meet. Thank you to the food bank for agreeing to be the distribution site.
- The Big Sandy Medical Clinic, which also houses Eden Valley Tele-health services, opened their doors and is experiencing increased numbers of patient visits and successful use of Tele-health technology.
- The FamilyWize prescription discount program assisted 23,173 claims for savings of $424,896. Clients who have used the program report that they have been able to pay for rent or buy food because of the savings they have received on needed medications.
Covey closed by stating “These are only a few of the successful results that your donations make possible. In the future, you can trust United Way will continue to develop our non-profit partners to encourage them to move beyond their role as service providers and provide leadership in reducing and eliminating the underlying causes of the needs with which they are so familiar. We will advocate on their behalf to develop measurable goals and outcomes that demonstrate their good work.”
You’re The 1
“Tonight we are here to celebrate something very unique and special. Each of you! Our campaign theme, this year, IS BE THE ONE and all of you have proven that you ARE THE ONE. Being THE ONE is a big responsibility, and you should take great pride in your accomplishments,” Executive Co-Director Kathy Tacke said.
“Over 4,000 of us came together with our employers in support of our communities, making it possible for United Way and our partners to provide unduplicated assistance to 15,849 of our friends, families and neighbors in Southwest Wyoming. That is no small feat, and we thank you. With your help, we are solving problems and putting our dollars where they create the most impact. ”
Tacke explained that since she had started with UWSW the Board of Directors had moved the organization from a funding model to one of problem solving by addressing problems and needs at the community level. “When you as donors give to the United Way of Southwest Wyoming general fund, your donation solves problems that will create the most impact.”
Tacke explained that the formation of the Boys & Girls Club in Rock Springs was an example of the concept of Community Impact and intended use of the general fund. In 2008, United Way, as the first steps leading to community impact funding, conducted focus groups that identified a lack and gap in the provision of afterschool activities for kids. An advisory council was formed to look at options for providing after school activities. The Boys & Girls club model repeatedly came up in conversation, and it was decided to research what would be involved in bringing a Boys & Girls Club to Rock Springs. After discussion and presentations from BGC reps, the advisory group chose to move forward and received United Way support. There are strict criteria to become a Boys & Girls Club charter, one of them being – there must be an after school initiative in place for one year. The coalition went to work finding a location, funding, a coordinator and setting up a not-for-profit status. As they completed each step, they were coming closer to receiving a charter from the Boys & Girls Club of America.
“The rest is a story in itself. I would like to introduce Lisa Stewart, Chief Professional Officer of the Rock Springs Boys & Girls Club. She is here to tell the ‘Rest of the story’.”
United For Our Community
“First and foremost, I want to thank you, the donors, for all you do,” said Lisa Stewart. “Without your support the United Way Community Partners could not do what we do!”
Stewart explained how the Boys & Girls Club is not just about the kids; it is about supporting the family as a whole. They are there to provide activities and support to the child, but they are also providing support and information to the parents and grandparents. They refer them to agencies when they are in need of services, “because healthy families make healthy youth.”
“We provide the tools the youth need to make good character choices, we teach them the value of giving back to their community, because we want to see them, someday, sitting in your chairs doing great things for their community!”
Stewart shared experiences of children who are struggling due to circumstances beyond their control and how the Boys & Girls Club has been there for them. Providing the support they need to overcome and become stronger from their experiences.
Stewart ended by inviting anyone who had never hung out with kids at the Child Developmental Center, YWCA or at the Boys & Girls Club to come and spend some time. To hear their laughter, see their smiles and just have a discussion. “It will change your world, as well as theirs!”
Spirit & Excellence Awards
United Way of Southwest Wyoming Board of Director member Scott Heiner presented the traveling Spirit and Excellence Awards.
The Spirit Award is given to the employees with the highest average donation per donor. The Company must employ 50 or more people with a minimum campaign participation level of 50 percent.
With an average gift of $354.56 and a 77 percent participation, and for the sixth time in eight years, the 2013 Spirit Award went to the employees of the Jim Bridger Power Plant and Utility Workers Union Of America Local 127.
The second Spirit Award is given to the employees with the highest average donation per donor. The company must employ a minimum of 10 people, but no more than 49, with a minimum of 50% employee participation.
With an average gift of $353.98 per donor and 86 percent participation, for the second year in a row, the winners of the Spirit Award are the employees of Wyoming Machinery.
The Excellence Award is given to the company and employees that have the highest average donation per total employees. The business must have 50 or more employees with at least 50 percent of the employees participating.
With 77 percent employee participation and average gift of $489.43 per total employees combined with the corporation gift, this year’s Excellence award winner is Jim Bridger Power Plant, its employees and Utility Workers Union of America Local 127.
The second Excellence Award will be given to the business and employees that have the highest average donation per total employees. The company must have a minimum of 10 people, but not more than 49 and have at least 50 percent of the employees participating.
With and average gift of $609.31 per total employees and 86 percent participation, the winners of the Excellence Award is Wyoming Machinery and its employees.
The evening’s award presentations ended with the campaign trip giveaway. Any person who donated $100 or more was entered into the drawing. Donors received one entry for every $100 they donated with a bonus entry for each $500 donation. Three finalist were chosen. Thomas Berg and Rich Percifield joined Kelly Frink, United Way of Southwest Wyoming Executive Co-Director, who stood in for Samuel White who was unable to attend the event. Each finalist selected a box that contained one of three prizes: a $25 gift certificate donated by Coyote Creek; a 3 piece luggage set donated by Herberger’s; and the grand prize of a resort stay plus $3,000 spending money sponsored by FMC. Samuel White was this year’s grand prize winner with Thomas Berg winning the luggage and Rich Percifield winning the gift card.
Those attending the event saw the evening come to a close with the performance of Elvis Tribute Artist Travis Allen. Allen’s performance had everyone engaged as he brought Elvis to life!
