Community Connection A publication of United Way of the Plains SPRING 2014 CORPORATE VOLUNTEERISM UNITED WAY S VOLUNTEER CENTER PARTNERS WITH COMPANIES TO FIND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
FACES STAY CONNECTED Left: Airbus Americas Engineering, Inc. sponsored the Loyal Contributor Thank-You Event on December 22, 2013. Loyal contributors to United Way were invited to a special screening of Saving Mr. Banks on its opening weekend. Above: Members of United Way s YOUnited Teens, a program made up of students from local high schools who meet regularly to volunteer, spent part of their day off from school on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day sorting items at United Way s GIV Warehouse. Join in the conversation. Email us (uwp@unitedwayplains.org), or find us on Facebook (facebook.com/ unitedwayplains) or follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/unitedwayplains). We want to hear your voice. Want to hear more from us? Check out our website, unitedwayplains.org. At our website, you can sign up to stay connected and receive regular United Way updates and newsletters by email.
DID YOU KNOW? Community Connection VOLUNTEERING BY THE NUMBERS $22.14 66,923,402 hours contributed by volunteers in 2012 South Central Kansas $8.60 dollar value of a volunteer hour 1982-2012 those hours represent a value of $nearly 1.5 billion SOURCE: Community Needs Assessment, Environmental Scan 2013 and Independent Sector
COVER STORY Left: Employees from South Central Kansas Education Service Center and their family members volunteered at United Way s GIV Warehouse last summer. Below: Employees from Via Christi Clinic volunteered at a winter coat distribution last November. Corporate Volunteerism GIVING TIME BENEFICIAL FOR VOLUNTEERS AND RECIPIENTS by Sarah Carlson In the past year, corporate volunteers around Wichita served various nonprofits through volunteer work in winter coat and Christmas gift distributions, filling backpacks for needy children and many other projects. Volunteers represent an invaluable community resource, and the volunteers that come in the form of company groups are no different. According to recent survey data from CECP, previously known as the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, corporate volunteerism is on the rise, with businesses offering more opportunities for volunteer work done on personal or company time. United Way s Volunteer Center can help bring businesses and volunteer projects together. Whether a group is large or small, a project can be planned to suit everyone s needs. Read on to hear how using the Volunteer Center has impacted local businesses. Winter coat drive Sam Williams, director of practice management at Via Christi Clinic, thinks there absolutely are benefits for companies that allow employees to volunteer. Last November, Williams and a group of co-workers volunteered about three
COVER STORY Community Connection hours on company time, participating in a winter coat distribution. Williams said the experience helped improve relationships and communication among the employees who gave their time. [We] had a great time, Williams said. It was very humbling, and it reminded us all of what the time of year should be all about. It put into perspective the challenges we deal with on a daily basis, working in healthcare, and helped remind us how blessed we are. Though that was the first time his group had volunteered through the United Way Volunteer Center, Williams said he has committed his team to volunteer on a bi-annual basis. Eventually, he thinks employees could give their time every month. To allow our employees to help in a regular way I think it would be a meaningful experience teambuilding but also just gaining a better appreciation for the things we have and the blessings we enjoy, even with our jobs that are very busy and hectic, Williams said. Christmas gift distribution The South Central Kansas Education Service Center runs a United Way campaign every fall, but over the last few years, decided to change the way it encouraged employees to give yearround. It...helped remind us how blessed we are. Kris Misak, business and human resources director for the Center, said that they put more emphasis on the campaign and giving through volunteer work. She said the Center supports United Way because it is an organization that can help a lot of people. We re really just trying to help give back to the community, Misak said. A couple of years ago, instead of having their annual Christmas party, the staff chose to do a volunteer project. The event was so popular that the employees have continued to give up their party to give back, the most recent involving the distribution of Christmas gifts for a local nonprofit. Everyone loved doing that, Misak said. Misak said the staff has also volunteered at the United Way Give Items of Value (GIV) Warehouse, sorting items for distribution to nonprofits. Although employees also volunteer their own time on the side, she said all of the group projects have been done on corporate time. Out of 80-85 total employees, she said almost half have volunteered on company time. That s a pretty good percentage, Misak said. Backpacks for kids Employees from Worthington Industries, a manufacturer of pressure cylinders, volunteered their time last July on a Saturday, their usual day off. Pam McClure, the HR generalist, said their volunteer activity was organized because the company wanted to do something together. United Way s Volunteer Center helped them find a service opportunity, and the group of employees and family members served by stuffing backpacks for kids. We re giving our time, and that s worth something. I d rather do something and see it. It s just more fun, McClure said. I think they had a good time. McClure hopes the company will be able to do more volunteering in the spring. We all feel it s important to give back. I think it s good for us to work together, McClure said. Worthington believes in community causes, whatever they can do to help whether it s giving time or money. It s part of our philosophy to give back. The United Way Volunteer Center will: work with you to determine what your volunteer project needs are determine what types of volunteer projects are needed at local nonprofits assist in implementing your project Call (316) 267-0202 to plan your activity
NEWS VOLUNTEERING IS KEEPING THE GUTOWSKIS YOUNG Longtime volunteers give time as retirees by Sarah Carlson Having been volunteers for years, George and Kathy Gutowski enjoy giving their time to help those in need. George worked for Cargill as the international sales coordinator for the Beef Division. During his 30 years of time there, he and his wife took part in barbecues supporting the Special Olympics and volunteered with the Lord s Diner and the Quivira Council, Boy Scouts of America, a United Way funded partner. We ve been with [the boy scouts] about 24 years, Kathy said. We work with the Lord s Diner. About once a month, we volunteer down there. Probably, well, since it started, basically. Since George s retirement in 2007, the two have volunteered with a group of about 20 other Cargill retirees and their spouses. The group started after a retiree met some members of another Cargill volunteer Kathy Gutowski volunteered at United Way s GIV Warehouse with a group of retirees from Cargill. group on a trip to Minneapolis and thought Wichita could use the same thing. The Gutowskis joined because George thought it might be a good way to keep in contact with friends he formerly worked with. It was. It s great, he said. I think it s just a reflection of the Cargill attitude, to help show a presence in the community and help where it s needed. Kathy said the group has meetings every other month at the Food Bank and after the meetings, those who can stay help pack backpacks for children in need. The group has fixed meals for families staying in the Ronald McDonald House and helped with Operation Holiday, sorting clothing and checking people in. Kathy has also used the United Way Volunteer Center to coordinate a group to help sort donations at United Way s Give Items of Value (GIV) Warehouse, where companies can donate supplies and products that are then given to local nonprofits. It keeps you busy, George said. I think the biggest thing is I ve talked to a lot of retirees that just sit at home and really don t get involved in anything, don t have any hobbies, and that s not healthy. They get depressed, have other health issues, and that s just not for us. Kathy agreed. She said occupying time was a big thing. It keeps you younger, I think, too, she said. It gives you social [activities] and you have contacts with other people. It keeps you healthy. If you or someone you know is retired and would like to be involved as a volunteer, call 2-1-1 to find service opportunities from the United Way Volunteer Center.
Community Connection 2014 EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEERING 21ST ANNUAL YOUTH DAYS OF CARING Employees from Credit Union of America completed three community service projects during their annual training day. CREDIT UNION OF AMERICA EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEER FOR ANNUAL TRAINING DAY On Feb. 17, as part of annual training, 200 employees from Credit Union of America made lunches for a homeless program, assembled book bags for preschoolers and made fleece tie-blankets for runaway teens. CUA worked with the United Way Volunteer Center to develop the service projects. The Volunteer Center organized the three projects that could be produced at the training site. The volunteers distributed the lunches to clients at the United Methodist Open Door Homeless Resource Center and the book bags will be given to Child Start. The blankets will be distributed by the Wichita Children s Home for their Street Outreach Services program. Students from the Wichita area helped paint cabinetry at the Wichita Community Theatre during last year s spring break. STUDENTS CAN SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER OVER SPRING BREAK Students looking for something to keep them busy over spring break can sign up to volunteer during the 21st annual United Way Youth Days of Caring, March 17-21. Throughout the week, area youth can volunteer their time at various nonprofit agencies around Wichita. All of the participants will receive a Youth Days of Caring t-shirt for volunteering. This year s projects include painting, repairing a playground, doing landscaping work, assisting adults with disabilities and more. The minimum age to volunteer is 12, depending on the project. Deadline to sign up is March 10. Register online at: unitedwayplains.org/ youthdaysofcaring.
United Way of the Plains 245 N. Water Wichita, KS 67202 Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit #428 Wichita, Kansas SUSAN JOHNSON Q&A with the new Chair of the Young Leaders Association Q: Why is it important to you to volunteer or otherwise be active in your committee, such as in your role with the Young Leaders Association? In my viewpoint, I am not a part of the community if I am not active in the community. When I made the decision to move here four years ago, I really challenged myself to learn and become active in the Wichita community. United Way was a natural fit, since I was already giving at a Young Leader level. As far as my role in the Young Leaders Association, I was approached with the opportunity and felt it also was a good fit allowing me to network with other young professionals and to help spread the United Way mission at the same time. Q: How has being involved changed you or shaped your mindset? It is so touching to know you have helped so many. Being involved has given me knowledge much knowledge. For example, there are many misconceptions of how the fund allocation process works, and I am completely amazed at the results-oriented, independent approach United Way has taken to help spread MY dollars. Further, United Way s efforts to drive volunteering opportunities within the community are amazing. I learned recently that the Volunteer Center helps match volunteers to both United Way funded and non-funded organizations. Between the Volunteer Center and the 2-1-1 line, United Way is making great strides in connecting our community together. Q: What are the personal career benefits of being a Young Leader? A personal career benefit of being a Young Leader is the ability to connect with other young professionals in Wichita. There are few organizations in this community that give this type of opportunity without having a hometown tie (in my opinion). I have met numerous young professionals and have learned about various successful businesses in Wichita, as well as look to this group for recruiting options. Q: United Way helps with a lot of issues and fills a lot of needs in the community. Was there a specific need that drew you to the organization? The specific need that drew my attention to United Way was the impact my dollars could have on numerous organizations. Further, knowing that my dollars are being dispersed among organizations that are showing positive results and measurable action is a peace of mind. Q: What would you say to someone who is considering becoming a Young Leader, but is maybe on the fence about it? Obviously if someone is considering becoming a Young Leader, they are committed to helping our community. I would say that there is no other organization around that can take your dollars and spread [them] throughout our community and touch so many in need. It is so touching to know you have helped so many. For more information on the Young Leaders Association, please contact Alisha Curry at (316) 267-1321.