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Find the HERO in you! Every threeseconds, someone needs blood - afriend, a family member, or maybeeven you. Over 50 blood donors areneeded daily for trauma, surgery andcancer patients in our community.The need is real. You’resomebody’s type and youcan help!

Blood donors participatingin the United Way-KUNCCommunity Blood Drive incooperation with BannerHealth North Colorado MedicalCenter Blood Donor Services willhelp to insure that the transfusionneeds of area patients are met. Thedrive is being held on Thursday, June30, 2011, from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm atKUNC Community Radio forNorthern Colorado’s parking lot, 190156th Avenue in west Greeley.

Any individual in good generalhealth, at least 18 years of age (17years with a signed parental consentform-available at donor center), andweighing at least 110 pounds candonate blood. Donors should eat asubstantial meal and drink plenty ofwater before donating. All donorsmust also bring a driver’s license orphoto identification with date of birth.Please help replenish our local bloodsupply. Summer months are a criticaltime for blood donations, and yourgift may save up to 2 lives. All bloodtypes are needed.

To schedule an appointment, pleasecall Andrea Hawkins at Banner

Health Blood Donor Services, 970-392-2439 or visit our website at

www.unitedway-weld.org.

About Banner Health North ColoradoMedical Center Blood Donor Services

North Colorado Medical Center is the onlyBanner Health facility with a Blood DonorCenter. They provide blood components forNCMC, McKee (Loveland), Sterling andBrush patients. 97.3% of the blood they col-lect is used in patient care. The highest needis for cancer, trauma and burn patients.

The bloodmobile travels northern Coloradoat least three days each week so that thepurchase of blood, at inflated prices, may beavoided. In 2009, this service saved patientsover $1.2 million in costs that they wouldhave otherwise paid if the organization had topurchase it. The costs passed on to thepatient are for infectious disease testing andsupplies.

Andrea Hawkins, the organizations BloodDonor Outreach Coordinator said, “It is esti-mated that over 90% of the population willneed a blood transfusion at some point intheir lifetime. The blood you donate givessomeone else another chance at life. Oneday that someone may be a close relative, afriend, a loved one – or even you. For me, itwas my husband who got another chance atlife. You have the most precious resource ofall – the ability to save a life by donatingblood! I look forward to seeing you on June30th.”

United Way and Cornerstone Partner,KUNC, sponsor Community Blood Drive

United Way of Weld County 2010-2011 Board of Directors

Chair: Dan Dennie, Banner Health/North Colorado Medical Center

Chair Elect: Rick Jenkins, Flood & Peterson Insurance, Inc.

Vice Chair: Stow Witwer, Witwer, Oldenburg, Barry & Johnson, LLP

Vice Chair: Jay Hinrichs, University of Northern Colorado

Vice Chair: Shelley Costigan,Sears Real Estate

Treasurer: Fred Bauer, Farmers Bank-Ault

Gary Boehler, Carestream Health, Inc

Bruce Broderius, Greeley-Evans School Dist 6 Board of Directors

Jim Brock, Rickards, Long & Rulon, LLP

Perry Buck, Northern Colorado Event Planning, LLC

Mike Geile, Aims Community College Board of Trustees

Randy Geist, JBS USA

Rebecca Koppes Conway,19th Judicial District

Dave Long, Weld County Commissioner

J. Robert Lowenbach,Office of the State Court Administrator

Ken Ludwig, Aims Community College

Margie Martinez Perusek, Weld County Sherriff's Office

Bill May, Rancher

Roy Otto, City of Greeley

Stephanie Rosenbaum, University of Northern Colorado

Doug Round, D&F Specialists

Amber Sabine, Aims Community College

Cathy Schulte, Upstate Economic Development Corporation

Manny Sisneros, Alamo Liquors

Sandy Tomasovich,State Farm Insurance Companies

Mike Trotter, Front Range Roofing

Ted Warner, Connecting Point

Join us in our mission:To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community.

Assuring Accountability

Even difficult times can be kind timesOften people in need of assistance arefrustrated with their situation andspend large amounts of time navigat-ing who to call. United Way of WeldCounty’s 2-1-1 Information andReferral program is a leader in the callservice industry. Our 2-1-1 Call Centerhas a most efficient service level. Onaverage, within 48 seconds of dialing2-1-1, clients and Call Specialists areconnected and are working togetheridentifying community resources. Alot of clients have already spent toomuch time on the phone before theyget to us so it is important for us toquickly pick up.

Callers aren’t always positive aboutwhat information they are seeking.Some know exactly what they want,but some need to be assessed.Listening is an essential skill for the 2-1-1 staff. By kind and considerate lis-tening to the caller the call specialistcan provide the best information for thespecific need.

The United Way Board Chair, DanDennie, recently said to me, “TheBoard is very proud of our Call Center.The staff has demonstrated a superiorwork ethic and their devotion to eachclient is clear in their attitudes and

practices.”Please be a United Way champion andshare your knowledge of United Way’s2-1-1 Information and Referral programwith anyone and everyone you know. Acall to 2-1-1 can assist with basichealth and human service needs, childcare, legal help, medical/dental care,employment, housing, and many otherservices. It can make a dramatic differ-ence in someone’s life to have a per-son who cares and is ready to helpanswer on the other end of the line. Allcalls are free, confidential, available24/7 and bilingual specialists areaccessible when needed.

Whether an individual is in need ofassistance or a professional is helpinga client, all resource information isavailable to search online as well. Justgo to www.unitedway-weld.org andclick on NEED HELP. It really is justthat easy.

Jeannine Truswell, Executive Director

Cutting the high school dropout rate inhalf for just one class would likely lead toincreased dollars in earnings, provide aboost to home sales, and create newjobs throughout Weld County. The besteconomic stimulus is a high school diplo-ma. From the individual student to thebank branch manager, or realtor, every-one wins when more students graduatefrom high school.

United Way of Weld County is commit-ted to a quality education for all childrenand to strengthening the vitality of ourcommunity. It is clear to community lead-ers that graduating from high school hassignificant positive economic and finan-

cial benefits for the business communityand not just for the individual getting theeducation. “United Way supportsincreased graduation rates throughoutWeld County. It’s in the community’sbest interest that all of our students grad-uate from high school with the skills nec-essary to compete in a global economy.This is something all businesses—smalland large—should see as a priority,” saidJeannine Truswell, United Way of WeldCounty’s Executive Director.

Weld County high school graduateswould likely make additional contribu-tions to our local economy by:

• spending more on home purchases than what they would likely spend without a diploma

• earning more in an average year, compared to their likely earnings without a high school diploma

• spending and investing additional dollars in an average year

• boosting state tax revenues in an average year

After earning a high school diploma,almost half of new graduates will likelycontinue on to some type of postsec-ondary education. However, only about27 percent of these new graduates areexpected to complete their studies. Highschool dropouts are over three timesmore likely to be unemployed than arecollege graduates.

How do we close the achievement gapso more will graduate? One answer is toensure that children are ready to learnwhen they enter kindergarten. Researchshows these children are more likely tostay in school. School readiness is acommitment of United Way’s Promisesfor Children. This is the community’sfuture that your investment to UnitedWay is focused on. Thank you for yourthoughtful generosity!

Diplomas are the best economic stimulus

Lily has been receiving Meals onWheels for four years. This service iswhat has allowed her to stay in her ownhome and retain her independence.This lovely woman, like so many of ourcommunity’s seniors, is on a fixedincome and has high medical expens-es. Lily is fortunate to have family whoare willing to help. Her daughter andson-in-law had been paying for hermeals for the past four years until theywere both laid off from their jobs and asa result were no longer able to pay forMom’s Meals on Wheels.

Hoping that there was help, Lilycalled Meals on Wheels to ask if therewas any assistance available to her.Thankfully Meals on Wheels receivesfunding for just such circumstances andthey were able to subsidize her mealfees for 6 months. After four monthsLily’s children are able to start payingfor her meals again and the extra fundsare able to be allocated to anotherclient in need. This is just one exampleof a significant return on your UnitedWay investment - another elderly parentcan live alone without being alone.Thank you for your support.

Lily’s story...

Meals on Wheels comes to the rescue

The University of Northern Colorado StudentUnited Way just successfully completed its first yearof organization and is eagerly looking forward to fall2011 when students will swarm the UNC campus.They hope to increase the membership and expandactivities.

Recently, three of the UNC Student United Waymembers spent an afternoon sorting donated food atthe Weld Food Bank. When they started, there wasa mountain of donated canned food items in twoenormous bins. Every can needed to be inspected,checked for expiration dates, and sorted into boxes.The task seemed ominous at first, but the three stu-dents and United Way of Weld County Advisors,Beth Pantzer and Sandie Cantrell, worked their waythrough both bins. Only a few cans were left whenthey were done because they just ran out of time,not necessarily out of stamina. This was a hardtask, but the students were congratulated by theWeld Food Bank for doing such an outstanding job.

The group also created a memory book recordingthe journey a family took to become proud ownersof their very first home. It included the photos docu-menting Habitat ground breaking all the way to theDedication ceremony. This energetic group was alsoa great help at United Way’s Grand Ole Auction.

For questions about Student United Way, contactResource Development Account Manager, Sandie Cantrell

at 970-304-6171 or sandie@unitedway-weld.org

Student United Way isunstoppable

Books forPlatte Valley

YouthServiceCenter

The last week that Borders Books wasopen United Way received a call asking ifwe would be interested in the unsold bookinventory. The opportunity required nocash, only muscle to load the books into atruck and drive it away. We said yes.

The main hallway at the United Waybuilding was lined with box upon box, uponheavy box of brand new books. It wasmuch more than we anticipated. Thebooks have since found new homes. Theyhave been distributed to children andyouth programs and the High PlainsLibrary District.

Wendy Ginther, the Library /MediaManager at Platte Valley Youth ServiceCenter had this to say. “I just want to saythanks again for allowing me to get booksfor our kids. It has been so much funwatching them scrutinize each book look-ing for the perfect one. I had one of thestudent’s tell me it was the first book heever owned! I really wish you could havebeen here and witnessed how all of yourhard work paid off. I had two of our stu-dents help me unload the boxes, count thebooks and lay them out in the library. Itwas like Christmas morning to them, theywanted me to ‘reserve’ the books theywanted so they could get them next week.Students are only allowed 1 “free” book aweek and most of the free books are wellread books that I have weeded from ourlibrary shelves, so it was pretty cool tohave new books. We counted 213 booksthat we received from you; no wonderthose boxes were so heavy! Thanks onemore time for everything!”

Turning challenges intoopportunities

...Melanie’s storyMelanie and her 6 children moved to

Greeley in January 2011. She secured ajob at a local business to support herfamily and worked a considerableamount of overtime. When she didn’t getpaid for the overtime Melanieapproached her supervisor about it andthereafter she wasn’t scheduled for anyadditional work.

This left Melanie with a short paycheckwhich went toward her rent. She wasunable to pay her utilities. A call toUnited Way of Weld County’s 2-1-1 was

a first step to turning her challenges intoopportunities.

The 2-1-1 Call Specialist referred herto LEAP for her Atmos Energy bill andcontacted Women 2 Women to assistwith her electric bill which exceeded$250. Women 2 Women paid the entireelectric bill. Melanie was overwhelmedby the agency’s generosity saying,“ Ican’t tell you how happy I am that Icalled 2-1-1, thank you so much!” Moregood news came to Melanie. She recent-ly learned that her application had been

approved for a grant that will allow her tostart her own residential and commercialcleaning business.

When you give to United Way, we canhelp more people, like Melanie, who areliving on the edge avoid crisis and getback on their feet. United Way’s 2-1-1Information and Referral program isavailable 24/7 when help is needed.

It’s free, confidential, bilingual and easy– simply dial 2-1-1!

Alternate access – 800-559-5590 orwww.unitedway-weld.org

United Way of Weld County

CornerstonePartners

Monfort Family FoundationNCMC, Inc

State Farm Insurance Companies The Greeley Tribune

Xcel Energy Flood & Peterson Insurance, Inc

KUNC Community Radio for Northern Colorado

Phelps-Tointon, Inc QuadGraphics

Roche Constructors, IncWells Fargo Foundation

Atmos Energy Big R Bridge

Colorado Premium Foods Farmers Bank - AultFirst National Bank

JBS USAProfessional Finance Company, Inc

RR Donnelley Norwest, IncVestas Blades America, Inc

The production and printing of this Newsletter wasmade possible by the generosity of the United Wayof Weld County Cornerstone Partners.

United Way of Weld CountyPO Box 1944Greeley, CO 80632

con�nectA United Way of Weld County Publication | June 2011

United Way is making a commitment to reduce our environmental impact. Oneof our first steps is paper reduction. You can help us achieve a substantialdecrease in the use of paper by signing up for United Way of Weld County’s e-newsletter with your personal email address. Go to www.unitedway-weld.org, andsubscribe or give us a call at 970-353-4300 between now and August 1, 2011 andyou will be entered to win a Target Gift Card. If you have already provided us withyour personal email, thank you, you are already entered to win.

United Way's e-newsletter will keep you informed about the great work yoursupport has made happen locally. Your continued investment in our community ismaking sure our young children are ready for school, supporting increased gradu-ation rates so our young people have the tools for success, helping families on apath to self- sufficiency and making sure that basic needs are met when peopleare faced with challenging times. United Way is helping people across WeldCounty build a better life. Please help us to do our part in creating a healthy, sus-tainable community. Thank you!

Drawing for the $100 Target Gift Card will be held at noon on August 3, 2011.The lucky winner will be announced in the next edition of the United Way of WeldCounty’s newsletter. Good Luck!

Note: A limited edition of United Way of Weld County newsletters will be printed and avail-able for delivery by USPS. Please give us a call if that is your preference. 970-353-4300

Sign Up for United Way's e-Newsletterand win $100 Target Gift Card

Another time change? Yep, and it’s a good one!United Way of Weld County’s Day of Caring is movingfrom September to June! June 18th has been designat-ed the date for this year’s Day of Caring and as in previ-ous years all work will be done on Saturday the 18thbetween 8:00 a.m. and noon.

With Helping Hands Caring for the Community, the2011 Day of Caring will again reach out to area agen-cies that need assistance in completing projects theymay not normally have the time or manpower toaddress. Volunteers will provide the needed labor thushelping the agencies who help so many on a dailybasis.

This year’s committee hopes to encourage more familyfriendly projects. “Children learn life’s lessons at anearly age and experiencing volunteering should be oneof them” said Alanna Moses, Day of Caring Chairman.“Using their hands in helping to care for their communityenhances self-esteem, teamwork and gives families away to work together to benefit the world they live in.It’s a great opportunity for everyone” she said.

Projects will be filled on a 1st come, 1st served basesso please don’t delay! Volunteer to be a team leader, asite host or just volunteer for one of the many opportuni-ties the agencies are submitting. Whether you want tobe a Team Leader and recruit co-workers, friends andfamily or simply want to volunteer you can find the nec-essary forms at www.unitedway-weld.org

Further information may be obtained by contacting SandiMeier, Project Coordinator, at United Way of Weld County

970-353-4300 ext. 2592 or sandi@unitedway-weld.org

To see more information on United Way events, please go to www.unitedway-weld.org

United Way Day of CaringHelping Hands Caring for the Community

Many of us benefit from a day of rest from workas we ease into the summer months on

Memorial Day. Welcome back if you are one whowas fortunate enough to have that day. UnitedWay of Weld County hopes that we, as a com-munity, may help those coming home from war

find food, shelter, a job – so that they know therecan be true hope about life beyond war.

Beyond Memorial Day

Do good, feel good - boost your happiness

Volunteering is the right thing to do -- we all know that. And

studies show that it boosts happiness; those who work to further caus-es they value tend to be happier and healthier, experience feweraches and pains, and even live longer. And it’s not just that helpfulpeople also tend to be healthier and happier; studies show that help-ing others itself causes happiness. About a quarter of Americans vol-unteer, and of those, a third volunteers for more than a hundred hourseach year (which requires just two hours each week).

Do you need some help figuring out how to volunteer? United Way’s Volunteer Center can match volun-teers with opportunity. All you need to do is visit www.unitedway-weld.org and click on the VOLUNTEERtab. The volunteer management system we utilize matches nonprofits and volunteers. 1-800-Volunteer.org makes it easier for volunteers to find a way to serve right here in Weld County doing whatfits their life and skillset.

One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make someoneelse happy. Research tells us that happy people take greater interestin the problems of the people around them, and in social problems.They spend more time helping others and are more likely to volunteerand to give away money. Happiness gives people the emotionalwherewithal to turn outward, while less happy are more likely to feeldistrustful, isolated and preoccupied with their own needs. Your timeand skills are so valuable to so many.

HAPPY OPPORTUNITIES JUST FOR YOU…GO TO WWW.UNITEDWAY-WELD.ORG

Day of Caring – June 18 Helping Hands Caring for the CommunityUnited Way/KUNC Community Blood Drive – June 30 Give the Gift of Life Campaign Executive – July-December 2011

Youth Allocation Committee (High School Students) – August 2011

Weld Project Connect – October 14 Neighbors Helping NeighborsBright Beginnings Visitation – Year Round

Are volunteers valued? Oh, most definitely! Themost recent data from the National Corporation forCommunity Service reflects the 2010 value of anhour of volunteer time is worth $21.36. Nonprofitorganizations cannot exist without volunteers. Thank you for sharing yourself.