 Bank of America commits $2 million
In 2006, Bank of America partnered with United Way of America to pilot an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) project enhancing outreach and free tax preparation efforts in 33 communities across the country. This partnership brought nearly $270 million back to communities by increasing the capacity of United Way Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites and increasing the number of VITA clients through outreach efforts. Building off the success of the EITC pilot, Bank of America has signed on to expand the partnership with a commitment of $2 million over the next two years to support the United Way Financial Stability Partnership™ by expanding EITC outreach to 42 communities in 2008, sponsoring the 2008 Financial Stability Leadership Summit and supporting the development of one-stop Financial Stability Centers.
2006 Earned Income Tax Credit outreach results
| Snapshot of community results |
Tax year 2005 |
Tax year 2006 |
| Total # of volunteers from local communities |
4,698 |
8,931 |
| Total # of volunteer hours |
100,386 |
276,329 |
| Total # of filed tax returns |
161,635 |
225,824 |
| Total amount of EITC returned to clients |
$61,905,252 |
$83,262,273 |
| Total amount of tax refunds returned to clients |
$199,306,955 |
$269,336,295 |
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IBM equips United Way community partners
 As part of its annual technology grant program, IBM Corporation provided $6.4 million worth of cash or computer equipment to United Way. The partnership provides computers such as the Young Explorers – computers loaded with educational software and housed in colorful children’s desk furniture – as well as systems for running nonprofit operations. IBM and United Way work together to provide the computers to social agency services and other community partners. |
Campaign increases
Thank you to these companies and their employees for their generosity which enhances United Way’s ability to impact communities and make lasting changes in people’s lives.
| Company |
New Dollars |
Percent Increase |
| American Express Company |
$410,676 |
5.40% |
| Deluxe |
$180,206 |
29.0% |
| Shell Oil Company |
$1,214,640 |
13.0% |
| Williams |
$194,532 |
4.80% |
| Xcel Energy |
$183,364 |
4.40% |
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Apply for Spirit of America!
The twenty-first Annual United Way Spirit of America® Award and Summit Awards application is now available. The Spirit of America Awards program has been enhanced to feature a corporate social responsibility component and focus on sustainability and community impact. The application deadline is March 12, 2008. Please let us know if you plan to apply so we can send you the official application materials.
A special thank you to this year’s Spirit of America chair, Holly Cook from Deloitte & Touche USA LLP. Read feedback from last year’s Spirit of America judges.
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 NBC's leap for charity
NBC’s Today Show anchor Ann Curry bungee jumped from Teesside Bridge in England after viewers donated $10,000 to United Way and Save the Children. Articles on this leap for charity appeared in news around the world including The Washington Post and BBC.
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Target's Share-a-Tree success
Target’s 17th annual Share-a-Tree program was once again a success with media coverage in local newspapers across the country, including the Yuma Sun (Arizona) and Tricities.com (Virginia).
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Deloitte and FedEx sign-on to sponsor United Way Alternative Spring Break and campus engagement programs
 United Way of America is recruiting young people (ages 18-24) to do meaningful volunteer service through United Way Alternative Spring Break (ASB). Since its inception in March 2006, ASB has inspired nearly 500 young people to make positive changes in communities through volunteer service and United Way. ASB has also led to United Way engagement of young people on college campuses through United Way Students in Action and United Way 10,000 Hours Show.
How can NCL companies get involved? Share this exciting opportunity with your eligible employees, their children, grandchildren or other potentially interested 18-24 year olds; sponsor an individual employee or group of employees attending ASB; or contact us to learn more about national sponsorship opportunities.
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 Comcast's United Way PSA
As a participant in United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania's Partners in Caring, Comcast Corporation produced a public service announcement (PSA) for United Way featuring Comcast, Vanguard and Tastykake employees sharing why they invest their time and money in United Way. The PSA is currently running in regular rotation on Comcast Cable in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia suburbs, Southern New Jersey and Delaware, as well as Comcast SportsNet in the same markets.
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 NCL companies featured in New York Times
On December 11, United Way of America ran a full-page ad in the New York Times recognizing our National Corporate Leaders and their employees and retirees for their generous support of communities through United Way.
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Long-term recovery in the Gulf Coast
United Way of America asked members of the NCL Advisory council to serve as the grant review panel for the Promoting Partners Grant Fund benefiting long-term recovery in the Gulf Coast. This fund encourages Leadership 18 organizations to work in collaboration to address unmet needs and underlying barriers standing in the way of Gulf Coast recovery.
Thank you to these leaders for serving on the grant review committee:
| Kathleen Mayglothling – GE |
Reg Foster – IBM |
Dezarie Mayers – Pfizer Inc
Melissa Buchanan – Wachovia Corporation |
Carey Macdonald Wirtzfeld – Qwest Communications International |
| Nick Schmidt – Xcel Energy |
Joan McDade – Wells Fargo |
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The Bank of New York Mellon volunteers with United Way
The Bank of New York Mellon recently sent a United Way edition of the Community Calendar – its employee newsletter – featuring The Bank of New York Mellon employees’ participation in United Way Days of Caring across the northeast. More than 300 employees volunteered at several United Way community partner agencies.
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The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times recognize United Way
The Wall Street Journal and two articles in Financial Times recently recognized United Way for its sector leadership, direction on accountability and efforts to connect donor aspirations with community needs. This recognition for United Way’s success in bringing communities together to create lasting change is a testament to the collective work of United Way, our NCL companies and many other committed partners and volunteers across the country.
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| Start saving your pennies with United Way |
 On December 11, United Way of America launched United Way Pennies for Change. The program allows customers of participating financial institutions to automatically donate one penny to their local United Way for every credit or debit card transaction. United Way Pennies for Change currently has 14 financial institution partners and has received national media attention, including an article from The Chronicle of Philanthropy on December 11 as well as The Nonprofit Times.
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| January 31 – National EITC Day |
January 31, 2008 is national Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Day, a day created to educate the public about the EITC and requirements to claim the credit. The Earned Income Tax Credit – the nation’s largest and most effective federal aid program – is a tax credit available to hardworking individuals and families. As many as 20% of those eligible for the EITC are currently not receiving the credit either because they are unaware they qualify or unsure how to claim the credit. Contact us to see how you and your employees can get involved in spreading the word.
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| Benefits of donating stock |
The Chronicle of Philanthropy ran an article on November 7 highlighting the increasing trend of donors giving stocks, mutual funds, and other investments as gifts to charity. By donating appreciated stock with unrealized long-terms gains, a donor can claim a deduction against federal income taxes for the value of the shares without either the donor or the charity owing capital-gains taxes on the profit from the shares. If you would like to offer your employees more information about donating securities or stock, view our stock giving benefits card, our online stock giving calculator or contact us.
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 United Way International annual report United Way International’s 2006 annual report is now available. This report offers a snapshot of United Way International, including the 2006 Impact Report, financial information, list of member organizations, Board of Directors, trustees and staff.
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| Cold weather preparedness |
The winter months hold the possibility of icy roads, downed power lines and snow drifts. Feel free to share United Way’s tips for cold-weather preparedness with your employees in areas affected by winter weather.
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Successful AT&T campaign focuses on leadership and volunteerism
In August, AT&T launched a leadership challenge to promote giving at the $1,000 or more level in all divisions across the enterprise. As part of their leadership giving focus, the AT&T Midwest division continued their four-year tradition of sponsoring volunteer opportunities for director-level and above executives in 12 key markets across the region. Nearly 800 AT&T Midwest leaders participated in 85 Day of Caring projects. AT&T Midwest also had 1,023 leadership donors with total pledges of more than $1.5M.
Overall, AT&T employees contributed $32,190,693 – an increase of nearly $1 million over the 2006 campaign, including AT&T Inc., as well as the former BellSouth and Cingular Wireless, which merged with AT&T in late 2006. Total leadership giving from director-level and above executives totaled $5,820,762 or 18% of the total campaign dollars pledged.
“Participating in employee giving at the Leadership level and volunteering for Day of Caring is a great way to set a powerful example for your teams. It’s your high standard of giving with spirit of service that makes AT&T a great company,” said Steve Dimmitt, Senior Vice President – AT&T Consumer Markets and 2007 Midwest Leadership Giving Chair.
View a handmade thank you card from a client at an agency where AT&T employees volunteered. |
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