Deloitte creates a United Way video game

Deloitte & Touche USA LLP and United Way of America have teamed up to create a new video game to make learning more fun while teaching students about community service. The Virtual Team Challenge (VTC) Event! uses games, music and the internet to help teams of students compete against other teams in their class, their school and across the nation. Teams act as an event production company staging a community festival to raise money for United Way. The game teaches life skills and reinforces issues such as negotiation, business ethics and volunteering, in a fun, interactive and relevant way. 

In October, the simulation was launched in 177 high schools across the U.S. with more than 5,500 high school students signed up to play. The seven teams that raise the most “virtual money” will receive a monetary donation to their local United Way and a monetary contribution to their high school to be awarded during a school assembly.

Corporate philanthropy increases profits
On October 18, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that corporations increased their giving by a median 4.8% in 2006. Communities are not the only ones benefiting from this increase in corporate generosity. An article appearing on The Chronicle of Philanthropy website on October 29 highlights a study finding that companies with a culture of charitable giving are more profitable, showing that corporate philanthropy truly benefits us all.

General Mills’ volunteers make an impact

Each year General Mills awards a few select employees with the General Mills Vanguard Volunteer Award, recognizing employees who demonstrate a strong commitment to service, generate noticeable impact and inspire others to act. This year, two employees were recognized for their exceptional volunteer work with United Way. Thank you to General Mills and its employees for their commitment to volunteerism and United Way. 

Thanks for making United Way number one
Thanks to the support of NCL companies, employees, retirees and other generous people across the country, United Way is again number one on The Chronicle of Philanthropy Top 400 charities list. At $4.14 billion in total private support in 2006, United Way reported roughly 40% more than the number two charity on the list.

In a recent interview with United Way of America President and CEO Brian Gallagher, The Chronicle of Philanthropy noted that the United Way system last year also experienced significant increases in resources under management (i.e., funds that are not designated to other organizations and are available for United Way’s community impact work). The Chronicle reported evidence that United Ways that are more engaged in community impact tended to have stronger resource development results than their peer United Ways and the system.

As United Way of Metropolitan Chicago celebrates their 75th Anniversary this year, they took this opportunity to recognize some of their longest supporters who have shown their commitment to helping people in Chicago through robust campaigns, sponsorships and volunteerism year after year. United Way of Metropolitan Chicago ran an ad in the October 15 Chicago Tribune and the October 22 issue of Crain’s Chicago Business (ad space donated by Crain’s Chicago Business) highlighting several companies, including AT&T and Harris Bank. Congratulations to United Way of Metropolitan Chicago for this major milestone and thank you to these companies for many years of support in Chicago and across the country. 

United Way of America has partnered with the National Fund for Workforce Solutions™, which works to improve employment, training, and labor market outcomes for low-income individuals, leading to better jobs, better workers, and a better workforce development system. This partnership will expand workforce partnerships in local communities and strengthen the United Way Financial Stability Partnership™. Twelve local United Ways have been selected to participate in United Way of America’s Workforce Development Readiness Pilot Cohort.