Agilent India launches first United Way campaign
 Agilent's objective as a global corporate citizen is to be an economic, intellectual and social asset in each community in which it does business. As part of this commitment, in the midst of difficult economic circumstances, Agilent India launched its first “Giving Campaign”—to which Agilent employees donated more than one million Rupees (USD $25,000). Close to 40% of the entire organization participated with some teams garnering 100% participation.
Venkatesh Valluri, President and Country Manager, Agilent India, introduced the United Way concept and vision to the employees in Gurgaon, India—a community with no past United Way presence. Venkatesh and his leadership team member, Swati Bhattacharya, reiterated Agilent's global commitment to corporate social responsibility when meeting with the leadership team and associates. As this was a first-time effort, the team organized educational meetings to outline how United Way in Gurgaon will work in the community. Employee events were held and balloons, posters and banners were used in all seven Agilent India offices to generate interest and excitement in the program. Agilent is one of the first multinationals to run a United Way Giving Campaign in India. Other multinational corporations plan to replicate the Agilent experience.
"The organization paved the way for [Agilent employees] to start giving back to our communities. Over the years, we were inspired by Agilent's CSR activities, fuelled by the personal time and monetary investment by the senior leadership team. We are proud to work for a company that is a good corporate citizen, in addition to being a great employer," said one Agilent employee.
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Save the date—economic conditions webinar
On Thursday, November 6, from 2:30-4 p.m. EST, United Way will hold a webinar for NCL companies focusing on economic conditions and how NCL companies and United Ways can partner to strengthen their positions. The current state of NCL company campaigns and community engagement will be discussed as we consider the real and anticipated effects of the economy on the philanthropic field, hear about how companies—and United Way—are responding, and explore how we can work together to meet these challenges head-on. Register for the webinar.
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Costco website features opportunity to give
 During the month of October, the homepage of Costco's website features a United Way LIVE UNITED logo directing Costco Members to a United Way click-and-give pledge site powered by Truist. Members can give to their home United Way or direct their gift to education, financial stability or health impact areas, or to United Way of America. Costco's website generates more than three million unique visitors each week, totaling more than 12 million impressions for the month of October.
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Use 2-1-1 to connect employees with critical services
With gas prices soaring, grocery costs increasing, and the financial market in decline, many people are in need. Even in tough times, United Way is making it easy for everyone to receive help.
2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember number that connects callers to free information about critical health and human services, community resources and government assistance available in their community. Use the 2-1-1 table tent, 2-1-1 flyer and sample 2-1-1 messaging to share this resource with employees—hang it in break rooms, share over your intranet, include in campaign materials, etc. Find out more information about 2-1-1.
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Publix encourages communities to LIVE UNITED
 Publix Super Markets, Inc. is encouraging its communities to LIVE UNITED. To show its commitment to strengthening the communities where its employees and customers live and work, Publix Super Markets, Inc. is featuring LIVE UNITED and a call to give, advocate and volunteer on its grocery bags in more than 900 stores.
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Companies assist with long-term hurricane recovery
Thank you for your generous response and leadership in the communities affected by the 2008 hurricane season. What took the hurricanes just moments to destroy will take years to rebuild, and United Way will be there for the long haul with the goal of bringing the communities back even stronger than before.
Read a few examples of ways that United Way National Corporate Leaders, Air Products, Bank of America, Dow Chemical Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, FedEx Corporation, Fluor Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Company, IBM Corporation and Wells Fargo, partnered with United Way to help communities devastated by the storms. Thank you to everyone for your generous contributions of money, volunteers and in-kind gifts to United Way and a variety of other partners.
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United Way Alternative Spring Break 2009
 United Way Alternative Spring Break (ASB) engages young people in a life-changing volunteer immersion experience. Over the last three years, United Way has teamed with local communities across the nation to mobilize the power, energy and dedication of young adults to help rebuild America. ASB 2008 was made possible through the generous support of United Way National Corporate Leaders Deloitte and FedEx. If you would like information about sponsoring ASB 2009 or sending a team of your employees, please contact your NCL Account Manager. Find out more information about upcoming ASB opportunities.
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KPMG, PwC, and P&G support Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, vital services do not always reach children in the most marginalized regions. That's why Costa Rica's business community partnered with United Way in Costa Rica—locally known as Asociacion Empresarial para el Desarrollo (AED)—to bring community projects to all Costa Rican youth. After negotiations with the Ministry of Education, the government agreed to bring three of the group's suggested initiatives to the national level. By next year, teachers throughout the country will have access to more efficient learning tools and technology that will allow them to better support students.
The projects are currently supported by AED's workplace campaign associated with 73 companies in Costa Rica including United Way National Corporate Leaders KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Procter & Gamble. By combining the influence and motivation of local companies, the expertise and experience of United Way, and the power of the government to turn local successes into national policy, progress has been made on a country-wide scale. Read more.
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FedEx volunteers provide disaster preparedness and relief
 On September 16-17, more than 100 FedEx team members from San Francisco, along with the local United Way, volunteered to assist evacuees from Texas and Louisiana coasts affected by hurricanes Gustav and Ike. FedEx volunteers received training on 2-1-1, which connected callers—many who were displaced by the storms—with much-needed free information about community resources and health and human services. Along with volunteering, FedEx used its “FedEx Special Delivery” vehicle to take FedEx volunteers to daycare centers in the San Francisco area for delivery of disaster preparedness kits.
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The Principal volunteers hit a homerun
 Each month the Principal Financial Group partners with United Way to round-up employees to volunteer at a Day of Action. In August, The Principal volunteers gathered at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa to host 175 children at the Knot Hole Gang Clinic with members of the Iowa Cubs baseball team. For many children it was their first-time exposure to the Iowa Cubs and visit to Principal Park baseball stadium. The children spent the day moving from one baseball clinic station to another. Each group had an opportunity to work first hand with an Iowa Cub player and practice baseball skills. At the closure of the event, children were each given a photo of the Iowa Cubs Baseball Team and players were available for an autograph session.
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Abbott focuses on early education
In partnership with United Way, Abbott works to ensure that children start school ready to succeed and to improve the vitality of communities. In Lake County, Illinois, Abbott supports 14 United Way community programs including United Way of Lake County Success By 6—which includes an innovative home visiting program that provides quality health and early learning opportunities for high-risk parents and children. Largely due to Abbott’s support, this program has exceeded target community outcomes and has been recognized nationally by United Way of America as a "Best Practice Model Program." United Way of Lake County is honoring Abbott and the Abbott Fund for championing leadership in the community and for inspiring others to give back in order to create a brighter future.
Abbott and its employees also support the community through a commitment to volunteerism. More than 800 Abbott employees participated in 2008 Day of Caring projects. By the end of the summer, Abbott employees completed 21 projects across the community including three school makeovers. Through these projects alone, Abbott employees will generate improvements worth more than $83,000 in value to the local community.
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NFL players LIVE UNITED
 For 35 years, United Way, the National Football League (NFL) and its teams have been working together to strengthen America’s communities. Today, the NFL and United Way are leveraging resources and relationships to raise awareness about the importance of youth health and fitness and create opportunities for kids to lead healthier lifestyles. It’s part of United Way’s 10-year goal to increase by one third the number of youth who are healthy and avoid risky behaviors.
Be sure to tune in during NFL games to see the NFL United Way PSAs featuring NFL players sharing how they LIVE UNITED to support youth fitness.
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United Way’s focus on education, income and health
In today’s tough economy, United Way’s work is even more critical. United Way is working to advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health. These are the building blocks for a good life—a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement and good health.
For millions of hard-working families, the basic ingredients for a good life are increasingly beyond reach. Almost one-in-four working parents do not earn enough to provide for their families. An alarming 25 percent of teenagers will not graduate on time and only one-in-three adults can be considered healthy, based on risk factor data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Our nation can’t accept these conditions. By 2018, partnering together, United Way challenges America to:
- Cut by half the number of young people who drop out of high school
- Cut by half the number of working lower-income families that lack financial stability
- Increase by a third the number of youths and adults who are healthy and avoid risky behaviors
Learn more about how United Ways are addressing these issues or read the full report at http://www.liveunited.org/goals.
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United Way shares global vision
 United Way is working to build stronger communities around the world. By joining together as a powerful, integrated movement, United Ways are able to affect change at the local, national, regional and global levels. Through United Way’s shared mission and on-the-ground presence in 47 countries and territories, the organization is able to have a global reach while still leveraging its local expertise. Learn more about United Way’s vision for our global movement. View the video with Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Spanish subtitles.
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