A Vision for the Future

A Vision for the FutureUrban League of Greater Chattanooga, Inc.

A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR:

Mr. and Mrs. John R. Smith

Month Day, Year

Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, Inc.

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The Mission of Our Movement

Our mission is to enable African-Americans and other disadvantaged

persons to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.


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The Urban League Movement

Established in 1910, National Urban League (NUL) is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African-Americans and other underserved populations to enter the economic and social mainstream by imparting a five-point strategy.

1. Education and Youth Empowerment

2. Economic Empowerment

3. Health and Quality of Life Empowerment

4. Civic Engagement and Leadership Empowerment

5. Civil Rights and Racial Justice Empowerment

Headquartered in New York City, NUL spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its 100 local affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

Our local affiliates work to serve millions of individuals and families in their communities through programs, advocacy and research tailored to their communities’ specific needs.


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Our Local Affiliate: Urban League of Greater Chattanooga

Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, Inc. (ULGC) has been part of the national network of Urban Leagues since 1982.

ULGC’s strategy is three-pronged and geared specifically towards serving the greater Chattanooga community:

– Ensuring that children are well-educated and equipped for economic self-reliance.

– Helping adults to attain economic self-sufficiency through good jobs, home ownership and wealth accumulation.

– Securing civil rights by eradicating all barriers to equal participation in the economic and social mainstream of America.

Established in 1982

7 full-time, 1 part-time and 35 contracted employees

24 Board members

Total operating budget of $1,195,033

Diverse income sources:

– State and local: $809,937

– Foundations: $75,000

– United Way: $74,098

– Special events: $55,743

– Corporations: $16,000

– Individual membership: $10,555

– NUL: $5,000


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Our Empowering Approach to Impacting Change

Empowered through Financial Stability: to assist in the eradication of poverty and help families overcome financial hurdles and obtain financial stability, ULGC offers services, such as:

– Volunteer Tax Assistance program

– Home Ownership Planning workshops

– Financial Education workshops

– Debt Elimination and Credit Repair workshops


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Empowered through Education: with the support of partners and using educational programs, ULGC prepares students for academic success with learning initiatives:

– The 21st Century Learning Center

– A World in Motion (science and engineering camp)

– Scholastic Book Distribution Literacy Initiative

– Urban League/Infinite Scholars Scholarship Fair


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Empowered through Health and Wellness: recognizing the impact a healthier lifestyle has on a client’s overall well-being, ULGC’s health initiative encompasses numerous services:

– Workout sessions with professional fitness advisors

– Nutrition and cooking classes

– Health screenings

– Obesity and diabetes prevention seminars


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Empowered through Workforce Development: in an effort to assist clients as they gain employment and build sustainable careers, ULGC provides workforce development services to further impact the individual’s success:

– Job Placement program

– Career Training

– Resume Writing workshops

– Job Interview Preparation workshops

– Computer and Internet training


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Impactful Programs…Proven Results…

ULGC partnered with the Infinite Scholars Program, dedicated to recruiting minority students to be recipients of college scholarships, to host its first annual Infinite Scholars Scholarship Fair. Of the nearly 300 students who attended, 129 were awarded more than $2.4 million in scholarships, an average of $18,600 per student.

Of the more than 1,200 individuals who have visited ULGC’s Employment Center, 57% have been placed in full-time, gainful employment. Our job placement program contributed to $6.5 million in wages reinvested in the local economy.

Note: All results are reflective of ULGC’s programs in 2007, as reported in its Annual Report.

More than 3,500 individuals sought tax preparation assistance. The tax returns completed at one of our 20 sites yielded approximately $2.5 million in refunds that were reinvested in the local economy.

Our Sisters Together: Move More, Eat Better program, is designed to encourage African-American women ages 18 to 35 to live a healthier lifestyle by becoming more physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and eating healthier foods. On average, each program participant lost 13 pounds, and more than 50% continue with the program.


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Impactful Programs…Uplifting Stories…

“I don’t think I would have this job today if weren’t for the Urban League. The skill set that they give you and the attitude they take toward helping find a job is absolutely outstanding.”

“We did a lot of things just to broaden our horizons. Right now I’m thinking about communications and graphic design. And the National Achievers Society is helping me reach my goal.”

“I’m interested in anything that’s gonna help me better myself.”

“I’ve been able to start paying off bills that I had thrown aside, plus I’ve managed to save a little money. This class at the Urban League – it definitely works.”

“They helped me to say, ‘Look, you deserve this hour for yourself. You’re a mom who’s on the go for your kids, you’re on the go for your job, you’re on the go for church, and you deserve this.’ It’s helped me mentally and physically, and it feels so good. I look so forward to coming in to exercise.”


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An Invitation to Join the Movement

The disparities between African-Americans and other ethnicities in the greater Chattanooga community continue to grow further and further apart, particularly in areas related to education, employment and health.

As a member of ULGC, your participation in this movement will greatly impact our success.

ULGC’s grassroots approach means depending on our members and volunteers to disseminate our mission, tell our story and elicit interest in our joining our movement.


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Your ULGC Membership

Make a representative, pace-setting gift in support of ULGC’s efforts to help secure its Vision for the Future.

Endorse ULGC’s mission and plan in an effort to move forward the Urban League movement.

Encourage ongoing support to make ULGC and its programs more sustainable.

Re-invigorate ULGC’s grassroots approach and reliance on community participation.


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A Special Request for John R. Smith

ULGC is most grateful for your [interest in becoming a member of ULGC] or [previous support of our movement].

With deep gratitude for your [commitment to ULGC] or [desire to have an impact on the future of our communities], we ask that you partner with us as we create our Vision for the Future by considering a contribution of $_____ a year for three years, resulting in a total gift of $_____, to provide ongoing support of our programs.

Your gift and membership may also be recognized both locally, by ULGC, and nationally, by NUL.

Through your participation, leadership and generosity, we can serve the needs of the greater Chattanooga population by empowering our community and changing lives.


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What Your Generosity Means to ULGC

Encourage others to regard ULGC and the future of the movement in new philanthropic terms.

Create exceptional awareness for ULGC and its programs, as well as the needs of the greater Chattanooga community.

Increase the ability to attract new individual donors and supporters.

Help to establish and challenge a community-based culture of giving to meet ULGC’s long-term goals.

Assure the longevity of ULGC’s movement in an ever-changing society.

Show the affect increased individual giving will have on furthering our mission.

The impact of your gift to ULGC will be significant, because it will:


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Ways to Give

Gifts of cash: an outright gift of cash for which the donor receives an income tax deduction as prescribed by current law. Pledging your gift over a multi-year period may allow you to make a more substantial gift, while affording you the opportunity to adjust the timing and amount of each payment to achieve the most beneficial tax treatment.

Gift of appreciated publicly traded securities: a gift of stocks or bonds that are (or will be) readily marketable. The deduction for outright gifts of appreciated long-term securities (held more than twelve months) is equal to the fair market value of the securities on the date the donor relinquishes control of the assets to ULGC. None of the appreciate is taxable for capital gains purposes. The stock should not be sold, rather, it should be transferred to ULGC to achieve the most advantageous tax treatment.

Corporate matching gifts: these gifts will be encouraged and credited to the donor as described by the matching gift arrangement. Donors should supply the necessary forms to ULGC with the appropriate pledge documentation and contributions.

There are many ways that you may help to support our Vision for the Future. Because ULGC is relying on your generous support and leadership to move forward our movement, we urge you to consider the following methods of giving:


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Our Appreciation

Thank you for your consideration of this gift request.

Your generosity will have a long-lasting impact on our Vision for the Future.


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Warren E. Logan, Jr.President & CEO

Our Leadership

Executive Committee

Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson Board ChairErlanger Medical Center

Ronald LovingVice ChairCommunity Volunteer

Leonard FantPast Board ChairmanBlood Assurance

Larry BuiePast Board ChairmanChattanooga Gas Company

Wendall MorganTreasurerMcDonald’s

Dr. Daniel ChallenerSecretaryPublic Education Foundation

Board Members

Lydia Sindos AdamsCommunity Volunteer

Daniel BattsEnterprise

Dr. Roger Brown, Ph.D.University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Sandy BuquoThe Johnson Group

Frank BurkeChattanooga Lookouts

The Honorable Judge Curtis CollierUS District Court

Dorothy GrishamAllState Insurance

Dr. Fannie Hewlett, Ed.D.Chattanooga State Technical Community College

Kathy OwenUNUM

Cynthia ScalesCommunity Volunteer

Robert SiskinRobert Siskin & Associates

Albert WaterhouseWaterhouse Public Relations

Jimmy WintonUnited Parcel Services

Rick YoungbloodBlood Assurance


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For additional information, please contact:

Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, Inc.730 Martin Luther King Boulevard

Chattanooga, TN 37403

(423) 756-1762

www.ulchatt.net

Documents

A Vision for the Future