Living United: August/September 2011

August - September 2011

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Delawareans reach their long-termfinancial goals!Page 4

A message from Michelle A. Taylor

Dear Friends,The 2011 Campaign season is

upon us! Through our annualcampaign, United Way ofDelaware (UWD) funds more than100 community programs thatmake meaningful, measurableimprovements in our communities.

Our focus on Education, Incomeand Health ensures that yourcontributions are invested wiselyand with an eye on long-termimpact, as these three areas are

the building blocks to a better quality of life.Over the pastyear, for example:

We invested in early care and education by fundingcenters enrolled in the Delaware Stars qualityimprovement program and advocating for theincreased funding recently allocated to these centersby Governor Jack Markell. UWD continues to workcooperatively with the Department of Education to makesure that this additional state funding is used as efficientlyas possible, with the greatest impact on Delaware children.

We launched the $tand By Me™ ($BM) programin partnership with the State of Delaware. This issueand previous issues of Living United have highlighted thisunique financial coaching model.The first $BM center,located in the Hudson State Service Center in Newark,officially opened in May 2011 with a ceremony led byGovernor Jack Markell. Within six weeks of opening,the center was already serving more than 120 people,putting us on pace to exceed our goal of conducting500 sessions in the first 12 months of operation.

We connected more than 6,000 uninsuredDelawareans to healthcare services, through theHealthy Delawareans Today & Tomorrow (HDTT)coalition. Convened by UWD with support fromAstraZeneca, HDTT has connected nearly 45,000 uninsuredDelawareans to services, such as transportation andpatient navigation, since the program’s inception in 2007.

In our five-year strategic plan, Live United 2015: APlan to Improve the Quality of Life in Delaware, we outlineseveral important community goals to reach by 2015.These goals are ambitious, but achievable throughcontinued partnership and collaboration .

As the 2011 Campaign kicks off, I urge you to showyour support for these community programs and begenerous.

Please Live United with us and support the2011 Campaign.

Thank you!

Michelle A. Taylor

President and Chief Executive Officer,United Way of Delaware

UW2 United Way of Delaware August - September 2011 www.uwde.org

CHAIR OF THE BOARDDr. Robert J. Laskowski, MD, MBA

Christiana Care Health Care System, Inc.

TREASUREREdmund Green

KPMG LLP

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIRTom Josiah

Tom Josiah Consulting

SECRETARYRodger Levenson

WSFS Bank

STRATEGIC STEERING COMMITTEECO-CHAIR

Timothy J. ConstantineBlue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware

CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRGary R. Stockbridge

Delmarva Power

CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR*Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald

Caesar Rodney School District

HUMAN RESOURCE CHAIRMaritza Poza-Grise

DuPont

COMMUNITY IMPACT CHAIRGeorge GuidoAstraZeneca

LABOR CHAIRGwendolyn Lane

Delaware State American Postal Workers Union

MARKETING AND PUBLICRELATIONS CHAIR

David OwenBank of America

KENT COUNTY CHAIR*Michelle R. Brown

Catalyst Enterprises International

SUSSEX COUNTY CHAIR**Ted BeckerCity of Lewes

GENERAL COUNSELBarry M. Willoughby, Esquire

Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor LLP

MEMBER-AT-LARGEPhilip Reese

Delaware Public Employees Retirement System

MEMBER-AT-LARGEJoseph L. Yacyshyn

Wilmington Trust Company

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVEOFFICER

Michelle A. TaylorUnited Way of Delaware

Executive Committee

Tom AppleUniversity of Delaware

Jason BetzBetz & Associates, a Private Wealth

Advisory Practice of Ameriprise FinancialServices, Inc.

Chris BucciniBuccini/Pollin Group, Inc.

Tabatha L. Castro, EsquireThe Castro Firm, Inc.

Dr. Maxine ColmCamden County College

Diane GulyasDuPont Performance Polymers

Presiding Elder Winton HillDelaware Conference, Dover DistrictAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church

*Wayne HoldenCommunity Leader

*Dr. William N. JohnstonWesley College

Betsy LeeAAA Mid-Atlantic

Antoine OakleyEvraz Claymont Steel

*Douglas R. PhillipsHorty & Horty, P.A.

Paul C. Seitz CPA, CVASeitz Consulting, LLC

Tom ShoemakerTD Bank

Helen M. StewartJPMorgan Chase

Dr. Jack P. VarsalonaWilmington University

**Sandra WareGrubb & Ellis Company

Marietta “Peaches” WhalenDelaware State C.A.P. Council UAW

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSRobert V. A. Harra, Jr.

Wilmington Trust Company

Fred C. Sears, IIDelaware Community Foundation

Board of Directors

John AllenPepco Holdings, Inc.

Gene DvornickTown of Georgetown

Ritchie FranciaFulton Bank

Patti GrimesJoshua M. Freeman Foundation

Kim TephabockDagsboro Church of God

Seandra SimsSims Media & PR

Sussex County Committee

* These board members are also members of the Kent County Committee. ** These board members are also members of the Sussex County Committee.

Kenneth R. AndersonDelaware Economic Development Office

Linda ChickChick’s Harness & Supply, Inc.

Rev. Lonnie HarrisEcclesia Family Worship Center

Dave HillClear Channel Radio

Nelson HillCommunity Leader

Erica L. HowellStudent United Way at Wesley College

Jeanine KleimoDover Interfaith Mission for Housing

Janie LibbyDover Downs Hotel & Casino

Barbara SmithBurris Logistics

Eleanor Vernice SiyonInner City Cultural League, Inc.

Miguel WallaceProcter & Gamble /

Dover Wipes Company

Kent County Committee

www.uwde.org August - September 2011 United Way of Delaware UW3

United Way of Delaware is pleased to introducethree additions to its Board of Directors by Pam George

Betsy Lee has long supported United Way, so when the opportunity came to serve on the board, she waseager to participate. “My hope is that the professional experience and perspectives that I have from being aleader in the Wilmington business community will allow me to make a meaningful contribution,” she says.Prior to AAA, she worked for MBNA America and Bank of America in such areas as business lending, customersatisfaction, consumer finance, credit and Human Resources. “Any role I can play supporting UWDfundraising and the organization’s effectiveness will be a privilege.”

Betsy LeeSenior Vice President of Human Resources and DistributionAAA Mid-Atlantic

Jason Betz, a financial advisor since 1998, was an ideal choice to chair United Way of Delaware’s investment committee. Nowthe board will benefit from the certified financial planner’s background. “If I can lend my experience as a small business ownerand a financial consultant to help forward the progress of what’s already a great organization then I’d consider that a greataccomplishment,” he says. Betz, also a Salvation Army board member, appreciates UWD’s ability to identify and addressDelawareans’ needs. “It’s very comforting as donors to know the resources we entrust to UWD are effectively utilized,” says Betz.

Jason BetzPrivate Wealth Advisor / PresidentBetz & Associates, a Private Wealth Advisory Practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

No stranger to United Way, Rev. Winton Hill has been involved with the organization for more than 40 years. “It’s one of themost efficient charity organizations that I know about,” he says. “It helps a lot of people.” Hill, who grew up in Newark, N.J.,began preaching at age 17. He’s been a university pastor, a VA hospital chaplain and a U.S. Army chaplain. In 2004, he becamepresiding elder of the New Brunswick District of the New Jersey Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.In 2005, he moved to the Philadelphia District, and in 2008, he was transferred to Dover. As a board member, he wants toaddress community impact issues related to education, income and health, particularly in Kent and Sussex counties.

Rev. Winton M. Hill IIIPresiding Elder of the Delaware Conference, Dover DistrictAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church

I’m Gordon DelGiorno, producer at Film Brothers Productions in downtown Wilm-ington. I often say that people should help others without expecting anything in return.This can be difficult. We are all busy, and we all have different priorities. But all people --family members, loved ones, coworkers, perfect strangers -- need and deserve to feelvalued. And I think the old adage is true -- you get what you give. So I try my best to givemy time to others. And I find that when I do, the people I’ve helped always seem toreappear in my life and help me in some way. Compassion comes full circle. So, every day,I do my best to live and work selflessly. And that’s how I Live United.

How I Live United

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She discovered the $tand by Me Financial Empowerment Center whilevisiting the Hudson State Service Center in Newark, looking for helpgetting back on her feet. A partnership between United Way of Delaware,the State of Delaware and a coalition of community partners, the free program

offers one -on -one consultat ion on topics includingbudgeting, saving strategies, and college and financial aidapplications. Administered by West End NeighborhoodHouse, the free program is available to everyone, regardlessof income level.

Salomon, who had been through bankruptcy and a foreclosure,told the onsite financial coach that she was determined torebuild her life, but she was too frightened to find out hercredit score. But with her coach’s encouragement, she foundout the information she needed and was relieved that her scorewas not as bad as she thought it would be.

The coach gave Salomon tips on how to raise her scoreeven higher. “It really boosted my confidence,” she says. “Shewas very positive; I felt like she truly was standing by me.”

The center is already serving more than 120 people. “Clientshave all kinds of issues and challenges pertaining to money,” saysMary Dupont, Director of Financial Empowerment for the State ofDelaware. Some want to save for a goal, such as moving out of theirparents’ home or starting a business. Salomon and her coach talkedabout starting a college fund for her children.

“Zita demonstrates the powerful effect of having a coach totalk to about financial issues,”Dupont notes. “She’s moving on

to identify goals with a positive feeling about herfuture.”

$tand by Me partners plan to expand the programto include new sites such as grocery stores, hotels andstudent-oriented sites on college campuses and totarget specific populations, including youth who areaging out of foster care. To volunteer as a coach or formore information, go to www.standbymede.org or call(302) 283-5562.


by Pam George

Inone year, Zita Salomon lost her job and her home in Florida.She relocated to Delaware because she saw the state as a goodplace to raise her three children.

Program “Stands by” Delawareans in Financial Need

Zita Salomon (left) and her financial coach, Irma Rodriguez, discuss Zita’s goals, which includestarting a college fund for her children.

Volunteer coaches help customerswork toward long-term financial goals

photo by: Captured Concepts

United Way of Delawaresupports these programs and

others like it as part of its EDUCATION INCOME HEALTH

pillar.You can give directly to a pillar

when you make a donation!

When it comes to breaking ground in business, Bright Spot Ventures is on thecutting edge. It’s the first Delaware business run by employees who are in fostercare situations or who have recently “aged out” of foster care (reached age 18).

It’s unique in other respects. Bright Spot Ventures runs both an onlinebook-selling business and a farmers market.

Bright Spot Ventures is part of West End Neighborhood House, a UnitedWay partner agency whose Life Lines initiative helps foster-care youth becomeself-sufficient via mentoring, advocacy, life-skills training and housing. Andnow, employment training.

Employment was a missing link. “How can you learn to budget when you can’tafford the next meal?” says Carolyn Gordon, programmanager. “How can you save when you have no job andno bank account? We plugged in a social enterprise. Thebest job training is a job.”

Bright Spot Ventures, which receives support fromBarclays Bank, can employ up to 15 youth, ages 16 to 24,at any give time during nine-month cycles. In spacedonated by Wise Power Systems in New Castle, theemployees sell donated books, DVDs and CDs online.The Rockford Center and Barclays have held book andmedia drives to collect donations and the Delaware River& Bay Authority and John Carney’s Congressional officeare slated to hold drives in August.

The program also runs the Cool Spring Farmers

Market at 10th and North Van Buren streets, which runs Thursdays, from 4 p.m. to8 p.m., through Sept. 15.

The program’s goal is to transition the employees into the next job, college or atrade program. Bright Spot Ventures provides site visits and externships to companiesso that the youth can discover the skills required for a chosen career. “If they wantthat career, it may take college,” Gordon says. “It’s a way to spark an interest in highereducation via employment. We want to get them on the right track and help themstay on the right track.”

For more information regarding Bright Spot Ventures or to schedule adonation pick-up, contact CarolynGordon at (302) 658-2800.

To donate books, DVDs andCDs to Bright Spot Ventures,drop items at:

West End Neighborhood House710 North Lincoln St.Wilmington(302) 658-4171

or

Bright Spot Ventures43 Harbor View Dr.New Castle(302) 658-2800


Multifaceted program helps adolescents in foster care

Brittany Houghton, Amanda Zurlo and Shantee Handy assist a customer at the Cool Spring Farmers Market –another program run by Bright Spot Ventures to teach youth marketable skills.


Christopher Minor puts together an order for BrightSpot Ventures’ online book-selling business.


y of Delawarese programs andt as part of its NCOME HEALTHillar.directly to a pillarake a donation!

Local farms provide produce for Cool SpringFarmers Market.

by Pam George

Putting Youth to Work

photo by: Ashley Randolph


Throughout the summer, United Way of Delaware (UWD) has been dis-tributing backpacks full of summer reading books to agencies throughoutthe state.

UWD acquired 4,000 of these backpacks during United Way’s National Dayof Action on June 21. On that day, more than 30 Delaware volunteers went toNational Mall in Washington, D.C., joining thousands of others from acrossthe country, to pack 50,000 backpacks for distribution across the country.

The Delaware State C.A.P. Council UAW coordinated this volunteeropportunity, from mobilizing the volunteers to arranging for transportationto unloading the books once they returned to Delaware.

Caesar Rodney School District has made working with United Way of Delaware a top priority, says Dr. KevinR. Fitzgerald, Superintendent of the district. “As an administrator, I saw its importance… and as a resident ofDelaware, I witnessed the positive impact it has on the community in general and specifically our children,”says Fitzgerald, who joined the district in 1991 as the high school assistant principal.

This year, he’ll have a chance to help boost that impact. He’s chairing the 2011 fundraising campaign, alongwith Gary Stockbridge, President of Delmarva Power, who also served last year.

Fitzgerald, who served on UWD’s Kent County Committee, hopes to build on the foundation established by2010 Co-chair and Lewes City Councilman Ted Becker and continue to increase downstate participation.

“We’re moving forward,” Fitzgerald says. “We understand how important it is for those who depend on usto meet our goal.”

New Campaign Co-Chair willfocus on Kent and Sussex

by Pam George

Did you know?• Studies have shown that children can lose what they havelearned during the school year, if their minds are not engaged overthe summer months. So keep your children reading over the break!

• On-time reading comprehension is critical. Children need to“learn to read” early, because for the rest of their lives, they need to“read to learn.” So, encourage your children to read!

Elizabeth Campbell and Nelson Hill volunteer at theNational Day of Action in Washington, D.C. These KentCounty volunteers helped stuff backpacks with children’sbooks, along with other volunteers from across the country.

UWD staff take a moment with children from First State School in Wilmington Hospital, after givingthem backpacks full of books. From left to right, the children are: Heniah, Madison, Kiara, Samsan, Zieand Maura.

United Way Assigns Summer Reading!

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Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald


2011 Kent & Sussex Campaign Kickoff / Ferry ExcursionSaturday, August 612:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Cape May-Lewes Ferry43 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE

We’re setting sail on a special campaignkickoff. Although tickets are sold out,you can still participate by donating anitem for the silent auction. All proceedswill benefit UWD’s 2011 Campaign. CallMichael Shockley at (302) 856-7884 orDebbie Armstrong at (302) 734-4779 formore information.

2011 New Castle County Campaign Kickoff & AFL-CIOCommunity Services Golf ClassicFriday, September 9Check-in/Registration:7:15 a.m. - 8 a.m.Tee-off shortly after 8 a.m.

Back Creek Golf Club101 Back Creek Drive, Middletown

To register, contact UWD’s RobinLichtenfels at (302) 573-3769 or TomCallahan at (302) 456-3506.

UWD’s Shawn Stevens catches up with TedVan Name, President and CEO of Goodwillof Delaware and Delaware County.

New Castle County Get-Together

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UWD’s Annual Giving on the Greens golf tournamentbenefits the Community Impact Fund, which supportshealth and human service programs statewide. UWDwould like to thank all of the golfers and sponsors whomade this year’s tournament — held at DuPont CountryClub — a success!

Michelle Taylor, President and CEO of UnitedWay of Delaware, and Dr. Bob Laskowski,President and CEO of Christiana Care HealthSystem, thank Connie Bond Stuart, Presidentof PNC Bank, Delaware for her service on theBoard of Directors.

Matt Haley, Co-Founder of SoDel Concepts,talked about how community involvement iscritical to his business.

Kent County Get-Together

Janie Libby, Vice President of HumanResources at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino,talks with Kevin Fitzgerald, Superintendent ofCaesar Rodney School District.

Bill Wade, Cindy Pendergrast (green sweater), Bob Hackettand Dave Stevens receive their awards for their second-placefinish from UWD’s Sandi Bowe. Bob Hackett is Senior VicePresident of Arthur Hall Insurance, the tournament sponsor.

United Way of Delaware Upcoming Events

Walter McLain and Hafez Rozati accept their first-place awardsfrom UWD’s Sandi Bowe.

Giving on the Greens Golf Tournament

SoldOut!

United Way of DelawareThe Linden Building, Third Floor625 North Orange StreetWilmington, DE 19801

Non-Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit #194

Wilmington, DE


AFL-CIO Community Services698 Old Baltimore PikeNewark, DE 19702

Sussex County Office206 Academy StreetSuite #2Georgetown, DE 19947

Kent County OfficeGreater Dover Foundation Community BuildingSuite #2B101 West Loockerman StreetDover, DE 19904

William D. Johnston became aware of United Way at anearly age. “I saw firsthand the results of the support United Wayprovided to organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America,”he says. The Eagle Scout later became a leader of his formertroop.

As an adult, he witnessed United Way of Delaware’s support ofnonprofits such as Children and Families First of Delaware.Already a contributor, the attorney decided to join the TocquevilleSociety. Now, he is the newly selected chair of the Society.

Founded in 1991 to deepen individual support of UnitedWay’s work, the Tocqueville Society is made up of philanthropicleaders who give $10,000 or more to United Way each year.

This is not Johnston’s first hands-on role with UWD. In 2010,he was the Legal Sector chair on the Campaign Cabinet. And athis firm, Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, he’s taken the

lead in encouraging campaign contributions.He acknowledges that the economy has affected

giving across all levels. But, as the Society’s chair, heplans to work with UWD staff to thank current membersfor their participation and to promote their continuedinvolvement. He also will work to increase Societymembership, both on his own and by encouragingcurrent members to recruit other philanthropiccommunity leaders.

“Tocqueville Society members are eligiblefor programs like the Personal Giving Fund,which is a great way to coordinate the charitablegiving that they’re likely already doing,” heexplains. “And, with that coordination, they notonly relieve themselves of administrative headaches,but — as lead givers in the community — they encourageothers to give to the benefit of all.”

by Pam George

William Johnston, Esq.

Wilmington attorney takeson major gifts initiative

Documents

Living United: August/September 2011