Give to United Way: Being community-minded has its benefits
You may not know that in the past two years, United Way partner agencies provided 78,425 shelter nights, served 208,492 meals, and connected 8,312 community volunteers with meaningful volunteer opportunities. United Way of the Tanana Valley has 17 partner agencies that do everything from feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, advocating for the mentally ill, providing resources to new parents, and the list goes on. If we give to United Way we are giving back and helping our neighbors. And, by donating through our seamless payroll deduction platform, you may not even notice giving $10, $15, $20 per paycheck.
United Way’s partner agencies serve our community in so many ways, you're bound to find a nonprofit whose work is close to your heart. Charitable giving is good for the soul and this year your generosity could be rewarded with amazing prizes, including round-trip Alaska Airlines tickets! Imagine the possibilities!
On the other side of the coin, you may one day find yourself using these services due to a house fire, financial instability, mental illness struggles, or maybe your child would benefit by being paired with a mentor. United Way partner agencies are not only for the less fortunate in our community - they are for us, too! United Way and its partner agencies are there to step in to meet our needs! That’s pretty comforting. Check out the United Way website and learn more about each of the agencies United Way supports.
I’ve mentioned this before, but In 1992, our home in University West burned two days before Christmas! First off, the University Fire Department was there in record time, and as I was driving into our cul-de-sac, I saw two firemen walking out of my front door with my closet pole-full of my dress clothes! It was 30 below zero, and the men had icicles hanging from their beards. Firefighters were throwing Christmas presents out of the front window and shortly after that, they evacuated because the roof collapsed into the house. Shortly after I arrived on the scene, the Red Cross brought us into their cruiser. They provided hot beverages, emotional support, and loads of information about how to proceed from such a devastating loss. We received vouchers from the Salvation Army to go to their store and get the clothing and supplies we needed. They were there when we needed them. The Red Cross and the Salvation Army are UW partner agencies.
UAF has partnered with United Way since 1974, and over the years UAF employees have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to make an impact in our community. For 67 years, United Way of the Tanana Valley has supported Fairbanks’ human service organizations bringing vital services to the Golden Heart Community. Let’s come together and make a meaningful impact on our beloved Fairbanks community. Your generosity might be the beacon of hope for a friend, neighbor or even a family member. Thank you for your generosity - never underestimate the collective power of giving during the holiday season.
For more information:
Marcia Cassino and Teresa Thompson
Campaign Co-Chairs
tathompson2@alaska.edu
mcassino@alaska.edu