Wrapping up National Volunteer Month, we've celebrated some of the best at this year's Chippewa Valley Spirit Awards. We've also hosted an Impact Tour, participated in the Amazing Eau Claire Clean-up with some of our Leadership Circle donors and are looking forward to our 34th Annual Golf Tournament on June 5.

This month's newsletter intro is from our Team Leadership Circle Chair, Karen Hebert. Karen's message brings great awareness to why you should support United Way. We are so appreciative of our Leadership Circle and Emerging Leaders Members for getting involved and stepping up for our communities.

Also included here is this week's release of the new ALICE Report data. As a reminder, ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed - earning above the poverty level but still living paycheck to paycheck. Now more than ever we need your help to lift the more than 18,000 Chippewa Valley households who fall into this category to a more secure future.

This ties in with this month's featured Program Partner, FamilyMeans Financial Solutions. They provide tools and education for people to gain stability and reduce unmanageable debt. Together we invest in the greatest needs of the Chippewa Valley.

We appreciate your readership and your support!

Hello, Friends,

Near the end of my second round of United Way board service, I proposed the idea of our working to grow our cadre of Leadership Circle donors. Folks liked the idea, I committed to providing some leadership, we built a remarkable team, set goals and got busy. Our efforts flow in two directions: To grow the number of Leadership Circle donors (especially first-time donors), and to grow our Leadership Circle donors’ connection to United Way and to one another. It’s from the perspective of Team Leadership Circle (“TLC” - naturally!) that I am addressing you here. Thanks for reading.

I serve through United Way because I value the deep truth embodied in our two-word encouragement to “Live United”. I was raised to serve, have been enriched by serving and am journeying through life with one of the finest servant leaders you’ll ever meet, my husband Dick. Dick and I serve (sharing time, talent and treasure) in a way that reflects whom we want to support and empower, and the methods we trust to deliver support and empowerment in a meaningful way. Our giving, like our lives and our community, is multi-faceted; a portfolio if you will.

We proudly invest in our communities through United Way. We want to touch people who are working hard to stay afloat and to grow stronger. We want to give so that basic needs are met. We like United Way’s balance of 75 percent “hand up” and 25 percent “hand out”. We like that a portion of our gift goes to United Way’s existence itself, because we are certain that our gift is strengthened by United Way processes. These processes have grown our collective Chippewa Valley muscle in working toward measurable, well-researched goals. United Way has given us the unparalleled ALICE reports. We also know that our gift is strengthened by United Way’s volunteer local experts who add understanding, compassion, and discipline to our investment.

I’m invited to introduce myself here. Dick and I are “semi-retired” (he is, I am not!). In retirement, we will continue to live enriched by service. We are an integral part of our community (just like you!) and will continue to share as we are able. At the moment, Dick is serving on a few non-profit boards and leading an important capital campaign, using skills and networks developed during his professional years. I have always been quite involved with area non-profits, together with work responsibilities. Membership in Rotary is important to both of us. We live in Chippewa Falls (Town of Lafayette, to be precise) but are true Chippewa Valley residents, giving happily in Eau Claire as well as Chippewa.

May I close with some invitations? Will you invest in our communities at the Leadership Circle level? If you already do, can you increase your gift? Will you join us for Leadership Circle events this year? We would love to get to know you better and share our deep and sincere appreciation personally. Will you cultivate awareness and gratitude for United Way process, staff and volunteers? Will you give and keep giving regardless of a workplace campaign and into retirement?

Thanks for reading. I hope our paths cross soon. Whether or not they do, I am grateful to LIVE UNITED with you, here in the Chippewa Valley.

Yours for the Common Good,

Karen

Karen Hebert

Group Benefits Broker

Spectrum Insurance Group

United Way of the

Greater Chippewa Valley

Team Leadership Circle Chair

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for this year's Chippewa Valley Spirit Awards. It was great to celebrate our award winners and appreciate our volunteers & donors. A series of videos were produced to celebrate our winners. Please take a moment to watch the videos and appreciate our winners with us!

Our neighbors and our friends need help. United Way is committed to connecting individuals with resources to ensure financial stability.

The new United Way of Wisconsin ALICE® Reports over One-Third of Wisconsinites Struggle to Make Ends Meet Financially.

Wisconsin households had difficulty affording basic necessities like housing, food, transportation, child care and internet access.

Organizations Needed to Run Workplace Drives Before May 12! SIGN UP TODAY!

Volunteers Needed for Food Pickup on May 13! SIGN UP NOW!

Continuing to put our Program

Partners in the Spotlight!

This is the fifth edition of our Program Partner Spotlight, we hope you're enjoying the opportunity to learn more about the organizations we work with. Our mission is to highlight a different Program Partner each month to build awareness as to what they do and how we, United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley (UWGCV), invest and collaborate with them. We're shining a celebratory light on the amazing programs and people who work humbly to support and strengthen our Chippewa Valley communities every day.

This month's Program Partner Spotlight is featuring FamilyMeans Financial Solutions:

When you support UWGCV, you are investing in collaborative, innovative, research-based and results-focused initiatives. These initiatives coordinate the work of local programs, service providers and community stakeholders in the Chippewa Valley. Together, we're working to solve our community's most pressing problems. Each Program Partner is funded under a specific initiative that is driven by a bold goal that keeps everyone working toward the same mission. Each month we'll talk about how the featured program fits into our initiatives.

FINANCIAL STABILITY BOLD GOAL:

Chippewa Valley residents will achieve self-sufficiency through employment training and personal money management skills.

FamilyMeans Financial Solutions Team Members, from back row, (l-r): Gina R; Intake and DMP Specialist, Kun L; Certified Consumer Credit Counselor, Joe C; Certified Consumer Credit Counselor, Suzy W; Education Specialist, Jenice M; Intake & DMP Specialist. Front Row: Eli S; Counselor Manager/Certified Consumer Credit Counselor, Kelly H; Program Director

We're here to give you an overview of what our program partners do to impact our communities. We asked them to answer a few quick and direct questions for better insight as to what they do, how they do it, how United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley (UWGCV) supports them, any immediate needs they may currently have and any other notes they'd like you to be aware of. Here's what FamilyMeans Financial Solutions had to say.

Please tell us who you are and what you do to strengthen the Chippewa Valley:

FamilyMeans Financial Solutions has helped people navigate their finances for 60 years. Our program offers credit counseling, debt repayment solutions (Debt Management Program) and educational opportunities for people to gain financial stability and reduce their unmanageable debt. When our NFCC Certified Consumer Credit Counselors meet with people it is for up to 90 minutes and it is free of charge. We provide a thorough review of expenses, debts and income.

How does UWGCV strengthen your program?

The generous support received from the community through United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley helps us to have a full-time Credit Counselor in the area. Funding helps us to provide the 90-minute counseling session and necessary follow-up appointments. When we empower families and individuals by honing their budgeting and debt management skills, they discover their resilience and perseverance. Financially healthy families make healthy communities.

What is your greatest

program need?

Our greatest program need is consistent funding so we can continue to provide free individualized counseling and education to all who need us within the Chippewa Valley.

FamilyMeans Financial Solutions is here to support you.

For more information about

FamilyMeans Financial Solutions

please contact:

Joe Cash

(715) 834-8500

2260 East Ridge Center

Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701

Kelly Hansen

(651) 789-4018

financialsolutions@familymeans.org

1875 Northwestern Ave S

Stillwater, Minnesota 55082

Or visit their website at familymeans.org and follow their social platforms.

Thank you to FamilyMeans Financial Solutions for providing support and financial resources to residents in the Chippewa Valley.

Thank you to all of our April Impact Tour Participants!

The next tour opportunity is Thursday, July 18 in the afternoon. We'll share an agenda soon!



Impact Tours provide the opportunity to learn more about the issues affecting our community and how you can support the efforts of local nonprofits by donating to United Way.

For each tour, we visit multiple United Way Program Partners throughout the scheduled time. You'll get an up-close look at the amazing work that is being done right here in the Chippewa Valley.

DIGITAL EQUITY and FEED MY PEOPLE FOOD BANK WORK TOGETHER!



Our Digital Equity & Inclusion Initiative is partnering with Feed My People Food Bank to bridge the digital divide! Community members will have an opportunity to speak with a digital equity team member on Friday, May 26 and Friday, June 23 from 10-11 a.m. in the HAC Conference Room during Feed My People’s pop-up food distribution times.

Digital equity team members can get community members connected to affordable and reliable internet service, devices, digital skills training and technical support during a pop-up food distribution event. We encourage community members to share their internet concerns and get connected!

DIGITAL RESOURCE FAIR | Wednesday, May 10 at The Fish House in Altoona.

Join us Wednesday, May 10 from 5-8 p.m. at The Fish House in Altoona. The local address is 418 9th St. W., Altoona, WI 54720. This event is free and walk-in. You can learn if you are eligible to purchase a $30 device and get up to $30/month off internet bills through the Affordable Connectivity Program. There will also be Internet Service Providers onsite and Digital Skills Training available.

For more info or questions email DigitalEquity@uwgcv.org or call 715-834-5043.

Register for our 34th Annual United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley Golf Tournament!

Monday, June 5 at Lake Wissota Golf & Events.

Register today at bit.ly/UWGCV_GOLF2023.

For more info, questions and silent auction opportunities email Haley Stowell at hstowell@uwgcv.org or call 715-834-5043.

Helping others is proven to induce warm fuzzies. Don't believe us, try it for yourself!

Check out our new ULTIMATE ONLINE VOLUNTEER RESOURCE, ChippewaValleyVolunteer.com!

In collaboration with Visit Eau Claire, we’re able to bring local volunteer opportunities to one accessible digital platform. ChippewaValleyVolunteer.com is a one-stop shop when you’re looking to be a volunteer or to recruit volunteers.

Volunteer. Recruit. Visit Now.

SAVE THE DATE, 5-8-2023.

WE'VE MADE YOUR DINNER PLANS!

Join us on Monday, May 8 from 4-8 p.m. at the Golf Rd. Chipotle for our second UWGCV Foodie Fundraiser! Be sure to mention United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley when you order, we'll bring in 33% of sales from everyone who remembers to do so. You can order online for pickup with the code YVPD6GL.

We appreciate your support!

Keep up to date with all of our future United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley events. From our 34th Annual Golf Tournament to our next Foodie Fundraiser, so many opportunities are available. Get involved and give back. Here's what we've got lined up!

DIGITAL RESOURCE FAIR on Wednesday, May 10

at The Fish House, 418 9th St. W., Altoona, WI 547020

From 5-8 p.m. | This event is free and walk-in

CHIPOTLE FOODIE FUNDRAISER on Monday, May 8

at Chipotle, 4738 Golf Road, Eau Claire

From 4-8 p.m. | Mention UWGCV at checkout and use promo code when ordering online, YVPD6GL.

STAMP OUT HUNGER on Saturday, May 13

Sign up for a Workplace food drive now.

Volunteer to help with donation pickup on Saturday, May 13.

Leave a food donation next to your mailbox early on Saturday, May 13.

EMERGING LEADERS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY on Tuesday, May 30

at The Community Table, 320 Putnam Street, Unit 2, Eau Claire

From 3-7 p.m. | Looking for 6-8 people per shift (2-4 hour shifts)

UWGCV GOLF TOURNAMENT on Monday, June 5

at Lake Wissota Golf & Events, 16108 97th Avenue, Chippewa Falls

Shotgun Start at 10:30 a.m. | 5-person scramble format

UWGCV 50/50 RAFFLE at LEINENKUGEL'S SUMMER KICK OFF

on Saturday, June 17

at the Leinie Lodge, 124 East Elm St, Chippewa Falls

From 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | A fun day to kick off summer.

Join us and buy all of the 50/50 raffle tickets your heart desires.

IMPACT TOUR on Tuesday, July 18

Tour begins at the UWGCV office, 3603 Hastings Way, Suite 200, Eau Claire

Meet at 11:50 a.m. | Presentation begins at 12 p.m. | Bus returns at 4:15 p.m.

Tour agenda coming soon!

DAY OF CARING on Friday, September 22

Save the date for this year's Day of Caring event.

More information coming soon!