December 22, 2023 Newsletter

Happy Holidays from All of us at UWGCV!

We’ve got a lot to be thankful for. And we're thankful for you being here and supporting United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley. We're sending warm wishes to all.

In this month's newsletter edition, we're welcomed with an update and holiday message from our Executive Director. Followed by many thanks to those who supported our Perfect Pairing Fundraiser. Learn more about the new 2-1-1 application. And be sure to buy your Dueling Pianos tickets for our February event, it's going to be great!

A Holiday Message from our Executive Director:

Dear United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley Community,

As we gather to celebrate the holiday season, I am filled with immense gratitude and warmth for the welcome I received during my first five months as the Executive Director of United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley. It is truly an honor to serve and work alongside such a dedicated and compassionate community.

Since joining this amazing organization, I have witnessed the incredible impact we make together. Our collective efforts have not only strengthened the fabric of our community but have also brought hope and support to those who need it most. The generosity and commitment displayed by our donors, volunteers and partners have been nothing short of inspiring.

This holiday season is a time for reflection, gratitude and generosity. It is a time to come together as a community and uplift one another. The challenges we face may be great, but the power of unity and compassion is even greater. Together we are building lasting change and a brighter future for every individual in the Chippewa Valley.

Looking back on the past five months, I am proud of the strides we have taken together in supporting local education, health, financial stability and basic needs initiatives, along with addressing increasing digital equity needs. However, there is still much work to be done, and I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for us to make an even greater difference in the lives of those we serve.

This holiday season, let us renew our commitment to creating pragmatic change, whether through acts of kindness, volunteering or contributing to our ongoing initiatives. Every effort, no matter how small, plays a vital role in building a stronger and more resilient community.

I am grateful to be a part of United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley’s family and am excited about the journey ahead. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact and create a community where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season filled with love, laughter and moments of reflection.

With warm regards,

Ryan

Ryan Ludy

Executive Director

United Way of the

Greater Chippewa Valley

Office: (715) 834-5043 | Cell: (715) 641-0678

Email: rludy@uwgcv.org 

Perfect Pairing Online Auction Success!

We're here to send a BIG THANK YOU from all of us here at United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley to everyone who participated in and supported the Perfect Pairing Online Auction Fundraiser. Cheers & Cheese!

With this event, we brought in over $1,700 to go back into the community to support our initiatives in Health, Financial Stability, Education, Basic Needs and Digital Equity.

And a final THANK YOU to Cheese Brothers! You feta brie-lieve we think you're WHEY AWESOME! This fundraiser was the cream of the crop with your help, so thanks again!

GET HELP NOW! DOWNLOAD THE NEW 211 APP!

We're here to promote the release of the new 211 Wisconsin App. Kudos to United Way of Dane County for their work on this project! We're thankful for this statewide resource.

Also thank you to United Way of Wisconsin and Great Rivers 2-1-1 for supporting this project. The app is available for download in the Apple and Android app stores by searching 211 Wisconsin.

Dueling Pianos Tickets ON SALE NOW!

Join us for Dueling Pianos in 2024, tickets are on sale now! "Midwest Dueling Pianos offers a wildly entertaining music and comedy dueling piano show." All tips for the performers and ticket sales go to support United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley.

When: February 24, 2024

Door open: 7:00 p.m.

Performers: 7:30-10:30 p.m.

Location: Eau Claire Event District, The Crescent

See you on February 24!

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 states that One-Third of Wisconsinites Struggle to Make Ends Meet Financially.

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

Thank you to our Leadership Circle donors!



Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for the Leadership Circle Impact Tour and this year's Celebrate the Circle thank you event! We appreciate your support and look forward to strengthening the Chippewa Valley together in 2024.

The Chippewa Valley Village Child Care Provider Network, a dynamic community initiative aimed at supporting and empowering family child care providers, has received funding from the Wisconsin DreamUp! Grant to support the community-led effort.

The Chippewa Valley Village Child Care Provider Network holds monthly in-person meetings, providing a supportive space where child care providers can come together, share experiences and exchange valuable insights. These gatherings foster a sense of camaraderie and collaboration, as providers connect with like-minded individuals facing similar challenges and accomplishments. The network meets the second Tuesday of every month from 6-8 p.m. in the Pines Room at 29 Pines Family Restaurant & Lounge in Eau Claire.

This newsletter's Program Partner Spotlight is featuring CVTC Foundation, Inc.:

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 newsletter 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.

We are so excited to see our students graduate. United Way Microgrants are a huge part of their success!

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 CVTC Foundation, Inc. had to say.

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

CVTC Foundation, Inc., exists to enhance the vision and mission of Chippewa Valley Technical College. This task is accomplished by securing resources that will provide student scholarships, support staff initiatives, invest in technology and provide for ongoing facility development. CVTC Foundation, Inc., engages volunteers and staff in building a philanthropic culture through cultivating friends and alumni, raising funds, providing student scholarships and managing resources invested by the Foundation for CVTC.

How does UWGCV strengthen your program?

UWGCV provides microgrants to CVTC students in high-demand programs that offer family-sustaining wages including Dental Hygienist, Electrical Power Distribution, Fire Medic, Gas Utility Construction & Services, Human Resources, IT-Network Specialist,

Machine Tool Technics, Mechanical Design Technology, Mechatronics Technician, Nursing- Associate, Nursing Assistant (CNA), Paramedic Technician, Practical Nursing, Radiography, Respiratory Therapy, Supply Chain Management, Truck Driving, Welding

and Welding Fabrication.

A large percentage of our students need financial assistance, so these funds are

imperative to their success.

What is your greatest

program need?

The financial support of UWGCV is our greatest need and is imperative to our student's success.

For more information about

CVTC Foundation, Inc.

Please contact:

Katy Kiley

715-852-1361

kkiley3@cvtc.edu

620 W. Clairemont Ave.

Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 54701

Or visit their website at cvtc.edu/foundation

and follow their social platforms.

We are proud of our FastTrack GED students who earned their GED or HSED in just two weeks!

Thank you CVTC Foundation, Inc. for providing support and educational opportunities to those in need in the Chippewa Valley.

Calling all tech enthusiasts who want to make a difference in the Chippewa Valley!

We’re looking for a tech-savvy individual to join our team as a Digital Navigator. Digital Navigators guide community members through gaining affordable home internet access, internet-capable devices, digital literacy training and technical support during one or multiple interactions. This is a much-needed role in the Chippewa Valley that will play a large part in bridging the digital divide! The Digital Navigator position is hybrid, 10 hours per week and limited term. This is perfect for a college student, stay-at-home parent or someone looking for a part-time opportunity in 2024.

Are you ready to make a difference in bridging the digital divide in the Chippewa Valley? Click the button below to apply for this Digital Navigator position or share with those you know who may be a great fit for this role!

Congratulations to our Community Impact Director of Digital Equity, Amber Scharenbroch!



We're here to congratulate our team member Amber Scharenbroch for winning the Outstanding Community Involvement Award presented to her by Young Professionals of the Chippewa Valley of The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce.

Amber has built United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley's Digital Equity initiative from the ground up over the last sixteen months. The work she has accomplished, with the support of so many wonderful community partners, is beyond impressive and we're so thankful to have her here!

Outside of her dedication to helping people get connected to digital resources, her volunteerism is deeply rooted in her passion for supporting the arts. She is certainly a driving force for good! A job well done, and hats off to you, Amber!

BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER! VOLUNTEER TODAY!

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.

Keep up to date with all of our future United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley events. Get involved and give back. Some 2024 Save the Dates available below!

SAVE THE DATE | Chippewa Valley Digital Inclusion Partnership

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13

Afternoon | CVTC's Business Education Center, Casper Conference Center

620 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701

Dueling Pianos, hosted by UWGCV and Emerging Leaders

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24

From 7:30-10:30 p.m. | Doors open at 7 p.m.

Eau Claire Event District, The Crescent

5775 20th Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54703

SAVE THE DATE | Chippewa Valley Spirit Awards

THURSDAY, APRIL 4

From 5-7:30 p.m. | The Florian Gardens Conference Center

2340 Lorch Avenue., Eau Claire, WI 54701

SAVE THE DATE | 35th Annual Golf Tournament

MONDAY, JUNE 3

Shotgun start at 10 a.m. | Lake Wissota Golf & Events

16108 97th Avenue, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

Chippewa Valley Village Child Care Provider Network

the second Tuesday of every month

From 6-8 p.m. | Pines Room at 29 Pines Family Restaurant & Lounge

5872 33rd Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54703

As we wind down the days of 2023 we are reminded of the things that mean the most to us. Here at United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley (UWGCV) we’re thankful for so many reasons. As this is the season of giving, we’re here to give thanks to all of you. 

We’re thankful to have great community partners who are always willing to collaborate to make things happen.

We’re thankful for our 22 Program Partners who we invest in because they are working every day to improve the health, financial stability, education and basic needs of the Chippewa Valley. Together we work to address the root causes of these important community issues.

We’re thankful for the Digital Equity initiative, along with the community members and volunteers who support the work being done with grant funding. Together we seek to advance digital equity and inclusion in the Chippewa Valley by improving access to the internet, devices, digital skills training and tech support for households faced with barriers.

We’re thankful for our volunteers. Those community members who give extra time to make this world a better place by giving back. The doers who make projects happen that wouldn’t become a reality without their help. And our supporting advisory councils, committees and board members who are able to utilize their professional experience and advice to support our decision making.

We’re thankful for our donors, the community members who give financially to support the work we do. To our corporate sponsors who bring events to life to raise more funds to invest in the greatest needs of our local communities, thank you. And our Leadership Circle donors who make up more than 40% of the annual gifts given, thank you for your unwavering support. These donations help us invest in community impact that aligns with our mission. Together we are making a difference!

We’re thankful for the health and happiness of our team. Every day we work hard to bring pragmatic change to the Chippewa Valley. With your continued volunteerism, donations and collaboration we will persist to strengthen our communities. We’re better together!

With great appreciation and the warmest wishes,

Happy Holidays from all of us here at United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley

To check out this year's campaign video, click on the button below.



GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE.

Donate and volunteer today!

uwgcv.org/give | 715-834-5043