Hello! My name is Rachel Phelan, I'm the Director of Marketing & Communications. I have been with United Way for almost 5 months.
Before my current role, I had recently graduated from the University of Kansas. I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Strategic Communications and Digital Marketing. I am originally from Chicago but I am a Packers fan now (sorry dad). I called Kansas home for almost 4 years. I am grateful to now live closer to my family in Chicago and my dog, Sadie. I had the opportunity my junior year to study abroad in Scotland for 6 months. I attended the University of Stirling where I took international marketing courses. I was also fortunate enough to travel to 14 other countries throughout my experience as an exchange student.
During my college career, I worked with Girls on the Run Kansas City. I was also introduced to United Way of the Greater Kansas City where I had the opportunity to meet with the Executive Director and learn about their business model.
While 2020 was a year full of uncertainties, I was fortunate enough to become apart of the UWGCV team. I encourage everyone to become aware of their local United Way and learn how you can help make a difference. Change doesn't happen overnight but together we can create a stronger community.
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Rachel Phelan
Director of Marketing & Communications
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COVID Recovery Grant, ECLIPSE
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The United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley COVID-19 2nd Wave Response and Recovery Grant has helped ECLIPSE programming and the community immensely.
The $12,000 of funding provided UWEC's Early Childhood Literacy Intervention Program Services and Evaluations (ECLIPSE) program the opportunity to extend our services this year from 350 children and families to 700 children and families.
ECLIPSE typically provides literacy intervention services in a one-to-one in person setting at local early childhood centers for children 3 to 5 years of age. However, the pandemic put a hold on in-person meetings. To adjust to the current situation, while keeping our program's focus of fostering growth and development of early childhood school readiness skills, ECLIPSE created a virtual program model. UWEC ECLIPSE AmeriCorps members have been creating hundreds of shared reading, arts, sciences, exploration, social & emotional learning, social studies, music & movement, and real-life application recordings paired with developmentally appropriate, fun, and engaging activities for children and families to access online. Additionally, ECLIPSE has developed and prepared 1,400 Literacy Kits for each of the 700 children to keep and explore at home over the school year. Each child received a literacy kit in the fall and then again in the spring.
All literacy kits included 2-3 children's books, step-by-step activity guides focused on building and practicing school readiness skills for children, as well as all the supplies and materials to complete each of the 6-8 activities and more!
The purpose of the literacy kits combined with the online learning resources is to provide families with materials and resources to support their children's learning at home or away from school during closures, shutdowns, and quarantines. The hopes is to eliminate stress while ensuring children are not missing out on learning during what is the most critical time for early literacy and language development.
Click here to see how UWGCV supports early childhood literacy.
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Chippewa Valley communities have reached an amazing milestone – our residents have saved over $1,000,000 in prescription medication thanks to FamilyWize!
Through this partnership, United Way has helped promote the free, easy to use FamilyWize Prescription Discount Card, which has helped more than 15 million Americans save more than $1.7 billion on their prescriptions. The Free FamilyWize Prescription Discount Card can be used by anyone: uninsured, insured, and even people with Medicaid or Medicare. The use of the card is unlimited, does not require any personal information from the user and has no eligibility criteria.
To take advantage of the savings that FamilyWize offers, consumers can print a card from FamilyWize.org, can call 1-866-810-3784 and request a card be mailed to them, or download the free FamilyWize app.
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In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday, March is designated as National Reading Month - a month to motivate Americans to read every day.
Reading is knowledge and knowledge is power that will allow children in the Chippewa Valley to enter school ready to succeed.
Click here to see how UWGCV supports early childhood literacy.
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COVID Recovery Grant,
Pablo Center Learning Pods
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The grant is currently helping twenty four 4th and 5th graders in the Pablo Learning Centers program, including nine who are attending on a financial need scholarship made possible by the grant. Since receiving the grant, the Pablo Center has been able to admit two new students to the program on a full scholarship and are accepting additional new students in the Thursday/Friday cohort. Students in the Wednesday cohort are currently working on filming a cooking show, while other days are working with Lego robotics, a variety of art and craft projects, and learning to grow produce in the hydroponics system and much more.
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COVID Recovery Grant,
River Source Family Center
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With the COVID Recovery funding, River Source Family Center has been able to provide 11 Virtual Play & Learn playgroups and 10 Virtual Movin’ & Groovin’ classes on Zoom. These are interactive and themed group connections.
River Source's Family Connections Facilitator also started a Virtual Baby & Me playgroup that meets every other week. This group connection is for families with babies (ages 0 – 11 months) and provides interactive songs, parent discussions, and resources. As of March, eight Virtual Baby & Me playgroups have been offered on Zoom.
In place of New Baby Visits, River Source Family Center has created and put together Baby Bundles to hand out to families with newborns. HSHS MOMs Program, Chippewa County Public Health Nurses, and Marshfield Clinic Chippewa Center Pediatrics are partnering with River Source Family Center to deliver the Baby Bundles to parents in the community. The Baby Bundles include resources, milestone/development tools, and other supportive information vital for parents with newborns. River Source has also put together Baby Bundles with resources and a book printed in Spanish.
River Source Family Center has also held two Outdoor Family Fun events: Egg Hunts in November 2020 and a Snow Party in January 2021. These events provided outdoor fun building on parent-child relationships, while safely socially distancing families. Each child received a to-go snack bag and craft bag, to continue the fun at home!
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Now through April 30, 2021, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse shoppers can round up their in-store purchases to support United Way Worldwide’s Equity Advancement Fund. The Fund is designed to support communities’ innovative solutions for advancing racial equity and justice that drive lasting positive change.
Learn more by clicking here.
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This issue of Impact in the Chippewa Valley is sponsored by:
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