Happy Mental Health Awareness & AAPI Month!

Everyday we make an impact and our mission is successful because of YOU! This month, we are welcomed with an introduction from our amazing community member, Charles "Buddy" Brannen. Buddy's positive influence throughout the Chippewa Valley is impactful in numerous ways. Read below to learn more about him, Emerging Leaders and how to make a bigger impact in your community and have fun while doing so!

Service above Self 👏

Hello! My name is Charles “Buddy” Brannen and I am the Warehouse & Operations Supervisor at the Leinie Lodge in Chippewa Falls WI and a member of United Way Emerging Leaders.

Emerging Leaders are the next generation of professionals that want to make a difference in their community. These Leaders are great communicators, great teammates, and great at working together collaboratively to not only develop their leadership skills, but also develop strong professional relationships with other individuals and organizations within the community they live, work, and play in. My own journey to leadership and service above self goes back to my days in college at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. Community service and service leadership are life skills that are developed and instilled in each student attending the University.

Post college my now wife and I moved back to the Chippewa Valley and reside in Chippewa Falls now. I am truly grateful to work for a company that promotes and instills giving back to the community and volunteerism. Not only am I part of Emerging Leaders, but I also serve on the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley Advisor Council, am a member of Chippewa Falls Rotary, serve on the Chippewa Falls Oktoberfest Volunteer Committee, am an active advocate for the Give Chippewa County group, and volunteer with Spirit of Christmas Chippewa County.

Being part of Emerging Leaders has strengthened the idea that you do not always have to give large sums of money to make the community you live in a better place. When I first joined Emerging Leaders I was not able to make large financial donations so I instead volunteered my time to community organizations seeking help. As my professional career has advanced, I now am in a place where I can not only make monetary contributions to organizations in need, but also continue to volunteer and practice what was instilled in me nearly 20 years ago.

COME ALONG & LEARN HOW INFLUENTIAL OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS ARE!

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.

RSVP NOW

HELP US REVIEW APPLICATIONS!

Learn a new skill and become involved directly with your community. We are looking for volunteers to join our Application Review Team. Volunteers will evaluate grant application for the 2025-2028 United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley funding cycle.

Click here to join our Review Team

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.

BASIC NEEDS BOLD GOAL:

Chippewa Valley residents will have access to food, shelter and medical services in their time of need.

Program Description:

The goal at Hope Gospel Mission is to not just help someone for today, but for life. Programs are designed to be holistic, meaning that we will come alongside a person wherever they are in life and provide guidance and training to them in every area of life so that they can reach their full potential. Staff and volunteers are here to make sure that those served can have the resources they need to rebuild their life. Hope Gospel Mission believes “No-one is beyond hope."

Hope Learning Center Ground Breaking October 10, 2023.

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 Hope Gospel Mission had to say:

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

Having opened in 1998, Hope Gospel Mission is committed to bringing hope to men, women, and now women with children struggling with homelessness and addiction in the Chippewa Valley and Western Wisconsin. Our passion is to be a beacon of hope to those struggling to stay afloat.

For those seeking short-term emergency housing, assistance in procuring safe, long-term housing, stable employment and a workable budget, Hope Gospel Mission is here for them. Much more essential, though, are our long-term programs dedicated to addressing the root causes of a person’s problems. We ultimately want to see men and women become contributing, independent members of our society. This takes months of intensive work to break down bad habits, then build and reinforce good ones.

How does UWGCV strengthen your program?

UWGCV strengthens our program by providing funding, networking opportunities, greater awareness of the services we provide, and increased knowledge of other organizations and services in the greater Chippewa Valley. UWGCV has brought several tour groups to visit our facilities to see and learn about the services we provide.

What is your greatest

program need?

Programmatically, our greatest need right now is for employees and volunteers. We have several open positions and these openings are limiting both the number of people we can serve, and the quality of the services we are able to provide to our residents.

For more information about

Hope Gospel Mission

Please contact:

Chris Hedlund

715-552-5566 ext.1315

chris@hopegospelmission.org

2650 Mercantile Drive

Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 54703

Or visit their website at hopegospelmission.org

and follow their social platforms

New Hope Learning Center to open in the summer of 2024.

Hope Gospel Mission expanded its Short-Stay Program for men to increase capacity from 12 beds to 24 beds. The new modular beds improve privacy and social distancing, and provide for easy, safe access to the top bunk using stairs and railings.

Thank you Hope Gospel Mission for working with our community members to provide quality resources in the Chippewa Valley!

Did you know we offer a Digital Navigator Program?

This program assists community members in using the Internet, Smart Phones, Computers, and much more. This service is 100% free and open to ALL residents of Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties. Digital Navigators will meet with residents who wish to further their digital skills and become more confident with using the internet.

Click here to find your Digital Navigator!

VOLUNTEER TODAY!

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 | MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Click here to Volunteer

Keep up to date with all of our future United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley events. Find multiple ways to get involved and give back! We hope to see you at our upcoming events listed below:

35th ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

MONDAY, JUNE 3

18 Holes | 5 Person Teams | Shotgun start at 10:30 a.m. | Lake Wissota Golf & Events

16108 97th Ave, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

Grab your team and get ready to par-tee! We still have a few spots open alongside sponsorships available. Click the button below to learn more about this!

Click here to Par-Tee!

IMPACT TOUR

THURSDAY, JULY 16

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

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.

See our schedule & Sign up here