It was 1975 and David spent many days at a local community center. United Way funded the programming and invited David to be featured on a campaign brochure. This was his first introduction to United Way and learning what it was doing for him and his community. Today, David works for Coca-Cola. When the company began its most recent United Way workplace campaign, he asked about how to get a copy of the old brochure he was in. “Many of my family’s photos were destroyed in a fire so it’s the youngest picture I have of myself.” After a bit of digging, the brochure was found. David surprised his family with the photo. “Everyone was just amazed. My mom actually started crying.” David now gives to United Way’s campaign and uses his story to inspire others to contribute. “It creates an environment where people are part of something bigger, helping each other in whatever way we can.” Like David, each of us has an opportunity to make a difference. When you give to United Way, you choose to be part of the solution, helping hundreds of thousands of people in our community each year. That’s what it means to Live United.
Catherine was ready to make a commitment to being drug and alcohol free after making some poor choices. “I had started experimenting when I was pretty young, 15 years old, but I realized I had to stop smoking and drinking if I wanted to do something with my life.” That’s when one of Catherine’s teachers brought up an opportunity to join the United Way-funded Peers with IMPACT program, which trains teens to help educate elementary and middle school students about the dangers of alcohol and drugs. “We are teaching them the facts, not telling them to just say no, but educating them about why you should say no and how to make the healthy choices.” Health impacts every aspect of a person’s daily life. When you give to United Way, you help people, like Catherine, build brighter futures by empowering them to overcome existing challenges to achieve healthy and safe lives.
Alan has been enrolled at the United Way-funded Child Development Center of St. Joseph since he was 3 years old. Now, at age 6, he is thriving, thanks to his involvement in the center’s Art Alive program. “He would stutter at first when he tried to talk,” Alan’s mom Veronica explains. “My family speaks Spanish at home and Alan is in an English classroom all day long, so he wasn’t sure what language to use when he began to speak.” But after spending time in the Art Alive class, Alan developed stronger language skills and became much more comfortable speaking English. Taking part in the class allowed Alan to participate in hands-on art experiences and eventually he was able to clearly describe his art work. Alan’s mom says the program has really helped Alan expand and grow his imagination along with developing his language and art skills. “He really focuses on art,” Veronica says. “I have several favorite pictures that he has drawn. We frame the ones we like the best and hang them in his room.” Every parent’s dream is for our children to succeed. United Way focuses on education and helping children and youth achieve their full potential.
Jerry became homeless after he lost his job in 2006. “I collected unemployment, but it ran out,” Jerry said. “I received help from a couple of people and tried hard to find a job, but there was nothing out there. Eventually I was out on the street.” He had been homeless for a couple of years when he was approached by a producer working on a United Way video showing the real problems of people living in the Greater Milwaukee area. Jerry agreed to be featured in the video and was put in touch with Community Advocates, and United Way program that provides support, guidance and case management to people who have no home. Soon, Jerry was sleeping indoors, and moved into his own apartment in December 2009. “It’s only the first step. I don’t want to rely on anyone, I want to be myself. My most important goal is to find a job and be independent. I think that’s everybody’s goal.” Everyone deserves opportunities to build a good life. United Way provides urgent resources to help people overcome immediate challenges and works to break the cycle of poverty by helping people build better lives.
John enrolled in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program more than 30 years ago, and the experience shaped him into who he is today. One of the most important things John’s Big Brother helped him with was his education. “It was helpful for me to talk to him about it because he had a lot of similar experiences.” After college, John went to graduate school and then law school. He is now vice president and chief Intellectual Property counsel at Rockwell Automation. John is now vice chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Milwaukee’s board. “I saw it as a perfect way to give back to an organization that had given so much to me.” His experience has also given him a strong desire to volunteer. “I had several nudges in the right direction over the years. Really there’s no other way I can think of to repay those who helped me than to give back and volunteer.” Each one of us has special talents. Things we can do to help. Put your talents to work for your community. Volunteer. Opportunities are available year-round with United Way of Greater Milwaukee and its more than 160 program partners.
When Sharon’s employer asked her to work at United Way as a Loaned Executive during a campaign in 1996, it never crossed her mind that she would someday need the services of an agency funded by the organization. But that changed. Her dad had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Then her mom was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo treatments. “Each time I stopped in to see my parents, I recognized my mom was helping dad a lot more and she could really use some help.” Sharon called Interfaith’s Family Caregiver Support Network because she didn’t know what to do. The program provides assistance, resources, support and respite to family members who provide care for older adults. Just a few weeks later Sharon’s dad was in the hospital and she had numerous questions. Interfaith was there to discuss her dad’s options. Sharon’s dad recently passed away, but her mom is still using Interfaith’s services. Sharon says, “They provide her with transportation each week, which helps her feel independent.” Thanks to Interfaith and United Way, Sharon and her family learned how to advocate for themselves and get connected to the critical resources they needed during a difficult time in their lives.