Making an Investment
By making an investment in Orange County United Way you are helping to create long-lasting positive changes in our communities. Whether through a monetary donation or by volunteering your time and talents, your gifts will give children and youth an opportunity to succeed, support families in need and provide care for the elderly, abused and homeless. At United Way, we know that we can not create lasting change alone. It takes a community, not just one organization, to help individuals and families move from crisis to independence. With your help, the efforts of our partnering organizations and teaming up with the community, we will be able to address the root causes preventing people from living self-sufficient lives.
United Way doesn’t want to just get people off the streets. We want to keep them off the streets, help to nurture their assets and skills for employment and guide them on the road to financial freedom. We don’t just want to find them a place to sleep; we want to give them something to dream.
The Ripple Effect: Contagious acts of kindness
Women’s Philanthropy Fund member and active community volunteer, Paula Mathis recently visited A Children’s Station in Anaheim to interact with the toddlers and to talk with Program Director, Tina Coca, to find out more about their daily activities. A trend we are seeing more of, donors like Paula tend to get more involved in the causes close to their hearts. Mathis helped to bring the Success By 6 to Orange County United Way in 1999 and does her best to get out to visit childcare centers as often as she can.
"Nobody wants to give their money away, it’s a hard choice. But, every dollar that I have given away, I’ve gotten back much more in many, many ways." – Paula Mathis
Successful business owner and Women’s Philanthropy Fund member, Joan Gladstone does much more than contribute dollars to help others. Enthusiastic about being truly engaged, Gladstone understands the benefit beyond the dollar. Gladstone has shared her time and talents with many in the community and at a past event at Taller San Jose she spent time with young adults who were preparing to interview for jobs within the community. Gladstone coached these bright individuals on how to answer questions and exhibit self confidence in means to secure desired positions.
"When we become members of the Women’s Philanthropy Fund, it means more than the dollars we contribute through the United Way. It means we are joining a sisterhood of other women who are taking an active role in determining where the funds go." – Joan Gladstone
Current Chair of the Women’s Philanthropy Fund, Nella Webster O'Grady is a recognizable face in Orange County. Recently, Nella and fellow Women’s Philanthropy Fund member, Lisa Perrine, took on new career roles as teachers at Girls Inc. in Costa Mesa. These successful business women tag-teamed on an interactive lesson plan that explored such topics as supply and demand, selling services versus tangible products and keys to running a successful business.
"Having the opportunity to teach a class on supply and demand for the YESS (Youth Empowerment Self-Sufficiency) program at Girl’s Inc. really put a smile on my face. The enthusiasm for learning and the caliber of the questions was a very pleasant surprise. These programs help us get to the root causes of problems that teens develop when they don’t see hope in the future. I'm confident that the Girls, Inc. program will change the lives of the participants and generate productive business leaders for our future. It was a wonderful investment of my time and I hope others will choose to participate in these enriching experiences." – Nella Webster O’Grady
This year’s Campaign Chair and board member, Pete Case took the opportunity to learn more about Project Access by spending time with Executive Director, Lane Macy and Service Coordinator, Estrella Martinez at the Project Access family resource center located at the Warwick apartment complex in Santa Ana. Project Access partners with affordable housing complex owners to provide on-location centers where residents of all ages can take advantage of educational programs, adult capacity building and financial literacy courses, family health and nutrition classes, computer training and many other benefits. Parents can come to the center to access the job binder, discover what job-related trainings are available and use the online computer lab to search for new employment or communicate with family members in other countries. There are nine Project Access centers located in Orange County and each center tracks the residents who come and participate in the programs they offer and has developed a software program that can show the results that their programs are having on these families.
“Accessible organizations like Project Access address the fundamental needs of families and in turn help people lead more self-sufficient lives.” – Pete Case
