Posts by unitedwaybck
Volunteer Spotlight: WMU Students Lend a Hand
Students are an extremely valuable part of the community we live in. Now, I suppose I am a little biased since I am a student. But, as I approach graduation, I’m taking more notice of the active role students play in changing people’s lives for the better. At United Way of the Battle Creek and…
Read MoreUnited Way; A Catalyst for Change
If I do my job right, you’ll never again think of United Way as simply a fundraiser. Of course, that’s how most people view United Way – understandably so, since raising and investing funds in the community is an important part of our work. But if our region is to thrive, United Way must be…
Read MoreHappy Thanksgiving!
Since the annual holiday season begins with Thanksgiving Day, I want to bring that theme to this letter. Please accept my deepest gratitude and appreciation for your unwavering support of United Way. Without your generosity we would not be able to mobilize the great resources of our community to improve people’s lives in real, meaningful…
Read MoreUnited Way: Why Partnering Matters
As the saying goes, “Nothing ever changes until somebody motivates a critical mass of the right people to commit to change.” It’s a good saying – and it happens to be true. The need for change is immense. You don’t have to look far to find troubling statistics on school readiness and achievement, children and…
Read MoreCreating Opportunities Through Reading
I’ve always been impressed by the great work being done through the Early Grade Reading Pilot Program at Verona Elementary School in Battle Creek. But it’s much more powerful to actually see the excitement the children had for reading. Last week Thursday, I joined several families for Verona’s Literacy Night. I saw first-hand that this…
Read MoreUnited Way: A Year-round Commitment
There are a lot of responsibilities that only interrupt us once a year: renewing license tags, spring cleaning, and if you’re not an accountant, taxes. Our responsibility to our community, however, must be an ongoing commitment. There is no time or season more important than another, and the work is never truly done. We’re on…
Read MoreDRIVE UNITED: How Local Auto Dealers Partnered to Advance the Common Good
The automobile sales industry is one of the most competitive on Earth. With production costs rising and personal income stagnant or declining, every sale matters. As a result, dealers work hard to distinguish their businesses from their peers. Yet 11 Michigan auto dealers in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo put their rivalries in the back seat…
Read MoreGreater Collaboration Provides a Great Start
Visit www.changethestory.org to learn more about the work we are doing in Education. At United Way, we believe that positive, nurturing early childhood experiences are vital to creating a thriving community, so that our children are able to begin their journey strong and continue to succeed. We know that when we invest in children from…
Read MoreHelping to Change the Story: Mark Zigterman
After ten months of unemployment, Mark Zigterman was contacted by a temp agency about an opening at United Way. While he didn’t know it at the time, it would be the beginning of a new journey. Filled with a renewed sense of hope, Mark began his new job at United Way in January 2006 as…
Read MoreThank You
A community is woven from the threads of stories. Most people don’t see it. They see a world spinning upon data, dogma and dispute. But the truth is, each of us pens our life’s saga, and collectively we author a broader narrative. That gives us the power to transform our community when we write that…
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