Change the Story
#ThankYouThursday
It’s #ThankYouThursday! Please take a few minutes to check out this short blog and help us recognize the following by “liking”, “sharing” and “retweeting”: Thank you Stryker Corporation! The second largest single contributor to UWBCKR, Stryker exceeded their UWBCKR campaign goal again this year. In addition to the extraordinary generous financial support, Stryker employees…
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Although sharing a heartfelt thank you doesn’t usually require much time or effort, it’s true that many of us fail to say these two simple – yet powerful – words often enough. Since United Way was founded more than 125 years ago, individuals, companies, foundations and organizations have been coming together on an ongoing…
Read MoreVML Employees Give Back to the Community on Foundation Day
On September 30, VML held a company-wide day of service called Foundation Day. Local VML employees spent their Day of Caring with community organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes, and the Community Healing Center. Volunteer projects can be difficult to execute, but with a group of more…
Read MoreFriendly Giving Competition Aims to Change the Story
Not every clash of community rivals takes place on the athletic field. For Vicksburg and Gull Lake, a friendly challenge put up by two United Way community teams will benefit local students. The two teams, which coordinate United Way campaign activities in their respective communities, are vying to direct an extra $1,000 in support…
Read MoreUnited Way Day of Caring; Changing the Story Together
A couple weeks ago, the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region kicked off the annual campaign with a week long virtual kickoff. To finish off the action-packed week, UWBCKR Staff and a few Board Members gathered together, rolled up their sleeves, and actively engaged in helping to change the story in our…
Read MoreHow Partnership Changes The Story
Shared aspirations and partnering for community impact were the key takeaways at “Changing The Story With United Way,” a forum hosted by Stryker Corporation on Sept. 1. Ninety people from business, education, government, nonprofits and other organizations turned out for the gathering, which was held at Stryker’s corporate headquarters in Portage. “The forum was…
Read MoreComing Together Around A Common Cause: IMPACT
Don’t be surprised if you see United Way everywhere you turn in September—on billboards, online, in newspapers, on the air. During the week of Sept. 14, United Ways across Michigan, including the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, will join forces to tell their stories on a statewide canvas. Billed as…
Read MoreTakin' It To The S.T.R.E.E.T.: Execs Connect With Community
Within minutes of arriving at the S.T.R.E.E.T. Center, 19 business executives had 22 new best friends. The connections happened through a joint Day of Caring service project involving senior leaders from Stryker Corporation and Pfizer Inc. The executives bonded with teen boys participating in the S.T.R.E.E.T. Program, part of Community Healing Centers. S.T.R.E.E.T is…
Read MoreTake An Inside Look At United 4 Change
In an earlier blog, we highlighted the work of United 4 Change, a business-led partnership focusing on early grade reading achievement and middle/high school career mentoring. The goal of U4C is to spur students to academic and career success. Now you can see this program at work for yourself in a new video available…
Read MoreBearcat Camp Brings Studies to Life for BC Kids
What’s so amazing about watching 100 third- and fourth-grade kids playing in the sand and splashing through the chilly water of Lake Michigan? Knowing that many of them never had the chance to do so before. What most people take for granted about summertime in childhood was a new experience for kids who took a…
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