Education
Envisioning A Vibrant Community
Your United Way has embarked on one of its most exciting journeys ever. Earlier this evening, during our annual recognition and impact event, we announced a new vision, mission and community-level goals that aim to transform our region in specific, measurable and powerful ways. The text of our news release, which appears at the…
Read MoreNational School Breakfast Week | Breakfast in the Classroom
What side of the bed kids get up on doesn’t really set the tone of their day; it’s whether they get fed. For students at Battle Creek Public Schools, breakfast is a guarantee—and that’s paying off in healthier students, better grades and fewer disciplinary issues. Starting last fall, the four-year-old Breakfast in the Classroom program…
Read More#GivingTuesday Opens Doors To Get Involved
Turning good intentions into action is the driving force behind Giving Tuesday, a day dedicated to encouraging people to support and engage with nonprofit programs. Giving Tuesday was launched in 2012 by dozens of participating nonprofits, including United Way. Held the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, it’s an alternative to holiday shopping days Black Friday and…
Read MoreAspiring Leaders United Helping to Change the Story
Aspiring Leaders United (ALU) believes every child deserves the opportunity to realize their full potential. To support the next generation of Leaders, ALU is working to provide books for Battle Creek’s Verona Elementary Library. As mentioned in a previous blog post, the group is working to raise $3,000 and holding book drives to outfit the…
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 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 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…
Read MoreWANTED: 1,000 People to Help Change The World
Ever feel like the rope in a tug-of-war match? You want to make a difference in the world, but life’s daily demands keep yanking you away. The good news is, there’s an easy way for one person to transform a life. We’re hoping to do it a thousand times over. It’s the Early Grade…
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