Posts Tagged ‘United Way’

27 Nov

Giving Tuesday—It’s the Intangibles That Count

Posted by Andrew Mersmann in Inspiration, Support, volunteer. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

OK–we made it through Grey Thursday and all it’s attendant protests, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday…a somewhat treacherous (to your wallet) path, but today you have arrived at the pinnacle event: GIVING TUESDAY.

As a follow up to the rampant purchasing, today, Giving Tuesday, has been designated as a time to give to those less fortunate than yourself. It is a campaign to create a NATIONAL DAY OF GIVING at the start of the annual holiday season. It celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support nonprofit organizations. We had our day for giving thanks, a few days for getting deals, now it’s a day for giving back. Big organizations are behind it, like the 92nd Street Y in NYC (the incubator of the idea), United Nations Foundation, United Way, Huffington Post, City of Hope, Charity Miles, DoSomething.org, Pencils of Promise, American Red Cross, Kiva, Global Giving, and so many more. There are now more than 2,000 Giving Tuesday partners with special initiatives and projects tied to this day, so it is super easy for you to get involved. Choose your favorite cause and give: time, money, both (or a commitment to show up and volunteer soon)…then spread the word…be audacious and vocal about your good deeds, it will inspire others. Here is a whole list of ideas for ways individuals and families can get their giving on. JUMP IN!

4 Apr

One Million Volunteers for Education–Be One of Them

Posted by Andrew Mersmann in Inspiration, volunteer. Tagged: , , , , , .

There is not a lot that the majority of Americans can agree on these days, but one sad point of consensus that crosses political, religious, and economic lines is the belief that the nation’s education system is in decline and learning is not prioritized the way it should or could be by government, community, and in too many cases, family. The United Way has announced a plan to recruit one million volunteers to improve educational opportunities for the nation’s youth. The actual campaign, announced a few days ago, launches on June 21 (just happens to be the summer solstice) to sign up 1,000,000 volunteer readers, mentors, and tutors.

The Live United program makes it simple for you to sign a pledge and get stuck in, in a way that works for you. Volunteer as a family (must be at least 13 years old), as a group of friends, or as an individual…and to make it easy to commit, plug in your zip code here to find the opportunities nearest you. Since United Way is one of the most supported organizations by employers, check to see if there is already a program you can join at your workplace or place of worship…you needn’t reinvent the wheel, you just need to commit to kids. Lists of suggested books, hints about reading aloud, tricks to get over your shyness or hesitation…it is all addressed at the website. The site also boils it down to this:  Sometimes kids just need someone who believes in them.

20 Dec

Skiing and Giving in Vermont

Posted by Andrew Mersmann in Vacation Ideas, volunteer. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

I just got this press release (excerpted below) and I love all of this–hoping the momentum grows to resorts and activity centers of every stripe in every state. Kinda makes you want to book a ski trip to Vermont now, doesn’t it? So much of the nation is getting now, or due in the next few days for, a giant snow dump—so slopes seem like they may be better than most years.

Vermont resorts give nearly 10,800 complimentary tickets/passes and another 3,700 deeply discounted tickets to school children annually. These numbers do not include all the state’s honor roll-eligible kids, to whom many resorts offer season passes. Resorts also recognize and appreciate Vermont’s volunteers and local rescue organizations with complimentary lift tickets and passes; Vermont resorts reported donating 9,000 lift tickets/passes cumulatively. Military and their families are also eligible for special programs, some complimentary and others discounted at many Vermont resorts.

Here are some of their stories:

Smugglers’ Notch Resort has Made Wishes Come True for the Last Two Decades
For more than 20 years, Smugglers’ Notch Resort has hosted families sponsored by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. These visits are enthusiastically supported by resort employees, who have donated holiday tree ornaments, delicious treats, cards and Vermont mementos to the families to enhance their stays. Visiting children have built snowmen, taken rides on snowmobiles behind ski patrollers, laughed through snowboarding lessons, and grinned during sleigh rides, and left with fond memories of their family’s special Vermont holiday.
Smugglers’alsoprovides support to a variety of community and statewide efforts, including the local food shelves, the United Way, the Cambridge Arts Council, and the Green Mountain Club. Visit smuggs.com for more information.

More than 2,200 Vermont students awarded Free Pico Mountain Passes this season

All Vermont students who receive High Honors in two of four marking periods the previous season are awarded free season passes at Pico Mountain, with an upgrade option for Killington Resort. This year, more than 2,200 Vermont students will receive free season passes through the Academic Excellence Program for the 2010-11 season.
United Way Days at Killington Resort & Pico Mountain Raises $35,000
Killington Resort and Pico Mountain have raised more than $35,000 for the United Way of Rutland County over the past six years through our United Way Day promotions. The summer United Way Day promotion offers guests an opportunity to participate in Adventure Center Activities at Pico Mountain, and K-1 Gondola-served hiking and mountain biking at Killington for a minimal donation to the United Way. Read more on Killington and Pico Mountain’s fund-raising & scholarships.

Bolton Valley Resort Partners with Various Non-Profits to Provide Free Skiing & Riding
Bolton helps at-risk youth, people with disabilities, and other philanthropic organizations in reaching at-risk youth through snowboarding. As the first resort nationwide to partner with Chill, founded by Jake and Donna Burton in 1995, Bolton Valley works with the Burlington-based organization to bring snowboarding to youth who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to hit the slopes. Read more on Bolton’s several community programs.


The Trapp Family Lodge Gives to Three Vermont Non-Profits this Holiday Season
This holiday season the Trapp Family Lodge has established a Giving Tree and it is working to benefit three different Vermont charities; Donate Life VT, the Vermont Food Bank, and the Lamoille Family Center. The gift shop in the main lodge is selling “giving tags” and guests can purchase for a monetary donation of their choosing and place on the Giving Tree.

The Stratton Foundation Assists Youths in the Challenges of Obesity, Substance Abuse, Poverty, and Depression
With the realization that children are the future and the primary influencers of change, the Stratton Mountain Foundation aims to be amongst Vermont’s leading non-profits dedicated to helping Vermont’s youth discover all of life’s possibilities. The Foundation has worked with community organizations to expand opportunities for Vermont’s children to become socially integrated, healthier, smarter and more successful.

Families of Vermont Troops Ski and Ride for Free at Jay Peak Resort
This season, Jay Peak is again offering free season passes to all immediate family members of Vermonters currently serving in, or about to deploy to, Afghanistan or Iraq. The resort started the free pass policy last year and will continue it through the 2010-2011 season.

Famous Mad River Glen Bumper Sticker Goes International for a Great Cause

Beginning this year, skiers from around the world will be able to wear that “Ski It If You Can” in multiple languages.  These “badge of honor” stickers are available in Spanish, French, Chinese, Italian and even more esoteric ones like Dari, Finnish, and Farsi among others.  Proceeds from the sale of these stickers will be donated to Direct Aid International, a small nonprofit organization operated by a former Mad River Glen employee.
The Ski Vermont Fifth Grade Passport Offers Free Skiing & Helps Keep Local Farms
Ski Vermont believes that winter in Vermont is a way of life, an opportunity to get outdoors, to be healthy and active, and to share amazing experiences with friends and family. That philosophy has led Ski Vermont to develop the Fifth Grade Passport, a program that lets fifth graders ski and ride for free, and fall in love with the experience of sliding on snow, now in its 11th year of enriching families’ winters.
This season marks the first year in which the program will also enrich the community by donating proceeds to Keep Local Farms, an organization that supports New England dairy farmers.