Our Teachers Rock story of the week is from West, who lives in San Francisco. In his story, 2-year-old West describes the important support he gets from his favorite teacher, Heidy, as told to his mom: Who is your teacher? Teacher Heidy What does your teacher help you with? She cleans the boogers. What fun [...]
Share your “Teachers Rock” story
February 9, 2011 by
Have a teacher who inspired you? One who made a difference in your life or of a child you know? Tell us about him or her! United Way of the Bay Area is launching “Teachers Rock” to give people of all ages an easy way to support and highlight the importance of teachers in quality [...]
Urgent Action Needed to Pass 211 Act
November 18, 2010 by
Elections are over and Congress is back in session for one final week before the holidays. Before new members of Congress are sworn in, in January, the “Calling for 211” bill has one last chance to get passed by the Senate during this “Lame Duck” session. Today, the bill is stalled in committee. It needs [...]
We need JOBS NOW! Call Congress Today!
September 28, 2010 by
The San Francisco JOBS NOW program will expire in two days, on September 30, unless Congress votes to continue to extend the funding for the program. The JOBS NOW program keeps over 3,500 San Franciscans working, while helping small businesses who participate in the program, thrive in this tough economy. But this program cannot continue [...]
U.S. Rep. Eshoo Urges Action on 211
July 7, 2010 by
U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo and United Way gathered business and community leaders at a rally today at a UPS facility in Sunnyvale to urge Congress to approve the Calling for 211 Act (H.R.211/S.211), which will expand the 211 information and referral service to all Americans. The bill will support expansion of 211 to the entire [...]
Providing More Food For Families
July 1, 2010 by
United Way of the Bay Area recently awarded Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties a $28,000 grant to provide infrastructure and capacity upgrades for their partner emergency food pantries. As opposed to a soup kitchen, an emergency food pantry is a program which provides non-perishable and perishable food to families [...]
SparkPoint Coach Listens and Helps
June 28, 2010 by
San Leandro resident Thomas R. came to United Way’s SparkPoint Oakland Center because his family was struggling to adapt to changes in their economic situation. Job loss, and subsequent re-employment at a lower salary, meant that they were struggling to make mortgage and credit card payments, and were having a hard time getting used to [...]
SparkPoint Oakland Center Celebrates 300th Client
June 24, 2010 by
United Way’s SparkPoint Oakland Center recently served its 300th client. To celebrate their success, SparkPoint staff, volunteers and clients gathered at the Center for an evening of food and fun. Click below to see a photo slide show from the celebration. This exclusive event was especially for SparkPoint members – clients who have utilized at [...]
Quote of the Day
June 24, 2010 by
As unemployment rates continue to go up, as our social nets become more and more fragmented, incidences of health issues such as hypertension and diabetes will go up.” – Michael Shaw, director of the Urban Male Health Initiative, a program designed to make policy recommendations that reduce early death for men in Alameda County. From [...]
Oakland Grandmother Learns to Drive Big Rigs
June 17, 2010 by
East Oakland resident Jacqueline Countee came to SparkPoint Oakland Center in February to get free tax filing help, after her brother’s friend, who is a SparkPoint client, referred her. Free tax help was just the first step for Jackie. “When I first came to SparkPoint, I just came to get my taxes done and to [...]
