United Way of the Bay Area Blog
Live United
Congratulations are in order for United Way Chief Operations Officer and singer extraordinaire Eric McDonnell and Hydra Mendoza, VP of the SF Board of Education and Education Adviser to the Mayor. Eric took the San Francisco School Board – and Hydra – by surprise by proposing to Hydra during the meeting last night, but not before he serenaded [...]
It’s the Friday after United Way of the Bay Area’s fabulous 90th Anniversary Gala Celebration, and we are all still basking in the afterglow of a warm and wonderful evening. More than 450 of us had the pleasure of witnessing this historic gathering of donors, volunteers, community partners and well-wishers while we celebrated a near-century [...]
Melissa Thomas is a 21-year old San Franciscan who has been looking for work for more than two years. She’s on public assistance and says she could easily fall into homelessness. At the end of the month, she has no food in the fridge, and depends on an elderly relative to eat. Melissa wants nothing [...]
How does poverty impact a child’s long-term educational success? How can we understand and confront the gaping inequalities across young children’s lives? United Way is co-sponsoring a conversation with Dr. Valerie Polakow around these pressing questions. Join us! Dr. Polakow is a professor of education at Eastern Michigan University. For more than three decades, she [...]
“Welcome to San Francisco – we’re excited to have you!” said the noticeably overjoyed Alcatraz Island employee and avid 49er fan, as he ushered Nnamdi and his Asomugha College Tour for Scholars (ACTS) students to the boat for their trip to Alcatraz. When news leaked that Nnamdi Asomugha was returning to his “home roots” – [...]
Domestic violence in the home creates deep wounds in children which can prevent them from succeeding in school and in life. Fortunately for Jenna*, a young victim of domestic violence, help was readily available at Belle Haven Community School, and her healing process was able to begin. Thirteen-year-old Jenna lived with domestic violence throughout much [...]
Do you remember the first time you voted? Participation in our democracy for the first time can be an exciting and important event, and that’s why United Way’s Emerging Leaders group is focusing on educating young people and getting out the youth vote for this election. Emerging Leaders is United Way’s network of philanthropic young [...]
Here’s a great opportunity to LIVE UNITED: support United Way of the Bay Area’s first ever School Uniform Drive, hosted by our Women’s Leadership Council. Our goal is to outfit the 320 students at San Francisco’s John Muir Elementary in brand new, high-quality school uniforms. This will help all students at John Muir, regardless of their [...]
Recently, 19 NFL Ambassadors teamed up with high school students, college interns, and United Way representatives from across the country to help educate and empower students and better prepare them to return to their communities and inspire action. The United Way Youth Empowerment Summit – involving youth strategy sessions, presentations, congressional visits, and panel discussions [...]
Take action today to tell Governor Jerry Brown “Don’t cut kids!” The Governor is scheduled to sign the state budget this Friday (June 15) – we only have today and tomorrow morning to educate him and key legislators that his budget proposal will devastate children’s programs. So take 2 minutes today to call Governor Brown. [...]
