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 [...]
Scoop it Forward
June 23, 2010 By
The ‘punny’ folks over at Ben & Jerry’s have annoucned two new exclusive flavors that along with tasting good, encourage people to volunteer in their local communities. Launched in conjunction with an affiliated website, the company, which is famous for its charitable and community-oriented ways, is hoping people volunteer more by offering a free pint of ice [...]
Take a Stand for Gulf Coast Residents Tonight!
June 21, 2010 By
Tonight, Monday, June 21 from 8-10 pm ET, CNN will air a telethon on Larry King Live to raise funds and awareness for the United Way Gulf Coast Recovery Fund and two other charities working to respond to the crisis. The program will repeat 12-2 a.m. Viewers will have the opportunity to give to three areas of [...]
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 [...]
Quote of the Day
June 16, 2010 By
As the nation’s housing and job markets show encouraging signs of recovery, there are still far too many families who are on the brink of becoming homeless or have fallen into our shelter system.” – Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development From the USA Today article, “Families in homeless [...]
Low-income Families Lack Financial Safety Nets
June 15, 2010 By
United Way partner EARN has released findings from a a new national poll,which indicates that low-income families have no financial safety net. More than one third of low-income households said they were unprepared to meet their basic financial needs for more than a month if their income was disrupted. In addition, just 8% low-income participants are [...]
Volunteer Center of Solano County Opens Today
June 14, 2010 By
Starting this week, Solano County residents can find local volunteer opportunities at www.VolunteerSolano.org. More than 125 nonprofit organizations have already posted 375 volunteer positions on the site, and the number of volunteer opportunities is growing daily. Individuals, families and groups who want to volunteer can also call 707-422-2232 to find volunteer opportunities in Solano County that meet [...]
Help Us Secure Passage of the Calling for 2-1-1 Act
June 10, 2010 By
United Way Worldwide has issued a press release urging people to advocate for passage of the Calling for 2-1-1 Act. The bill, which would provide financial support to maintain and improve 2-1-1 – an easy to remember number that connects people who want to give and get help – has achieved impressive totals of 242 [...]
United Way Celebrates New Children's Health Clinic
June 9, 2010 By
In May, United Way gathered with community leaders from the North Vallejo Health Collaborative to celebrate the grand opening of a children’s health center at Vallejo’s Elsa Widenmann Elementary School. United Way provided a $100,000 grant to support the clinic. The grant is one of our many investments in Community Schools, which bring essential services to families and students on [...]
