On September 27 and 28, United Way‘s 211 helpline was joined by more than 50 professional financial experts to provide free financial advice to Bay Area residents during the first-ever San Francisco Financial Advice Line in partnership with the San Francisco Office of the Treasurer

Jose Cisneros, Treasurer-Tax Collector for the city and county of San Francisco (left), spearheaded the 211 Financial Advice Phone-a-Thon. He is pictured with United Way CEO Anne Wilson and his staff member, Leigh Phillips.

More than 230 calls were answered on topics that ranged from bankruptcy to retirement planning.  Callers were able to speak directly to certified financial planners from the San Francisco Financial Planning Association and consumer credit counselors at Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco to help get the financial assistance that they need.

Jose Cisneros, Treasurer-Tax Collector for the city and county of San Francisco, spearheaded the event though his Office of Financial Empowerment.  He commented, “Our success this week comes from the strong partners we’ve worked with to make the phone-a-thon happen –211, United Way, Consumer Credit Counseling San Francisco, and the Financial Planning Association.  That all these folks are willing to donate their services is tremendous.”

The advice line was covered live by KPIX (Channel 5) News as well as by ABC-7 consumer advocate Michael Finney.

Ralph Latza, President of the San Francisco Financial Planning Association, which recruited financial experts for the advice line, said, “In this environment, people want to know where to turn.  With this inaugural event, we are creating doors and opening them so people at every level have access.”

If you missed the 211-advice line, you are encouraged to attend upcoming Financial Planning Days in the Bay Area (http://www.financialplanningdays.org) near you.  For example, San Francisco’s Financial Planning Day will be held on October 22.

KPIX interviews a volunteer. Click on the links in this blog post to see TV news coverage from KPIX and ABC-7.

The San Francisco Financial Advice Line was made possible through the partnership of:

• United Way’s 211 Helpline
• Charles Schwab
• Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco
• San Francisco Financial Planning Association
• San Francisco Smart Money Network
• San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment
• San Francisco Office of the Treasurer
• San Francisco Mayor’s Office
• Wells Fargo

To learn more about 211, dial 211 or visit www.211bayarea.org

How many lawyers in gorilla suits does it take to tackle poverty? It might sound like joke, but to the 31 Bay Area law firms competing in United Way’s Koko Challenge this year, fighting poverty is something they all take very seriously.

Every year, the legal community comes together to raise money to fight poverty. Competition is fierce, and top winners receive stuffed gorillas as a prize. Law firms have been known to station their gorillas proudly in their lobbies, symbolizing their dedication to the community.

On September 22, we kicked-off the 24th annual Koko Challenge, Last year, 21 participating firms raised $1.5 million. With 10 new firms joining the Challenge this year, we’re excited to see the legal community once again raise the bar for philanthropy in the Bay Area.

The theme of this year’s challenge is “Class action against poverty,” to align with United Way’s community effort to cut in half the number of local families who live in poverty by the year 2020.

Gap, Inc. General Counsel Michelle Banks, chair of this year’s Koko Cabinet, announced this year’s goal to raise $1.8 million, with $700,000 directed to United Way.

The Fremont Group General Counsel Rick Kopf chimed in, urging everyone to increase their gifts by 20% and direct it to United Way programs: SparkPoint, Community Schools, MatchBridge, 211 and Earn It! Keep It! Save It! This collective increase would raise an additional $300,000 for United Way, and enable us to continue to operate and expand our poverty fighting programs.

Shook, Hardy and Bacon LLP Partner Kevin Haroff offered to wear his new gorilla suit to any Koko Challenge event hosted by the 10 new participating firms.

The spirit and enthusiasm of Shook, Hardy and Bacon LLP Partner Kevin Haroff was hard to match as he had already purchased his own gorilla suit. To help raise spirits – as well as funds – during this year’s Challenge, he offered to wear the gorilla suit to any event hosted by the 10 new participating firms.

Many thanks to Shook, Hardy and Bacon LLP, winner of last year’s Baby Koko award and host of our kick-off event. And, thank you to the Koko Koko Cabinet, a volunteer committee that oversees the Challenge (listed below). The Challenge would not be possible without your support and enthusiasm.

For more information about how you can join the 2010-2011 Koko Challenge please contact Danielle Cohen (415) 808-4322 or dcohen@uwba.org.

2011 – 2012 Koko Cabinet

• Michelle Banks, EVP, General Counsel, Gap, Inc. – Chair
• Charles S. Custer, Partner, Gordon & Rees LLP
• Nancy Greenan Hamill,  Campus Counsel, UC Santa Barbara
• Kevin Haroff, Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP
• David A. Hearth, Partner, Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
• Michael W. Kelly, Partner, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP
• Rick Kopf, Managing Director, Operations & General Counsel, The Fremont Group
• R. Hewitt Pate, VP, General Counsel, Chevron Corporation
• James Potter, SVP, General Counsel, Del Monte Foods
• Jay J. Price, Assistant General Counsel, Bank of America
• Bill Sawyers, EVP, CAO & General Counsel, Ernst Gallo Clinic and Research Center
• Jim Strother, EVP, General Counsel, Wells Fargo & Co.
• Vanessa Washington, Senior EVP, General Counsel & Secretary, Bank of the West

View a photo slideshow from the event:

United Way’s Week of Caring is one of the Bay Area’s largest corporate volunteer events, bringing thousands of people together to work throughout our community.  Jo Esguerra Sevilla, a long-time volunteer, has racked up 665 volunteer hours over the years. She knows because her employer, Wells Fargo, keeps track as part of its commitment to community service.

Since Jo started at Wells Fargo nineteen years ago, she has participated in Week of Caring activities ranging from packing groceries for seniors to working the food bank to cleaning up Half Moon Bay. However, the majority of her volunteer time has been spent at her children’s school which depends on parent involvement to be successful.

According to Jo, giving time is important, especially in the down economy. “Because of budget cuts, some things just wouldn’t get done without the help of volunteers,” said Jo. “It takes a village, and even though you might feel like individual work might not make a difference, collectively we are having a huge impact.”

Week of Caring certainly feels like a village, attracting 4,000 volunteers this year. Many of those 4,000 work at Wells Fargo, Chevron, Bank of the West, and Enterprise Holdings. Wells Fargo employees get sixteen hours of paid volunteer time annually. The company also has awards, a volunteer tracking system, and donation-matching programs.

“I feel grateful to work at Wells Fargo where I can give back to the community,” said Jo. “I can’t give a lot in monetary donations, so I give in kind. In many ways, it’s better because you see the results of your work, and a smiling ‘thank you’ from the people you have helped.”

United Way has been running Week of Caring for twenty-one years. For more information, go to http://weekofcaring.org/.

In this time of need, United Way is proud to share that Wells Fargo has completed the largest community support campaign in Bay Area history!

Several companies in the Bay Area organized generous campaigns this year including San Francisco-based Wells Fargo — posting a record $8.5 million in pledges — to highlight the record-setting local campaign.

Wells Fargo team members also do an exemplary job of giving back their time and talent through volunteerism.  This year, Wells Fargo mobilized more than 3,800 volunteers to participate in United Way of the Bay Area’s Week of Caring, which is a new record for the program.

Wells Fargo employees turned out in force for this year's Week of Caring, including this volunteer team at Junior Achievement

“We’re so proud of how our team members generously stepped-up for the community,” said Christi Deakin, Head of Business Services, Wealth, Brokerage and Retirement, who served as chair of this year’s Wells Fargo Community Support and United Way Campaign. In addition to her business responsibilities, Deakin mobilized a campaign cabinet of more than 50 executives representing several business units to organize this year’s campaign for the Bay Area company’s more than 19,000 team members.

“Wells Fargo team members really showed just how much we care,” said Deakin. “I am inspired to see our team members’ incredible spirit in action by how they live and give from their hearts and selflessly volunteer thousands of hours in our communities.”

The Wells Fargo campaign set new records for participation among Bay Area companies, with contributions from more than 10,000 employees throughout the region. More than 1,700 employees donated at the Leadership level ($1,000 or more).

Nationally, Wells Fargo team members contributed a company-wide record of more than $55 million. Wells Fargo is also the Bay Area’s top corporate giver with more than $21.6 million donated to local nonprofits in 2009.

“Congratulations to Wells Fargo and on behalf of the United Way of the Bay Area, thank you to all the local companies for supporting this year’s campaign!” said Anne Wilson, United Way of the Bay Area CEO. “Giving back to United Way and the community is part of Wells Fargo’s DNA. They are a model partner, and we are proud to call them part of our team.”

Last week, United Way kicked-off our 22nd annual Koko Challenge at a gathering of law and community leaders hosted by Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. The Koko Challenge is a fundraising contest among local law firms that run United Way fundraising campaigns. The firms compete for top honors by excelling in total dollars raised, innovation and enthusiasm.  Scroll down to see a photo slide show of the kick-off festivities.

 Jay Price, who is chair of the 2010/11 Koko Cabinet, announced the fundraising goal of $1.5 million this year from the 21 participating law firms. Last year, 18 participating firms raised $1.4 million for charitable causes, setting a standard of excellence in philanthropy for the business community.

The Koko Cabinet is comprised of general counsel from United Way’s corporate partners and leaders within bay area law firms. Cabinet members recruit new law firms, lead volunteer efforts and provide support to all participating firms. 

2010/2011 United Way Koko Cabinet

• Jay Price, Bank of America – Chair 
• Michelle Banks, Gap Inc. – Vice Chair
• Hewitt Pate, Chevron Corporation
• James Potter, Del Monte Foods
• David Hearth, Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
• Vanessa Washington, Bank of the West
• Charles Custer, Gordon & Rees, LLP
• Nancy Greenan Hamill, Law Office of Nancy Greenan Hamill
• Michael Kelly, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.
• Richard Kopf, The Fremont Group LLC
• William Sawyers, Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center
• James Strother, Wells Fargo Bank

For more information about how you can join the 2010-2011 Koko Challenge please contact Danielle Cohen (415)808-4322 or dcohen@uwba.org.

Read more about last year’s Koko Challenge.