Wells Fargo Sets New Records for Giving

Service Source Employees Put the Shine on John Muir Elementary School

August 16, 2011 By Jennie Carpenter Leave a Comment

The month of August may mark the height of the lazy days of summer for many people, but not the twenty employees from Service Source who wielded paint brushes, prepared a “Welcome Back to School” mailing and gave bulletin boards in classrooms and hallways a fresh look at John Muir Elementary School in San Francisco’s Western Addition on a recent beautiful Tuesday afternoon.

United Way brought Service Source volunteers together with John Muir Elementary, which is an “anchor site” for the San Francisco Beacon Initiative. Supported by United Way, Beacon Centers offer free programs and activities for youth and adults after school, during the evening, some weekends, and most of the summer.

Service Source volunteers at John Muir Elementary

A global company headquartered in San Francisco, Service Source is committed to helping build strong communities where they have business operations or provide services.

On the second day at her new job, School Secretary Marlin Aguayo had an enthusiastic crew of volunteers to organize the office so she could focus on the tasks critical to ensuring that the school year is off to a smooth start for students, their families and staff.

Is your company interested in volunteering in the Bay Area? Register now for United Way’s Week of Caring, September 12-17, at www.weekofcaring.org.

Filed Under: Pathways out of Poverty Tagged With: community impact, San Francisco, Schools, Volunteer

Calling All Bay Area Youth: Fight Poverty! Through Film

July 15, 2011 By Maria Stokes Leave a Comment

Here’s your chance to channel your creativity and inspire people to transform our communities! AT&T is sponsoring a youth video contest for the United Way of the Bay Area’s MAKE IT BE initiative.

MAKE IT BE is a growing movement committed to cutting Bay Area poverty in half by 2020. Right now, 1 in 5 residents struggle to get by. We’re going to change that through MAKE IT BE. Use your creativity and join the movement! If chosen, you could be part of the teen team creating a video to be aired on local AT&T U-verse!

About the United Way MAKE IT BE Video Challenge
If you are a Bay Area high-school student, then you can get hands-on experience, developing a Public Service Announcement (PSA) that inspires the Bay Area to give back to the community. NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY!

If selected, you will work on one of two all-teen film crews to create and produce your PSA during a fast-paced, five-day shoot during Summer Break (August 5-9). Your completed PSA will be showcased online, where people across the Bay Area will view it and vote for it. The PSA that receives the most votes will be shown on local AT&T U-verse this fall!

Ready to transform your ideas into reality? Apply now!
Deadline is July 29th at 3 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time).

P.S. – A Public Service Announcement, or PSA, is an advertisement that raises community awareness about a particular issue to change attitudes and inspire people to take action.

Filed Under: Volunteer Tagged With: community impact, MAKE IT BE, youth

Wells Fargo Sets New Records for Giving

November 29, 2010 By Maria Stokes Leave a Comment

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 Volunteers at Junior Achievement

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.”

Filed Under: Pathways out of Poverty, Volunteer Tagged With: community impact, Donor recognition, Volunteer