Slip on a pair of new shoes while helping community members take a step out of poverty.

Allen Edmonds, a men’s shoe and accessory store, is a big supporter of United Way of the Bay Area’s mission to cut poverty in half by 2020. The store is donating 10% of all sale proceeds to United Way’s poverty cutting programs while giving customers a 15% discount. The deal is happening from November 3-10th at Allen Edmond’s new Embarcadero Center store in San Francisco.

To top things off, Allen Edmonds will host a wine and cheese reception on November 10th in honor of United Way’s donors from 5-8pm.

So join us! By buying, you’ll not only walk home in some snazzy new shoes, you’ll be ensuring that less people are living in poverty.

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.”

Valero recently kicked off its 2010 United Way Campaign with a chili cook-off at the company’s Benicia Refinery. Valero employee-chefs vied for bragging rights and the coveted People’s Choice award. Check out photos from the festivities below.

Click to see more fun ideas for events and activities your company can host during its United Way campaign.

The night before the chili cook-off, Valero held its annual Leadership Giving Reception and raised more than $180,000 from donors who each pledged $1,000 or more. Since 2002, Valero has contributed $6.3 million to United Way’s Bay Area Community Fund to support programs such as SparkPoint, 211 and Earn It! Keep It! Save It!   This year, the company’s campaign theme is “Making Hope Happen.”

 “Valero’s partnership with United Way is a great example of how a company can achieve maximum community impact on multiple fronts – through monetary donations, as well as the power of employee volunteers and the passion that accompanies it,” said United Way of the Bay Area CEO Anne Wilson. “We thank General Manager Doug Comeau and Valero leadership for nurturing such a strong culture of giving and volunteerism among employees.” Wilson noted that 200 Valero employees spent more than 1,000 hours volunteering last year during the company’s annual Month of Caring event.

Valero is fostering the spirit of volunteerism beyond its employees and helped to launch Solano County’s first volunteer center earlier this year. Valero Campaign Chair Joe Muehlbauer served on the Solano Volunteer Center planning committee. Valero also provided a financial gift and spoke at the Solano County Board of Supervisors in support of the Center. 

Valero’s exceptional employee giving and strong volunteerism have earned them United Way’s Spirit of the Bay Award twice, and the company is a two- time recipient of United Way Worldwide’s Spirit of America Award.

Valero Campaign Chair Joe Muehlbauer closed the chili kick-off with this powerful message, “ The most important thing is to get involved, and don’t do it alone. Get your family and friends to get out and give.  That is probably the most powerful thing we can do in our community. Because in order to make hope happen, I believe its going to take all of us. No one can do it alone”

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.

Who says philanthropy can’t be fun? On Friday, September 10^th  Bank of America celebrated its 21^st Annual Golf Classic with all proceeds benefiting United Way of the Bay Area.

It was a fun day in the sun at Walnut Creek’s Boundary Oaks Golf Course, where the bank gathered over 90 golfers for a relaxing day in the sun to help support our community. The carts took to the course with a 1:00 p.m. shotgun start.  The course included several themed holes, including Closest to the Pin, the Tiger Hole, and the infamous Hole-in-One, where a lucky golfer had the chance to win a motorcycle if she or he was able to sink the ball in one swing.

Later in the day ,the golfers were joined by Raiderettes, Ashlee and Jessica, who encouraged players to give by selling raffle tickets for prizes that included a giant flat screen television, weekend getaways, and golf packages to name a few.

 The tournament ended with a banquet held at the club house where winners of the different challenges throughout the day were recognized.  At the end of the day, our community was the big winner, with more than $30,000 raised to help United Way of the Bay Area create pathways out of poverty.

 Brian Kilpatrick, Tournament Chair for the last few years had this to say, “Bank of America is very happy to continue its ongoing support of the United Way with the 21st edition of our Concord Tech Center Golf Tournament. 90+ golfers and over $30k in donations plus a great day of golfing and good food afterwards really made this event a great success. We look forward to our 22nd.”