Friends of the Children, funded by United Way, provides full-time, trained mentors who offer guidance and direction to some of the Bay Area's most vulnerable children.

Although Marc Salumbides is a high school senior in San Francisco, he already has professional work experience under his belt thanks to his experience with Jobs for Youth.

Jobs for Youth, a community project of United Way of the Bay Area, helps ensure that young people graduate healthy and ready for adulthood.

Marc’s work experience at Flex Car, a rental car company, helped him develop strong work habits and increased confidence. Marc has observed "too much violence and kids dying" and views Jobs for Youth as a means of "getting kids off the streets and helping them be productive."

His future plans include studying psychology and music at College of Marin followed by Sonoma State University.

Ana Plasencia, a computer technology student at Monument Futures, says, "I knew nothing about computers when I started studying here. Now I’ve gotten a promotion and a raise in my job. I’m also helping my three children learn. I know it’s so important to their futures, too."

Computer proficiency is a critical skill for most jobs, and the use of computers and the Internet is rapidly changing the skills employers expect. The Technology Empowerment Program at Monument Futures equips women with marketable, cutting-edge IT skills that create opportunities for them to pursue well-paying careers.

United Way is proud to support The Technology Empowerment Program as part of our overall efforts to help increase financial stability for Bay Area families through job skills training, savings and asset building and other strategies.

For 20 years, Menlo Park resident Roscoe Jennings has volunteered at Belle Haven Elementary School. Belle Haven is one of several Bay Area "community schools" in low-income neighborhoods supported by United Way. Each day, Mr. Jennings drops off his great grand nephews at school and actively participates in school activities.

The "community school" model brings support services such as health, counseling and parenting programs onto the school campus which benefit the entire community. This year, Mr. Jennings will recruit more African American families to volunteer at the school. "I’ll be making phone calls and knocking door-to-door to get the word out," Mr. Jennings says, "We all need to work together to improve our school and our community."