Welcome to WIN!

The Women's Initiative is on the move, making headway in the area of early childhood literacy. In this quarter's issue, the focus is on membership in action. Scroll down to see how members offer hands-on help to area children through WI's volunteer projects and discover how you can get involved by serving on a working committee. Learn how Fifth Third Bank is helping to build WI's membership, plus read about WI's awesome fundraising efforts.

We appreciate your continued support of the Women's Initiative, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and our community. Please share this information with others you think would be interested in working with us. To learn how you can be a part of long-term solutions through United Way and the Leadership Giving Program, just click on the menu from any WIN! page.

• Your contributions directly help our community
• Fifth Third Bank announces challenge match
• Help shape results…join a WI committee
• Get in on the fun
  • Volunteer for upcoming August event
  • Dr. Seuss volunteer event
  • June volunteer event       
• May benefit was a big hit         
• What is early learning? (Part II)
• Next issue
• Upcoming events
• Join us

Your contributions directly help our community
During the 2005 campaign, the members of the Women's Initiative contributed over $700,000 to the annual United Way campaign. Members targeted over $196,000 of that total to the Early Childhood Literacy Program. Learn how this funding is being utilized and how it helps our community.

As a result of the 2004 campaign, over $124,000 was raised; $80,000 was earmarked to the Initiative's literacy program. Four literacy partners (Catholic Social Services of Oakland County, Michigan State University Extension, Neighborhood Service Organization and The Guidance Center) each received $20,000 to expand their outreach for the 2005-2006 year.

Now that the Early Childhood Literacy Program is entering its second year, the additional monies raised from the 2005 campaign permit the Initiative to double the funding to its partners. This increase will allow partners to have a greater outreach in the communities they serve and to provide more comprehensive services.

Susan R. Joseph

Susan R. Joseph, Women's Initiative Steering Committee member, chair of the Initiative's Financial Oversight Committee and senior vice president of Comerica's Anti-money Laundering and Fraud Prevention & Investigative Services, is very pleased with the progress the Women's Initiative has made thus far. "It's important for members to know that all Women's Initiative targeted funds are available for the community. Being able to allot $160,000 directly back into the literacy program after only a year's time is a huge measure of success. Everyone should be proud of this accomplishment."

Susan is a member of Comerica's Management Council and served as general auditor for Comerica until being named to her current position in September 2005. Prior to joining the financial institution in 2002, she was a senior manager in the Financial Services group of the Assurance and Advisory Business Services practice of Ernst & Young LLP.

 
Fifth Third Bank announces challenge match

Fifth Third Bank, Eastern Michigan, recently announced a $15,000 grant for United Way's Women's Initiative to help the group increase the number of leadership givers and help improve literacy levels in young children. Through the grant, the Initiative has created a matching funds pool of $30,000.

When a contributor gives a $600 donation to join the Women's Initiative, $400 will be added to the donation from the pool for a total contribution of $1,000. This challenge match will increase the number of women who would like to be members of the Initiative and get involved in its Early Childhood Literacy Program.

Says Greg Kosch, Fifth Third's president and CEO, "We are proud to support this great program. Fifth Third Bank recognizes the importance of maximizing women's efforts as community leaders and volunteers."

The bank, which also supports the Virgil H. Carr Society, promotes community involvement as a core value. "Although the bank donates millions of dollars every year to organizations and charities, the involvement goes much deeper when it comes to volunteerism," stated Byna Elliott, vice president, community relations officer. "Our employees are huge supporters of United Way."

For more information on the Fifth Third Challenge Match, please call Susan Foley, director, Major Gifts and Planned Giving, at 313.226.9256.

 Help shape results…join a WI committee

The Women's Initiative has five committees that are working to help shape positive futures for children in our region. While headway is being made, there is still so much more that needs to be done. That's where your expertise is greatly needed.

Committee membership is open to any general member who is dedicated to advancing the goals of the Women's Initiative and who can commit to the meeting schedule. All five committees report to the Steering Committee.

Community Impact: Meets bi-monthly, second Thursdays, 2 p.m.
To most effectively allocate, utilize and monitor all funds available to the Women's Initiative to promote early childhood literacy so children entering kindergarten are ready to learn.

Women's Mobilization: Meets monthly, 7:30 a.m.
To strengthen the Women's Initiative by increasing the membership and advocating for lasting change to advance early childhood literacy.

Volunteer Engagement: Meets monthly, third Wednesdays, 3 p.m.
To mobilize the caring power of women, families and individuals by engaging in meaningful volunteer experiences to ensure that children enter school ready to learn.

Communications and Events: Meets monthly, second Wednesdays
To increase awareness of the Women's Initiative, its goals and accomplishments, among its members and prospective members.

Financial Oversight: Meets as required
To monitor the dollars designated to the Women's Initiative and analyze the return on investment of the activities of the Women's Initiative.

Contact Leadership Giving at 313.226.9256 to join a committee or for more information. To join the Women's Initiative, you must be a Leadership Giver, someone who gives $1,000 or more to the annual campaign. If you are not currently a Women's Initiative member, please click on Join Us to become one.

 Get in on the fun

The Women's Initiative holds volunteer events throughout the year. Discover more about the back to school event in August and get a recap on the March and June literacy projects.

The Women's Initiative's next volunteer event, "Back to School Party," will be held
Saturday, August 26, at Leaps and Bounds Family Services, located at 8129 Packard in Warren. Volunteers will spend the day with children and families from the area as they enjoy workshops, a DJ, hands-on activities and a backpack giveaway.

The center is home to the neighborhoods' head start program, a lending library and baby pantry, among other community services. Volunteers are needed to work with Leaps and Bounds staff to plan, facilitate contributions and help fill and distribute backpacks. Members are also asked to donate books to help stock the center's lending library. New books for pre-school to high school ages are also welcome. Backpacks and school materials are also needed. To participate in or contribute to this activity, contact Angela Walker at 313.226.9450.

Dr. Suess volunteer event In celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday, the Women's Initiative joined with Volunteer Impact to hold a literacy volunteer project for pre-school children to promote early learning at two area agencies. Volunteers went to Peggy's Place in Detroit, Maggie's Rising Stars in Pontiac, and Head Start programs to read a Dr. Seuss book aloud, make simple crafts and give each child a Dr. Seuss book to keep. They also donated new books and helped secure in-kind items for approximately 300 children.

June volunteer event On June 10, WI volunteers spent the day revitalizing the garden and cleaning the literacy library at Leaps and Bounds Family Services in Warren. Volunteers worked side by side with about 15 Leaps and Bound students planting flowers and making the Peace Garden beautiful. The goal was to enhance the space to make it more welcoming to children and families.

May benefit was a big hit

On May 31, Women's Initiative member Cathy Nowosielski Lutz, MD, and her husband Jeff held a "Fun, Food and Friendship" networking event at their home to benefit the summer reading programs of WI's regional literacy partners. A donation of three or more books appropriate for ages two to six was the cost of admission. An impressive 565 books were collected from the 125 guests. In addition, over $850 in contribution was raised from guests unable to attend. The event allowed members and women interested in the Initiative to meet one network, and purchase clothing and special gifts by Mary Alice O'Toole and Karen Hryciuk's originally designed jewelry.

What is early learning?
In Part I of this article on What is Early Learning?, common misconceptions were addressed through results learned from scientific studies on early learning (WIN! March 2006). Part II focuses on the principles of early learning.

Principles of Early Learning

1. Children, like adults, need quiet, "hang around" times, and active times to explore, reflect, imagine and learn.
2. Learning for young children should focus on the here and now - as a way of interacting with the world, not just on what learning can do for children in the future. As an early childhood teacher recently said, "Childhood is a journey, not a race."
3. Learning should be about the child, not about the adult keeping up with other people's children or proving herself or himself as a perfect parent or caregiver.
4. Learning should help your child understand his or her experiences, not fill their heads with facts through drill and practice. When children are actively involved in what they are learning, they remember more.
5. Learning should include joy. If learning is engaging, children will be motivated to keep learning in the same way that we learn best: when the learning is fun and meaningful. This does not mean that children should not face challenges. That's what learning is all about! The important message is to encourage children's natural drive to overcome challenges.
6. You can't stop a young child from learning to talk or walk. Nor can you keep a young child from observing what happens when she or he throws something on the floor or experimenting with peek-a-boo and hide and seek to understand what happens when things disappear and reappear. Children are born engaged in learning. Adults can either keep this joyful engagement in learning alive or shut it down.

Studies across different scientific fields show that young children are most likely to learn:

• When they are interested and actively engaged
• When they are connected to the significant adults in their lives
• When the adult follows the child's lead, extending and elaborating what the child is working on

Excerpts taken from an article prepared for Born Learning by Mind in the Making, a program of the Families and Work Institute and New Screen Concepts. Part III of this article will focus on the best ways to promote early learning. To learn more, visit www.bornlearning.org.

 Next issue

In next quarter's issue:

• United Way's 2-1-1 literacy connection
• WI's October fundraiser
• Catholic Social Services of Oakland County's early learning program

 Upcoming events

Volunteer Opportunity!
Women's Initiative members will meet at Leaps and Bounds Family Services for a Back to School Party to celebrate the upcoming school season. Includes workshops, a DJ, activities and a backpack giveaway. Members and staff will also fill giveaway backpacks.
9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, August 26
8129 Packard, Warren, MI
Call 313.226.9450 for details.

Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats VIP Premiere
A Leadership Giving appreciation event
Friday, September 1
5:30 p.m.- 7 p.m.
Lafayette Grande
One Lafayette, Pontiac, MI
Call 313.226.9239 for details.

Join Us! Get Involved.

The United Way Women's Initiative is a great opportunity to combine your time, talent and financial gifts with the contribution of others to create lasting change in the lives of families and children. Be a part of a group that will maximize your contribution in our community.

As a member of the Women's Initiative, you can have confidence that your contribution will be efficiently utilized to change the lives of families and children in our community. Each year, United Way targets over $30 million to programs for children and youth.

Your leadership gift of $1,000 entitles you to become a member of the Women's Initiative. As a Leadership Giver, you may designate all or a portion of your current or increased contribution to the Women's Initiative. There are three levels within the Leadership Giving Program at United Way:

• Signature Club, $1,000 or more
• Vanguard, $5,000 or more
• Tocqueville Society, $10,000 or more

Click here or contact Susan Foley, director, Major Gifts and Planned Giving, at 313.226.9256 for more information on how you can join.