United Way of the Capital Region Blog

Fatherhood: The Missing Link

United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR) has created the Fatherhood Academy and the Tri-County Fatherhood Coalition to help local fathers form strong bonds with their children.

The issue of absent, non-engaged fathers, is a national concern, most recently addressed by President Baraka Obama.  The role of a parent is critical to the development of a healthy, well-rounded child. Being a parent is a difficult job, made even more challenging when one half of the equation is missing. The Fatherhood Academy is held every Monday evening from 6:30 8:00 at the United Methodist Neighborhood Center, 3^rd and Kelker Streets, Harrisburg, PA. The classes are free and open to all men. The Firm Foundation, Hamilton Health Center and the Community Action Center also have free Fatherhood classes, and participate in the Tri-County Fatherhood Coalition.

The Fatherhood Academy uses two curriculums, which are designed to educate and inspire the men in attendance. The first curriculum was developed by a Shippensburg University Graduate student, in the School of Social Work, who was interning for UWCR. The student introduced the concept to her graduate class, who then took it upon themselves to research the most effective fatherhood programs in the country. The second curriculum called “Knights of the 21^st Century,” which was developed by the founder of Pennsylvania Counseling Inc. The DVD based curriculum covers 26 weeks of excellent instruction for fathers, and is well received by the participants of the Fatherhood Academy.

Any father who wishes to be a part of the Fatherhood Academy can attend one of the Monday night sessions, without pre-registration. For more information, visit, www.tricofatherhood.net, or contact Nathaniel Gadsden, at 732.0700.    

End of UWCR’s 2011 Campaign in Sight - But We Still Need Your Support

With just a few weeks left in United Way of the Capital Region’s (UWCR) 2011 fundraising campaign, now is the time to make a donation to help our community. As-of December 2, UWCR has raised 74 percent, or $8,121,600, of its $11 million goal.

Our campaign is tracking in a positive direction thanks to the hard work of our dedicated volunteers and local corporate supporters who want to make a difference during these difficult times. However, there is still much work to be done and we are counting on the support of our community to achieve our goal.

We cannot stress enough the challenges people in the Capital Region continue to face. Unemployment and underemployment have placed a significant burden on our friends and neighbors and the agencies they rely on for help.

In a recent survey of our partner agencies, we learned that 82 percent have clients who are using food pantries, up from 46 percent last year, and 85 percent are serving people who recently lost their jobs. This number is up from 69 percent in 2010. In addition, cuts in funding from government sources are making the problem even worse.

Help us address these critical issues facing our community. If you haven’t already made a donation, I urge you to visit www.uwcr.org/give, or call 732.0700 and make your pledge. Make a difference in the lives of your friends and neighbors in need - support UWCR.

Dave Schankweiler
2011 Campaign Chairman, UWCR
CEO/Publisher, Central Penn Business Journal

Prosperity Centers Help Families In Tough Times

Helping families weather tough times is at the heart of United Way of the Capital Region’s (UWCR) work in our community. UWCR has long supported critical services to help families deal with the unexpected - be it a natural disaster, a child with special needs, or a physical disability. Beyond dealing with a crisis, we also want families to have the skills and tools they need to be self-sufficient.

UWCR has launched Prosperity Centers as one of the ways to help families be economically self-sufficient. The purpose of the centers is to empower individuals and families in the Capital Region to be financially prosperous. The centers provide a service in the community by building on the three pillars of financial stability - financial literacy, access to mainstream benefits and case management. The centers assist individuals and families to plan, manage and improve their financial resources. Trained volunteers help families learn to budget, plan and manage their money, build their assets, reduce their debt, and gain financial stability. Assistance at the Prosperity Centers is not based on income level. Everyone is welcome. All services are free and confidential.

Prosperity Centers offer people the opportunity to think about their money in new ways and build for a stronger financial future. With a little support and guidance, achieving a more prosperous future can be a reality.   

Helping Families Become Financially Stable

Strong and financially self-sufficient families are critical to building a successful community. Here at United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR), we understand that more and more families are struggling to make ends meet and need the assistance of local agencies. 

No family sets out to live on the charity of its community, but this is a growing concern in our region. The cost of living in the Capital Region is outpacing wages.  The 2010 Self-sufficiency Wage for Dauphin and Cumberland counties was about $55,000 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 children under 5 years old) (Pathways PA).  Yet, the Dauphin County median household income in 2009 was $48,792.  What does this mean? It means thousands of people in the Capital Region are under-employed and unable to obtain sufficient income to maintain a home.

Here is breakdown of the unemployment and under-employment statistics in our area:

Dauphin County
Unemployment: May 2010 = 8.3%; May 2011 = 7.2%
Under-employment:  May 2011 approx. 18%

Cumberland County
Unemployment: May 2010 = 7.2%; May 2011 = 6.4%
Under-employment:  May 2011 approx. 16%

Perry County
Unemployment: May 2010 = 8.2%; May 2011 = 7.2%
Under-employment:  May 2011 approx. 18%

UWCR Needs Community Support to Reach Goal

This year we set what might be considered a very optimistic campaign goal of $11 million. This represents a $500,000 increase over last year’s goal, and more than a $230,000 increase over the amount announced at last year’s Celebration Event.

We knew we’d have a tough road ahead of us but we had no idea how tough. We launched our fundraising campaign on the same day flooding from Tropical Storm Lee inundated neighborhoods all over central Pennsylvania. Before the storm hit our region, tens of thousands of people in our community were struggling just to get by. This ongoing need in the Capital Region, coupled with the additional services our community needs as a result of the flood, has only strengthened our resolve to reach our goal this year.

Despite these hard times, as of October 25, United Way of the Capital Region has raised 30 percent, or $3,247,516, of the total amount we hope to raise this year.

Finding My Place…Through Volunteering

Law school can be a very distant and cold environment... until you meet the right people. Sometimes those people come out of the least expected places: like a room full of people interested in taxes.

In late 2008, I was encouraged by a close friend to attend an informational session about the Widener Law Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Clinic, which is a part of the Money In Your Pocket Campaign. I quickly discovered I had a found a niche worth pursuing. It was at this meeting that I was first mentored by Professor Michael Hussey. He showed a room full of students, alumni, and community members what a compassionate attorney should be. I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of his team.

Three years later, we are getting geared up for the upcoming tax year at the Clinic. I look forward to serving a small, but vital, role as part of the team that is capable of so much good. We service a broad range of persons representing many aspects of our community; our clients are united in a need for expertise without judgement.

Money In Your Pocket Campaign Helps Families Claim Much-Needed Tax Refunds

The Money in Your Pocket (MIYP) campaign is one of several ways United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR) is helping families get back on track. Through the program, trained volunteers, assist low- and moderate-income families with their taxes. The focus is to secure the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) for qualifying families.

The EITC can mean as much as a 45 percent pay increase for some families. In fact, national statistics show that this program lifts more than 9 million individuals above the poverty line annually. Locally, 95 percent of clients surveyed at our sites reported they would use their returns to pay for basic needs, such a food, clothing, and transportation.

Many experts consider this to be the greatest anti-poverty program ever implemented. The purpose of these credits is to offset income and payroll taxes, supplement wages, and provide a work incentive. It actually reduces taxes workers may owe. 

From Our Campaign Chair

Everything I learned about giving back to my community came from my grandparents. Growing up, I spent summers working with my grandfather at his neighborhood grocery store. He would help the seniors living alone, help with medical needs and extend credit to neighbors who were down on their luck because taking care of each other is what it means to be a part of a community.

This life lesson, and my belief in the generosity of the Capital Region, led me to one of the greatest and most rewarding challenges of my volunteer life – serving as chair of this year’s campaign for United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR).

We have set an ambitious goal of $11 million this year. But, “11” in 2011 is more than a creative tagline – it’s a call to action for all of us to step up and support United Way. Non-profit agencies are reporting that the need is higher now than it was three years ago. In economically challenging times like these, our community counts on United Way because of its safety net of programs and services.

United Way Responds to Flood of 2011

It’s a privilege to be author the first blog that we’ll be developing here at UWCR. I wish it was under more pleasant circumstances. Today I want to talk about our response to the flood that has been ravaging our community.

Although it appears the Susquehanna River will crest below the level some were predicting, the flood we are experiencing is still causing significant problems throughout the Capital Region. Here at UWCR, we believe we should do everything we can to help our friends and neighbors in what for many will be a life altering experience. With that in mind we have decided to establish The Capital Region Flood Recovery Fund.

In catastrophic situations like the one we’re currently facing, we know budgets can be quickly depleted as agencies attempt to accommodate the sudden increase in requests for services. The Capital Region Flood Recovery Fund will allow people to make one gift and have that gift directed to agencies who need it most. Our Community Response Fund Committee will help us screen and select worthy candidates.

We will not charge administrative fees on donations to the fund, so 100 percent of a person’s gift will be distributed to agencies who are responding to this crisis. The United Way Board of Directors has decided to make a contribution of $25,000 as the initial gift to the fund. We will also make sure all funds received will be distributed in a timely fashion.

To contribute to the fund, send a check made payable to “Capital Region Flood Recovery Fund” to United Way of the Capital Region, 2235 Millennium Way, Enola, PA 17025. You can also Make an Online Payment/Gift on our web site. Please be sure to view the directions on how to make an online payment.

In addition to the fund, our United Way is helping in other ways. We have developed a “Where to Turn for Flood Help” Guide that is now available on our web site, or by calling us at 732.0700. The Guide will be continuously updated as the need for more and different services becomes apparent.

Welcome to UWCR’s Brand New Blog!

The purpose of our blog is to give you more insight into United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR) – not just posts about our campaign but about how UWCR is really making an impact in our community.

Many people do not know about UWCR’s work within the Capital Region. We study pressing community needs and not only fund programs to address these issues, but work with other key community and government organizations to really do the footwork to help solve the problems.

A new blog will be posted every-other week so subscribe to our blog to receive notification, or check back frequently to see what important work United Way is doing.

LIVE UNITED!