spunitedway2020

Earth Day Project

Posted on July 27, 2011 by spunitedway2020

Our local first grade Daisy girls painted three 55-gallon barrels (donated & prepped by Ballweg Family Dealerships), to “recycle” them into garbage/recycling cans for Earth Day. We talked to the girls about how Earth Day was helping to protect the Earth and to keep it clean. We had them think up things that they thought about when they think about nature. We gave them directions on how to brainstorm together in their team and paint what nature and earth represented to them. The barrels are being donated to the Villages of Sauk City, Prairie du Sac and the Town of West Point, which represent where all of the girls in the troop live!

Standing: Claire Thiede, Marissa Haselwander and Abby Dovin. Kneeling: Amelia Hunter, Helen Judge, Abby Kerl, Malea Niesen, Lauren Frey, Erin Tierney and Emma Kinnamon. Not pictured: Isabella Brickl, Ella Williams and Leaders Stephanie Judge and Laurie Kerl.

Standing: Claire Thiede, Marissa Haselwander and Abby Dovin. Kneeling: Amelia Hunter, Helen Judge, Abby Kerl, Malea Niesen, Lauren Frey, Erin Tierney and Emma Kinnamon. Not pictured: Isabella Brickl, Ella Williams and Leaders Stephanie Judge and Laurie Kerl. Standing: Claire Thiede, Marissa Haselwander and Abby Dovin. Kneeling: Amelia Hunter, Helen Judge, Abby Kerl, Malea Niesen, Lauren Frey, Erin Tierney and Emma Kinnamon. Not pictured: Isabella Brickl, Ella Williams and Leaders Stephanie Judge and Laurie Kerl.

Tax break for charitable giving targeted

Posted on April 22, 2011 by spunitedway2020

For the third consecutive year, the tax deduction for charitable giving is in some policymakers’ sights – and nonprofit officials fear, given the belt-tightening mood in Washington, this time could be the charm.

Nonprofits have stressed that, with governments around the country looking at ways to cut costs, giving incentives to charitable donations is now as important as ever.

But with President Obama proposing once more to curtail the deduction, as he did in 2009 and 2010, and lawmakers indicating that very little is not on the table when it comes to deficit reduction and corporate tax reform, officials in the nonprofit sector feel more on the defensive than they have in previous years.

“We’re actually in a circumstance right now where the question as to why this sector is valuable is going to be conflated with questions of, can the government invest in this?,” said Diana Aviv, the chief executive of Independent Sector, a trade organization for nonprofits. “Is this the best way to spend our dollars?”

One Million Volunteer Mentors and Tutors

Posted on April 22, 2011 by spunitedway2020

Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships staff from the U.S. Department of Education and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) participated in the United Way Education Town Hall on March 31, 2011 in Washington, D.C.

United Way Worldwide President and CEO Brian Gallagher announced United Way’s commitment to recruit one million readers, tutors and mentors to enhance the education and lives of young people.

CNCS CEO Patrick Corvington talked about how education is a central priority for national service. “More than half of our funding goes to education,” said Corvington. “We make it possible for great nonprofits across the country to support tutors and mentors and school volunteers that reach three million disadvantaged youth each year.”