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United We Fight, United We Win.
United Way of Greater Kingsport fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. That includes the 1400 local lives that are improved every single day by the services United Way funds: books to our kids, job skills, education, counseling, shelter, dental health services, legal aid, hot meals, and much more.
At UWGK, we fight to address the root cause issues in our community. That's why we invest in positive, sustainable change - by funding 44 programs across 30 member agencies, as well as community impact initiatives that are making a difference. We bring community partners together to address those issues that none of us can tackle by ourselves.
Change doesn't happen alone. In this newsletter, you'll read about the work of some of our member agencies, and how they are working toward a better life for all. You'll also read about how we are partnering with city and county schools, as well as grants UWGK has awarded in order to sustain the work of community organizations to address our community's greatest challenges.
With summer also comes many opportunities to get involved! The 25th Annual Week of Caring, sponsored by Bank of Tennessee, kicks off on June 19th. The Regional Community Kickoff is August 17th. Lastly, we're very excited to announce that we will be kicking off a digital volunteer platform this summer. You will be able to access volunteer opportunities from any device, at any time.
We invite you to be a part of the change. You can give, you can advocate, and you can volunteer. United We Fight...and United We Win.
Thank you for all that you do to LIVE UNITED!
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United WE READ partners with community organizations to combat "summer slide."
As a UWGK community impact initiative, United WE READ (UWR) engages, empowers, and equips all children, families, and the Greater Kingsport community with tools and strategies that build a literacy rich culture, and a pathway to lifelong success, with a vision of
all students reading at proficient or advanced levels by 3rd grade.
In order to prevent "summer slide" - where students can often lose up to two months of grade level equivalency - UWR is engaging key partners to work with children across the community through the following three summer initiatives:
UWR assisted Kingsport City Schools and Sullivan County Department of Education in obtaining "Read to be Ready" state grants of nearly $50,000 each by writing letters of support and pledging to provide supplementary books and materials for the programs. Kingsport City Schools will work with 60 K-3rd graders and Sullivan County Department of Education will work with 45 K-3rd graders to increase students' literacy skills and love for reading.
Additionally, UWR
piloting their own "United WE READ to Lead Summer Program," in conjunction with host site
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport.
Teachers from Kingsport City and Sullivan County school districts will work with 30 rising 1st and 2nd graders through the month of June to improve foundational literacy skills. Key community partners will assist by providing engaging guest demonstrations and activities themed around reading, leadership, and a college and career focus.
Lastly, UWR will kick off its fifth annual Summer Book Club, with 650 K-3rd graders across nine UWR Afterschool Network organizations reading provided books during the four-week period. A celebration to be held July 12, 2017, will recognize students' achievements and provide engaging activities tied into this year's theme of Outer Space.
Stay connected to all of United WE READ's summer activities by following them on Twitter or liking their
Facebook page!
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United Way awards Community Partnership Grants
In addition to its work with member agencies and community impact initiatives, UWGK also awards Community Partnership Grants to health and human services organizations whose work aligns with our vision of A Better Life for All and who are fighting for positive, lasting change in our community. UWGK has awarded three of these grants this year:
Healthy Kingsport:
Healthy Kingsport is focused on improving the health of the community through a focus on wellness, tobacco cessation, and nutrition. A $5,000 grant from UWGK will allow them to continue to sustain this work and their
work alongside Healthier Tennessee to encourage both places of work and places of worship to create a health and wellness atmosphere by becoming Certified Healthier Tennessee places of work/worship,
while researching innovative health initiatives that benefit the health of the entire community.
Sullivan County Family Justice Center: The mission of the new Sullivan County Family Justice Center is to protect and empower the victims and survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and exploitation, human trafficking, and elder abuse. This Family Justice Center will be the 7th to open in Tennessee, but they are the first that will be opening as a stand-alone non-profit. A $9,000 grant from UWGK will help to cover operating costs for this facility.
The Family Justice Center will provide a secure physical site that has co-located, expert services promoting a future of safety, self-reliance, and opportunity for victims of these types of family and sexual violence. They relentlessly advocate a zero-tolerance policy of all forms of interpersonal violence and drive social change through aggressive community education and collaboration.
Sullivan County Anti-Drug Coalition:
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services requested $138,000 from the 21st Century Cures Act passed last December by Congress to train Tennesseans about Naloxone and to make it more available. Starting on July 1, the Sullivan County Anti-Drug Coalition will manage the Region 1 grant monies for this initiative. This grant was made possible by a $20,000 seed money grant from UWGK. These dollars will provide Naloxone to first-responders, as well as medical training and education on its use, in order to prevent death from opioid overdoses.
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UPCOMING
EVENTS
Week of Caring
June 19 - 23, 2017
Media Kickoff - June 19, 2017
Email Becca Sutphen at
bsutphen@uwaykpt.org for more information.
UWGK 101
Join us to learn more about volunteering with UWGK and how you can be a part of driving and inspiring community change!
Fourth Wednesday of the month
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
United WE READ Summer Book Club Celebration
July 12, 2017
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
V.O. Dobbins Field
Regional Campaign Kickoff
August 17, 2017
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 pm
MeadowView Convention Center
More details to come!
Email Mandi Cambre at
mcambre@uwaykpt.org with any questions.
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UWGK: Now Hiring!
The United Way of Greater Kingsport is seeking a
Front Office Coordinator. Interested candidates may learn more about this position and apply at
www.uwaykpt.org/careers .
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or
Text "UWAYKPT" to 41444 to drive and inspire community change
today!
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Boy Scouts build Octoball court at Girls Inc.
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The new Octoball court at Girls Inc. of Kingsport
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UWGK is dedicated to improving the health of our community. Keeping active is a big part of staying healthy. That's why we were excited to hear of the great new Octoball court at
Girls Inc.
! Girls Inc. provides a fun and safe environment for girls to make new friends, further artistic and athletic abilities, and supplement learning in the classroom. This
playground game has been steadily increasing in popularity among children and adults alike, and it can be played by as few as two people or as many as thirty! The new court is a great opportunity to encourage athleticism and teamwork.
The court would not have been possible without Pierce Byers of Troop 387 leading the project for his Eagle rank and the volunteerism from fellow scouting friends. They received donations and materials from
Edo Sushi Bar and Grill, Summers Taylor, and Byerley Construction for the court. We appreciate them for their work in helping to create a better life for all!
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Literacy Council receives $10,000 grant to support Adult Literacy
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation awarded the Literacy Council of Kingsport a $10,000 grant to support adult literacy.
This local grant award is part of more than $7.5 million in grants awarded to nearly 900 schools, nonprofits and organizations across the 44 states that Dollar General serves.
"We truly appreciate the continued support of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation," said Megan Miller, executive director, Literacy Council of Kingsport. "This grant allows us to continue to provide free one-on-one tutoring and conversation sessions facilitated by trained volunteers. Our students are experiencing a better quality of life by improving their literacy skills and achieving their individual goals. Together, we continue to build a stronger community through the power of literacy."
The Literacy Council provides free one-on-one tutoring for adults and qualified children in three program areas: Adult Basic Literacy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and Tutoring for Children and Youth. It is estimated more than 12% of adults in Sullivan County cannot read, write, do math, or use technology above a third grade level. The grant received from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation will help to fund quality programs and expanded services for adult students to improve their literacy skills as well as achieve their individual goals, such as improving employability skills, enrolling in an adult or higher education program, engaging in their child's education, and volunteering in the community.
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We want to hear from you!
United Way of Greater Kingsport is conducting a community survey. Take our short, 9 question survey to let us know how we're doing and how you stay up-to-date with UWGK!
Click here to take the survey
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