February 2018


Congratulations to Liz Feitl, United Way team member, on being selected for the Toby Strout Lifetime Contribution Award!

Congratulations, Liz!

Join us in congratulating United Way team member Liz Feitl on the announcement that she will receive the Toby Strout Lifetime Contribution Award as part of Women's History Month in March!

This award recognizes women whose work has advanced the status of women through leadership and service. Liz has been the AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison with United Way of Monroe County for more than 15 years and active in our community for decades. 

Congratulations to Liz and all the award winners who will be recognized during the upcoming Women's History Month. Read more >>


If you earned less than $66,000 you can file your taxes online for free by visiting MyFreeTaxes.com!

File at home for FREE
   
All the features. None of the fees. Finding an affordable option for online tax preparation can be difficult, but did you know that United Way has partnered with H&R Block to offer an online filing service that can help you with your taxes for free? 

If you earned $66,000 or less in combined Annual Gross Income (AGI), MyFreeTaxes.com is a free, convenient, and safe option for you! You can file both state and federal taxes from the comfort of your own home without missing out on tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). A free help line is available and you can save your return in-progress.
 
Learn more about how you can file for free at  monroeunitedway.org/MyFreeTaxes.
 


United Way works with 25 local member agencies to help meet our community's needs.

United We Win: Campaign Highlights

Did you know that United Way works with 25 local member agencies? United Way and our partners fight for the education, earnings opportunity, and essential needs of everyone in our community.  
 

Thanks to these organizations and their  commitment to helping our community win: 


Cummins is  working to power our community to a better tomorrow with a generous donation of $25,842.


 
General Motors' total donation of $10,948, including $3,152 from employees, will help to drive success and wellbeing into the community.
 


Employees at the Shalom Center, a United Way member agency, increased their giving 55% from last year for a total of $1,760 .




 
Interested in holding a fundraising campaign or having a United Way representative give a presentation to your group? Contact us at info@monroeunitedway.org today!
 
 


 Local companies have promoted our fundraising campaign since the early 1940s! Photo courtesy of the Monroe County History Center

The Campaign Booms!
 
In 1937, the Community Chest, the organization that later became United Way, began their fundraising campaign with a bang! An explosion of controlled bombs on the courthouse lawn went off to celebrate the start of the campaign and another series went off for every $1,000 raised. In the first three hours, over $3,000 had been donated. Though we don't kick off campaigns quite like we used to, the excitement is still a blast!
 
As we celebrate the bicentennials of the City of Bloomington and Monroe County in 2018, United Way is reflecting on our own history in the community. Throughout the year, each newsletter will feature a memory about United Way's long history in Monroe County. 
 
Do you have a United Way memory to share? We'd enjoy hearing from you at info@monroeunitedway.org.  
   
Learn more about United Way's history at monroeunitedway.org/history. 
 

Dial 2-1-1 to find assistance for all your needs!

Dial 2-1-1 for Assistance
 
February 11 (2/11) is National 2-1-1 Day  in recognition of the free, confidential, easy to remember phone number that connects people to essential community resources. For 12 years 2-1-1 has been taking calls from Hoosiers in need and connecting them to local services. Dial  2-1-1 to find assistance with needs like food, housing, employment, child care, health care, counseling, and senior services. Speak with a call specialist anytime day or night -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also visit the complete 2-1-1 database online at any time. 
 
Last year, 3,855 Monroe, Owen, and Greene county residents who needed help dialed 2-1-1. Call specialists made 5,728 referrals to community resources. The top needs were housing, utility assistance, and food. Read more >>
 
 

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United Way of Monroe County is a nonprofit organization that improves  people's lives by addressing critical needs today and working to reduce those needs tomorrow. Through our Community Action Fund, Priority Funds, and grant initiatives, we work with 25 member agencies and other community partners to focus resources on the building blocks for a better life: education, earnings, and the essentials.
 
441 S. College Ave, Bloomington, IN 47403 | (812) 334-8370