MARCH 2019 | ISSUE: 15
HIGHLIGHTS FROM AROUND BRAZORIA COUNTY!
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Greetings!
United Way of Brazoria County (UWBC) celebrates all that you and the hundreds of other volunteers, advocates, and donors do everyday to progress the mission of UWBC to promote a higher quality of life in our communities.
We thank you deeply and ask that you become a digital advocate for the UWBC mission just as you are in your daily life.
We are grateful you have joined the fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Brazoria County.
We couldn't do it without you.
Sincerely,
The United Way of Brazoria County Staff
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2019 READ ACROSS AMERICA
Promoting reading and STEM education in Brazoria County
Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading. On Monday, March 5, 2019, UWBC staff and board members, and volunteers from around the county joined together to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday by reading a Dr. Seuss book to nearly 225 children around the county and help the children with in a fun Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) activity.
This year, our STEM activity was "Rainbow Skittles". The children practiced counting, sorting colors, and then watched how their colorful skittle arrangements turned into a rainbow.
Thank you to all of our nearly 30 volunteers, Alvin Head Start, Angleton Head Start, Lake Jackson Head Start, Pearland Head Start, and Sweeny Head Start for allowing us in their schools to promote reading and STEM education.
We fight for education, and volunteers like you make this mission possible!
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VITA ASSISTANCE WRAPS UP!
242 residents assisted across the county
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On February 23, 2019 we wrapped up our five week VITA/Hurricane Harvey Application Fair Blitz. Over this five week span we were able to assist nearly 250 Brazoria County residents who needed help with their income taxes and/or those residents whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Harvey.
Thank you to all of our volunteers and community partners for helping assist residents around the county with their taxes.
This year, we had a combined event with volunteers from American Red Cross, SBP, Brazoria County Long Term Recover, Brazoria County Veterans Services, and Texas General Land Office helping residents apply for an fill out applications for assistance with their unfinished Hurricane Harvey damage, and see if they qualify for assistance through the Texas Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP).
VITA is vital to assisting low-income residents to receive tax benefits, like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit, and full refunds. With the help from our volunteers and partners we can continue to help the residents of Brazoria County #LiveUnited!
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LIVE UNITED, RISE TOGETHER! UNITED WAY DAY AT THE CAPITOL!
Advocating for Brazoria County
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On February 26, 2019, we joined United Ways of Texas and United Way peers from around the state for a day of conversation, connection, and advocacy at the Texas Capitol. We took a stand for Texas communities and Brazoria County and showed our support for United Way’s system-wide priorities in education, financial stability, and health.
By uniting our voices together, we can educate and urge state leaders to make health, education, and financial stability a priority during the 86th Regular Legislative Session.
Specifically, United Way of Brazoria County looked at bills in reference to homelessness and affordable housing, mental health, particularly in the school setting and cradle to career policy. We also looked at and supporting school finance reform and property tax policy.
We also took a stand for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). ALICE is a hardworking member of the community who is employed yet does not earn enough to afford the basic necessities of life.
ALICE earns above the Federal Poverty Level, but does not earn enough to afford a bare-bones household budget of housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and necessary technology.
By raising our voices and working together we can be the advocate to improve Texas communities!
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2-1-1 DAY
Bringing Our Community Closer Together
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February 11th was National 2-1-1 Day. Thank you to the thousands of amazing 2-1-1 specialists who help people every day throughout the U.S. and Canada! Real people and real help is just a phone call or click away. 2-1-1 is FREE and confidential.
2-1-1 Texas is a free, anonymous social service hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
You can reach the services of 2-1-1 Texas by dialing 2-1-1 from any phone.
Click the button below to learn more about 2-1-1 services.
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TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE HOMEOWNER REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM
Apply today for help!
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The Texas General Land Office (GLO) allocated $100 million in Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to reimburse homeowners for up to $50,000 in out-of-pocket expenses to repair their Hurricane Harvey damaged homes. To be eligible for this program, the home must be the owner’s primary residence and eligible repairs must have been completed prior to the application launch date of Feb. 28, 2019. Applications are anticipated to outnumber available funds, so apply quickly!
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Is your home still damaged by Hurricane Harvey?
The Texas General Land Office is opening a Homeowner Assistance Mobile Intake Center every Thursday in Angleton to serve homeowners in southern Brazoria County who were impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
The Brazoria County center will be open Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Brazoria County East Annex, 1524 E. Mulberry St., Suite 162, Angleton, TX.
For more information or assistance click the links below.
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SMALL BUSINESS | BIG IMPACT "THANK YOU" BREAKFAST
Thank you for all you do for our community!
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The United Way of Brazoria County collaborates with community partners to mobilize resources, finding sustainable solutions that lead to a higher quality of life.
This was evident as UWBC hosted their First Annual Small Business, Big Impact “Thank You” Breakfast! Congratulations to Michael Newton of M&M Plumbing who received the SBBI Small Business of the Year award. Michael is a community leader and provides community services, volunteers for local programs, and advocates for those in our community that need the most help.
The Small Business, Big Impact program is a simple and affordable plan where local small businesses can help fight for the education, financial stability and health for residents in Brazoria County.
The program offers recognition in the UWBC Annual Report as a Heritage Oaks Society Leadership Donor, as well as a UWBC corporate partner, Business Recognition with the UWBC digital newsletter, a social media article, the business logo displayed on the UWBC website and a co-branded certificate that the business can proudly display at their place of business.
The cost of the program is $1,200 and can be paid monthly, quarterly or a one-time payment.
We currently have 11 SBBI members and are looking to grow the program significantly over 2019. We have plans for increased participation, increased volunteerism and the formation of an SBBI philanthropic leadership board.
Thank you to all of our current SBBI members, M&M Plumbing, Damian and Associates, Brazos Mall, Setpoint, Lola Stardust Fine Art Studio and Gallery, Urban Eve and Bleu Roots, Events all Around, Empower Youth Sports, AirLiquide, and our newest member Neal Insurance Agency.
Door prizes provided by GiGis doughtnuts, the Center for the Arts and Sciences, Killum Pest Control, Kroger, Lola Stardust Fine Art Studio and Gallery.
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WORKPLACE CAMPAIGN AWARDS
Thank you for your support!
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Campaign Awards are in full swing! Thank you to all of our Workplace Campaign leaders and employees for once again investing in our communities. It's companies and people like you who continue to help those around Brazoria County #LiveUnited!
UWBC Workplace Campaigns are still running through June 2019. If your employer is interested in joining the campaign contact Susan Cooman at
scooman@uwbc.org
or call our office at 979-849-9402.
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COMMUNITY EVENTS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND JOB OPENINGS
Join the Community!
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We have so many great things going on around Brazoria County! Don't miss out on these upcoming events and volunteer opportunities around the county. Also, check out local job openings and share with family and friends.
Click the button below for a calendar and make sure to share with your colleagues and friends!
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You aren't a volunteer. You are someone's hero.
United, We Win
is a Facebook group dedicated to connecting you with the local causes and volunteer opportunities that you are passionate about. Join this group to stay informed about the great work happening in Brazoria County and to learn how you can be a part of it.
When you join the fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community, we all win.
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