We want to thank everyone who took the time to join us for our Women United 16th Annual Business Leaders for Early Education Breakfast (in Bed) last week. Because of your generosity and the Diamond Challenge Fund match, so far we've raised an amazing $97,190 for early childhood education. Every dollar stays right here in Southern Arizona to fund programs to address early childhood education and literacy in our community. We believe that early education is the key to success in school and beyond. That's why we are so grateful for the outpouring of support by you and our dedicated sponsors (pictured left) who make this event such a major success each and every year. If you didn't have a chance to attend the virtual event, check out the video above to get inspired. If you'd like to help out join the effort to improve early education in Southern Arizona, click the button to the left to donate. See the "My Summer Library" story below to learn about one of the programs you'll help fund. UNITED WE ALL WIN!

Each year at the Business Breakfast, two Literacy Champions are awarded for their success in literacy education. We are excited to introduce you to this year's winners:  Haley Carolin and Kristen Kvaran. Each has made it their mission to instill a love of reading in their students. Here's a little more about Kristen and Haley and what makes them so inspiring:

Click here to watch Haley and Kristen in action, see how they've persevered through this challenging year, and what makes them this year's Literacy Champions.

Right now, planning is underway to distribute thousands of books to local children. The My Summer Library program, coordinated by United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, represents a targeted approach to reach children in Pima County who attend elementary schools working to improve educational outcomes. The goals of My Summer Library are to improve 3rd-grade reading proficiency, build student’s home libraries and mitigate summer reading loss. My Summer Library is committed to get 12 new books into the hands of emerging readers in 15 schools in 8 districts across Pima County starting this April. United Way is working hard with partnering schools to develop options that will comply with public health and district guidelines, while providing students safe access to free, age-appropriate books. While the traditional onsite book fair staffed with United Way volunteers may not be a possibility, the opportunity to connect students and books has not disappeared. Last year, despite the pandemic, My Summer Library safely connected 2,000 students with 24,000 new books in Pima County.

United Way of Tucson is proud to announce that Cradle to Career (C2C) is a recipient of a major grant from StriveTogether. This grant allows for the expansion of our partnership's work in post-secondary enrollment and completion, as well as empowering the voices of community members to co-develop solutions to create more equitable systems in education. Click here for more details on the grant and how it will be used. Click here to learn more about Cradle to Career.

We love sharing good news stories from our programs with you. This month, we want to introduce you to 2-year-old Jassiel who is part of the Parents as Teachers program, funded by United Way of Tucson. When Jassiel was born two years ago, his parents brought him home from the hospital with no concerns. While visiting family, they soon noticed Jassiel did not startle at loud noises or seem to become soothed with soft sounds. At Jassiel's 4-month checkup, his pediatrician informed them that their son had congenital hearing loss. Jassiel first tried hearing aids, but it did little to improve his severe hearing loss, and Jassiel would not keep the devices on. With all the appointments and meetings, Jassiel’s mom was feeling overwhelmed and asked her home visitor to be placed on hold so she could reduce her busy schedule. But within a few months, she realized how the connection with her home visitor helped to ease her stress, and the family returned to the Parents as Teachers program.

At the beginning of October, Jassiel received a cochlear implant. One of the first events that Jassiel attended after his surgery was the Sunnyside Parents as Teachers October Library Story Hour. During the meeting, Jassiel heard music for the first time. He was able to join the fun and participated in dance and movement activities. The home visitors were able to witness his joy and know that they were a part of the magical moment. The team knows that he and his family will have bumps along the road as Jassiel becomes adjusted to improved hearing, but they will be there to support this success story and United Way of Tucson will be there to help support this essential community program. Click here to learn more about the Parents as Teachers program.

United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona is excited to announce a new partnership with Million Stories Media, "entertainment that’s right on the money." MillionStories.com is a free digital content platform filled with original, bite-sized programming ranging from comedies to dramas, realities to docu-series all aimed at educating and sharing the realities of and tips for financial wellness. The site also includes a wide variety of learning resources. Million Stories is a project of the Singleton Foundation that highlights familiar faces and real people coping with financial hardship, how they raise children, how they earn their money, how they find work and how they learn to succeed. They've also got help from some heavy hitters like NFL star Richard Sherman who shares lessons about everything from paying taxes to buying a car in his series, "Adulting with Richard Sherman." This partnership will help us to expand our reach and enhance our financial wellness programming to support our mission of Building a Thriving Community by Uniting People, Ideas and Resources. Click here to learn more about Million Stories and click the photo above to watch one of the many inspirational and educational videos from the site.

Time is running out for you to file your taxes for free. If you made $66,000 or less last year, you do NOT have to pay to file your taxes. United Way of Tucson's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program can help you file for free, and you don't even have to leave your house! We've teamed up with GetYourRefund.org to provide free, online one-on-one tax assistance from IRS-certified tax preparers. VITA tax preparation saves taxpayers an average of $250 per return. It also helps taxpayers access all tax credits for which they are eligible – including the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) which has been recognized as the single most powerful tool to lift children out of poverty.

-GetYourRefund.org/uwtsa – taxpayers can connect with VITA volunteers online

-In-Person Assistance – limited in-person assistance is available at select sites

-DIY Self-Prep Software – online services for those who feel confident in filing on their own

Click here for more information.

As the COVID-19 pandemic surges on, the need for assistance is growing in Southern Arizona. In the face of these challenges, your United Way continues to provide emergency funding for community members through the United for Southern Arizona COVID-19 Fund. To date, we have raised $1,244,119 which has helped 46,937 individuals and families in need. We've sent funding to 35 partner agencies to fulfill 1246 critical need requests. Here's one example of how the fund has helped a local family:

From Community Investment Corporation: “We recently heard from a single mother of two young children who was reaching out to us about rental assistance. She lost her job and has not been able to find work because she can only work limited hours due to lack of childcare. Rental assistance from United Way’s COVID fund is helping this young family avoid eviction until the mother can find a job that fits with her family’s situation.”

With the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is not the time to go without health insurance. The Biden Administration has announced a reopening of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) federal marketplace for a special three month open enrollment for anyone seeking healthcare coverage. You do not need to prove a loss of coverage in order to enroll. Click here and sign up anytime between now and May 15, 2021.

Arizona Gives Day April 6th, 2021

Join the annual online giving movement that supports local nonprofits. Click here for more details and to donate.

ACA Open Enrollment Now- May 15, 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, open enrollment for Affordable Care Act healthcare coverage has been extended. Click here or see the story above for more details.

Circle of Excellence May 2021 (Exact Date TBA)

Join us for a virtual day of recognition for our workplace campaigns and the generous companies and individuals who help build a thriving community. More details to come.