Wednesday, October 28, 2009

More Imagination Library!!!

Imagination Library officially launched in September and pledge cards, including signs, are EVERYWHERE! Please be minded that this is our signature project and if we don't believe in it, who will? Once again, we are asking that if you have not picked up any pledge cards to please stop by headquarters and do so. If you can't stop by but need cards mailed to you, please contact Mandy (mandy@myunitedway.com). YLP's are asked to submit at least 11 pledge cards and this includes you. Let's try to make every effort to make our $10,000 goal before the first of the year.

November Steering Committee

Our final two activities will be a steering committee meeting on Thursday, November 5, 2009. Let's shoot for 7:45am at Broad Street for coffee for about an hour. At this meeting we will discuss our final push for Imagination Library, a YLP "Memorandum of Understanding", and the potential 2010 partnerships with other young leader organizations (i.e. leveraging programs, leadership summit).

Please attend this monthly meeting!

Things that we have recently done...

Thank you to all those who attended the recent Flowood "After Hours" business event to represent the YLP. A table was set-up and pledge cards for Imagination Library were distributed to those interested in learning more about the things we were doing in our communities.

A meeting was held recently between leaders of YLP and YP Alliance. We are so excited to share that we will definitely be working together in 2010 and will be including Jackson Progressives and possibly a newly formed young leader's group in Ridgeland called "Young Professionals for the American Red Cross". More details will provided at our next steering committee meeting (November 2, 2009).

VITA Volunteer Opportunity

Hello Everybody!

I wanted to share with you the upcoming opportunities to become a VITA volunteer with United Way this tax season. Last year, with the help of volunteers we were able to assist in over 3.7 million dollars of savings and returns to the people in the tri-county. We want to do even more this year. We need your help. Become a volunteer! Share this information with others that you think may want to volunteer.

Together, we CAN make a difference. Thank you so much.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Learning Express drive

The Young Leaders in Philanthropy is partnering with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to provide children throughout our Tri-County area with books delivered monthly to each child's home. This is a simple and easy opportunity to make a difference in a child's life!


What is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library?
Imagination Library improves educational opportunities for children by providing preschoolers with carefully selected, high-quality books—free of charge, delivered directly to their home, each month from the time the child is born until his or her 5th birthday.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is not a charity or a social service—it is a gift to all preschoolers in a community. Learning to read is a process much like learning to speak or learning to walk. The process begins at birth. United Way knows that children who have access to books and who are read to early have a much better chance for success in school. Imagination Library is an integral component of United Way’s work aggressively addressing early learning.

How Does It Work?
For the initial investment of $30 you can be the local champion for one year for a child in the tri-county, ensuring that he or she receives one book a month. For a committed investment of $150, you will build that child a 5-year library! Carefully selected books will be delivered directly
to each child’s home until that child turns 5 years old. United Way and Imagination Library will handle the logistics while you can relax knowing that you are empowering our children to read.

Steering Committee

YLP Steering Committee is having its monthly meeting at 7:30 on Thursday October 1, 2009. Please let us know if you are interested in attending. Send RSVPs to Monica@myunitedway.com by Wednesday at noon.

The Steering Committee meets the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 am in the United Way Board Room unless otherwise specified. Anyone interested in learning more about the Young Leaders in Philanthropy is welcome to participate in this monthly event.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Join us for Lunch & Learn

Please make plans to join us for YLP’S next Lunch & Learn on Thursday, September 10th (11:30 - 1:00) in the United Way Board Room (843 N. President St., Jackson 39202).

The guest speaker for this session is Ira Murray, United Way’s Vice President of Community Impact, who will talk about the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program that put $3.8 million dollars back into the community last year and how United Way plans to grow the program this tax season.

Brown bags are welcome!

RSVP: Monica Daniels (monica@myunitedway.com; 601-965-1346) by September 8th to secure a prepared lunch. We understand that plans change. If you reserve a lunch but cannot make the meeting, please try to remember to cancel so United Way does not incur unneccessary costs. Thanks!