News Archive

Empower Book Club January 22nd

United Way's Empower: Women United in Philanthropy is planning a January Book Club around Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture". The event is planned for Thursday, January 22nd with a 6:00 p.m. Social, 6:30 Dinner and 7:30 Discussion at an Empower member's home.  Empower members and those interested in Empower are welcome to attend with friends, just contact United Way with your RSVP and e-mail address: 320-235-1050 or e-mail molly@unitedwaykc.org

Your home assignment and directions will be e-mailed by Monday, January 19th. If you do not have time to read the book, dont worry! Just go on line to www.thelastlecture.com to watch the video.

US Bank Sponsors Imagination Library

United Way of Kandiyohi County would like to thank US Bank and The West Central Tribune for helping to sponsor Imagination Library for the month of Janurary! Imagination Library along with US Bank is helping to provide one hard cover book each month to children up to the age of five whose parents live or work in Kandiyohi County.  

Currenlty, United Way of Kandiyohi County has more than 1700 signed up for the program.  The program costs $30 per child for an entire year. If you are interested in sponsoring a child for Imagination Library please contact United Way.

Thank you to US Bank and the West Central Tribune for helping to prepare our community's children for kindergarten!

United Way Campaign Featured in Local News

United Way of Kandiyohi County's 2008 Community Campaign was featured on today's front page of the West Central Tribune, with KWLM, and on K95.3

United Way of Kandiyohi County is working toward the end of the 2008 Campaign wiht a goal set the same as last year, $750,000, United Way is working to raise an additional $95,000 beyong the current $655,000 pledged.

Stacey Roberts, Executive Director states, "This year presents us with new challenges to meet the increasing needs in our community, but to also continue funding our prevention and development programs to keep families and indiviudals out of a crisis situation."

United Way of Kandiyohi County works to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of Kandiyohi County. United Way funds more than 50 community programs, operates 6 programs, and brings together community leaders to focus on Kanidyohi County's most pressing issues.

United Way has $95,000 more to raise within the next few months. If you would like to contribute please click here or call 320-235-1050

To see the Tribune Article Click Here

Success by 6 Column-Building Worlds with Words

United Way of Kandiyohi County's women's initiative Empower: Women United in Philanthropy and the West Central Tribune have teamed up to bring our area the "United Way Success by 6" column. The column was created to help offer simple everday activities and tips to parents or caregivers of children ages birth to 6. 

Success by 6 is a brand that shows our community is working to help our children grow and explore in early learning. The column will be published the first and third Tuesday of the month. The first Tuesday look for tips, hints, lessons, and easy ideas to help children ages birth to 6 grow.  On the third Tuesday of the month, look for a fun activity to share with children and explore new ways to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities.

LIVE UNITED by joining our FACEBOOK group!

LIVE UNITED and join the movement by becomming a member of the United Way of Kandiyohi County group!

Click here to JOIN THE MOVEMENT!

Target Sponsors Imagination Library for November!

United Way of Kandiyohi County would like to thank Target and The West Central Tribune for helping to sponsor Imagination Library for the month of November! Imagination Library along with Target is helping to provide one hard cover book each month to children up to the age of five whose parents live or work in Kandiyohi County.  

Currenlty, United Way of Kandiyohi County has more than 1700 signed up for the program.  The program costs $30 per child for an entire year. If you are interested in sponsoring a child for Imagination Library please contact United Way.

Thank you to Target and the West Central Tribune for helping to prepare our community's children for kindergarten!

United Way & Empower Launch "Born Learning!"

United Way of Kandiyohi County and their women’s initiative Empower: Women United in Philanthropy kicked off a public engagement campaign this week called Born Learning, to help them achieve their goal of having 80% of our community’s children prepared for school by 2012. Born Learning is designed to help parents, caregivers, and communities provide young children with early learning opportunities. The Born Learning campaign is designed specifically to help young children prepare for school. Parents are bombarded with resources and materials to help their children to be successful. It can be overwhelming, timely, and expensive. Born Learning offers simple “do-able” action steps that are time efficient and make it easy and fun to help children learn during everyday activities such as doing laundry, preparing meals, or going grocery shopping.

Children are born learning. What they learn first in their five years before kindergarten depends on their everyday experiences. This campaign will help our community explore those experiences and enhance them to increase the readiness rate for school in Kandiyohi County. Stacey Roberts, Executive Director for United Way stated “It is important to help caregivers, parents and grandparents help young children get prepared for school. We know that quality learning in the first few years is a strong foundation for school success. Research shows that investing early on in learning pays huge dividends later on in reduced crime, fewer teen pregnancies, more high school graduates, and more individual success in school and life.”

Born Learning is locally sponsored by United Way of Kandiyohi County and Empower: Women United in Philanthropy. Materials will be available at doctor’s offices, through public health nurses, in waiting areas, and ECFE centers community wide. Born Learning trails are already in place at Wal-Mart, Cash Wise, Cub Foods, Jahnke’s, and The Big Store. Nationally, Born Learning is sponsored by United Way, the Ad Council and Civitas bringing together an extensive community impact network with the nation’s preeminent public service advertiser and a top expert in parent outreach strategies and creative marketing around early childhood.

Born Learning research shows many parents undervalue their role in preparing young children for school. Parents and caregivers don’t know exactly what actions to take to prepare young children for school, or feel like they don’t have time to do what is needed, according to research gathered by United Way of America.

Success by 6 Column-Learning at Home

United Way of Kandiyohi County's women's initiative Empower: Women United in Philanthropy and the West Central Tribune have teamed up to bring our area the "United Way Success by 6" column. The column was created to help offer simple everday activities and tips to parents or caregivers of children ages birth to 6. 

Success by 6 is a brand that shows our community is working to help our children grow and explore in early learning. The column will be published the first and third Tuesday of the month. The first Tuesday look for tips, hints, lessons, and easy ideas to help children ages birth to 6 grow.  On the third Tuesday of the month, look for a fun activity to share with children and explore new ways to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities.

Early Learning Screening Packs- Front Page News!

Early Learning Screening Packs

United Way's women initiative Empower: Women United in Philanthropy was featured on the front page of the West Central Tribune for thier newest project- Early Learning Screening Packs!  Empower dedicated funds raised at our annual Power of the Purse event to provide an  early learning backpack to every child who attends early learning screening in Willmar, New London Spicer, KMS and ACGC. This year alone, 700 children will receive a back pack filled with learning supplies and parent education.

This project is one of many United Way and Empower are bringing to our community in an effort to help us reach our goal and have 80% of our county's children prepared for kindergarten by 2012.

Thank you to ACMC, Kandiyohi County Public Health, and the Early Childhood Initiative  for their partnership on providing materials for the bags.

United Way Office Moves!

United Way of Kandiyohi County office moved this week to the upper level of the Engan & Associates building located in downtown Willmar next to the Barn Theater. Our new address is 311 4th Street Sw Willmar MN 56201.

Growmobile receives $15,000 in grants!

Best Buy Corporation recently approved a $5,000 grant and the Willmar Area Community Foundation recently approved a $10,000 grant to help support United Way of Kandiyohi County�and their women's initiative Empower: Women United in Philanthropy's mobile preschool project- "Growmobile".

The Growmobile is a key program in helping United Way and Empower achieve their goal to have 80% of our county's children prepared for school by 2012.

The Growmobile was developed out of focus group discussions with kindergarten teachers, preschool teachers, early learning experts, social service providers, medical professionals, and others. When Empower asked focus groups what are some of the problems regarding the lack of readiness for kindergarten, some common themes included:
-Lack of parent education and involvment
-Lack of transportation
-Demographics tend to be low income and/or English Language Learners
-Families in the "gap" cannot afford preschool and do not qualify for Headstart.

After hearing these responses, United Way's Empower group launched a summer pilot program of the Growmobile in our county's two largest low income communities "Regency East" & "Regency West". The summer program was an incredible success. Empower is now working to purchase a vehicle and create a year round "Growmobile" program that will travel across Kandiyohi County and create access to early learning to most at risk populations.

2008 Campaign Video!

The 2008 Campaign Video is finally here!
Thank you to Nathan Streed (UWKC board president) and Torry Norling for all of your help and for LIVING UNITED in Kandiyohi County!

Be sure to check it out by clicking here-United Way of West Central Minnesota VIDEO.

Enjoy and Pass it on! Join the Movement!

Growmobile Featured in the West Central Tribune!

United Way of Kandiyohi County's Growmobile was featured in the West Central Tribune!

The Growmobile is a program of United Way's women's initative Empower: Women United in Philanthropy. The Growmobile travels to low income communities and provides a mobile early learning exprience to children ages birth to 7 every day this summer. The Growmobile has future plans to become a year round program that travels around Kandiyohi Couty to work with low income communities, day care centers, and family/friend care.

The Growmobile is a major tool in helping Empower reach their goal of having 80% of our community's children prepared for school by 2012.

UPS Foundation Grants $10,000 to Growmobile!

The UPS Foundation granted United Way's Growmobile $10,000 to go toward start up costs! The Growmobile is a project of United Way's women's initative Empower:Women United in Philanthropy. The Growmobile is a mobile learning center that will travel around Kandiyohi County and provide early education to low income communities, day cares, and family/friend centers.

Currently, the Growmobile is in a pilot stage and is traveling to Regency East and Regency West daily to work with children ages birth to 7 on early learning activites. Each weekis filled with activities focused around a bi-lingual book that is given to every child that attends and participates in learning.

This program is a major tool in helping Empower reach their goal to have 80% of our county's children prepared for kindergarten by 2012.

To find out more or to VOLUNTEER for this proram call United Way 320-235-1050 or e-mail the coordinator Jess Mueller at jess@unitedwaykc.org

UWKC Passes National Membership Standards!

Willmar, MN, (7/18/08) Stacey Roberts, Executive Director , announced that the United Way Kandiyohi County has successfully completed all of the United Way of America membership requirements by their respective due dates. The requirements include Membership Requirements Certification, Membership Investment, the Database 2 Survey of Total Resources Generated (a survey that captures the full extent of a community’s resource development efforts during the year) and a report of the United Way’s annual income and expenses. Over and above the annual requirements, United Way of Kandiyohi County completed a mandatory organizational self-assessment in 2008 as part of this process.

“The membership requirements must be certified annually in order for us to remain a member of the United Way,” stated Director Stacey Roberts, “It is important for us to maintain high standards of accountability, and this is part of the process to confirm that our operations are transparent and meet or exceed United Way membership requirements.”

The board of United Way of Kandiyohi County reviewed and approved the Membership Requirements Certification in May & June. The certification mandates completion of 13 requirements for United Way of America membership along with verification of the status of 44 indicators that a United Way demonstrates the intent of the membership requirements.

“It is critical that all United Ways meet the highest standards and verify on paper that they have conformed to the requirements of membership in the United Way system,” said Brian Gallagher, President and CEO, United Way of America. ““We applaud United Way of Kandiyohi County’s accountability efforts that support its important work to improve lives and build a stronger community.”

As an integral part of our communities, United Way advances the common good by creating lasting change for children, families, the elderly, disabled, & chronically ill, and by meeting basic needs.

Best Buy Awards the "Tag Team Award" To UNITED WAY

After dedicating hours and staff time to volunteering throughout our community, Best Buy awarded United Way with $1000 for accumilated hours in our community. Best Buy has helped re-paint the Shelter House, fix up homes for Woodland Centers, build picnic tables for agencies, landscape the Kanidyohi County YMCA, sponsored a family for Christmas, and so much more!

Day of Action: Great Success!

United Way of Kandiyohi County's is Day of Action was a great Success!

The Day of Action is an annual event when community businesses & individuals volunteer one day to making a big difference in Kandiyohi County. This year more than 300 volunteers are completing projects for agencies in need of help, elderly, disabled, neighbors & friends.

Empower's Power of the Purse!

United Way's Empower:Women United in Philanthropy's Second Annual Power of the Purse was a HUGE success!

The event was Saturday, April 26th. This year the tour will begin at Melvin's on the Lake where guests loaded coach buses that traveled to four of Green Lake's finest homes.� At each home there was silent auction purses,�baskets, beverages & appetizers. The tour finished back at Melvin's where there�was a LIVE PURSE AUCTION!

All proceeds from this event benefited Empower, whose mission is to focus women's leadership to effectively prepare our county's children for kindergarten.

This year Empower raised more than $13,000! This includes the more than $7,000 raised to fund preschool screening packs for children across Kandiyohi County. All dollars raised will help Empower reach their goal to have 80% of our county's children prepared for school by 2012.

Empower would like to thank all of those who donated purses, baskets, and time!

Thank you to Northern Grounds, Premuim Waters, Cashwise Liquor, Paper Place, Melvin's on the Lake for the donates of food & beverages.
Thank you to Ali Lu Studios, Lakes Floral, Angels & Ivy & Marge Rambow & Mary Kjolsing for the floral arrangements.
Thank you to Jeanne Koosman, Val Duininck, Bonnie Allinder, & Marguerite Swenson for hosting us at their beautiful homes.

To learn more about Power of the Purse or becoming a member of Empower, contact United Way 320-235-1050