Living United Dec 2010 / Jan 2011

THANK YOU FORSUPPORTING

UNITED WAY OF DELAWARE

TOGETHER, WE CANMAKE OUR STATE

A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL

December 2010 - January 2011

A message fromMichelle A. Taylor

Dear Friends,Season’s Greetings to

you and yours, and bestwishes for a happy andhealthy New Year!

The holiday spirit has away of bringing out the bestin people. Al though theseason can be hectic andthe to-do lists never-ending,

this time of year brings people together andshows us that we’re all connected; that we’reall united.

Studies have shown that sharing joy withothers increases your own joy. Why notexperience that joy this season by volunteeringyour t ime with or making a donation tocommun i t y programs? Volunteers areneeded for programs activities ranging fromhosting par ties for seniors to mentoringyoung adults to staffing a local shelter. Checkout www.GiveBackDE.org for local volunteeroppor tunities. And visit www.uwde.org tomake an online donation to support the morethan one hundred programs funded by UnitedWay of Delaware.

Community needs might be most poignantduring the holiday season, but remember thatour friends and neighbors need our helpyear-round. I urge you to consider how youcan Give, Advocate and Volunteer in everyseason. Because when we reach out a handto one, we influence the condition of all.That’s what it means to Live United.

On behalf of all of us here at United Way ofDelaware, thank you for your support. HappyHolidays!

Warmly,

Michelle A. Taylor

UW2 United Way of Delaware December 2010 - January 2011 www.uwde.org

CHAIR OF THE BOARDConnie Bond StuartPNC Bank, Delaware

PAST CHAIR OF THE BOARDDr. Robert J. Laskowski, MD, MBA

Christiana Care Health System, Inc.

TREASURER Edmund L. Green

KPMG LLP

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIRTom Josiah

Tom Josiah Consulting

SECRETARYRodger Levenson

Commercial BankingWSFS Bank Center

STRATEGIC STEERING CHAIRTimothy J. Constantine

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware

CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRGary R. StockbridgePepco Holdings, Inc.

CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRTed Becker**City of Lewes

HUMAN RESOURCES CHAIRMaritza Poza-Grise

DuPont

COMMUNITY IMPACT CHAIRGeorge GuidoAstraZeneca

LABOR CHAIRGwendolyn Lane

Delaware State AmericanPostal Workers Union

MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONSCHAIR

Joseph L. Yacyshyn Wilmington Trust Company

KENT COUNTY CHAIRDr. Michelle R. Brown*

Catalyst Enterprises International

SUSSEX COUNTY CHAIRSandra Ware**

Grubb & Ellis Company

GENERAL COUNSELBarry M. Willoughby, Esquire

MEMBER-AT-LARGEPhilip Reese

Delaware Public EmployeesRetirement System

MEMBER-AT-LARGELloyd WirshbaBarclaycard US

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVEOFFICER

Michelle A. TaylorUnited Way of Delaware

Executive Committee

Tony AllenBank of America

Chris BucciniBuccini/Pollin Group, Inc.

Tabatha L. Castro, EsquireThe Castro Firm, Inc.

Linda Chick*Chick’s Harness & Supply, Inc.

Dr. Maxine ColmCommunity Leader

Chris FrysztackiCommunity Leader

Donald R. GagnonAAA Mid-Atlantic, Inc.

Diane GulyasDuPont Electronic and Communication

Technologies

Wayne Holden*Community Leader

Dr. William N. Johnston*Wesley College

Antoine OakleyCommunity Leader

David OwenBank of America

Douglas R. Phillips*Horty & Horty, P.A.

Gerald Rocha*Elizabeth House Family Life Center

Paul C. Seitz CPA, CVASeitz Consulting, LLC

Timothy P. SheldonInternational Union of Bricklayers and

Allied Craftsmen

Tom ShoemakerTD Bank

Helen M. StewartJPMorgan Chase

Dr. Jack P. VarsalonaWilmington University

Marietta “Peaches”WhalenDelaware State C.A.P. Council UAW

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSMuriel Gilman

Community Leader

Robert V. A. Harra, Jr.Wilmington Trust Company

Fred C. Sears IIDelaware Community Foundation

Patrick W. SterrettBoy Scouts of America, Del-Mar-VA Council, Inc.

Board of Directors

John AllenPepco Holdings, Inc.

Gene DvornickTown of Georgetown

Ritchie FranciaDelaware National Bank

Patti GrimesJoshua M. Freeman

Foundation

Billy JohnsonHermann Financial Services

Kim TephabockDagsboro Church of God

Sussex County Committee

* These board members are also members of the Kent County Committee. ** These board members are also members of the Sussex County Committee.

Dr. Kevin FitzgeraldCaesar Rodney School District

Charles “Chuck” D. GarrisonDover Air Force Base

Rev. Lonnie HarrisEcclesia Family Worship Center

Dave HillClear Channel Radio

Nelson HillCommunity Leader

Reuben SaltersCity of Dover

Alan KovitzElevations Unlimited

Janie LibbyDover Downs, Inc.

Seandra SimsSims Media & PR

Barbara SmithBurris Logistics

Harold E. StaffordThe Stafford Partnership Firm

Kent County Committee

President and Chief Executive Officer,United Way of Delaware

www.uwde.org December 2010 - January 2011 United Way of Delaware UW3

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Our schools supportUnited Waybecause childrencan’t learn if they’rehungry or in need ofa stable home.United Way is asafety net for us all.

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We supportUnited Waybecause it is atrusted stewardof donations itreceives and providesDSU another way togive back to thecommunity.


Jack Akester suffered periods of majordepression in 1983 and 1990. He saw a psychiatristand took medication. But the depressionreturned in 1997, after he’d retired and startedrestoring an inherited home in Pike Creek.“There was too much pressure,” says Akester,general contractor for the project. “I wasbecoming anxious and developed a thirdepisode of clinical depression.”

The fight to regain his mental health lasted eightmonths. In part, he found help through a supportgroup at the Mental Health Association in Delaware(MHA), a United Way in Delaware (UWD) partneragency. Initially he was a group member. Now he’s afacilitator. “I’m teaching, but I’m also learningcoping skills,” he says.

Those skills are particularly important aroundthe holidays, when the decrease in daylightand increase in stress can exacerbate mentali l lnesses. “One of my favorite sayings is‘Depression does not like change,’” Akester says.

In addition to exacerbating mental illness,change can also give people struggling withaddiction an excuse to abuse drugs. RichCoon, who was arrested for a DUI-relatedoffense, knows that firsthand. When therestaurant where he worked closed, he soughthelp at a program called Connections to Work.The program is part of Connections CommunitySupport Programs, a UWD partner agency thatprovides services ranging from substance abusetreatment and vocational training to affordablehousing. Coon is now manager of A&G SteakShop in Wilmington, which Connectionsowns and operates.

Akester also received support from NAMI(National Alliance on Mental Illness) Delaware.NAMI’s services include peer-to-peer educationprograms, family-to-family classes, familysupport groups and housing.

“There is help out there,” says DariusBrown, Director of Community and ExternalRelations for Connections. “We can lead themto the door and show them the way.”

by Pam George

Jack Akester suffered from clinical depression, but found help at the Mental HealthAssociation in Delaware and NAMI Delaware.

UWD partners support Delawareans with mental health and addiction issues

Rich Coon (left) received help from Connections Community Support Programsafter he had trouble finding work following a DUI offense. Now he is Managerat A&G Steak Shop. (Pictured with Assistant Manager Sheila White)

Spreading hope and healthUWD funds many agencies statewide that focus

on mental health and/or substance abuse. These agencies include:

Brandywine Counseling &Community Services

(302) 656-2348www.brandywinecounseling.org

Connections CommunitySupport Programs

(866) 477-5345www.connectionscsp.org

Delaware Guidance Services forChildren & Youth

(302) 652-3948www.delawareguidance.org

Limen House(302) 652-7969

www.limenhouse.org

Mental Health Association inDelaware

(800) 287-6423www.mhainde.org

NAMI Delaware(888) 427-2643

www.namide.org

Open Door, Inc.(877) 860-6955

www.opendoor-holcomb.org


With three children between the ages of 2 and 4,Danielle Jones knew she needed to follow a budget. Soshe participated in West End Neighborhood House’sFamily Resource Program. “Budgeting helps you stopspending money that you don’t have,” she says.

Sticking to that budget is challenging when itcomes to her children, but she does her best. Two ofher kids have birthdays five days apart, so she combinestheir birthday parties to save some money. “I want tobuy them presents but not live paycheck to paycheckto pay for them,” she says.

When she needed a small loan, however, she turnedto Loans Plus, a low-interest loan program managedby West End Neighborhood House in Wilmington.Through Loans Plus, working individuals can receive a$300 to $500 same-day cash loan at a highly competitiveinterest rate.

That is a far cry from predatory payday-lendingoperations, which can charge up to 500-percent interestand even more over the life of the loan. Borrowingfrom such establishments can become a vicious cyclethat can cause a client to fall even further into debt.

As of Oct. 31, Loans Plus—which started in 2007—has made $315,000 in loans to 728 individuals. Theneed is often greater in the third and fourth quarters,says Barbara Reed, director of the program. This year,for instance, there were 50 percent more loans in thethird quarter than in the first. Credit year-end bills,the holidays and spikes in electricity and heating costsare some of the reasons for the increase.

Loans Plus loans have no upfront fee, but applicantsmust meet with a financial counselor who helpsborrowers manage their money—another key differencefrom payday lenders.

Loans Plus is a statewide program currently offeredat six locations: West End Neighborhood House and

YWCA and Catholic Charities sites in all three counties.Along with United Way of Delaware, partners includeING, TD Bank, Wilmington Trust, Barclays andFHLBank of Pittsburgh.

“It’s a good program,” says Jones, who’s amongthe 96 percent to make payments on time. “Theinterest rate is affordable, and it’s better than usinga payday place.”

For in format ion, ca l l 888 -936 -4727 or v i s i twww.westendnh.org.

by Pam George

Agency helps Delawareans avoid payday lendersProviding loans, preventing debt

• Mentor at the Latin American Community Center (New Castle County)

• Assist with birthday parties at the Wilmington Senior Center (New Castle County)

• Host a baby shower for a young mom at Catholic Charities (New Castle County)

• Bilingual volunteers: Help La Esperanza with their education programs (Sussex County)

Give back, Delawareans!GiveBackDE.org is Uni ted Way ofDelaware’s volunteer website. See theseopportunities and more by logging in towww.givebackde.org and creat ing aprofile today!

Delaware State University (DSU) and United Wayof Delaware (UWD) are partnering to address communityneeds. As an initial step in this partnership, DSU andUWD coordinated a “Game of Giving” on November 6.

In the weeks prior the game, the Downtown DoverPartnership (DDP) and Fly 365, a local clothing store,ran successful coat drives, collecting more than 250coats, some of which they presented to local agencyrepresentatives during the halftime show.

UWD provided game tickets to children from localagencies and faith groups, including the ElizabethMurphy School, Duffy’s Hope, Inc., NeighborhoodHouse, Delaware Guidance Services for Children andYouth, Lutheran Community Services and CalvaryBaptist Church in Dover.

On game day, “Revive the Village – Back to the Basics,”UWD’s African-American Initiative, sponsored anall-ages tailgate, providing lunch for the attendingchildren and agency staff and sharing informationabout Revive the Village with the attendingcommunity members.


Tackling the vast disparities that exist within the state’s African-Americancommunity in the areas of Education, Income and Health is the ambitious aim ofUnited Way of Delaware’s new “Revive the Village – Back to the Basics” initiative.United Way of Delaware (UWD) joins other United Ways across the country thatare creating similar groups to provide unique opportunities for outreach todiverse individuals and cultures.

Revive the Village, named in honor of the familiar notion that “it takes a village to raisea child,” convened its first meeting of 15 advisory members in September. The committee,led by co-chairs Dr. Regina Allen-Sharpe of Wilmington University and LaShawn Carter ofBank of America, will have representation from all three counties in professional sectorsincluding education, faith-based, small business and financial services.

According to Allen-Sharpe, “In 2011, the committee will be focused on initiativesimpacting Income in the African American community. We will encourage communitymembers to become more active in the path toward financial freedom.”

“The committee will focus on Education and Health in 2012 and 2013 respectively,”added Carter.

In early November, Revive the Village committee members did communityoutreach at Delaware State University’s last home football game of the season.(See more information in the story below)

Moving forward, the Revive the Village committee will seek new ways to engagethe entire community in United Way of Delaware’s year-round mission throughgiving, advocating and volunteering.

For more information about the Revive the Village initiative, call UWD at(302) 573-3724 or e-mail [email protected].

UWD LaunchesAfrican-American Initiative

by Seandra Sims

Pictured, from left to right, holding several of thedonated jackets: Ed Perez from the DDP; Dr. HarryWilliams, President of DSU; Earl Thomas fromDover Interfaith Mission for Housing; John Moore,Vice President, Resource Development and StrategicPartnerships for UWD; Lee Turner, owner of Fly 365and the DSU Hornet mascot.

UWD staff and volunteers, and children and staff fromthe Neighborhood House in Wilmington gather for aquick photo. UWD provided game tickets to childrenwho visit local nonprofit and faith-based agencies.

DSU and UWD partner for “Game of Giving”

The Crystal Center’s “3rd Sunday Jazz Banquet” provided amelodic and friendly atmosphere for the public launch of UWD’s“Revive the Village – Back to the Basics” initiative in mid-October.Michelle A. Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer of UWD,gave remarks and reminded the crowd of 200 that even peoplewho were once well-off are experiencing tough times in this economy.Crystal Center Owner Talbert Gwynn (far left) and Sales ManagerRob Harris (left) presented Taylor, shown above with RichardBlackwell, event emcee, with a portion of the proceeds from theevent’s ticket sales to support UWD’s Community Impact Fund.


Bill Johnston, Esq.,Partner at YoungConaway Stargatt &Taylor, is 2010 Chairof UWD’s LegalCommunity Sector.He helps energize andoversee the employeecampaigns in legalfirms across the state.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher& Flom, LLPrecently kicked off itsemployee campaign. Picturedare, from left to right: BrotherRudolph from the Ministry ofCaring; Susan Mammele,Office Administrator; GailDiSanto, Human ResourcesManager; Mark Chehi, Esq.,Partner; Stephen Dargitz,Counsel and Nicole DiSalvo,Associate.

The NRG Indian River Power Plant raised$24,000 for the 2010 Campaign! Pictured, from leftto right are: Jack Grant, Indian River PlantManager; Vickie Croley, Indian River BusinessServices Supervisor; and Michael Shockley ofUnited Way of Delaware.

Associates of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP celebrate their campaign kickoff. The firm is one of 36 Delaware law firms holding UWD campaigns this year.

Sussex CountyCampaign

Community Shredin Wilmington

21st Century Insurance, a first-time campaign, provided agenerous 50 percent corporate match for donations toUWD’s Community Impact Fund. This fund maximizesdonors’ impact by supporting collaborative initiativesaround the areas of Education, Income and Health.

UWD participated in a Community Shred and HAZMATdisposal event at the Wilmington Riverfront on November6. Shred-it donated its services for the day-long event,which was jointly hosted by the City of Wilmington andthe Delaware Solid Waste Authority. Pictured from left toright are: Marilyn Wanamaker, Jeannette Mulero, LauraMood and Adrienne Woodbury from UWD.

21st Century InsuranceProvides Matching Funds

Delaware Law Firms Live United

phot

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Bar

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photo by Barry Corke

United Way of DelawareThe Linden Building, Third Floor625 North Orange StreetWilmington, DE 19801

Non-Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit #194

Wilmington, DE


AFL-CIO Community Services698 Old Baltimore PikeNewark, DE 19702

Sussex County Office206 Academy StreetSuite #2Georgetown, DE 19947

Kent County OfficeGreater Dover Foundation Community BuildingSuite #2B101 West Loockerman StreetDover, DE 19904

At first meeting, Quincy Lucas of Dover comes across as a soft-spoken educator who dotes on her husbandKevin and children Malcolm, Victoria and Benjamin. Beneath the mild demeanor, Lucas is a courageousand tireless advocate for domestic violence prevention throughout the country. She is Founder andPresident of Witney’s Lights, a local nonprofit organization. Lucas was recently in the national spotlightwhen she introduced Joe Biden, fellow anti-domestic violence advocate and then-Vice Presidential nominee,at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Q: You started the Witney’s Lights organization after a tragic family event. What happened?A: I started the organization about three years after my sister, Dr. Witney Rose, was murdered. My sister

was a psychiatrist at the University of Maryland, and she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, who had abusedher throughout their relationship.

Q: Domestic violence is a taboo subject to many people. How do you reach otherswith your message and get them to take action?

A: I share my sister’s story, and then I tell them that domestic violence is not specific to onesocioeconomic group, profession or race. This problem is much more prevalent that most people canfathom. I try to make others feel safe to share their own experiences. Then I show them how we can worktogether to spread awareness and increase prevention so that others don’t have to be victims.

Q: United Way of Delaware celebrates individuals like you, who make a differencein our state. What does “Living United” mean to you?

A: Living United is about living in harmony and peace, and making sure that others have the opportunityto live the same way. My goal is to show others that healthier relationships make healthier communities.

by Seandra Sims

Living United in Delaware: Quincy Lucas

Living United Dec 2010 / Jan 2011

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Transcript of Living United Dec 2010 / Jan 2011