Author: Brian Buckner
November 13, 2023: United Way Fundraising Push for Housing in Honor of National Homelessness Awareness Month
United Way fundraising push for housing in honor of National Homelessness Awareness Month
October 19, 2023: United Way of Dane County Announces 211 Wisconsin App
United Way of Dane County launches 211 Wisconsin app
United Way of Dane County has announced the launch of its new 211 Wisconsin mobile application.
The 211 24/7 hotline already helps connect Dane County residents with available health and human services based on their individual needs. This new app will expand the program further by reaching a wider audience.
211 helps residents find resources for food insecurity, paying rent, addiction treatment, older adult services and other various challenges. The hope is that the 211 app will provide an easy and intuitive way to provide the same support to more people.
Users can browse the application anonymously, or register and bookmark community resources for later use. There is also a mapping feature to display nearby resources in relation to the user’s location.
October 17, 2023: New United Way App Connects Communities to Help, Resources
New United Way app connects communities to help, resources
June 18, 2024: TruStage Foundation Awards United Way of Dane County with $650,000 to Support Housing Strategies
June 17, 2024: United Way of Dane County Awards $25,000 to Local Organizations Supporting Harmony Apartment Residents
United Way of Dane County Awards $25,000 to Local Organizations Supporting Harmony Apartment Residents
Madison, WI (June 17, 2024) – This spring, United Way of Dane County awarded 2024 Micro-Investment Grants. A total of $25,000 in grant funding was awarded to four grassroots organizations who are working on projects promoting engagement, healing and connection for residents of the Harmony at Grandview Commons Apartments.
Nine years ago, United Way’s Micro-Investments process was developed from community feedback and conversations among members of the Board of Directors and Vision Council, aiming to create an opportunity for grassroots organizations working to decrease racial disparities to apply for funding outside of United Way’s regular investment cycle. Through this process, we work to increase relationship building and address systemic inequities facing specific communities in Dane County.
This year the Harmony at Grandview Commons Apartments was selected as our focus after last year’s tragedy, where 15-year-old Kyesha Miller lost her life, and three other teens were injured after a shooting outside the apartment complex. A task force comprised of United Way Community Engagement & Inclusion Committee (CEIC) members and Harmony Apartments residents was created to make funding recommendations for programs supporting youth and family services at the apartment complex.
“As a member of United Way’s Community Engagement and Inclusion Committee, it’s exciting to see the United Way’s commitment to collective impact,” says Linda Ketcham, Executive Director of Madison-area Urban Ministry, Inc. “These grants are an investment in the health, safety and healing of the Harmony Apartments neighborhood. Guided by the residents of the neighborhood, the initiatives that will be provided will strengthen relationships, provide positive youth and family activities while helping support relationship building among neighborhood residents.”
“It was inspiring to witness the true passion that poured out of the Harmony Apartment residents during our micro-investment process,” said Keetra Burnette, Director of Stakeholder Engagement, United Way of Dane County. “I am confident that their resident-identified initiatives will achieve the goals they established.”
One-time grants of up to $5,000 were awarded to projects to achieve the following goals at the Harmony Apartments:
• Provide youth with constructive and engaging onsite activities.
• Strengthen resident engagement by building a sense of community among Harmony Apartments residents.
• Increase the sense of safety that Harmony Apartments residents feel in their neighborhood.
The House Urban Arts Initiative Dance Program –
semi-weekly dance instruction and emergent needs support for Harmony Apartment youth, ages 12-18.
Dream Camp –
A summer program providing male-identifying youth, ages 14-18, with mentorship, violence prevention training, goal-setting workshops and classes in creative expression.
Madison Gospel 5K Foundation –
It’s All About Family at Harmony Apartments – A series of activities for Harmony Apartment residents focused on engagement and promoting mental and physical well-being. Activities include painting for youth and adults, a Mosaic Dinner for two families who have lost children to gun violence and a Fall Festival.
More Than a Conqueror Resiliency Revealed to Prosperity –
a series of activities for youth and adults at the Harmony Apartments to build community, support mental well-being and promote life skills education.
Righteous Voice Mentoring Teens of Harmony –
bi-weekly, peer-led program promoting character building and connection for teen residents of the Harmony Apartments.
United Way knows that collective impact is the key to community well-being and the micro-investment grant process is an example of working collaboratively with our community, network of local nonprofits, businesses, community leaders, donors, volunteers and families to address big picture issues that no one individual or organization can solve alone.
For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact Ashley Manthei, Director of Communications, United Way of Dane County at (608) 416-0401 or Ashley.manthei@uwdc.org.
About United Way of Dane County
For more than 100 years, United Way of Dane County has led in mobilizing the caring power of our community by closing gaps and opening opportunities so all can thrive. From advancing health and education to strengthening livelihoods and local resilience, we connect people to possibility. With a mission to unite the community to achieve measurable results that change lives, we are committed to being a catalyst for inclusion and systemic change – working collaboratively with local nonprofits, businesses, community leaders, donors and volunteers to solve big-picture issues no one person or organization can address alone. Together, we are The Power of Caring. Working for All. Visit www.unitedwaydanecounty.org to learn more.
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Member Spotlight: Mary and Mike Schlageter A Legacy of Giving
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May 8, 2024: United Way of Dane County Names Lobby After Dan & Patti Rashke (TASC) Family Foundation
United Way of Dane County Names Lobby After Dan & Patti Rashke (TASC) Family Foundation
Madison, WI (May 8, 2024) – On Monday, May 6, members of the Dan & Patti Rashke (TASC) Family Foundation, TASC employees and United Way staff gathered to celebrate the generosity of the Rashke Family and the TASC Corporation and their commitment to a $1 million legacy gift to the United Way Foundation designated during our Centennial year. We unveiled the new name of our lobby at the Anderson United Way Center – The Dan & Patti Rashke (TASC) Family Foundation Lobby.
“The impact Dan and Patti have made possible over the past 25 years is truly incredible,” says Renee Moe, President & CEO of United Way of Dane County. “Their generosity and thought leadership have been instrumental in enhancing our work and launching us into the next century of impact and innovation – and we’re so thrilled to have their name on the lobby of our building! I’m endlessly inspired by their dedication and the legacy they’re building here in Dane County.”
“Our philanthropic efforts are anchored in a commitment to strategic philanthropy and the creation of shared value, ideals that are both fostered and embodied by United Way of Dane County,” says Dan Rashke. “This commitment dates back over 30 years ago when Patti supported Meriter Hospital’s campaign, and it grew when my father, the founder of TASC, and I launched our first United Way workplace campaign. Since then, our involvement has expanded to include the development and execution of diverse strategies within the campaign and broader community impact initiatives. We are truly honored to have been a part of this incredible journey and look forward to deepening this strategic partnership in the years to come.”
Pam Reynolds, TASC’s CEO, shares, “At TASC, our commitment to enhancing the health, wealth and well-being of our customers, employees and communities is woven into everything we do. We remain steadfast in our support for United Way. Beyond our employee fundraising efforts, we also reinvest funds locally to support the significant impact United Way has in Dane County. Additionally, we leverage our expertise to simplify charitable giving by providing workplace giving accounts and empowering nonprofits to offer essential employee benefits with little to no cost to them.”
Legacy giving is a beautiful and strategic way that many extend their impact on the community beyond their lifetime. The United Way Foundation exists to support United Way’s mission of improving lives and strengthening Dane County. The Foundation provides a long-term base of support and the flexibility to strengthen our community as it changes. Through the Foundation, individuals and families can leave a lasting legacy of caring. For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact Ashley Manthei, Director of Communications, United Way of Dane County at (608) 416-0401 or Ashley.manthei@uwdc.org.
About United Way of Dane County
For more than 100 years, United Way of Dane County has led in mobilizing the community to address our toughest issues and spark lasting, generational change. With a mission to unite the community to achieve measurable results that change lives, we are committed to being a catalyst for inclusion and systemic change – working collaboratively with local nonprofits, businesses, community leaders, donors and volunteers to solve big-picture issues no one person or organization can address alone. Together, we are The Power of Many. Working for All. And we invite every Dane County resident to be a part of the change we all wish to see. Visit www.unitedwaydanecounty.org to learn more.
About the Dan & Patti Rashke Family Foundation
The Dan and Patti Rashke (TASC) Family Foundation is a private philanthropic organization that endeavors to catalyze growth such that all may have increased opportunity to reach their full human potential. We support innovative, collaborative solutions to improve the overall wellbeing and learning quality of our neighbors. Through strategic investments in the basic and educational needs of individuals — especially youth — the foundation strives to make a broad and lasting impact in the communities it serves.
About TASC
Since 1975, we have evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients and their employees and work with them to provide benefit options that feel like benefits every day and in times of great need. Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, TASC is the nation’s largest, privately held, third-party administrator for employee benefits programs. A philanthropy-driven, family-owned business, TASC delivers innovative quality solutions that help protect the rights of more than 65,000 sole proprietors, family farmers and business owners of all sizes all over the country. http://www.tasconline.com.