Displaying items by tag: united way
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance provided 346 tax returns at no cost
The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties and Greenhouse Ministries recently reported that its partnership to provide VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites produced 346 total returns with a total refund amount of $492,000.
The VITA partnership provided free tax filing services to qualifying local residents (annual household incomes of $50,000 or less) that assisted those individuals in claiming their tax refund dollars. Sites were available in both Rutherford County and Cannon County.
While Greenhouse Ministries provided financial education services to those receiving VITA services, local banks also partnered with the program to offer assistance with financial management and account services. Participating banks included SunTrust Bank, Regions Bank, F&M Bank, Wilson Bank & Trust, FirstBank, MidSouth Bank and First Tennessee Bank.
The 34 volunteers that participated in the program underwent an intense training process and served in capacities such as tax preparation, screening and greeting. Those volunteers were: Douglas Lukonen, Gia Cawthorn, Emily Ziadeh, Nathan Robertson, Tom Fix, Beverly Hancock, Ryan Kieffer, Annetta McGee, Christine Vanderweedt, Carolyn Willis, Teresa Erwin, Tyson Kimbrel, Scott Miller, Cindy Rhea, Gary Richmond, Jane Smith, Jana Lowe, Gloria Sanders, Gary Hunter, Betty Cox, Jan “Niki” Delk, Dawn DuBois, Sharif Ansari, Vicki Allen, Kristi Brockelsby, Szu Brown, Zehua “Casey” Li, Daniel Clanton, Christine Estes, Kirk Garrett, Christopher Hanvy, Jonathan Habart, Margarita Haag and Willie Gunter, Jr.
"I was honored to be a part of such a successful VITA site this year," said Beth Gill, Tax Consultant with the Internal Revenue Service. "Everyone involved played an incredible role in the success of this site and because of that success, Greenhouse Ministries received President Obama’s Martin Luther King Drum Major Award for Community Service."
The Drum Major Award honors outstanding contributions to community and society in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King's teachings and philosophy of love and nonviolence.
"We hope that our results reflect a dedication to Middle Tennessee's residents," commented Nathan Butturini, Site Coordinator for the VITA program.
The VITA program is expected to resume in January 2013. For more information, please visit www.greenhousemin.org or www.uwrutherford.org.
Awards recognize corporate citizenship and community impact
Local United Way corporate partners Publix Supermarkets, Bank of America and Wells Fargo were recently recognized in Nashville as Summit Award recipients during a dinner meeting at the United Way Community Leaders Conference. Publix Super Markets was highlighted for their success in community impact and philanthropic engagement, Bank of America for community impact and volunteer engagement and Wells Fargo for volunteer engagement.
Publix Super Markets raised $45.6 million nationwide for United Way in 2011 and its associates volunteered a total of 900,000 hours. Publix also promotes United Way on 220 million grocery bags and within its customer newsletters. The company ranks number one on the Corporate Social Responsibility Index in addition to being among Fortune's "Most Admired Companies" for 17 years.
Bank of America and its employees raised more than $35 million nationwide for United Way in 2011 and volunteered more than 1.5 million hours. The bank also supported free income tax assistance resulting in more than 530,000 completed tax returns and $800 million in total refunds.
Wells Fargo is United Way's top national campaign raising more than $56 million annually, and team members volunteered more than 1.5 million hours in 2011. The company also offers a unique Volunteer Leave Program that provides fully paid volunteer leave for up to four months for team members to work on a significant project impacting a non-profit organization or school. In 2011, Wells Fargo awarded volunteer leave to more than 26 team members representing more than 32.5 months of paid leave. Overall, the company gave $213.5 million to non-profits.
United Way also awarded Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr. with the inaugural United Way Lifetime Achievement Award. The United Way Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose contributions, sustained over a lifetime, have helped create opportunities for a better life for all and advance the common good in communities around the world.
Dr. Frist established the United Way Alexis de Tocqueville Society in 1981. The society helps celebrate and deepen relationships between United Way and community leaders. During its 30-year existence, the Alexis de Tocqueville Society has grown from ten communities recruited by Frist before 1984, to over 500 communities across the United States and around the world. Since 1981, Alexis de Tocqueville Society members have invested an average of about $600 million annually. Society members include Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet and more than 25,000 other families around the world.
“The impact of these Global Corporate Leaders as well as Dr. Frist is incredible,” commented Brian D. Hercules, President and CEO of the local United Way. “Without each of their efforts, United Way would not be what it is today. Our local community is greatly strengthened by their dedication and hard work."
Other Summit Award recipients included Deloitte, General Motors, Microsoft Corporation, and Illinois Tool Works. Proctor & Gamble received the Spirit of America award for philanthropy, volunteer efforts and community impact.
The Spirit of America and Summit Awards program, celebrating its 25th year, is United Way's highest national honor for a corporation, recognizing United Way Global Corporate Leaders with the most comprehensive commitments to strengthening communities.
For more information about United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, please visit www.uwrutherford.org.
Signature event set for July 14.
The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties will host its third annual Red, White, and Blues event on July 14, 2012, at the home of Ronnie and Donna Barrett.
Red, White, and Blues is United Way’s signature fundraising event. This outdoors, casual dinner is reminiscent of the southern coastal areas and associated with the 4th of July holiday. Five Senses Restaurant is set to cater this year's event.
Sponsorship opportunities are available through May 15. Click here to review sponsorship options. Tickets are $75 each. For more information, please contact Meagan Flippin at (615) 893-7303.
Second annual race to benefit United Way
The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties and The Avenue Murfreesboro have partnered to present the second annual Run United 5K to be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at 7:00 AM at The Avenue property located at 2615 Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro.
Participants may walk, jog or run the race course, which will be throughout The Avenue property.
Registration is available at www.rabbitroadracing.com. Early registration is $30 and ends May 1. Early registrants are guaranteed an event shirt. Registration after May 1 is $35 and participants will not receive an event shirt. Day-of registration is $40 and does not include an event shirt.
Check-in for registered participants is available 10 AM - 4 PM on Friday, May 18 at The Avenue management offices and 5:30 AM -6:45 AM on the day of the race.
Volunteers are needed and those interested in volunteering at the event should contact Kristen Hampton at (615) 893-7303.
Funding to non-profits to be determined by 80 volunteers.
The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties started its allocations process today, beginning a series of five all-day sessions in which partner agencies will make presentations to the allocations panels who will recommend funding amounts for each agency to United Way's Board of Directors.
Each allocations panel is composed of volunteer business and community leaders who devote their time to ensuring that United Way's allocations process ensures a high degree of community impact through agency accountability standards.
Each year, every partner agency presents its funding request to the appropriate allocations panel. The allocations panel reviews the agency's programs and funding requests as well as visits the agency on site at their facility. Each panel is responsible for mentoring and advocating for several agencies throughout the year. The panels represent United Way's impact areas: education (two panels), income, health, and rebuilding lives.
The panels consider how well the agency is managed, how justified its proposed budget is and the extent to which its services address high priority community issues. The panel also considers the outcomes history that the agency has produced, meaning the measurement of success for a particular desired change or achievement through the services it provides.
The panels will forward their recommendations for funding amounts to the United Way Board of Directors. If the United Way Board of Directors has no reservations, it approves the recommendations. The Board of Directors will meet on June 14 at 12:00 p.m. and review the recommendations made by the panel allocations panels. A press conference will be held at 1:30 p.m. that same day to announce the final funding amounts allocated to each partner agency. The press conference will be open to the public.
For more information or to view a listing of partner agencies, please visit www.uwrutherford.org or contact United Way at (615) 893-7303.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance returns dollars to local residents.
The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties and Greenhouse Ministries have announced that the VITA sites will close on April 17.
VITA, or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, is a free service to qualifying individuals (annual household incomes of $50,000 or less) to claim tax refund dollars. Local residents have through Tuesday to have their tax information processed.
Local banks partnering with the program include SunTrust Bank, Regions Bank, F&M Bank, Wilson Bank & Trust, FirstBank, First Tennessee Bank and MidSouth Bank and are offering financial management and account services to those individuals participating in the VITA program.
Appointments are available by contacting Greenhouse Ministries at (615) 494-0499. The service is available to both Rutherford and Cannon county residents.
For more information, please visit www.greenhousemin.org or www.uwrutherford.org.
Second annual race set for May 19.
The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties and The Avenue Murfreesboro have partnered to present the second annual Run United 5K to be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at 7:00 AM at The Avenue property located at 2615 Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro.
Participants may walk, jog or run the race course, which will be throughout The Avenue property.
Registration is available at www.rabbitroadracing.com. Early registration is $30 and ends May 1. Early registrants are guaranteed an event shirt. Registration after May 1 is $35 and participants will not receive an event shirt. Day-of registration is $40 and does not include an event shirt.
Check-in for registered participants is available 10 AM - 4 PM on Friday, May 18 at The Avenue management offices and 5:30 AM -6:45 AM on the day of the race.
Volunteers are needed and those interested in volunteering at the event should contact Kristen Hampton at (615) 893-7303.
Tangerine Salon and Spa will host an inaugural United We Style event on May 5, 2012 at 5:30 PM at The Gateway Village located at 820 North Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro.
Jim McCarrall, Owner of Tangerine Salon and Spa said, “I am always looking for ways to give back to the community. This event seemed like a fun logical step to support The United Way and have a greater impact on people's lives.”
This inaugural event promises to bring a fresh, creative and fun approach to the many Fashion Week festivities held this spring. United We Style will spotlight local boutique favorites alongside just created works. The event begins with an exclusive VIP Cocktail Hour at 5:30 PM, featuring cocktails by Matt Gallaher, the Executive Chef for Governor Haslam at the Tennessee Residence, horsd'oeuvre by Goodness Gracious, vendor booth perusing, tours of the Gateway Village and other local surprises. General admission seating begins at 6:30 PM, with the show beginning at 7 PM. The event will conclude with a live auction and more mingling.
VIP Cocktail Hour Tickets are $50 (limited availability to the first 50 sold).
General admission tickets are $20 until May 4, and then will be $35 on event day (May 5).
Tickets are on sale online at www.tangerinesalonandspa.com, click on “Promotions” and then “United We Style”. Or by calling 615.893.7303.
All proceeds from the event will go to United Way of Rutherford and Cannon County’s 44 partner agencies and programs.
For more information about United We Style, please contact Kara Kemp at (615) 896-3302.
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Hundreds of volunteers set to serve the local community.
Hundreds of volunteers will unite over the course of March 29-31 to participate in a community service blitz through United Way's Days of Action, MTSU Student Government Association's Big Event, and the downtown churches' Operation InAsMuch.
Local schools, non-profit organizations and parks and recreation sites and facilities will benefit from the program. Volunteers will work in teams on more than 50 projects which include general maintenance, painting, delivering meals to individuals in need and landscaping.
"The collaboration with the other programs - the Big Event and Operation InAsMuch - reflects the concept of making a larger impact with a collective effort," said Kristen Hampton, Coordinator of Marketing and Special Events at the local United Way and a key organizer for the event. "United Way values giving, advocating and volunteering within the community, and this event is a prime example of those values."
Organizers are expecting more than 600 participants this year, up from 407 in 2011. Supplies and materials for the event were sponsored by Regions Bank, Nissan North America, Inc., Publix Supermarkets and Publix Supermarkets Charities, Middle Tennessee Medical Center, Reeves-Sain Drug Store, and MTSU.
For questions, please contact Meagan Flippin at (615) 893-7303 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Murfreesboro Young Professionals (MYP) hosted its Second Annual Trivia Night benefiting the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties in late January at Nobody’s Sports Bar and Grill in Murfreesboro. The event raised $2,500 which will be invested back into the local community through the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties.
Teams of six competed in rounds of trivia with the highest scoring team being the winner. The winning team received a gift card from Bonefish Grill. This year, the event was sponsored by DoubleTree by Hilton, Bonefish Grill, Special Touch Disaster Restoration, LLC, Exit Realty, SunTrust Bank and Service Insurance Agency.
This fun event has become a tradition that Murfreesboro Young Professionals hopes to continue to carry on for years to come.
