United Way NELA 211: A Guiding Light

To help more people learn about the United Way NELA 211 resource, the Ad Council, United Way Worldwide, and the Rockefeller Foundation announced a new partnership and campaign to launch a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) titled Guiding Light. The Guiding Light campaign aims to encourage those who may still be feeling the economic, social, and other impacts in the wake of the pandemic to call 211 or visit unitedwaynela.org/211 for support and resources.

Check out the Guiding Light PSA below!
Campaign 2021:
Campaign Planning Visit with Origin Bank

This month, we were thrilled to visit with our friends at Origin Bank. The Campaign Planning Team and our United Way staff have plans to visit all departments and branches to give every employee the opportunity to support our local community.

"At Origin, our commitment to community is deeply embedded within our culture. It’s part of who we are as individuals and as a company. We’re tremendously proud of our long-standing partnership with United Way of Northeast Louisiana and the many opportunities we’ve had to work with them to enrich the lives of others," said Lance Hall, CEO at Origin Bank.

In addition to their generous corporate gift, Origin Bank offers employee incentives during the United Way campaign. For employees who donate 1 hour's pay per month, the leadership team rewards them with 1 paid day off. Employees who give 2 hours' pay per month receive 2 paid days off. Fun prize drawings are also offered as a thank you for employees who participate in and give to the United Way campaign.

This year, Origin Bank's Campaign Coordinators are Sarah McKinnie in Lincoln/Union Parishes and Amber Mathews in Ouachita/Morehouse Parishes.

Campaign meetings will be held at every branch and employees are invited to hear the United Way presentations.

Origin Bank, thank you for your commitment to supporting the work we do in Northeast Louisiana! You model what it means to LIVE UNITED.

Pictured left: Jeff Parker, Michelle Tolar, BJay Durrett, and Lance Hall.
Pictured right: Rick Guillot, Michelle Tolar, Billy Haddad, and Linda O'Neal.

Are you looking for ways to invest in our local community? United Way of Northeast Louisiana can help! We are committed to creating lasting community change in the areas of Education, Health, and Financial Stability. We offer workplaces and groups a unique opportunity to invest in causes that matter the most to them. Learn more about United Way NELA at unitedwaynela.org/about!

To run a Workplace Campaign, contact Michelle Tolar, Director of Development, at mtolar@unitedwaynela.org
2021-22 Partner Programs Funding Process

United Way of Northeast Louisiana fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. We do so through investing in our collaboratives, initiatives, and partner programs.

This investment process for Partner Agency Programs is volunteer-led and conducted every year. There are two teams representing Lincoln, Union, Jackson Parishes and our Regional Parishes. Partner Programs are given the opportunity to complete an application process. During the investment process, Community Investment Volunteers carefully review each application. These reviews are scored and final funding decisions are made based on each program's alignment with United Way's goals and strategies.

A special thank you to our volunteers for maintaining a standard of integrity and accountability in this important process, and to the agencies who do such important work in our community!

Click below to view our 2021-22 Partner Programs, Collaboratives, and Initiatives and the names and workplaces of our 2021-22 Community Investment Volunteers.
VolunteerUNITED Spotlight:
Greek Life at the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM)

Our friends at Greek Life at the University of Louisiana Monroe worked with our VolunteerUNITED Manager to coordinate an awesome volunteer project at the Ouachita Council on Aging, Inc.!

Members offered their services power washing the building and visiting with residents.

We are grateful for the way ULM students, staff, and faculty continue to serve our community. THANK YOU!

Representing ULM Greek Life:
De’Antres Robinson (Alpha Phi Alpha)
James Perkins (Omega Psi Phi)
Diamond Green (Alpha Kappa Alpha)
Kitty Sathineni (Phi Mu & SGA)
Joel Sinclair (ULM Student Activities Coordinator & Delta Sigma Phi advisor)
Chris Williams (ULM Greek Life Coordinator)
Emily Essex (ULM Director of Student Engagement & SGA advisor)

Be sure to tune in to Facebook most Fridays for a VolunteerUNITED spotlight!
Is your workplace or group interested in volunteer opportunities?

To build a volunteer project best suited to your group or company's needs, contact Jessica Hughes, VolunteerUNITED Manager, at jhughes@unitedwaynela.org.
Connect with us!
United Way of Northeast Louisiana | unitedwaynela.org