October 2020 Newsletter
In this issue:
  • A Message from our President/CEO
  • Welcome to Ami Johnson!
  • What is your voting plan?
  • Why I Give Wednesdays
  • Campaign Updates
  • United Way Job & Internship Openings
A Message from our President/CEO:
Dear Friends,
I want to take a minute to touch on our theme for the year: “Why United Way?” When our community members have the opportunities to Give, Advocate, and Volunteer for many local nonprofit organizations, why choose United Way?
GIVE: Donating to United Way’s community impact fund is an investment in improving community-wide outcomes in the areas of health, education, and financial stability. 
  • For over 90 years, United Way has built its core upon United Way workplace campaigns, allowing employees to learn about United Way and choose to donate, often using payroll deduct to make giving easy. 
  • Every dollar matters! Your giving power is maximized knowing others are investing in the same programming that has been vetted and monitored to demonstrate a strong, local impact. 
  • Our local nonprofit partners receiving funding, know that United Way has committed to financially supporting them, therefore they can focus their time and energy on their mission
  • Aside from the financial resources our funded partners receive, they benefit from receiving so much more, such as: Quality training, networking and public relations opportunities. Access to quality technical assistance that is ongoing throughout their relationship with United Way; and elevation of their organization within our community as we highlight community needs
  • Others invest in United Way’s work by making a one time, monthly, or quarterly gifts that can be accessed here: https://dbqunitedway.org/give or by mailing a check to our organization

ADVOCATE: United Way advocates for YOU and the 42,000 local lives we impact each year. We educate and inform others about our communities’ greatest needs, sharing data and offering the opportunities to make a local difference. We participate in numerous local initiatives supporting the health, education and financial stability of the tri-states. We elevate issues important to our community, such as: homelessness, food scarcity, brain health, childcare, disaster relief and more!

VOLUNTEER: United Way encourages volunteerism within our community and helps over 120 local nonprofits get the support they need through our Get Connected Portal: https://dbqunitedway.org/volunteer Last year, this offered over $123,000 worth of support to our local nonprofits! 

Finally, I wanted to mention that we also lead, inform and support many civic initiatives, such as the #VoteUnited Initiative. Whatever your beliefs, we encourage you to use your power, make a plan, and VOTE!  

Sincerely,
Danielle Peterson
President/CEO
Welcome to Ami Johnson!
We want to say a big WELCOME to Ami Johnson, our new Manager of Finance/Administration! We are so thrilled to have her at United Way.
Ami worked at East Central Intergovernmental Association for 20 years before joining our team. She says, "I am excited to be part of the United Way Dubuque Area Tri-States team and am looking forward to working with you in support of our community. "
What is your voting plan?
1️⃣: Find your polling place or mail-in ballot
2️⃣: Tell your friends to vote
3️⃣: Vote!
You can cast your ballot early at your county auditor’s office or at your election-day polling place. http://ow.ly/eBl050BWR8U
Post a picture when you've voted and use the hashtags #LiveUnited #VoteUnited #VoteReady
Why I Give Wednesdays
Every other Wednesday, our campaign co-chairs Jan Powers and Bob Woodward are answering the question: Why United Way? Touching on topics ranging from workplace campaigns, funded partners, Sprout into Reading and more, check out our Facebook page every other Wednesday for their #WhyIGiveWednesday videos! Join Jan and Bob with sharing your "why" and share why you give with the hashtag #WhyIGiveWednesdayUWDBQ
Campaign Updates
As we continue the 2020-2021 campaign, we are excited to share about our collaboration and work with great businesses and our Funded Partners. During the month of October, the following businesses ran campaigns showing their support of United Way:

Andersen Windows & Door, MercyOne, Honkamp Krueger, FedEx, GreenState Credit Union, Q Casino, Alliant Energy, Klauer Manufacturing, Dupaco Community Credit Union and Grand River Medical Group.

Progressive Processing hosted two campaign days for United Way, in which employees had the opportunity to learn about United Way virtually. The Salvation Army and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dubuque presented along with us.

Looking for creative ideas for your campaign? Look here on our campaign toolkit or email [email protected]

Thank you all for showing what it means to LIVE UNITED!
11 of United Way's Funded Partners also held their campaigns during this month including:

Almost Home, Iowa Legal Aid, RTA, Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa, Dubuque Area Labor Management, Mindful Minutes, Two By Two, Riverview Center, Catholic Charities, VNA and Hillcrest Family Services
Join the United Way Team!
Interns Wanted!
We accept interns year-round for two different positions within our office.

Community Building & Impact/Volunteer Engagement Intern

Development & Marketing Intern

Why Intern at United Way?
"Interning at the United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States was a great experience! They were flexible with my schedule and worked with me to ensure that my internship met the requirements set forth by my college for a Public Relations major. They allowed me the opportunity to work on a variety of different projects to build my portfolio and I was able to learn a lot about the world of nonprofit marketing! It was a great way to earn college credit while making an impact on my community!"- Jenna Meehan, Summer 2020 Development & Marketing Intern
Volunteer Opportunities
Autumn Cleanups

The Dubuque Arboretum fall cleanups will occur on October 31, 9 - 12 with a light lunch served at noon. If anyone is interested in helping either day, please call the Arboretum at 563-556-2100 or email [email protected] so we know how many to expect. Social distancing will be adhered to; please bring your own gloves and rake. We will mainly be raking leaves and cutting back flowers/plants for winter. Thank you!
Mentor Youth

Mentor Dubuque is looking for adults to volunteer as a mentor to a youth living in the Dubuque area. This is a fun and fulfilling way to get involved in your community!
Mentoring means being a fun and positive influence in your mentee's life. The activities you can enjoy together include: enjoying meals together, going to the pumpkin patch, or baking a sweet treat! We ask mentors to spend about 4-5 hours each month with their mentee. Staff are available to support the match. There is an also an option to mentor a child with your partner (couple matching).
We have 11 girls and 17 boys who are currently waiting for a mentor! The youth have a diverse range of interests, you could share your passions today with a youth that might interest your mentee.
If you are ready to have fun while volunteering, contact us TODAY!
Food Delivery

Dubuque Area Labor Harvest and Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa are partnering to have groceries delivered to those in need. We are in search of volunteers to help with delivery of these groceries. 
 
Deliveries will occur on Saturdays and Thursday starting at 11 AM. Volunteers will go to the Dubuque Area Labor Harvest (423 W. Locust Dubuque, Iowa 52001) and be able to pick up the groceries with the address of delivery. The volunteer will deliver the meals to the door step and either ring the door or knock so the person knows the groceries have been delivered. 
Whether you make a one-time gift or set up recurring monthly payments, every donation matters.
We are stronger together!