A Message From the President & CEO

We’re having an exciting start to 2025! Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program recently kicked off its twentieth tax season, and the excitement is building for our annual Women United Power of the Purse event on March 20th at Goodwood Museum & Gardens. Our Annual Community Golf Classic is right around the corner in April, and spring is now in full swing!

Every year, our VITA program connects hundreds of our neighbors in the Big Bend with qualified, IRS-trained volunteers to help prepare and file their tax returns correctly, at no cost, and on time. This year, we have nine VITA sites throughout the Big Bend, and appointments are filling up fast. VITA is essential to helping some of the most vulnerable in our community to receive their full tax return and return hard-earned dollars back into our ALICE neighbors' budgets.

On March 20^th Women United will host Power of the Purse, bringing women and men together from across the Big Bend for a fantastic night where glamour meets generosity. Come celebrate the power, purpose, and philanthropy of Power of the Purse. Consider joining your friends both old and new for an evening of fun and excitement (and discover your new 'It' bag).

I am so excited for this year’s slate of incredible events and can’t wait to see you all there! Stay tuned to our social media channels and emails for more details about our events; sign-ups, sponsorship information, and more will be released soon. I hope everyone has had a productive and healthy start to 2025, and look forward to hearing more from our community!

POWER OF THE PURSE is almost here!

At just under a month away, we're anxiously awaiting 2025's Power of the Purse event to be held Thursday, March 20th at the Goodwood Museum & Gardens. Grab your friends for a fabulous, fun-filled, & philanthropic evening where glamour meets generosity in support of United Way of the Big Bend! 

Sponsorships and a ticket package are now available, please contact Caylie Atkins at caylie@uwbb.org if you'd like to learn more!

HEAR FROM THOSE MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH VITA

For over 20 years, our VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program staffed with IRS-certified volunteers has provided free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing for qualified individuals, assisting thousands of low- to moderate-income individuals and families.

“Our VITA program has enabled thousands of our neighbors in the Big Bend to take steps towards financial freedom, thanks in no small part to our dedicated group of volunteers who return year after year to continue the United Way of the Big Bend’s commitment to helping those who need it most," says Impact Strategies Director Samantha Sager.

OUR 2024-25 CAMPAIGN

United Way’s Workplace Campaigns are about bringing people together where they work to tackle our community’s most challenging issues – because no one person or organization can do it alone.

Whether a small business, a major corporation or a non-profit organization, you can join the numerous local businesses and organizations that run United Way campaigns each year. Participating in a United Way campaign will give your organization the opportunity to learn firsthand about the needs in the Big Bend region as well as provide rewarding team building experiences through volunteerism.

Interested in running a United Way Campaign at your workplace? Contact Angela Gibbs at angela@uwbb.org.

Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient community, and we couldn't do it without your support.

GET IN THE SWING OF THINGS AT OUR 27th ANNUAL COMMUNITY GOLF CLASSIC

Our Annual Community Golf Classic at Southwood Golf Club will be on April 25th, 2025! Join us in supporting United Way of the Big Bend and the community we serve. Enjoy a day of fun, camaraderie, and giving back. Don’t miss this exciting springtime event! Stay tuned for more information as the event nears, team signup and sponsorship information will be available soon.

READ UNITED WEEK

COMING SOON!

READ UNITED week will take place April 14th-18th this year, and we're hoping to see you there! UWBB started READ UNITED in 2010 to encourage a love of reading in children and to provide resources to get them started on their own literacy journey.

Reading can open new worlds and enrich the lives of the children in our community. READ UNITED promotes the spirit and value of volunteerism and demonstrates what people working together for the good of the community can accomplish.

UWBB recruits community volunteers to read classic tales and new stories in pre-kindergarten through first grade classrooms across the Big Bend area. Every class that participates receives brand new, FREE books to add to their class library. Since the beginning of the program that’s Over 40,000 books!

Stay tuned for more information about this year's program, and contact Sarah Myhre at at (850) 487-2087 or email communityimpact@uwbb.org with any questions!

ReadingPals VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Donate one hour of your time per week to help change the lives of struggling readers in the Big Bend

As we head into the Spring semester, ReadingPals mentors are needed now more than ever! Your encouragement and support help a struggling reader practice important reading skills, improve vocabulary and fluency, and gain self-confidence. With your help, your pal makes the gains they need to move on to the next grade. We provide the lessons, materials, and training - you provide your time and energy. Together, we help our little pals succeed!!

For more information about our ReadingPals Program and how to get started, contact Samantha Sager at (850) 414-0856 or email communityimpact@uwbb.org.

MATHPALS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Our MathPals program needs volunteers to work with children, grades K – 3, who need support for practicing basic math skills. We provide fun materials and activities for you and your pal to work on together helping to reinforce the skills they are learning in their classroom. One hour of your time adds up to improved outcomes for your little pal. And when our children succeed, our community thrives!   

For more information about our MathPals program and how to get started, contact Samantha Sager at (850) 414-0856 or email communityimpact@uwbb.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

MARCH 20TH - Power of the Purse

APRIL 14TH - ReadUNITED Week

APRIL 25TH - Annual Community Golf Classic

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

JANUARY-APRIL - VITA Program

WEEK OF APRIL 14TH - ReadUNITED Week

JANUARY-MAY - ReadingPals program ongoing

JANUARY-MAY - MathPals program ongoing