September 2020 Newsletter
In this issue:
  • A Message from our President/CEO
  • Over the Edge a Success
  • United Way Hosts Virtual Campaign Kickoff
  • Campaign Updates
  • United Way Job & Internship Openings
A Message from our President/CEO:
This past month has been one of the busiest of the year for us. Our theme this year is “Why United Way?” so I’m going to share WHY we did these two events that kept us so busy.

First, we held our second annual Over the Edge (OTE) event and exceeded fundraising levels from last year. This says so much about our community, our staff, and our volunteers! Why an event like OTE? We chose this event as our ONLY fund-raising event for a couple of reasons.
  • We wanted to raise community-wide awareness of the services and supports United Way brings to the tri-states and highlight the programs we invest in locally, impacting over 42,000 local lives last year! The more we can talk about needs in our community to address brain health, homelessness, childcare (and more), the more people can help impact these issues through GIVING, ADVOCATING, and VOLUNTEERING. 
  • We wanted to help raise money for our community impact fund that currently supports 31 local programs, impacting health, education, and financial stability across the tri-states. We know we can’t do our work alone. Getting event sponsors, new donors, and Edgers signing up to raise money helped us to get closer to our goal. Not to mention, we are building wonderful United Way champions along the way as they learn about all we do behind the scenes to support the community!
  • Finally, we wanted a very public way to share with others that United Way has truly evolved over our 90+ years of serving the community. We want donors to CHOOSE to donate to United Way because they see the worth in investing in an organization that knows what the community needs and that invests in programs that have proven they can make a difference. We hold programs accountable and only support quality programs committed to working together to meet community needs. It’s more than just an annual allocation to these programs. It’s a commitment to being a leader in addressing community-wide issues.

As if rappelling off a historic downtown building wasn’t enough, we also held our first ever Virtual Campaign Kickoff! This was so important to United Way and our community because it really helped jump start our United Way workplace campaigns. I get it. Anything with the word “Campaign” in it right now might not be something you want to hear about. But this is different! United Way workplace campaigns have traditionally been a way for employees of a business to donate to United Way, often through payroll deduction. It is also a chance for employees to learn about United Way and the services we support.
  • If you work for one of the 130+ local businesses who hold a United Way workplace campaign, thank them and please consider participating. EVERY DONATION makes a difference in local lives!
  • If your employer does not have a workplace campaign, you can ask them about doing so. We have worked to make it so easy, especially this year, offering virtual materials! 
  • You also can participate in supporting our community impact fund by making a one-time or recurring gift to impact local lives. https://dbqunitedway.org/give

Check out the great videos we shared at our Virtual Campaign Kickoff to see “WHY, United Way!” https://dbqunitedway.org/

In the coming months, we will be sharing more “Why’s” so I ask you all to consider yours.
Thank you for LIVING UNITED!
Sincerely,
Danielle Peterson
President/CEO
Over the Edge a Success!
Thank you to everyone for your wonderful support of our second Over the Edge event! We had 31 brave people go Over the Edge for United Way. Thank you especially to our sponsors: Spahn & Rose, East Dubuque Nitrogen Fertilizer, Andersen Window & Door, Brain Health Iowa and the Carpenter's Local #678. Our in-kind sponsors were the Telegraph Herald, QueenB Radio, Curt's Signature Sign & Design, and KWWL. This event wouldn't have been a success without your support!
United Way Hosts Virtual Campaign Kickoff
On September 10, we held our annual campaign kickoff virtually! Our Campaign Co-Chairs Jan Powers, of The Powers of Communication, and Bob Woodward, of Woodward Communications/Telegraph Herald, hosted the event.

Our theme this year is Why United Way? During our campaign kickoff, and all throughout the year, we are going to answer this question and share why giving to United Way is investing in the future of our community. Learn about how we impacted 42,000 local lives last year, our goals for this upcoming year, and the 31 local nonprofit programs we support.

If you work for a business that currently doesn’t have a United Way workplace campaign, it’s easy to do so and contributing through payroll deduct makes giving easy! Contact Ellen Dettmer to learn more at [email protected]
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 September:

UPS is wrapping up their campaign.

US Bank had a virtual kickoff breakfast with United Way and also provided their staff with VTO (Volunteer Time Off) as a fun way for their staff to get involved in the community and give back.

Four of United Way's Funded Partners also held their campaigns during this month including:

St. Mark Youth Enrichment, whose campaign contribution increased

Opening Doors whose campaign contribution increased

Substance Abuse Service Center (SASC), who had 100% participation among employees
Fountain of Youth, who held their very first workplace campaign


Thank you all for showing what it means to LIVE UNITED!
Live Dimensional. Drink United. Thank you so much to Dimensional Brewing Company for creating these awesome t-shirts for United Way! The shirts are for sale at the taproom for $20 and all proceeds go towards Grant from Dimensional going Over the Edge!
Join the United Way Team!
Interns Wanted!
We accept interns year-round in 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
There’s still time to respond to the #2020Census.
But the clock is ticking down.
Go now to 2020Census.gov
Call 844-330-2020.
Volunteer Opportunities
Welcome Table

Crescent Community Health Center is looking for volunteers to help at our welcome table inside of the newly renovated Metx building located in the Washington Neighborhood. Volunteer will greet patients and community members and help direct them to the medical and dental offices within the building, assist with accessibility and ensure that pre-screening has been completed prior to entering the building. Hours are flexible.
Food Delivery

UBFMDBQ will deliver by both bicycles (weather permitting) and by car!  Please report to the Dubuque Area Labor Harvest a few minutes prior to 4pm. We will review the route to answer any questions.

The route locations/times are as follows:
4:00 - 4:25 Dubuque Area Labor Harvest - 423 W Locust St
4:30 - 5:00 Carnegie Stout Library area - corner of 11th & Locust St
5:10 - 5:30 Conoco gas station lot - corner of 5th & Locust St
5:45 - 6:00 Cricket Wireless lot - 20th & Elm St
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!