Update from Executive Director Erin Shay | |
October 9th marked the third annual Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Day.
DAF giving is a little paradoxical; it’s both the fastest-growing philanthropic trend in the country, AND most Americans are largely unaware that DAF giving is an option for them!
A donor-advised fund (DAF) is an account into which you can deposit assets (cash, stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, IRA and/or 401(k) funds, etc.) for donation to charity over time.
It sounds intimidating, however many DAFs have no minimum account size and minimum gift sizes are as low as $18, and organizations - including ours - are working to make DAF giving as easy as possible.
You’ll now find a “DAF Pay” button on all our online giving pages.
Learn more about DAFs and other methods of gift planning.
| |
UWNEMN's second annual Bean Bags for the Brave tournament raised $26,394 to support local veterans!
Thank you to Radotich Inc., for presenting this year's event and to all sponsors, donors, volunteers, and players for uniting behind our United for Veterans program.
| Congratulations to the big winners of last month's Sauna Raffle - and to the nine veterans who learned new skills and built such an incredible sauna this year. | Thank you to everyone who supported the sauna project, purchased a raffle ticket, and/or volunteered at the Drawing Party to raise more than $20,000 in support of our United for Veterans program! | |
Restaurants - and their patrons - across Koochiching County united for one week in August to raise funds and awareness for UWNEMN's programs and partners in the county!
Thank you to the participating restaurants, diners, and sponsors who raised $4,500 to support the community.
| NEW Opportunity to Connect with Volunteers! | |
UWNEMN has worked with Minnesota North campuses across our service area to schedule Volunteer Fairs in hopes of connecting college students with volunteer opportunities near them!
Fairs will be held on the following campuses from 10 AM to 1PM at:
- Hibbing - Wednesday, November 4
- Rainy River (International Falls) - Thursday, November 5
- Vermillion (Ely) - Friday, November 13
- Virginia - Monday, November 16
- Eveleth - Tuesday, November 17
| |
Learn more about Giants Ridge Director of Facilities Steve Biondich who joined UWNEMN’s Board of Directors this year:
Which of UWNEMN's targeted issues are you particularly passionate about? Literacy and youth development with an emphasis on the underserved, youth mental health and substance abuse, veterans’ services in our service territory, hunger and food access, stable living environment for individuals and families, and domestic violence and sexual assault.
Why were you interested in joining UWNEMN's Board of Directors? I have been involved with workplace campaigns, Meet Up and Chow Down, United for Veterans, and volunteering at other events. I have always believed in what the United Way does for our communities and our people. And I simply wanted to be part of the organization at the next level!
Please complete the sentence: “United is the way..." ... we strengthen the Iron Range. It's the way we take care of our neighbors, work together for the greater good, and build communities where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.
| New Workplace Giving Campaigns Underway | UWNEMN has had the honor of connecting with hundreds of donors and volunteers across our region this fall through our workplace campaign meetings. | Our thanks to Park State Bank, Widseth, Trison Solutions, Old National Bank, Frandsen Bank (Ely), RMS Tritec, North Star Credit Union, Hibbing Fabricators, Minnesota Power, Lake Country Power, and U. S. Steel for inviting UWNEMN in for presentations over the past month! | | |
UWNEMN's Lunch Buddies mentoring program has begun, and there are 18 students still waiting to be paired with a mentor who will share one lunch break/week with them.
Not sure if mentoring is for you? Take it from five-time Lunch Buddies mentor Candice Sjogren who says, "Do it! Lunch Buddies is one of the easiest ways to make a difference in kids' lives. The time commitment is small, but the impact is big!"
Below, Candice answers some other FAQs from first-time mentors.
-
What can a first-time mentor expect? Show up on time, eat lunch, and play with your mentee. The games and activities are provided, so your focus can be on engaging with the student.
-
Does it make a difference? Lunch Buddies gives kids something to anticipate, helping them to think about school in a positive way. It also allows adults other than parents, family members, guardians, or teachers an opportunity to help them deal with life. They see that adults care for them and want to help them.
-
What keeps you coming back as a mentor? The kids! They are wonderfully unique, full of passion, and different from year to year. I enjoy so much getting to know them and becoming their friend. The opportunity to be a bright spot in a child’s day is just too good to pass up!
| Mentors are still needed in Aurora, Babbitt, Chisholm, Ely, Eveleth, Hibbing, Nashwauk, Tower, and Virginia. | |
UWNEMN is excited to announce that Wayne Kangas has joined our team as CTC Coordinator.
| |
In this role, Wayne is helping our established Community Board implement the CTC model in Hibbing, developing specific prevention plans based on the community's unique needs, strengths, and stakeholder input.
| |
Buddy Backpacks weekend meal kits are officially going home with 610 students across the Iron Range and Koochiching County.
| |
Our region continues to unite behind keeping local children fed; all 2026 Buddy Backpacks packing and preparation opportunities have filled.
Stay tuned for 2027 dates!
| |
The partners who made Virginia's new Born Learning Trail united last week to celebrate the finished product.
| |
Signs were installed along Silver Lake by the City of Virginia on August 27th, and the lakewalk was painted with accompanying designs by volunteers from Virginia Chisholm Credit Union (VCCU), North Star Credit Union, and the Unhjem family.
This project was made possible with support from the Virginia Community Foundation and VCCU.
| |
It's been two years since UWNEMN worked with United Way organizations across the state to bring the United for ALICE dataset, which highlights the growing financial strains on the demographic known as ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), to Minnesota.
| |
The report has now been updated with the latest available data and shows that the number of ALICE households in our region is still more than double the amount of people living in poverty.
Since releasing the report, UWNEMN has worked diligently to adjust all our program guidelines to include ALICE, encourage our partners and other service providers to do so, and educate changemakers in hopes of finding solutions to better support the thousands of people who are working hard and still struggling to afford basics.
| |
Individuals who live or work in UWNEMN's service area (Iron Range, Koochiching County, Lake of the Woods County) and need dental care they cannot afford can apply for help through UWNEMN's Smiles United Dental Crisis Fund!
| To qualify, individuals must earn at/or below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained) threshold. This number varies by community and household - typically 300% of federal poverty guideline or less.) | |
Registration is open now for UWNEMN's "Learn to Curl" United for Veterans Connections activity at the Curl Mesabi Curling Club in Eveleth.
|
- 9:30 - 10 AM - Checkin/Pastries + Coffee
- 10 - 11:30 AM - Curling instructions
| Registration is free but required and closes October 30th! | |
Next year's annual retreat for local veterans and their loved ones will be held September 24 - 26, 2027, at Sugar Lake Lodge!
Registration will open in March to veterans and servicemembers who live or work in UWNEMN's service area to attend as individuals, with significant others, or with their families.
| |
