April - May 2012

Delaware kicks off the Young Health Program!

– see page 3

A committee, formed by United Way ofDelaware (UWD) has launched “Women inA c t i o n ” – a m e n t o r i n gp r o g r a m for professionalwomen to honor the legacy ofMuriel E. Gilman. The idea issimple, but profound: to createpowerful mentoring relation-ships between aspiring andestablished female leaders.The goal is to enhance members’effectiveness in their personaland professional lives and intheir community service work.

UWD is currently seekingadul t women (ages 21 and over) whowould l ike to be mentors or mentees.Registration involves a one-year commitmentof approximately 20-30 hours during the

course of the year. But the relationshipsformed and the knowledge gained will last

a lifetime!The program is in partnership

with Great Dames, Inc. Formore information or to register,go to www.uwde.org or contactGreat Dames’ Sharon Hake atsharonhake@great-dames.com.

Muriel E. Gilman was the firstfemale executive and long-timeboard member of UWD. Thisprogram will be conducted in away that reflects Muriel’s legacy of

advocacy, volunteerism, and mentorship. Theprogram is being directed by a committee of morethan one dozen women who worked with Muriel andwere touched by her.

A message from Michelle A. Taylor

Dear Friends,By now, you’ve undoubtedly heard the

phrase “Live United.” That’s our call to action.You can Live United in three different ways – byGiving, Advocating and Volunteering.

Here at United Way of Delaware (UWD), weoften talk about giving. That’s out of necessity.Our annual fundraising campaign is critical,because it supports Education, Income andHealth initiatives across the state. We couldn’tdo the work we do without the support of ourcorporate partners and individual donors

like you!We also often talk about volunteering, because investing time is

just as important (if not more so!) than investing money. Inpartnership with The News Journal, our volunteer engagementwebsite – www.delawareonline.com/getinvolved – provides links tohundreds of volunteer opportunities.

Compared to giving and volunteering, advocacy doesn’t alwaysget the same amount of “air time.” Advocacy usually isn’t as clear-cutas making a monetary donation or signing up to volunteer. Butadvocacy is critical, because speaking up drives change, especiallyin a small, community-driven state like Delaware.

Advocacy has led to some big wins for Delaware. For years,UWD was a vocal advocate of early care and education. BecauseUWD and our partners were so passionately dedicated to the issue,it became and remained a topic of public discussion. Ultimately,Gov. Jack Markell and the state legislature granted an additional $22million to support our youngest Delawareans. In addition, the stateformally adopted the Delaware Stars for Early Success program, ofwhich UWD was a founding member. This program benefits all ofDelaware’s children, but especially our at-risk children, whose familiesare often compelled to accept lower quality services. This additionalfunding will level the playing field, ensuring that all children enterschool prepared to succeed.

Advocacy on an individual level is critical too. UWD’s recent Revivethe Village:Back to the Basics event emphasized the importance of civicengagement. It’s important to be educated about issues that impactyour community, to voice your opinion and to vote. (See more aboutthis initiative on page 6).

So, as you give and volunteer in support of your community, don’tforget to lend your voice as well. Together, we can keep importantissues in the public eye, promote positive change and truly make adifference in the lives of our neighbors.

Warmly,

Michelle A. Taylor

President and Chief Executive Officer,United Way of Delaware

UW2 United Way of Delaware April - May 2012 www.uwde.org

Muriel E. Gilman

“Women in Action”New program connects professional

women to one another

100 Men Reading DayTuesday, May 157:30 AMBrandywine Valley Friends, with support from UWD and Christiana Care Health System,will host a third “100 Men Reading Day.” They are seeking 100 men to read to children atchildcare centers, pre-school and elementary schools. Contact Kanani Hines atkhines@uwde.org for more information or to register!

Day of ActionThursday, June 21Save the date for this annual volunteer engagement event. Details to come!

Ninth Annual “Giving on the Greens” Golf TournamentMonday, June 258 AM startHartefeld National Golf ClubAvondale, PA 19311This tournament benefits UWD’s Community Impact Fund, which supports Education,Income and Health initiatives across the state! Contact Sandi Bowe at sbowe@uwde.orgfor more information or to register!

Upcoming Opportunities to Live United!

New Castle County eventMonday, June 185 PM – 6:30 PMSheraton Wilmington South(Chesapeake Ballroom)

Kent and Sussex Counties eventWednesday, June 205 PM – 6:30 PMDover Downs Hotel & Casino(Kent Room)

UWD’s Annual Celebration Event – Come Connect!

Please join us to celebrate our collective progress with our community partners!

Students from Kuumba Academy and Christina Cultural ArtsCenter with some of the VIPs from the Young Health Program

kickoff in Wilmington. See story on page 3.

ON THE COVER

www.uwde.org April - May 2012 United Way of Delaware UW3

Everyday life can be a challenge for children betweenthe ages of 12 and 15, particularly if they live in high-need communities.

Rapid physical and emotional changes can lead to apoor self-image and the longing for peer acceptance.These adolescents may be vulnerable to substanceabuse, eating disorders and early sexual activity. Badchoices in any one of these or other areas can affecttheir ability to learn, grow and succeed.

But there is good news. According to the SearchInstitute, youth who have gained certain positive experiences,relationships, opportunities and personal qualities aremuch less likely to engage in these risky behaviors.Collectively called the 40 “Developmental Assets,”these factors help children become healthy, caring andresponsible adults.

Exposing more adolescents in high-need communitiesto more of these assets is the goal of the Young HealthProgram, (YHP:IM40) a five-year programspearheaded by AstraZeneca and UnitedWay of Delaware (UWD).

What does the “IM40” stand for? “ ‘IM’is ‘I am’ – it represents the youth’s abilityto self-identify with the YHP program,”explains Renee Roberts, Director ofStrategic Initiatives for UWD. “And the‘40’ stands for striving to achieve as many ofthe 40 Developmental Assets as possible.”

YHP:IM40 currently targets threeDelaware communities that have a high number ofvulnerable youth: the Eastside of Wilmington, thenorthern edge of Dover and the Seaford-Bridgevillearea. Discussions are now underway with leaders andgrous in these communities in an effect to pinpoint the

unique assets and needs of each area.UWD, which is providing the overall

management for YHP:IM40, will choose animplementation partner in each county.Within three years, the program will haveexpanded across the state.

“We want to create a movement—aculture shift—to help our youth gain as-sets,” Roberts says. “To do that, we needpartners—organizations that provide high-quality mentoring or after-school programsthat promote reading, for example.”

YHP:IM40 is the U.S. pilot of AstraZeneca’sglobal Youth Health Program. AstraZeneca is testingthis program in Delaware, and will take those bestpractices to replicate the program in other areas ofthe country.

UWD and AstraZeneca launch the Young Health Programby Pam George

Children from the Christina Cultural Arts Center and Kuumba Academy perform at the YHP:IM40 kickoff at the Walnut Street YMCA.

YHP:IM40 is based on the 40Developmental Assets, a positiveyouth development model rom theSearch Institute. These assets areconsidered the building blocks ofhealthy development. They aregrouped into external and internalassets. Here are some examples:

External Assets:• Asset #1: Family life provides highlevels of love and support.• Asset #11: Both parent(s) andteachers encourage the young personto do well• Asset #20: Young person is outwith friends “with nothing special todo” two or fewer nights per week.

Internal Assets:• Asset #22: Young person isactively engaged in learning• Asset #30: Young person acceptsand takes personal responsibility• Asset #37: Young person feels heor she has control over “things thathappen to me.”

What’s Your Number?

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Speaking in support of YHP at the kickoff: SenatorTom Carper; Governor Jack Markell; UWD Presidentand Chief Executive Officer Michelle Taylor; andSearch Insititute’s Acting President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer Eugene C. Roehlkepartain.

What’s your number? How many assets to you have?

Take the survey at www.im40.org

UW4 United Way of Delaware April - May 2012 www.uwde.org

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE 2011 CAMPAIGN!We could not do our work with you! Thank you to the individuals who trust us to be good community stewards. And thank you to the companies below for running

campaigns in support of our mission. Together, we are maximizing the community's resources to improve the quality of life for all Delawareans.

www.uwde.org April - May 2012 United Way of Delaware UW5

PORT OF THE 2011 CAMPAIGN!o be good community stewards. And thank you to the companies below for running e community's resources to improve the quality of life for all Delawareans.

List as of February 24, 2012

Mzuri Moyo performed pieces of the life story of Fannie Lou Hamer, a civilrights leader, as part of the program.

Standing Room Onlyfor “Your Vote Matters”!

On Saturday, March 3, WilmingtonUniversity’s New Castle Campus was filledto overflowing, but not for any day-longclass or training session. It was “event day”for Revive the Village: Back to the Basics, theAfrican-American Initiative at United Wayof Delaware (UWD). The purpose of theevent -- called “Give Me the Ballot: My VoteMatters!”– was to emphasize the impor-tance of education and civic participation. At theevent, Revive the Village: Back to the Basicshonored six high school seniors for theiressays promoting the importance of voting.

The program featured the life storyof Fannie Lou Hamer, a civil rightsl e a d e r a n d v o t i n g r i g h t s a c t i v i s t ,performed by Mzuri Moyo and HealingThrough Sound Music , Inc . Theagenda also included Dr. Teri QuinnGray, President of the Delaware State

Board of Education, and Dr. Kim Allen,who both spoke about the importanceof education. The Cornerstone FellowshipBaptist Church Children’s Choir alsoperformed two pieces.

Event partners included WilmingtonUniversity and the National Coalition of1 0 0 B l a c k Wo m e n ( N C B W 1 0 0 ) .Representatives from NCBW 100 registeredpeople to vote on the spot, during theevent. And members of WilmingtonUniversity’s Student United Way chapterserved among the event volunteers.

Revive the Village: Back to the Basicslaunched more than one year ago and isfocused on supporting UWD’s workaround Education. For more informationabout Revive the Village: Back to the Basics,this event, or to read the winning essay,visit UWD’s website: www.uwde.org.

UWD’s African-American Initiativehosts event focused on

civic engagement

The children’s choir from Cornerstone Fellowship Baptist Churchperformed at the event.

UW6 United Way of Delaware April - May 2012 www.uwde.org

High school students across the state were prompted to write abrief essay about why the right to vote was important to them. Thefirst place winner was Jalisha Braxton from Caesar Rodney HighSchool. Braxton will be continuing her education at PrincetonUniversity and wants to study psychology. Her career goal is to bea leading force in education reform. The other awardees were:

• Second Place: Douglas Jones, Dover High School• Third Place: Elizabeth Thorpe, Appoquinimink High School• Honorable Mentions:• Hannah Bakey, Cab Calloway School of the Arts• Kourtne’ Reardon, Howard High School of Technology• Sarah Rocco, Howard High School of Technology

Pictured, from left to r ight are: Hannah Bakey, El izabethThorpe, Michel le Taylor (President and Chief Execut iveOff icer of UWD), Douglas Jones, and Jal isha Braxton. Notpictured are Kourtne’ Reardon and Sarah Rocco.

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Essay Contest Winners!

Even before she started kindergarten, Teri QuinnGray played school with family members and friends.“Teachers and professors were the pillars of mycommunity, and I wanted to be like them,” recallsGray, who grew up in Jackson, Miss.

She’s realized her goal. Gray, who has a doctorate inchemistry from the University of Maryland, is now presidentof the Delaware State Board of Education (SBE).

Gray, who also works full time at the DuPont Co., isplaying a lead role in United Way of Delaware’s African-American Initiative -- Revive the Village: Back to Basics,which supports UWD’s work to improve education,income and health outcomes, and focuses on African-American communities.

In addition to raising awareness about the achievementgap, Gray wants to get her hands dirty and make adifference. For Revive the Village: Back to the Basics,she will be leading several community conversations,focused on Education, to gather feedback about what’sworking and what’s not working, related to educationinitiatives. These conversations, which will be held inpartnership with the National Coalition of 100 Black

Women (NCBW), will inform UWD’s communityimpact strategies.

“I look forward to listening, learning and sharingmy perspectives as a parent, citizen and policy-maker,” she says.

Gray, in part, is the product of her own family’sinfluence. “My family believes and lives that educationis the cornerstone to opportunities and being able totake care of you and yours,” she says.

After receiving her doctorate in chemistry, shestarted working at the DuPont Co. Today, she’s aCommercia l i za t ion Product Leader with thecompany’s crop protection business.

As President of the SBE, she is focusing onimplementing common core standards and assessments;enabling more high performance schools; promotingeducators as catalyst for reform; and embracing 21st-centuryskill development with the goal of global citizenship.

Through the SBE and her role in Revive the Village:Back to the Basics, Gray wants to encourage communitiesand families to play an active role in education, both inthe home, the schools and local boards.

“It truly does ‘take a village’ to raise a child,” she says.

www.uwde.org April - May 2012 United Way of Delaware UW7

A Passion for Education

Teri Quinn Gray

by Pam George

United Way of DelawareThe Linden Building, Third Floor625 North Orange StreetWilmington, DE 19801

Non-Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit #194

Wilmington, DE

UW8 United Way of Delaware April - May 2012 www.uwde.org

AFL-CIO Community Services698 Old Baltimore PikeNewark, DE 19702

Sussex County Office206 Academy StreetSuite #2Georgetown, DE 19947

Kent County Office101 West Loockerman StreetSuite #2BDover, DE 19904

A new face has joined the United Way of Delaware (UWD) team.Crystal Timmons is the new Sussex CountyCommunity Relations Associate. Ms. Timmonsis responsible for fundraising, engaging thecommunity, and advancing UWD’s relationshipswith stakeholders throughout Sussex County.

Ms. Timmons most recently served as theSussex/Kent Branch Manager for the FoodBank of Delaware, based in Milford. Prior to theFood Bank of Delaware, she held variousmanagement and administrative positions withMuncie Insurance and Financial Services inDover and the medical offices of Drs. Rowe and Tamese in Dover. Ms.Timmons lives in Milford.

To reach Ms. Timmons at the Sussex County office, call (302) 856-7884or email ctimmons@uwde.org.

Crystal Timmons joins Sussex County staff

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