Dear Friends:

Happy Thanksgiving! We wanted to share a few resources that you may find helpful as the holiday season gets underway.

• Giving Tuesday is next Tuesday, December 3. This day’s goal is simple: to give something to a cause that matters to you. This may be a helpful way to inspire your supporters to contribute to your work and the sector at large. Learn more and spread the news at #Giving Tuesday.
• Our friends at the Vermont Community Foundation have shared this link on holiday giving: Check out their ideas at www.vermontcf.org/HolidayGiving
• VCF President Stuart Comstock-Gay will be talking about these topics on Monday, 12/2 at 9 a.m. on The Mark Johnson Show. Tune into  WDEV 96.1 FM or stream it live from your desk.
• Visit Serve.gov to find volunteer opportunities in your community. Volunteerism provides a huge boost to nonprofits, especially during the Holiday season.

Safe travels over these next few days. We are grateful for your partnership and look forward to continuing to connect, learn and thrive together.
 
All the best,

The Common Good Vermont Team
 Lauren-Glenn Davitian, Liz Ruffa
Kathleen Swanson & Shelagh Cooley

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Green Mountain United Way

Annual Report July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

http://www.flipdocs.com/showbook.aspx?ID=10011903_913869

Serving Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Orleans and Washington Counties of Vermont

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Don’t know what to buy your loved ones for the holidays?  Consider a donation to Green Mountain United Way in their honor.

Ways to Give

Donors have several options available when wishing to contribute to the United Way. We at Green Mountain United Way understand that no one method of giving fits all donors. Therefore, for the convenience of our supporters, we make available several options as described below:

DIRECT GIVING:

• Cash donations – Mail to 963 Paine Turnpike N #2, Montpelier, VT 05602-9163
• Payroll deductions – Call 802-229-9532 or e-mail us at info@gmunitedway.org – 60% of the Green Mountain United Way’s campaign income comes from individuals who arrange with their employers for regular payroll deductions.
• VISA or Mastercard payments – Call 802-229-9532
• Annual Appeal Letter
• Brochure
• Pledge Card
• Online Donation Green Mountain United Way donations made online are processed by Truist, a secure and trusted partner of the United Way Worldwide.

LEADERSHIP GIVING:

Contributors of $500 or more are included in a published list of Leadership Givers, if they so wish. Depending on the amount given, those contributors are named in one of the following applicable categories:

For more information about Leadership Giving, call 802-229-9532 or e-mail us at info@gmunitedway.org

PLANNED GIVING:

Many people, at one time or another, do not have the available funds to give to the charity of their choice; or, prefer giving in another manner. The following are a few other options available to you when wanting to donate to the Green Mountain United Way:

• Including that charity in a last will and testament
• Giving shares of stock, which might avoid capital gains taxes
• Naming the charity as the beneficiary on a life insurance policy
• Arranging for a Charitable Gift Annuity
• Arranging for a Charitable Remainder Trust
• Arranging for a Charitable Lead Trust

These are only a few of the many options available to donors. The Green Mountain United Way recommends that donors first consult with a lawyer, tax accountant or estate planner to be sure the best method of giving is chosen.

To discuss these and other possible ways of giving, please call our Berlin, VT office at 802-229-9532 and every attempt to meet your needs will be made.

The Green Mountain United Way “Mobilizes communities to create lasting changes in local conditions that improve lives.”

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Community Grants
July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015

Green Mountain United Way is offering grants for the above fiscal year to eligible non-profit organizations for projects that are in line with our priority areas of Income, Health and Education.

Community Grant Eligibility

The mission: Mobilizing communities to create lasting changes in local conditions that will improve lives

Eligibility:
To be eligible for Community Grant Funding, organizations must meet the following requirements:

• Organization is located in Vermont and currently tax exempt under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)
• The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors
• Project outcomes are aligned with Green Mountain United Way’s priorities and outcomes in the area of Income, Health or Education (see our website at www.gmunitedway.org and click on “Priorities” for details)
• Project activities occur between July 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015
• Project funding supports activities in one or more of the following counties in Vermont: Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Orleans, Washington
• Requested amount is $7,500 or less
• A minimum of 50% of the total amount requested is matched by in-kind contributions and/or other revenue sources

Community Grant Application Timeline

The timeline for the Green Mountain United Way Community Grants for July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 is as follows:

Grant Writing Workshop
December 11, 2013

Green Mountain United Way is offering a training regarding its Community Grant application process. Anyone interested in applying for a grant is encouraged to attend this workshop.

The workshop will take place on December 11, 2013 from 1 pm to 3 pm at the GMUW office at 963 Paine Turnpike N #2, Montpelier (Berlin), VT 05602.

The training will include:

• Overview of Green Mountain United Way
• What makes a good Letter of Intent and Grant Application
• Timeline
• How you can strengthen your chances of being awarded a grant

Please RSVP to Nancy Zorn at nzorn@gmunitedway.org or call 802-229-9532.

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Green Mountain United Way:  2012-2013 Campaign Video

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Mental Health Always Matters : Children’s PSA

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Staff as well as several young adult leaders attended the 24th Annual National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health Conference

We just got back from a very full and exciting few days in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. I mention “nation’s capital”, because each time I go to D.C., I am re-reminded of how blessed we are as a nation, that we have freedom’s because of so many who gave their lives, and that I am a very emotional, patriotic person! I cry at the national anthem and the memorials on the mall in D.C..

Here are a few things that stand out to me as I think back on our Federation of Families conference experience this year:

1. A full day of training for those of us who are nationally certified Parent Support Providers, Joy, Cindy and Kathy. This day consisted of specifics of the certification process, the data and research that supports family to family peer support, various workshops on self care and helping families take care of themselves, motivational interviewing, person centered planning, and writing parent support provider work into Medicaid plans and waivers.  
2. Excellent speakers like Judge Mathis telling his story of being a street youth who rose from jail to judge and keeping the faith and holding on. Lynn Chwatsky, from Sesame Street, speaking about their educational materials for children and families on topics like, trauma, deployment, incarcerated parents, and resiliency for our children.  
3. Our visit with Vermont’s legislative delegation. Courtney and I spoke with staff members of Senators Leahy and Sanders and Congressman Welch about family to family peer supports, family and youth voice, and youth in transition in Vermont. As a Vermonter, I am very aware that we have excellent representation in D.C., and that they cannot represent us excellently without hearing from us about what is important to Vermont families, youth and children.

Last , but certainly not least important, is to say thank you to all of the families and young adults we have assisted and partnered with this past year. Thank you for your trust in us as peers, and thank you for inviting us into your lives. Our lives are richer for knowing you. Thank you also to our family support partners and our partners in the Vermont System of Care for children, youth and Families. Together we are making this small state a better, healthier place to live.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kathy Holsopple

Executive Director 

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