You are receiving this newsletter because you are a member of the United Way Cole Society.
United Way Cole Society donors contribute $1,000–$9,999 annually to United Way of Metropolitan
Atlanta and are critical to achieving lasting impact in our community.
Thank you for your commitment to improving the quality of life in our community through your personal leadership
and philanthropic involvement.
In this edition
Field Day at Carrie Steele-Pitts, a hit!
On Saturday, May 3, 30 Cole Society members, along with their children and friends, volunteered at Carrie
Steele-Pitts for an outstanding field day event.
The Carrie Steele-Pitts home is a private, nonprofit child care agency that provides 24-hour, state-approved
residency for neglected, abandoned, abused or orphaned children.
Cole Society volunteers and the 45 young people (ages 6-17) from Carrie-Steele Pitts enjoyed relay races
and individual games, like the hula hoop marathon. The goals of the day were both educational and motivational,
with volunteers learning about the legendary history and work of Carrie Steele-Pitts and interacting with
the children in a fun and encouraging environment.
When asked about the best part of the day, volunteer Andre Sanders of Midtown Bank said, "Seeing the kids
have fun and discovering their leadership skills. It's amazing how much of an impact we made on them in so
little time!"
For all who made this day a success, thanks for supporting United Way and giving your time to volunteer.
We sincerely appreciate all that you do for our community!
A special thanks to PricewaterhouseCoopers for sponsoring the event and to Carrie Steele-Pitts for their
warm hospitality. Click here to view more photos of the event.
Beer. Barbeque. Philanthropy.
Raising nearly $15 million in less than 12 months is no easy task, but certainly one
that should be celebrated! This past year, Cole Society members in the 13-metro counties contributed
more money to United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta than any other group of individuals!
In honor of you, the Cole Society Advisory Board held a special appreciation event at the Lang-Carson
Community Center in the Reynoldstown neighborhood on Thursday, June 5. More than 125 Cole Society members
and their guests gathered to socialize and see their dollars at work in the community, despite some of
Atlanta's hottest weather this season!
It was a packed evening beginning with entertainment provided by Whole World Improv Theatre and ending
with walking tours of revitalized Reynoldstown community. To view pictures of the event, click
here.
It's important to recognize that without the generosity of our sponsors, the evening would not have
been possible. Please join me in thanking The Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University,
Genuine Parts and King & Spalding LLP for their support of the United Way Cole Society!
Thank you also to Affairs to Remember for the wonderful, southern cooking, to Reynoldstown Revitalization
Corporation for hosting us, and to Whole World Improv Theatre for the laughs.
School days: school supplies and volunteers needed for 10,000 metro area children
United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta has partnered again with Publix Super Markets, The Atlanta Journal
Constitution, V-103, and Star 94 for the School Tools Drive from July 21 through August 9, to collect
school supplies for thousands of metro Atlanta's underprivileged and homeless children.
Help kids start off this school year with the tools they need to succeed by purchasing supplies at your
neighborhood Publix and then depositing them in the store's collection bin. Volunteers are needed August
11 through 14 to sort and distribute the collected supplies.
"Families throughout our region are balancing life's necessities: food and shelter, with other needs.
Because of our neighbors' generosity, we will be able to help children have the supplies they need to
start the school year ready to learn," said Milton Little, president of United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta.
For more information on how you can volunteer, please contact Shonter VanBreemen at
svanbreemen@unitedwayatlanta.org or 404.589.9437.
2008-09 funding approved
The United Way annual campaign has come to a close. More than 400 trained community volunteers have spent
a great amount of time, and now the United Way Board of Directors is pleased to announce the 2008-09
funding decisions for the metro Atlanta area.
On June 11, the United Way Board approved one-year Community Impact Fund grants totaling $30.2 million
to nearly 400 programs from about 200 nonprofit organizations. Funding for the upcoming year will focus
on programs and organizations delivering services in the areas of education, income, health and ending
chronic homelessness.
United Way is able to invest $5.2 million in 69 programs that are focused on ensuring that children are
ready to start kindergarten. Studies have shown that the poorest children start school one to two years
behind their peers and every year fall further behind. Additionally, we are investing $8.7 million in
109 programs to ensure that youth, ages 6-18, will be successful in learning. This includes addressing
academic performance and increasing the number of parents involved in their child's learning.
In order to promote financial stability we will invest $5.6 million in 97 programs designed to help
low-income families and individuals to become and remain financially stable. We're helping people
buy and stay in their homes as well as find, get and keep good jobs.
United Way is also working to ensure that people are healthy. We will invest $7.5 million in 90 programs
to help people cope with substance abuse, mental and physical health issues and to help people with
disabilities and senior citizens live independently, preventing them from being forced into institutional
care.
To learn more about the investment process and the programs receiving support in the upcoming fiscal
year, visit us online at unitedwayatlanta.org/a0-your_impact.asp.
United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta welcomes new COO
Donna Stone Buchanan will be the new chief operating officer at our United Way. Donna will oversee internal
operations at United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. She has nearly 30 years of management and nonprofit
leadership.
Donna has served as president for Junior Achievement for 15 years, increasing its budget from $675,000
in 1993 to $4.2 million. Its staff has expanded from nine to 37 and now reaches 108,000 students.
Donna is a graduate of Georgia State University, and has worked in both the nonprofit and for-profit
sectors. She serves on the boards of the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, Georgia Chamber of Commerce,
Education Committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Consortium for Personal
Financial Literacy and the Georgia State University Alumni Association. In addition, Donna is a past
president of the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta, a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2000, and a
member of Roswell Presbyterian Church. She lives in Roswell with her husband Terry and son Zack.
United Way Cole Society affinity groups
The United Way Cole Society brings community leaders together through giving and philanthropic opportunities.
United Way Cole Society members are also included in two affinity groups,
United Way African American Partnership and
United Way Women's Legacy. Both groups support
strategic initiatives and provide ongoing opportunities for members to engage in philanthropic activities.
Click on the links above to learn more about each!
Have you moved or has your contact information changed?
We want to keep in touch with you! Please take a moment and fill out our
web form so we will have your current contact information.
If you have any questions about the United Way Cole Society,
please contact Megan Mervar at 404.527.3584 or mmervar@unitedwayatlanta.org.
Thank you for your continued support of United Way.
