 President’s Message:   We’re Motivated to Expand in a down EconomyAbout a year ago, Volunteer USA began to look at the financial welfare of some of our very best performing family literacy academies which receive grants for us. Given the difficulty of the economy, we decided to create a matching grant opportunity. For every one dollar raised, we would match it 100% up to a certain threshold. We also agreed to provide cash in return for every volunteer hour generated by a particular academy. What we learned, and are continuing to learn, will have a greater impact than we ever expected. Some of the simple lessons didn’t surprise us - programs in predominantly rural areas struggled greatest at fundraising. Some of the findings were disconcerting but not unexpected - programs affiliated with state entities, like universities or schools, were the least likely to agree to seek matching funds. We also found our programs were much more at home with grassroots fundraising and pancake breakfasts than using the brochures we developed to approach high-wealth banking contacts. What began as a journey to help our grantees has ended in an unexpected way. Our board of directors is currently negotiating with two of our grantee academies, which operate programs we’re proud to be affiliated with, to create a new structure under our foundation. In the next few months, we plan to announce that initially two of our former grantees will become nonprofit Limited Liability Corporations. The benefits?
If you like to think about nonprofit issues, consider signing up for Volunteer USA’s new BLOG. We know some of you would love to talk back at us about headline issues on a semi-regular basis. So, email us your thoughts on what we should cover. We’re getting started by chatting about what the nonprofit role should be with the “federal stimulus” package; the best and worst volunteer jobs; and taking a look at the “incentives” (like money, awards and meaningful events) available in the nonprofit marketplace…are there enough?  Liza McFadden
Our Staff Liza McFadden President Elizabeth Hirst Senior Vice President Roxann Campbell Director of Programs Teecy Matthews National Director Michael Thompson Program Coordinator Heather Brinkworth Regional Program Coordinator Tracey Gallagher Program Coordinator Jaimie Hudson Regional Program Coordinator Gerri Palmer Program Assistant Mark Nelson Director of Special Projects Venita Dorsey Finance Director Brandi Brown Special Events Coordinator Volunteer USA Foundation www.volunteerusafoundation.org 850.562.5300 Volunteer USA Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to strengthen Florida by meeting community and family needs through volunteerism and community service. The Foundation serves as a catalyst by bringing groups together in partnership to leverage assets to their maximum effectiveness. Program partners include nonprofits, community organizations, national associations, faith-based groups, the private sector and state government. A 501(c)(3) organization. |
| VOLUNTEER USA ANNOUNCES BLOG: THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSIONS FOR IN-THE-KNOW NONPROFITS AND VOLUNTEERS Yes, we're starting a blog. If you are a volunteer or a nonprofit who likes to think about making this world a better place, this is the blog for you. On it blog, we will think about and discuss some big ideas…from whether small nonprofits should benefit from the "federal stimulus" package, to tracking the faith and community-based movement from the heart of the Bible Belt. VOLUNTEER USA FAMILIES GET LESSON IN HEALTHY LIVING  Ready, Set, Go Shopping! Family literacy students have hit the grocery store armed with greater nutritional information, thanks to a new project focused on healthy living. Volunteer USA, in partnership with Winn-Dixie, promoted literacy among students through new opportunities focused on health, nutrition and family grocery budgeting. Students even learned how to create healthier versions of their favorite ethnic recipes.The students put their health knowledge into action through field trips to a local Winn-Dixie store, with a donated $500 gift card and food coupons in-hand. The goal of the project is for students to continue a lifestyle of nutritious eating and preventative healthcare habits. “I feel so happy because my favorite, family recipes are now healthier and can be enjoyed by others in my community. They will see how delicious Latin food is. I learned so much information to improve the health of my family,” said Angelica Gomez, a student in Palm Beach. If your organization would like to learn more about the health literacy curriculum or try recipes collected at the family literacy academies, contact michael.thompson@volunteerusafund.org.
According to the mom of an Atlanta 3rd-grader, “Jesna really likes the books she gets to read with her teen mentor, and the sessions have really helped. In fact, Jesna raised her report card reading grade from failing to a C! Our newest goal is for Jesna to bring all her grades up to A's & B's by the end of the year.” What do Teachers have to say about Teen Trendsetters? “I am retiring after 38 years of teaching high school English. I can say without a doubt that TTRM has been one of the highlights of my career. I have never had such a rewarding experience. To see those big high school kids relate to those third- graders was a real heart-warmer. Thank you, for the opportunity.” -Rebecca Rogers, Arkansas High School teacher VOLUNTEER EXTRAORDINAIRE ALAN HANSTEIN - A FINALIST FOR VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD  Getting involved in your local community or in support of your favorite cause brings countless benefits to the lives you touch. Volunteer USA is fortunate to have a growing force of people and companies who live that spirit of volunteerism. One of our most committed volunteers, Alan Hanstein was recently recognized for all his good work, as a finalist for the Leon County, Florida Volunteer of the Year Award.Since 2007, Alan has been giving selflessly of his time and talents to produce and provide the upkeep for four different websites under the VUSA umbrella, including our Celebration of Reading and Teen Trendsetters™ websites. In addition, Alan is a dedicated to improving educational opportunities for youth, serving as a mentor at Woodville Elementary School. Thank you for all you do! NOT-FOR-PROFITS: BE SURE TO CHECK OUT STIMULUS PACKAGE The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is expected to receive well over $13 billion to Florida. As a result, the state has launched the Office of Economic Recovery’s website www.FlaRecovery.gov to allow Floridians to review state and local governments’ use of federal funds. Included on the website are the funding opportunities available and links to competitive grants. For other states, the federal Recovery Act website can be viewed at  .EARN A PRESIDENTIAL AWARD!  Volunteer USA is now an official partner of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, which recognizes the valuable contributions volunteers are making in our communities. The Council created the President’s Volunteer Service Award program as a way to honor those who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.As a partner, Volunteer USA is able to track the hours served by our dedicated volunteers including our thousands of Teen Trendsetters™, as well as nominate and deliver the President’s Volunteer Service award to our volunteers who achieve high standards. Visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov to learn more. BE SURE TO ANSWER TO CALL...SERVE AMERICA ACT!  The new administration is also urging Americans to “work together…to tackle our country's biggest challenges.” The Serve America Act, signed by the President in April, opens up new service opportunities for millions of people in the U.S. From retirees to youth, everyone can find a way to give back. Nonprofits are a being also encouraged to expand volunteer opportunities. See www.usaservice.org/whitehouse to learn more.FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
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