Getting a solid education starts with students showing up – physically and mentally. Chronic absenteeism is higher among children who live in high poverty areas; which means not all children have the same chance to succeed in school. The good news, it's a problem we can solve.
A team from Wells Fargo recently “walked a mile” in the shoes of Valley individuals and families who struggle daily with making ends meet. Here’s a look at their journey.
Amy Schwabenlender, Vice President of Community Impact for Valley of the Sun United Way, recently attended by special invitation a White House summit of federal government, corporate and private foundation, and non-profit leaders engaged in the work of ending veteran homelessness. For Amy, the discussion proved that the strategic initiatives successfully employed in our community to end chronic homelessness among our veteran population, can and should be applied to ending homelessness for everyone in the Valley.
By age 11, Anthony Arellanes had a criminal record for vandalizing his elementary school. A year later, he was seen tossing a chemical bomb into a bathroom at a Boys and Girls Club.
“I was on a bad path,” Anthony recalls, more than 20 years later. His path began in South Central Los Angeles where his father was well-known in both criminal and law enforcement circles as one of the biggest heroin dealers in the area.
Facebook Milestones: Phoenix Youth Moves Up In Life & Career
A little more than two years ago I saw a Facebook ad that changed my life. Although I was a good student with great attendance, I couldn’t graduate from high school because I didn’t pass the math portion of the AIMS test. The Certificate of Completion I received in lieu of a diploma wasn’t enough to support the life and career I wanted.
It’s easy to complain when temperatures soar above 100 degrees; but people experiencing homelessness brave the brutal heat 24/7 which can be dangerous and potentially deadly.
See someone on the street? Help them hydrate, find refuge or emergency shelter sites with this Heat Relief Map
United Way’s Destination Graduation gives Valley students the tools they need to succeed in high school and beyond. Stir in your involvement as a volunteer mentor or classroom advisor and we now have a winning recipe for keeping students on track and motivated toward achieving their academic and career goals.
Think back to the year 1995. Just 18 years ago, you needed a video camera, VCR, Polaroid, Walkman, computer, wristwatch, television, and a cell phone the size of a brick to do what you can do today with a smart phone. Back then, nly one in ten adults knew what it meant to “surf the net.”
You may already be one of the thousands of volunteers and partners who serve the needs of children, families and individuals throughout the Valley, but here are some things that might surprise you:
