Gifts stay in Monroe Co.
Home excerpt ...
Home excerpt ...
Class project: Are you interested in helping Coral Shores HS students to get a broader view of the array of interesting, satisfying careers out there?
In an effort to expose students to careers beyond what they can easily see in front of them, UWFK President Margie Smith is putting together a speaker's guild made up of professionals from careers that you don't typically see in the Keys.
We have so many fascinating characters here in our business community, and many of you had a previous life in another career before coming to the Keys. Help me show our teens what is out there. Email me your bio and we'll get you scheduled to speak to the Leadership class one time in the Spring Semester to share your personal story and how you got into your field, lessons learned etc. Email Margie at [email protected] One more way to LIVE UNITED...
Colonel Rick Ramsay says a few words about how we can all United Way of the Florida Keys to make Monroe County even better by assisting those in need.
Click the link below to watch the video.
The United Way of the Florida Keys held their Annual Meeting for 2010 in Marathon on June 30th. During the meeting United Way installed its new board members for 2010-2011, and incoming Chair Andy Griffiths gave a presentation on the new direction the organization is taking over the next three years.
The United Way recognized its board of directors, and donors, and the organization is proud to announce the election and installation of its 2010/2011 Executive Board. The officers installed were as follows:
Andy Griffiths--Chair
Mike Feltman—Vice Chair
Dale Bittner—Treasurer
Erin O’Hara --Secretary
Immediate Past Chair—Margie Whisenhunt
Pictured in photo above: Outgoing Chair Margie Whisenhunt, President Margie Smith, and Incoming Chair Andy Griffiths.
2010 continues to be a year of transition for United Way of the Florida Keys. With a new president this past January, new web site last fall, new office this past Spring United Way of the Florida Keys is setting up internal processes to sustain it for the long haul, while organizing to make the workplace campaign more robust. Chair Andy Griffiths spoke about where the organization is headed including funding goals and a new program based funding initiative.
Top donors were recognized at the 2010 Annual meeting, and though this photo was taken at a separate award presentation in April, Publix was once again recognized at our Annual Meeting as the top corporate and workplace campaign donor for United Way of the Florida Keys. Publix has been a long time supporter and top supporter since 1987.
An award was also presented to Wesley House for Top Agency Donor for 2010. Thank you donors for your support!
United Way of the Florida Keys entered a float in the 35th Annual Key Largo Fourth of July Parade. Our float, made up of a 1963 Airstream Trailer decorated in the theme "Coral Reef Paradise" was a big hit as President Margie Smith, volunteers Cale Smith, Andrea and Jay Segovia and a host of local kids gave out frozen popsicles to a very enthusiastic audience.
Happily, the latest NOAA reports do not indicate any oil coming to the Florida Keys. Due to confusion in the messaging about the advance of the spill, some business owners have seen cancellations. A web site has been established where claims can be filed and a coordinated response with up to date information from the responsible government entities, and BP. This is the official site of the Deepwater Horizon Unified Command. Go to http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/.
We advise checking here before relying on information from other local sources.
Can volunteers help clean up oil contaminated areas?
The complex nature of oil cleanup, coupled with health and safety concerns, limits the role of volunteers. Volunteers will not engage in any activity directly contacting oil-contaminated materials. All oil-contaminated materials will be handled by trained, paid workers and not by volunteers.These trained paid workers include Qualified Community Responders, who are typically hired from the local community and and Paraprofessionals who are BP pre-approved contractors with previous permits, training and skills.
Although volunteers will not be utilized in activities that involve direct contact with oil, there is still a need for volunteers. If you are interested in mobilizing when and if the time comes, go to www.keysspill.com for more information about ways you can be of service in the Keys related to the oil spill. This web site does not represent a registered 501c3 non-profit profit organization, but volunteers are working and disseminating information through it to organize a local response.
We are also starting Hurricane season, and Monroe County Emergency Management will be training volunteers to be Shelter Managers in designated Shelters throughout the Keys. Dates for this training are posted below. The training takes about 5 hours, and Shelter Managers will be assigned to Shelters in or near their own community in the case of a Hurricane.
Shelter Manager Training was conducted at Marathon Fire Station, Department Meeting Room, 8900 Overseas Highway (Bayside), Marathon, on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. This site will be updated as more training is scheduled.
You can take the HAZWOPR training at the Community College if you are interested in helping out with the oil spill preparation/clean up. As of this writing, no oil from the BP spill has been found in the Keys but here are the two courses available:
Four Hour Course: Post Emergeny Response Clean Up Workers Training
24 Hour Course: Hazardous Materials Technician
Online Course: 24 hour course material taught by OSHA online for $69
Go to www.fkcc.edu for details, right on their home page.
We are excited to announce the appointment of Margie Smith as President of United Way of the Florida Keys. Margie brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our organization. Margie's bio will be available here soon.
Great things are coming in 2010!
The United Way of Monroe County Board has voted to help fund an Upper Keys food bank as part of a shift in meeting critical community needs.
“The board determined it was time to start the process of a human care network committed to assisting the local community,” Nicki Will, Chief Governance Officer, said.
As part of that, the board approved a name change and has adopted as its mission playing a lead role in helping community organizations identify and serve those most in need.
United Way of the Florida Keys - Leader in Community Caring helps identify who we are and who we want to help, Will said.
That decision could not have come at a better time, according to the Rev. Kerry Foote, Pastor for Burton Memorial United Methodist Church. His Tavernier church operates a critical food pantry and hot meal program serving the needs of the Upper Keys.
Volunteers from the community along with members of the congregation assist in the program, which has seen a significant increase in need, especially from families where a parent has lost a job or experienced some financial setbacks.
“The United Way’s generous grant of $10,000.00 will go a long way in ensuring Burton will continue to be present in this community to help people with the basic need of food for their families,” the Rev. Foote said. “We are pleased to be partnering with the United Way.”
Will, CEO of Lower Keys Medical Center, said food is a basic human need and makes a big difference in the health of adults as well as children.
Although the Keys population is small, demographics create major challenges, made more difficult by the geography. Various locations are needed to provide services throughout the 100-mile-long chain of islands.
It’s a challenge, Will said. United Way of the Florida Keys would like to have a human care network where agencies will work together through the United Way to make the most of resources. “It’s our goal,” said Nicki Will.
“The United Way Board wants to work with its agencies on decreasing duplication so money can be directed to those most in need,” she said.
If you would like to get involved or learn more about United Way’s human care network, call Margie Smith at 305 735-1WAY.
United Way of the Florida Keys has a Facebook page! Become a fan today and stay up to date on United Way activities and events as well as adding your non-profit community events to our calendar. Just log in to Facebook, do a search for United Way of the Florida Keys and click on "become a fan". It's that easy.
United Way participated in the Red Cross sponsored Islamorada Street Fair Hurricane February 27th with a booth. There were activities for the whole family right around the Hurricane Memorial at MM81.5. Historic bike tours as well as walking tours highlighted Red Cross homes in the area, with food vendors and entertainment, art and displays commemorating the 1935 Storm of the Century.