April 8, 2013Heather Harney, State Street Corporation
Volunteering has impacted me in surprising ways, and I didn’t
know what I didn’t know until I decided to get out into the
community five years ago.
Volunteering taught me that my perception of “community” was very
limited. Prior to my volunteering experience, community
meant the area where I lived: the soccer moms with soccer kids,
the restaurants, movie theaters and shopping malls. Oh, how
much I was missing!
Now, I hear the word community and think of all the areas of
need, of all the people who could use my support. I think
of the school where the majority of children will eat their best
meal of the day, and children who won’t be playing soccer after
school at a neat and tidy park. But I also think of the
determined and excited people who are working to change that.
March 4, 2013Tiffany Cheung DavisZurich North America
“Are you going to have a kids’ snack too?” This very simple
question, asked by one of the most forthright, genuine and flat
out adorable 4-year olds residing at the St. John’s Shelter for
Women and Children, sticks in my head constantly. I ask myself,
“When was the last I time I heard anything so gracious?”
With the help of United Way California Capital Region, the
department I work with at Zurich North America started a drive
for St. John’s late last year. Since many of my co-workers were
not able to give much of their time “off the clock,” we held
various lunch dates. During each date, we spent our lunch time
organizing the huge amount of donations into categories, such as
women’s career clothes, children’s toys, canned goods, household
items and baby supplies.
February 15, 2013Angela Criser, 3fold Communications
As a young professional, I hear a lot of talk about the
importance of maintaining a work-life balance. Every time I hear
this, though, I always feel like an essential third element is
missing for a truly balanced life: community. Because as
important as networking and continued education are to developing
our careers, and quality time spent with friends and family is to
building our personal lives, volunteering and philanthropic
leadership are vital for shaping the world in which we both work
and live.
This is why I was drawn to the United Way’s
Emerging Leaders program. Our community has so many wonderful
industry-focused organizations and young professional groups
dedicated to career advancement and education, but finding one
that concentrates on developing the philanthropic capabilities of
the next generation of leaders in our community is unique.
February 7, 2013Jeffrey Mrizek, Franchise Tax Board
On Thursday, January 31, the United Way Emerging Leaders held
their 2nd annual Cocktails & Ballet event. Hopefully, you had
the pleasure of “putting on the Ritz” with me at this “Flappers
& Fellas” 20s-themed event, celebrating the United Way
California Capitol Region’s 90th Birthday.
As the United Way staff liaison for Emerging Leaders, I am so
excited for 2013. Not only is 2013 the 90th anniversary of United
Way California Capital Region, it is also full of possibility for
Emerging Leaders. The Emerging Leaders Leadership Council,
comprised of Emerging Leaders volunteers, has been busy planning
another year of fabulous events for Emerging Leaders to get
connected to our community.
November 14, 2012Chris Gold, CSECC Campaign Liaison
My name is Chris Gold, Correctional Lieutenant with the
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
(CDCR). This year I am the Liaison with the California State
Employee Charitable Campaign (CSECC) and CDCR.
Although my assignment to this campaign has just recently
started, I have already met some of the most incredible nonprofit
organizations around helping give back to our communities in so
many different ways.
Also a special thanks to the CSECC/United Way staff for the job
they do and the support they have provided.
As a State Employee you are already a hero for the thankless job
you do, yet through this CSECC campaign together we can all be
hero’s by donating our time, talent, or treasure, to a nonprofit
organization today.
Yes, it’s true. It wasn’t that hard to convince me to participate
a second time because of the amount of fun I had in last year’s
inaugural event. Some may even say it was too easy, considering
the blisters and bruises that followed. True, walking a mile in
high heels and this year on a more visible course with a larger
number of spectators isn’t my typical way to spend a Saturday.
But after walking with an incredible group of guys last year who
were all there to support WEAVE, how could I resist?
In my opinion, WEAVE is a extremely worthy cause. The
organization provides crisis intervention services to women, men
and children in Sacramento County who have experienced domestic
violence or have been sexually assaulted. It is WEAVE’s mission
to bring an end to domestic violence and sexual assault in
partnership with our community. I’ve seen first hand the efforts
of WEAVE and the dedicated staff who work incredibly hard to make
a difference.
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