70 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty

70 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty — Sphere News, Opinion and Analysis.  Click on this link for the complete article.

More evidence of the immediate need for finding ways to keep our children in school and on track for a meaningful graduation from high school.

The recent Graduation Pathwya Summit was part of United Way’s initiation on helping Children and Youth Achieve Their Potential through education.

One of the goals we are encouraging is “90 by 19″  — ninety percent graduation rates in Tampa Bay by 2019.

Want to learn more about the Graduation Pathway initiative contact Betty Tribble at btribble@uwtb.org .

 

NOVEMBER’S MESSAGE FROM DIANA BAKER, PRESIDENT/CEO

With the fantastic change of weather last month came some of our crowning achievements. Our community impact goal to help children and youth achieve their potential was brought to the forefront during the Graduation Pathway Summit we hosted along with the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County Schools. Nearly 400 interested and vested business and civic leaders attended, determined to place a stake in the ground to continue improving the graduation rate in Hillsborough County Schools.

 Not graduating from high school is bad for the child and bad for the community. Every dropout earns $300,000 less over his or her lifetime than a high school graduate. They are incarcerated more and their medical costs are higher.

At the Summit, businesses vowed to get involved using a well-known United Way vehicle – a pledge form – through which they made commitments individually or committed their companies to help in the five strategic areas:

1. Mentoring/Tutoring
2. Service Learning
3. Parent Involvement
4. Out-of-School Time
5. School and Work Readiness

The shared goal is to increase the graduation rate to 90 percent by 2019. With this much community interest, I’m confident we’ll get the job done.

 If you’re interested in making a difference in this vital community effort, click here  and get involved.

DO GOOD. MOVE UP. MEET OTHERS– JOIN THE LIVE UNITED NETWORK.

When you join the LIVE UNITED Network, you’re joining a group of aspiring leaders looking for more than professional development—they’re looking for personal development. LIVE UNITED Network identifies the next generation of community leaders, introduces them to influential philanthropists in the Tampa Bay area and prepares them for their role in serving our community. As a member, you support vital community impact programs through a minimum donation of $1,000 to United Way of Tampa Bay. As a LIVE UNITED Network member, you’ll rub elbows with high-level executives in the Tampa Bay area while making a positive impact in the community through the group’s volunteer, social, and networking projects and events.

And, through a unique opportunity, the McKnight Challenge Grant* turns your $1,000-plus gift into $2,000 or more. You’re doubling your gift, but more importantly, doubling the impact to your community.

To take advantage of this challenge grant opportunity or for additional information or questions about LIVE UNITED Network, contact Kimberly Hall, LIVE UNITED Network Liaison, at (813) 274-0979 or khall@uwtb.org.

* The McKnight Challenge Grant will match new and increased leadership gifts to a $23,000 cap. The matching money is earmarked for homeless and disabled programming. The McKnight Challenge Grant is administered through the Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund. The challenge grant ends December 31, 2009.

DAVIN JOSEPH LIVES UNITED

Davin Joseph is big – six foot three inches, 313 pounds. That’s to be expected for an NFL lineman. 

 His heart is big, too. Davin helped start a program through United Way of Tampa Bay to provide Thanksgiving meals to families in need. In 2008 “Turkey Time with the O-Line” served 600 meals. He participates in programs to help pediatric patients. And Davin’s Dream Team provides home game tickets to charitable groups.

Davin was selected as the player spokesman for United Way of Tampa Bay to highlight the 35-year collaboration between the groups, and to promote the LIVE UNITED message. How does he feel about his role?

“I’ve been in Tampa Bay since 2006 and I’m searching for more ways to make an impact on the community,” he said. “Becoming the United Way of Tampa Bay’s player spokesman has motivated me to get more involved. It’s gotten me grounded and helped me learn where I can make a difference.”

Davin puts a child through his paces.

He helped out in a big way – the only way he knows how – at the recent Hometown Huddle. A collaboration between United Way and the NFL, Hometown Huddle encourages kids to play at least 60 minutes a day. It’s part of United Way’s 10-year goal to increase by one-third the number of youth who are healthy and avoid risky behavior.

Hometown Huddle was held at the West Tampa Boys & Girls Club in early October. More than 120 children took turns throwing, catching, running, tackling and having a ball with United Way of Tampa Bay volunteers and the Buccaneer players and cheerleaders who came to play. Davin tiptoed through the nets and trotted slowly around the obstacle course so the children could keep up. He cheered as the kids tackled the dummy and picked it up for the next enthusiastic tackle. He posed for pictures and signed autographs.

“I learn from everyone, receive knowledge from everyone, and I’ve learned how much of an impact one person can make,” he said. “Our country is going through a rough time right now and I want to help as many people as I can – kids, families, seniors. I bet our Thanksgiving dinner giveaway will double this year.”

He continued, “I want to be the spark that inspires people to give, to volunteer, to get involved.”

How does Davin Joseph LIVE UNITED?

“I LIVE UNITED to help those in need and inspire others to give back.”

A Tampa child goes for a long one.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION SUMMIT SLATED FOR OCT. 22

At 9:00 a.m., Thursday, October 22, 2009 at the Doubletree Hotel in Tampa, local business executives, educators, community impact organizations and government leaders will meet at Graduation Pathway. Participants will learn how to positively influence high school graduation rates in Hillsborough County.

Convened by the Children’s Board, the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County Public Schools and United Way of Tampa Bay, Graduation Pathway offers area business leaders critical information to keep teens focused and graduating from high school.

Graduation Pathway addresses the issue as a community-wide challenge, not just that of schools or parents, and is designed for CEOs, COOs, senior executives, entrepreneurs and human resource directors.

Dr. Bill R. Daggett, president of the International Center for Leadership in Education, is the keynote speaker. His presentation,  The New 3 R’s: Rigor, Relevance and Relationships focuses on the impact of high school graduation on the future Tampa Bay workforce.

Dr. Daggett has also collaborated with education groups in several countries, the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Governors’ Association, and other national organizations.  He is recognized worldwide for his proven ability to move education systems toward more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for students. He has assisted several states and hundreds of school districts, including Hillsborough, with their school improvement initiatives, many in response to No Child Left Behind and its demanding adequate yearly progress provisions.

Also presenting is MaryEllen Elia, superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools, the eighth largest school district in the United States with more than 189,000 students and almost 26,000 full-time employees. MaryEllen has been superintendent since July 2005 and draws on a deep reservoir of educational experience in her CEO responsibilities.

Dr. Daggett will facilitate a panel discussion on strategies proven to increase graduation rates.  The prominent panel participants are Joe Follman, Executive Director of Learn & Serve Florida; Gordon Gillette, CEO of TECO & People’s Gas; Judy Nee, Executive Director of the National Afterschool Association; Joe Radelet, VP of Mentoring for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America; and Chuck Saylors, President of the National PTA.

Breakout sessions on these strategies include Service Learning, Parent Involvement, Business Mentors, Out-of-School Time, and Ready for Work or School follow the panel. A complimentary luncheon provided by our sponsors follows with welcoming remarks by Mayor Pam Iorio, City of Tampa.

Graduation Pathway is free; attendees will receive lunch and program materials.  Interested individuals must register online.

Graduation Pathway is underwritten by State Farm Insurance, Humana and America’s Promise. Without their generous support, it would not be possible. The Tampa Bay Business Journal is the exclusive media sponsor.

A MESSAGE FROM DIANA BAKER, PRESIDENT/CEO

 October is a busy month. Our workplace campaigns are under way. A Graduation Summit will bring together business leaders and educators, and our on-going collaboration with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to promote youth fitness plays out during Hometown Huddle Oct. 6. Our largest volunteer activity of the year, Day of Caring, is Oct. 15.  

I’m encouraged by the promising early results of our workplace campaigns and hope the good news continues for the sake of our community. Our campaign coordinators pull out all the stops to run creative company campaigns, from kickoff breakfasts to pumpkin-decorating contests to dunk the executive opportunities. One of my favorites is the agency tours Mosaic offers its employees so they can see exactly where their United Way dollars go.

 Please spread the word about the free tax preparation available in January for low- to moderate-income working families and individuals. Instead of spending their hard-earned dollars to get early rebates, we encourage them to wait a few weeks longer and get their taxes done free. Our goal is to help them keep more of what they earn so they can use it to move toward financial stability and ensure a brighter future for their children.

 Thank you for your belief in our mission to improve lives and create lasting community change in Tampa Bay. Thank you for living united.