UCM Community Connections - Fall 2015

United Community Ministries

Community Connections

At the Heart of Community

MISSION UCMAGENCY.ORG Fall 2015

UCM mobilizes Be “Part of the Heart” with UCM this Fall
the power of
community to Fall is here… so it’s time for our annual campaign to help families who are on the brink of
equip, educate, homelessness. Now called our Heart To Heart Campaign, this is UCM’s largest annual
and empower community fundraiser. Last year thanks to your help, we raised $90,000 for families in

people to crisis and we’re counting on your help to reach our $100,000 goal.
measurably
improve their lives It may seem surprising, but many families right here in our Mount
Vernon community are at risk of losing the place they live, of actually
VISION becoming homeless. No family should have to experience the fear
of losing their home without a caring place to turn for help. For
No member many, that place is UCM. Every $400 raised can help one family
of the UCM with rental or utilities assistance.
community will
ever be hungry, Your generosity helps local families in crisis, families of Without UCM to help,
homeless, helpless families like Rita’s face life
or hopeless. hard-working people like Rita:

BOARD OF A divorced working mother of two daughters, Rita came to in a homeless shelter or
DIRECTORS
UCM last year when she received an eviction notice after living in their cars. Help
Gigi Hyland,
Chair losing her main job as a home caregiver. Her ex-husband them with a gift to our

Charles O’Connor had cut off child support. She was desperate, afraid of Heart To Heart
Vice Chair
losing her girls and their apartment. She was especially Campaign by Nov. 15.
Joseph Conti
Treasurer worried about Julia, her nine-year-old, who was doing

Janet Heddesheimer poorly in school. UCM helped her with rent, food, store vouchers, and counseling. “For
Secretary
many people like Rita, their income or savings are just not enough to cover unexpected,
Abigail Arms
David Barbour sudden necessary expenses,” says her UCM counselor.
Diane Brooks
Suzy Coffey We rely on your generosity to meet the needs of these families. We have many ways to
Claudia Creo help this Fall, including neighborhood and school walks and fun social events — or make
Kenneth Disselkoen a campaign gift in any amount online or via check. Waynewood Elementary’s annual
Bruce Engelmann, CPA walk and cereal drive is set for Oct. 27, with a goal to beat the $6,500 raised last year.
Moira Flanders We especially appreciate Good Shepherd Catholic Church for a matching gift of $16,000.
Marcelo Giugale
Douglas Kennett Tickets are going fast!
Andrew Reinsdorf
James Seeley Capitol Steps Benefit for UCM
Leah Tenorio
Diane Tollefson Hosted by The Friends of UCM

Nichelle A. Mitchem Sunday, Nov. 8 - 5pm (doors open 4pm)
Executive Director
US Patent & Trademark Office, Old Town Alexandria
Poverty is no laughing matter, but the Capitol Steps and their political satire have been helping
UCM provide a helping hand to people in need for decades. Join us for this popular benefit evening.
Tickets are $80 per person at ucmagency.org via credit card, or download the order form to mail
your check. Event sponsorships available. Questions? Email Nadine at [email protected].

Thank you to all our sponsors, including Diamond Sponsors

Elaine Kolish & David Fitzerald

PAGE 2 Thank you, Weichert Realtors Old Town

This summer Weichert Realtors Alexandria/
Old Town donated $2,500 to UCM. “As an
office, we chose to donate our prize money
from a Weichert sales incentive program to
this worthwhile cause,” said Mark Acker-
mann, manager. “We’re honored to have
the opportunity to contribute to an
organization that continues to make such a
powerful impact in our community and to help make a difference for people in need.”

Ackermann is pictured presenting the check to UCM Executive Director Nichelle Mitchem, who said:
“We are grateful for this generous gift that means help and hope to local families. Your investment
promotes opportunity and social mobility, for a vibrant and inclusive community and economy.”

Thank you to Helping Mount Vernon Kids Grow & Thrive!
everyone who
donated backpacks, The after-school enrichment activities at the community center help my family and my
supplies, and funds neighbors to raise smarter and healthier kids,” says a mother of three. “We are so grateful
this summer to outfit for UCM’s help.”
850+ students. Your
generosity means Our Mount Vernon Kids campaign is designed to increase awareness for the great need
they can have the of children like hers and to raise funds for these important programs:
same chances for
success as their Healthy Families Fairfax: Guiding and supporting new parents
more fortunate
classmates. UCM Early Learning Center: Early care and learning, and kindergarten readiness

We appreciate all our Forward Steps: Teaching leadership skills for a diverse world
Back to School
Computer Learning Center Partnership: Ensuring computer access and digital
volunteers, including literacy.
our awesome teens!
Every child deserves access to opportunities to succeed. We have many ways you can
help ensure the continued success of our children, including organizing book or healthy
snack collection drives and volunteering in our after-school
programs. Your financial support Is especially appreciated
to provide enrichments activities during out-of-school time.
By improving opportunities for our children, you help
ensure a brighter future for our community.

This summer, 8-year-old Nicholas donated $61.25 he col-
lected in lieu of gifts at his birthday party. “I want to help
kids who are not as lucky as my family,” he told us. The
Wessynton neighborhood collected and donated a carload of healthy snacks for
the children at our Creekside Community Center. Pictured is coordinator Diane Brooks
(right) with Susan Lightsey.

Thanks to generous volunteers and community partners like them, this summer more than
82 youth benefited from the structured learning environment at UCM’s two community
centers. They continued to participate in our Forward Steps program for leadership
skills, special field trips, and other enrichment activities to keep their young minds active.

A generous gift from the Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club covered costs for the youth to go on
summer field trips, including Reston Zoo, Marine Corps Museum, and Frying Pan Park.
The First AME Church of Alexandria sponsored trips including Kings Dominion and
professional sports games. Alice’s Kids hosted the Future Young Men Club for a game
of golf at Mount Vernon Country Club.

Thank you to all our generous donors and a special thanks to the members of our Mount
Vernon Kids Committee for their leadership and dedication this year: Diane Brooks,
Joanna Crane, Claudia Creo, Laurel Cunnane, Sandra Dalal, Debbie Nixon, Lindsey
Schourek, and Jim Seeley. To learn more or to make a gift for kids, visit ucmagency.org.

UCM COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

UCM FALL 2015 PAGE 3

Bring Joy this Holiday Season!

Thhe 2015 holiday season organization, please email to use for your group’s holiday collection drive or
will be here soon!. Once susan.johnson@ucmagency. giving tree. You can also shop our UCM Books
again, we anticipate serving org. We’re happy to provide & Toys Wish List at amazon.com. Check out our
hundreds of families with a flyer to customize, donation Holiday Gift Room webpage via ucmagency.org
special holiday food for bins, and ornament gift tags for all the details and flyer.
Thanksgiving and December
-- as well as unwrapped gifts Unwrapped gifts for children are due
for children ages infant to 14. at UCM no later than Dec. 11
Help us make the season
special for families who are Thanksgiving Food donations are due
struggling. at UCM no later than Nov. 19.

If you'd like to organize a December Holiday Food due Dec. 11.
holiday drive or giving tree
with your group, school, or

Mitchell CEO Initiative Gift for Kids Our Early Learning
Center students
Former UCM Board Member Ret. Col. Jarrell Mitchell visited UCM in June to see the
impact of his family’s $50,000 gift that established The Patricia R. Mitchell Children’s created paper airplanes
Enrichment Opportunities (CEO) Initiative. This funding enhances our children’s to thank Col. Mitchell, in
programs, in honor of Mrs. Mitchell’s passion for helping children thrive.
honor of his service
He received a warm welcome from UCM staff, volunteers, and program participants in the US Air Force.
at Healthy Families Fairfax, UCM Early Learning Center, and our community centers.
Board members and major donors thanked Col. Mitchell at a private reception that
evening. “My family is happy to help UCM bring opportunity, hope, and a brighter
future to children and youth in the Mount Vernon community,” he said. “My late wife
and I had the opportunity to travel the world with my career. These opportunities pro-
vided by UCM open up the world to youth, so they can reach new heights for life-long
learning.” Thank you, Col. Mitchell!

Note from Nichelle Your support
changes lives!
UCM walks with our neighbors in need and mobilizes community partners to provide
comprehensive programs that offer vulnerable children, youth, and families hope and
help to improve the quality of their lives. Since our inception almost 50 years ago,
UCM has embraced these principles: compassion, community, and collaboration.

What does your support mean for a struggling family? It means a child starts school UCM FY15
ready to learn and succeed. It means a single mother has enough food to feed her Annual Report
children when her job hours are cut unexpectedly. It means a teenager learns about
technology and becomes an expert on the computer. It means a group of neighbors available as
comes together to plan how they can improve their diverse community. pdf download at

Your support ensures that people have UCM as a caring place to turn to during their
hour of need Together, we can continue to lift children and families out of poverty.
Collectively, we can continue to work to ensure that every child in the Mount Vernon
community has food to eat, a bed to sleep in, and goes to school ready to learn.

Together, we are changing lives and lifting up hearts. Thank you for supporting our ucmagency.org
life-changing work. You truly make a difference.

UCMAGENCY.ORG

UCM FALL 2015 PAGE 4

Financial Action Plans Create Hope

In collaboration with nonprofit Our Daily Bread (ODB), UCM hosts Free Financial
Counseling Clinics one evening each month. ODB recruits and trains the volunteer
financial counselors; many are certified financial planners. Each client receives 45
minutes of confidential financial counseling, including a free credit report analysis.
The end result is the creation of a personal Financial Action Plan.

“Many of the participants do not understand that knowing their financial status and credit score affects so many

aspects of life,” says Paula Paige, UCM Basic Needs Counselor, who coordinates the UCM client appointments.
“Whether it's a job or rent application or purchasing a car, good credit is essential. I have seen our clients making
changes and taking steps forward, because of these clinics. Some have returned to school or purchased homes
because of their new knowledge and restored hope.”

Our clients appreciate the one-on-one sessions. “The counselors break everything down so that you understand,”
said a single mom at the Sept. 9 session. “It really helped to get my credit report and his analysis to explain it to me.
Thank you so much.” Session are free but appointments are needed. Email [email protected].

Job Readiness & Empowerment

When Joseph* came to the excellent I am so grateful for her support.”
UCM Work Center, he was employee.
struggling with high barriers to Our counselors use the latest
employment. A divorced father Joseph soon
of a young son and newly landed a job in techniques and systems to turn
released ex-offender, he was Lorton as a
living at the Kennedy Shelter. landscaping job seekers like Joseph into “The attitude
His counselor there referred helper. Even employees. “It’s not just about of my job
him to UCM for job advice. better: he was getting a job anymore,” says
promoted to Cristina Schoendorf, UCM coach, and her
“I had applied to 15+ jobs, but assistant team Director for Literacy and Work. actions of not
no one was responding back. leader, after only 60 days on “It’s about getting the right job,
My UCM job coach helped me the job! “My counselor shared then continually improving giving up on
build confidence in my past many good leads, and I skills, and always being ready me, made a
work experience,” he says. followed up on them,” he says. for that next, better job.” real difference
His UCM counselor helped to me. She
him develop a disclosure “She pushed me, but in a good
statement and language to use way that made me strive for the made me
about the new changes in his next level and opportunity.
life which would make him an strive for the
Joseph is working hard to con- next level and

tinue toward the next promotion opportunity.”

and keeps in touch with his

counselor, stopping by UCM

occasionally to talk about his job * not his
and plan his next steps. real name

Thank you, Bank of America UCM
Early Learning Center
The Bank of America
Charitable Foundation has ucmearlylearning.org
awarded UCM a $15,000
grant for "Building Skills and Ages 6 weeks—5 years
Employment Opportunities”
to assist job seekers who are Educating children for more than 25 years
facing challenges entering or Open 7am –6pm, year-round
reentering the labor force. “Our Work Center is the only Compassionate and credentialed staff
employment center in our area that provides services Located between Fort Belvoir & the Beltway
specifically for high-barrier workers, including one-on-one
counseling,” says Cristina Schoendorf, UCM Director of 2709 Popkins Lane, Alexandria VA 22306
Work and Literacy. “We are grateful for the bank’s generous 703.765.0909
support that is helping hundreds of job seekers move toward
financial stability to improve their families’ well-being.”

UCM FALL 2015 PAGE 5

A Community of Support at Progreso Center

Attorney Joyce Williams, one of more than 27 volunteers, makes our Progreso
Center for Literacy and Citizenship a caring place for immigrants. She is an
attorney at an international trade law institute in DC and is happy to volunteer
at UCM two evenings each week to provide assistance to their questions about
immigration and citizenship.

Some people request guidance about which immigration form to use or a review

of their application paperwork. Complex questions involve the impact of a

criminal charge, detention at the border, and immigration status. Clients speak

many languages, including Spanish, French, Arabic, and Hindi. “I enjoy volunteering

“My inspiration to volunteer comes from two experiences in my life,” says Joyce. because it gives me
“First is my personal experience with the process as an immigrant.” A native of the opportunity to be

part of a generation

Ghana, West Africa, Joyce immigrated to the US in 2003 through the Diversity working to help people
Visa Program. She earned a B.A. in Economics from Campbell University in achieve a better quality
North Carolina and a Law degree from Arizona Summit Law School. of life. I get to interact
with diverse people and

“The second experience is the lessons I learned from my immigration law course,” listen to their stories.
People take solace in

Joyce continues. “This dual perspective provides me a unique understanding of being able to talk to

the challenges of immigrants in our country and our government’s interest in someone about their
providing both humane and sound solutions to immigration problems. problem. Being the

“The most common aspirations I hear someone they talk to
are ‘I just want a better life for myself gives me great joy.”

- Joyce Williams

and my family,’ and ‘I want my family

to be here with me,’” she says. “Parents want

their children to have opportunities they couldn't have in their

native countries.”

“Accurate information and assistance is crucial so immigrants
can access the appropriate benefits for themselves,” Joyce continues. “I thank our UCM supporters and
invite others to ‘let their greatness blossom’ (as Nelson Mandela once said), by volunteering or making a
donation to further our impact to help immigrant neighbors create better futures for themselves.” Thank
you for your service and dedication, Joyce!

’Tis the Season: Workplace Giving

Giving to UCM through your workplace giving campaign is an
easy way to “Be Part of the Heart” to help struggling families
and children to grow and thrive. The funds may be able to be
deducted automatically from your paycheck.

Want to make your gift go even further? Many employers
have gift programs that match employee charitable
contributions dollar for dollar as well as “Dollars For Doers”
programs where your volunteer time can translate to a financial
gift to UCM. Talk with your human resources office about the
charitable gift programs that your company may sponsor.

CFC #37839 UW #8199

UCMAGENCY.ORG

At the Heart of Community

ucmagency.org [email protected] CFC #37839 UW #8199

Virginia Relay 711 Editor: Diane Hill
Join our e-news list at ucmagency.org

Volunteer with UCM

Volunteers are at the heart of the
work we do every day. We have
many opportunities for individuals
and groups to donate your time and
talent From mentoring a child, to
stocking the Food Pantry, to serving
on an event team you make a
critical impact! Click on
“Support Us” at our website.

Join us at the Heart of Community!

Save These Dates!

Boy Scouts of America’s

Scouting For Food - Saturday, Nov. 14

Join in to stock the UCM Food Pantry for the winter months!
Fill bags with non-perishable food items and place by your front
door that morning. The Scouts will pick up and deliver your donations
to UCM, where more volunteers will sort and organize them!

UCM’s Spring Gala:

Hosted by The Friends of UCM

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Join in with hundreds of caring community members to celebrate and raise funds to
help families grow and thrive, with an elegant evening at the Madison Building Atrium,
US Patent and Trademark Office. The evening includes cocktails, gourmet dinner,
raffle drawing, live and silent auctions, and dancing with a live band. Sponsorship
opportunities are available. Email [email protected] for info.

Don’t miss out on next year’s fun!

Your generosity helps community members in need build brighter futures. Thank you!