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All photos in this post are from Eric Hegwer Photography, http://www.erichegwer.com Many thanks to Eric for his work at the Spirit of Caring Awards and his permission for reuse of the photos! Texas Representative Mark Strama Emily Moreland of Moreland Properties, and Don Kendrick and Kathy Bolner of Wells Fargo All of the award winners and speakers From left to right: Event Co-Chair Russell Bridges, President’s Award Winner Dick Moeller, Mark Finger from National Instruments (winner of the 2008 Spirit of Caring Award), David Balch, Event Co-Chair Amy Wong Mok, Campaign Cabinet Co-Chair Bill Wilson, Board Chair Ann Smalling, Community Catalyst Award recipient Obed Franco, Campaign Cabinet Co-Chair Tom Snead, Armando Rayo, and 2008 Volunteer of the Year, Trisa Thompson. State Farm Insurance Employees Trisa Thompson, winner of the 2008 Volunteer of the Year Award, also celebrated her birthday that evening.

Friends of United Way Capital Area & Hands On Central Texas, As many of you know, we started working on the Hispanic/Latino Community Engagement Initiative last year. We’ve taken some great first steps in learning from the Hispanic/Latino community and are in the process of gathering information from this community to publish our study and engagement tool, Making the Connection: An Examination of Volunteering & Community Engagement in the Greater Austin Hispanic/Latino Community. With that said, we have been working with Council Member Mike Martinez’s office to support a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative. On Thursday, May 8th, Council Member Mike Martinez is leading the efforts by sponsoring an Austin City Council Resolution (Item#50) to initiate a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative and directing the City Manager to incorporate into the Fiscal Year 08-09 Budget specific line items to support this effort. We ask that you help us advocate in the following ways… Attend the Press Conference, tomorrow Thursday, May 8th – At approximately 9:30am, Council Member Martinez will be hosting a press conference at City Hall to formally announce this new community initiative. We need your attendance and participation at the press event. Attend the Austin City Council meeting at 10am (following the press conference) – At approximately 10am on Thursday, May 8th (also at City Hall), the Austin City Council will address Item#50 during their consent agenda deliberations. We need your action and attendance to encourage the Austin City Council to vote in favor of Item#50. Spread the […]

Wow! I just gotta say, “Volunteers are Awesome!” Y’know we’ve been doing this event for over 10 years now and it gets better every year! First of all, we’ve had corporate volunteers thinking “outside the office”, they did all kinds of community projects and I heard people are signing up to do more ongoing projects. Way cool! A big thank you to Freescale Semiconductor for supporting this Day of Caring and big bear hugs to Jignasha Patel and Tom Spencer for inspiring us to “be the change we wish to see in our world.” And now for your viewing pleasure, the Day of Caring slideshow….. But wait, there’s more! Check out Freescale working the MLK Peace Bench Project! And the NI “Eye of the Tiger” Video! MandoDirector, Hands On Central Texas

During United Way’s Days of Caring on April 25, 2008 a team of Freescale employees came together to express their inspirations and creativity and to make a meaningful difference in the community. They participated in Hands On Central Texas’ MLK Peace Bench Project. Throughout the day they reflected on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s teachings of social justice by transforming wooden benches to a pieces of art! They choose MLK quotes for imprint on the benches, painted messages of peace and inspiring words. A total of fifteen “Peace Benches” were built on Friday. Hands On Central Texas through its service days will build 100 benches to foster community service and action in East Austin. The benches will be distributed to recreation centers, community/neighborhood centers and nonprofit organizations to promote social interaction and build a stronger sense of community. Thank you Freescale employees for your enthusiasm and passion! The designs you created are awesome. You are truly an amazing bunch! Thanks to Jill for sending us the link to all the photos! Please tell us about your volunteer experiences. Post a comment! Diana SantosCorporate and Volunteer Relations, Director

Check out this awesome video of the work the NI Marketing team did at our Success By 6 Child Care Facility. A big thank you to Yvette E. Ruiz for sharing this video with us. If you were there, don’t hesitate to comment on the project and your own experience at the Day of Caring. If you have pictures of your own from the day you’d like us to add to our blog, please send them to web@unitedwayaustin.org. Enjoy the video!

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Hi all. We just heard that our MLK Day of Service video was selected to be aired on KLRU PBS Austin’s DOCUBLOGGERS show! Yeah, we’re excited! Check it and tune in! Tune in on Thurday, April 24, 2008 at 7:30pm or visit the DOCUBLOGGERS website to view the video! MandoDirector, Hands On Central Texas