BC/Kzoo
Spotlight on Income
Helping more families in our regional community achieve financial stability is a priority for United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region. During the first quarter of 2018, you’ll learn why as we shine a spotlight on our Income focus area and our community goal of transitioning 8,500 households to financial stability by 2025.…
Read More2017: A Year of Impact
The end of one year and dawn of another is a natural time of reflection and gratitude. At United Way BCKR, we have much to be grateful for. Our work is a collective effort that includes dynamic corporate and community partners, engaged volunteers and generous donors. That means our successes belong to you as well…
Read MoreUnited When Disaster Strikes
When a 2016 mass shooting in Kalamazoo left six people dead and two seriously wounded, United Way joined with community foundations in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek to raise money to aid victims and families. That’s what United Way does when tragedy and disaster strike. While UWBCKR focuses on local needs, United Way Worldwide stepped up…
Read MoreGwen's Story
Gwen’s Story: A Century of Impact Volunteer Profile Gwen Tulk has been changing lives and inspiring others for nearly all of her 100 years. She spent many of them as a teacher and elementary school librarian, and her impact on others didn’t stop with her retirement in 1982. She instead turned her attention to volunteering,…
Read MoreZoetis Employee Wins 2017 Sweepstakes
This year, the holiday gift-giving season took on a whole new level of excitement for Cheryl Hawkes. Hawkes, a Kalamazoo resident who works as an administrative specialist for animal health company Zoetis, won this year’s United Way Sweepstakes. Hawkes was chosen at random from thousands of qualified donors in this year’s United Way campaign to…
Read MoreOutfitting Kids with Shoes and Smiles
[su_label type=”info”]AGENCY SPOTLIGHT: FIRST DAY SHOE FUND[/su_label] Leatrice Fullerton joined First Day Shoe Fund earlier this year as a program committee member, and is one of dozens of volunteers who keep thousands of children – a record 4,684 this year alone – outfitted in new shoes at the beginning of each school year. She holds…
Read MoreCarol's Story
‘We Don’t Have to be Afraid of Each Other.’ Volunteer Profile Carol Hindbaugh can be found every Monday and Friday in the kitchen at Ministry With Community, prepping and serving lunch to members and enjoying every minute of it. She retired three years ago after a 37-year career as a behavioral health nurse at Borgess…
Read MoreMaking Every Week 'Impact Week'
[su_label type=”info”]IMPACT WEEK[/su_label] President & CEO Chris Sargent reflects on our coverage of Impact Week and how United Way is making a difference in our region. I like numbers. Not enough to be a mathematician or an accountant, perhaps. But I like what numbers can tell us. For instance, did you know there are 100…
Read MoreMelrose's Story
Impact Week: Ensuring a Safety Net
[su_label type=”info”]IMPACT WEEK[/su_label] United Way’s regional vision is ambitious: a vibrant community where all people realize their full potential. Getting there can be an even greater challenge for those facing tough times—a job loss, a sudden illness, a broken car, an unexpected home repair. Editor’s note: We’re celebrating Impact Week—highlighting how support for United Way…
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