NCUW to promote "Giving 5"

NACOGDOCHES, TX – March 25, 2013 – The Nacogdoches County United Way is promoting the idea of “Giving 5,” a United Way Worldwide initiative.

The idea behind the video is simple: If you give $5, and then encourage five people you know to give $5, and then they encourage five people to give $5, the ripple effect of your message can be felt across the nation. Or, as the video puts it: “From Apache Junction (Arizona) to Zanesville (Ohio).”

While the official Nacogdoches “Live United” campaign is over, NCUW wants to remind our supporters that there is never an expiration date on donating or advocating.

“‘Giving 5’ is about more than donating – it’s about being an advocate in your community,” Gary Lee Ashcraft, president and CEO of NCUW, said. “People in Nacogdoches need assistance all year, and NCUW strives to continue meeting needs in the areas of health, education, financial stability and crisis intervention.”

To watch the “Give 5” video, visit NCUW’s website, www.unitedwaynac.com, or Facebook page, www.facebook.com/unitedwaynac. 

What Does it Mean to LIVE UNITED?

       What does it mean to LIVE UNITED?

 You may have seen NCUW's LIVE UNITED logo on banners, posters or T-shirts around town, but what does it really mean to Live United? 
Living United means making a commitment to making a difference in your community. Living United in Nacogdoches County is easy. In fact, many people already Live United and may not event realize it. When you give to those in need, whether its money, food, clothing or anything else, you are Living United. When you volunteer your time or your skills, you are Living United. When you use your voice to speak up for someone whose voice isn't being heard, or advocate for a cause that is important to you, you are Living United. 
As part of your plans for 2013, NCUW would like to encourage everyone to remember to Live United as often as they can, and together we can all make an impact.

"Flamingo Flocking"

Plastic flamingos to flock to Nacogdoches, SFA

Photo from http://www2.tbo.com.

NACOGDOCHES, TX – Feb. 6, 2013 –

Throughout the next several weeks the SFA Student United Way will be holding a “Flamingo Flocking” fundraiser.

The idea is simple, yet incredibly fun: for a donation of $10, a flock of plastic or paper flamingos will “migrate” to the “victim” of your choice’s lawn or residence hall door during the night, where they will “roost” for the whole day. They will then migrate to the next location the following night.

Flamingo Flocking is a fundraising tactic that is catching on with churches, organizations and non-profits across the country. The SFAUW philanthropy chair, Danielle Waite, is the one who brought the idea up to the organization.

“Danielle really stepped up to the plate on this one,” SFAUW president Raquel Madkins said. “Every officer was asked to come up with a unique and catchy fundraising event, and she did just that.”

While people might expect that only individuals with yards can become “victims” of flamingo flocking, SFAUW has added a bit of a twist to include on-campus residents and students who live in apartments.

“We are working on getting paper flamingos to hang on on-campus resident’s doors now,” Madkins said. “This event is for everyone! We want to make sure no one is left out of the fun.”

Madkins said she thinks the Nacogdoches and SFA communities will love this unique fundraiser.

“It is a way for Nacogdoches’ close-knit community to become even closer through a harmless prank. It is sure to cause a chain reaction of flocking.”

“We have already begun taking ‘victim’ orders. As of now, the event will go on throughout the months of February and March. If we continue to get orders we will extend the date as needed,” Madkins said.

The event is already receiving some buzz on the Nacogdoches County United Way Facebook page. To help promote this event, NCUW is raffling off a free “flamingo flocking” to anyone who likes the NCUW page (www.facebook.com/unitedwaynac) and then shares the photo of the flier on their timeline.

“We are excited about the flamingo flocking event, as well as the students themselves. SFAUW has become a recognized student organization, not only at SFA, but also by United Way Worldwide and United Ways across the country. These young leaders are making an impact in our community by working hard to help people in need, both young and old alike,” Gary Lee Ashcraft, NCUW president and CEO.

To order a flamingo flocking for someone, or if you have any questions, email flamingoflocknac@yahoo.com.

SFAUW became a student organization in 2011, and has grown to have a roster of over 40 active members. Members of SFAUW work with local United Way agencies and other non-profits, as well as other student organizations, to serve the Nacogdoches and SFA communities. The organization’s goals are to help members and other students grow as leaders and connect to the community and to build lasting relationships amongst members and with the United Way movement. 

For more information about SFAUW, follow them on Twitter, @SFAUnitedWay, or “Like” their Facebook page, SFA Student United Way.

For more information on how to give, advocate or volunteer with Nacogdoches County United Way, or how to receive help if you are in need, please visit www.unitedwaynac.com or call (936) 564-5869. 

Last day to turn in job request forms for SFA's BIG Event approaching!

SFA's Student Affairs Programs Office of Leadership and Service is once again partnering with the Nacogdoches community for one BIG day of service on March 23. During the event, aptly titled The BIG Event, several SFA students will go out into the community and help with things like raking, painting, cleaning and more in the Nacogdoches community. Anyone in the Nacogdoches area in need of a little assistance, regardless of income level, may apply for the BIG Event. Applications are due this FRIDAY, Feb. 1, and can be downloaded by clicking here. 

NCUW supports The BIG Event, and encourages all of our agencies, as well as our supporters, to apply. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this event, please encourage them to apply. 

For more information, please contact Jamie Bouldin at (936) 468-1088, or email sfabigevent@gmail.com.

2013 Board of Directors announced 

NCUW is back in action for the new year with its 2013 Board of Directors, 28 highly dedicated members of the Nacogdoches community. 

> Executive Team Leadership:

Chair: Jason Sobel, Regions Bank; Past Chair: John Thomasson, Pilgrim's Pride; Chair Elect: Chris Wigington, Wells Fargo Advisors; Secretary: Laurie Hurst, Nacogdoches Medical Center; Treasurer: Loretta Cammack, Nacogdoches County Clerk; Resource Development Chair: Betty Shin; Community Impact Chair: Paula Cook, Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital; Allocation Chair: Greg Sowell, Nacogdoches Police Department 

> Returning Board Members: 

George Barham, Barham Properties; Amanda Horne, Stephen F. Austin; Patrick Lanmon, Commercial Bank of Texas; Dr. Kathryn Lewis, Nacogdoches Medical Center; Ellen Moreau, Parker-Hannifin Corporation; Misty Roe, Rex Perry Autoplex; Patrick Sanders, Head Start; Rayanne Schmid, NISD; Michelle Smith, NEDCO; Vincent Smith, Brookshire Brothers; Stephanie Sobel; Mary Uresti, City of Nacogdoches; Scott Waller, Xerographix East Texas

> New Board Members: 

Bret Behnsch, Walmart; Ralph Ervin, Etech, Inc.; Clay Farell, Nacogdoches Medical Center; Fred Hayes, NISD; Raquel Madkins, SFA Student United Way; Robert Rasberry, BancorpSouth; Jennifer Sowell, Daily Sentinel

2012 Turkey Trot a BIG Success! 

The crew that put the 2012 Turkey Trot together!

Pilgrim’s Pride hosted its 3^rdAnnual Turkey Trot 5K  Thursday, Nov. 22. The turnout was the largest so far - 211 runners turned up for the race. The weather was beautiful, everyone had a great time and it was all for a great cause - the money raised will be donated to the Nacogdoches County United Way. 

John Thomasson, Area HR Director for Pilgrim's Pride and the 2012 NCUW Chairman, was pleased with this year's race.

"Pulling off a race like this is not a trivial event. It required an enormous amount of work, planning and sacrifices on everyone's part."

Thomasson also added that the race raised several thousand dollars for the 19 agencies the United Way partners with. 

For more information about NCUW, please visit our website, www.unitedwaynac.com, or call us at (936)564-5869.

3rd Annual Pilgrim's Pride Turkey Trot 5K

Pilgrim’s Pride will be hosting its 3^rd Annual Turkey Trot 5K to raise money for the Nacogdoches County United Way Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 22). The entire Nacogdoches community is invited to come out and start their “turkey day” off right with an invigorating 5K run/walk. Participants can work up an appetite before the parades, football and feasting begins, and all for a great cause.

The registration fee will be $30 the day of the race, and all proceeds from the race will benefit the United Way. In addition to recognition for the winners, the first 150 people who register will receive a t-shirt and prizes will also be awarded for the best Thanksgiving costume. All ages are welcome to come enjoy the fun and Live United!

The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Pecan Park Pavilion on Starr Avenue. Runners are asked to arrive between 7-8:15 a.m. to pick up their race packet and to register if they haven’t already done so. The race will end back at the Pecan Park Pavilion, and all prizes and awards will be presented at 10 a.m.

For those with Active.com accounts, the Turkey Trot listing can be found by searching the site for “3rd Annual Pilgrims Turkey Trot.”

Last year’s race attracted some 130 runners and walkers from around the state.

For more information, visit the NCUW website www.unitedwaynac.com or contact Laurie King of Pilgrim’s Pride at (936)558-6819 or laurie.king@pilgrims.com.