For nearly a decade, journalist Andrea Elliott immersed herself in the life of Dasani Coates and chronicled her family’s journey through hunger, violence, racism, addiction and homelessness in New York City.

Join us on March 5, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. for a powerful discussion on the use of immersive storytelling as a tool to fight systemic poverty, and leave empowered to make issues that face our community more visible to all.

Dust off your tuxes and your ball gowns. ELEVATE is going to prom!

Join us for a special prom edition of ELEVATE — United Way's signature event that raises critical funds for our neighbors in need and honors our community's young philanthropists, activists and volunteers.

It’s official. The 90s and 2000s are back.

From skinny brows to low rise jeans, nineties and noughties nostalgia is back with a vengeance. It’s not all dubious fashion trends though. The 90s and Y2K also gave us some of the finest hits in modern times.

This is your chance to break out your best renditions of Ja-Rule & Ashanti, DMX, Destiny’s Child, Pearl Jam, Celine Dion and Outkast by picking a song, grabbing a mic, and singing for ReadUP!

Join Women United and LINC for a panel on the evolving role of gender equity in the workplace.

This panel will focus on issues that young and seasoned professionals are facing in the workplace. You'll hear the perspectives of five women and how these issues have evolved over time, along with ways that women can support each other in the workforce.

Think you have what it takes to rappel down a 23-story building from high atop the city skyline while helping raise funds for United Way's Basic Needs work in our community?

We’re gearing up to host our fourth annual Over the Edge event, where around 80 brave philanthropists raise money to rappel down a 22-story building. All proceeds support United Way of Central Indiana's Basic Needs Fund. Stabilizing our neighbors in crisis by ensuring their access to healthy food, safe housing, quality healthcare and reliable transportation.

To get connected, contact Peter Hanscom at Peter.Hanscom@uwci.org.

It’s Time to Go Extreme.

On August 10, 2023, 40 brave philanthropists (over age 18) will tandem skydive from 13,000 feet up. Located at Frankfort Municipal Airport, just 30 minutes north of Indy, enjoy the view of Central Indiana as you head back to the drop zone at 120 mph.

Set aside June 23 to do something selfless. We’re going all out — to go all IN.

Join hundreds of volunteers partnering with United Way and local nonprofits across our seven-county region for an organized day of volunteering and community service.

Can you commit a few hours with coworkers, family or friends to give back to the organizations that work tirelessly to help meet the needs of our Central Indiana neighbors? If so, mark your calendar for Friday, June 23, 2023!

Join us at this year's Annual Celebration as we honor our dedicated players, celebrate our committed fans, and reward the champions who bring home the win on behalf of our community.

Come tailgate with us for game-day concessions, table tournaments, and an impactful message of purpose from Team United Way.

Let the games begin!

United Way of Central Indiana is proud to host Matthew Desmond, Pulitzer Prize winning author of the book "Poverty by America" as he documents how the wealthy harm the poor -- knowingly and unknowingly.

It's time to get our fitness on, all while raising money for United Way's Basic Needs Fund. Join us on April 15 at Fishers Cycle Bar as we Pedal for a Purpose!

United Way’s ELEVATE: Brunch & Boogie

Do a little dance, eat a little brunch, get down for disco!

Join us for a special 1970s boogie-oogie edition of ELEVATE -- United Way's signature event that raises critical funds and honors the service of our community's young philanthropists, activists and volunteers.

The disco ball is up and we're ready to boogie, brunch and boost support for our community. No more jive-talkin' -- nominate someone for an ELEVATE award and purchase your tickets today!

To get connected, contact Sarah Fuquay at Sarah.Fuquay@uwci.org.

Let’s get RE-United!

Join past and current Leadership United members on Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the United Way offices. Refreshments and light snacks will be served.

Connect and re-connect with fellow participants and hear from five passionate board leaders serving the community in the greater Indianapolis area about their purpose-driven board leadership.

We hope to see you there!

MEET THE PANELISTS:

Natalie Guzman, United Way Board Member

Richard Bray, Edna Martin Christian Center

Tony Bonacue, Firefly Children Family Alliance

Eric Ratner, Jewish Community Center

Esther Carter-Day, Damien Center

To get connected to Leadership United, please contact Julie Plake at Julie.Plake@uwci.org.

Board Opportunities with Leadership United

Greater responsibilities require increased commitments of time and energy.

A well-trained and effective board is essential to a nonprofit's success. Want to be apart of that?

Join Leadership United on Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to hear from community-based organizations talk about their missions, board opportunities and more.

We will meet on Zoom during the lunchtime hours and each organization will have dedicated time to share with participants about open opportunities.

The webinar will be a one-stop shop for participants to learn more about board leadership roles and advisory committees. This will be a fast-paced event where you can share information about your organization and a great opportunity to add new leaders to your board.

To get connected to Leadership United, please contact Julie Plake at Julie.Plake@uwci.org.

Join United Way's Policy Team for our first 2023 Public Policy Session Update

This legislative session, our policy team will host four updates via Zoom to review what is happening with bills related to our 2023 Public Policy Agenda and answer questions. The first of these updates will be on Tuesday, January 24 at 9:00 a.m.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

There will be three more session updates after this. They are tentatively set for March 3, April 3, and May 1. Given the volatility of this session, we will wait until we are closer to the dates to send out the registration in case the days/times need to change.

If you would like to keep up to date with our calls-to-action, click here to receive our advocacy alerts.

Jingle and Mingle with the Forever United Network!

Join fellow members of the Forever United Network for our annual holiday thank you celebration.

It's the most wonderful time of the year to enjoy light appetizers and refreshments while you mingle and meet others from: LINC, Emerging Leaders, Women United, Diversity Leadership Circle, and Always United!

Forever United Network Holiday Party

Liter House

Tuesday, December 13

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

To get connected to FUN or to reserve your spot for this event, please contact Katherine Kite at Katherine.Kite@uwci.org

Strategies to Optimize 2022 Taxes

Join us for Tocqueville First Wednesday on December 7. We will be meeting at United Way’s Office to learn about optimizing your 2022 taxes, and because tax talk goes down smoother with an open bar, this event will be held over happy hour from 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. You'll hear from Troy Farmer, FORVIS Regional Wealth Strategist, and other FORVIS professionals for an informative session on year-end tax planning, including charitable giving, as well as additional estate planning considerations and updates.

ABOUT TROY

As the Director of Transaction Services at FORVIS, Troy provides 25 years worth of wealth transfer consulting and planning services to individuals and families, focusing on building and preserving family legacies through a multigenerational objective. Troy is a magna cum laude graduate of Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, with a B.S. degree in accounting. He is also a magna cum laude graduate of Maurer School of Law at Indiana University, Bloomington, with a J.D. degree, where he served as Executive Notes & Comments Editor of Indiana Law Journal.

To get connected to this event or learn more about Tocqueville Society, contact Claire Smillie at Claire.Smillie@uwci.org

WU Speakers Series: How to Stand Out in a Crowd with Executive Presence

How do you stand out in a crowd and get others to notice you?

Here's a valuable hint: Executive Presence is not simply a function of your education, expertise or experience.

What is Executive Presence? In its simplest terms, executive presence is about your ability to inspire confidence — inspiring confidence in your subordinates that you’re the leader they want to follow, inspiring confidence among peers that you’re capable and reliable and, most importantly, inspiring confidence among senior leaders that you have the potential for great achievements.

Join Women United on Nov. 16 at 3:00 p.m. for an interactive workshop on Executive Presence, presented by Charlotte Westerhouse-Renfrow.

Charlotte is currently the Faculty Chair of the Undergraduate Program at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University-Indianapolis and Clinical Assistant Professor of Management and Business Law.

We can't wait to see you there!

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Women United unites like-minded leaders and philanthropists who investment, leadership, and dedication further advance its two signature causes: Early Childhood Education and Gender Equity.

If you have any questions about Women United or this event, please contact Katherine Kite at Katherine.Kite@uwci.org.

How to get the most out of your philanthropic time and dollars

Want to make your giving more strategic and purposeful? Have an idea of the impact you’d like to make but unclear on how to get there? As we enter into a season of giving, join us on Tuesday, November 15 for the Always United Webinar: Giving Smart!

This collaborative webinar is sponsored by The Senior Academy.

We will discuss how to share your time and dollars with the causes and organizations that you are passionate about. The session will address several ways to make dollar contributions that have tax benefits for the donor, as well as various ways of giving dollars or appreciated assets so that both the donor and the organization benefit.

We hope to see you there, virtually!

MEET THE SPEAKERS:

Eugene Temple, Professor of Philanthropic Studies Founding Dean Emeritus

Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy President Emeritus, Indiana University Foundation

Mike Caldwell, Manager of Estate Gift Planning

United Way of Central Indiana

To get connected, contact Sarah Fuquay at Sarah.Fuquay@uwci.org.

United Way of Central Indiana is hosting a karaoke competition this fall to benefit its ReadUP childhood literacy program.

The top 12 fundraisers will automatically qualify for the finale, and the remaining performers will be selected at random. Individual performers commit to raising at least $250, and groups commit to raising $500.

United Way’s ReadUP program sends volunteers into elementary schools across seven counties to read with third graders weekly during the school year. For 15 years, the program has helped students get on track with grade-level literacy.

This will be United Way’s second Care-oke competition. The first was held in October 2021, when nearly two dozen vocalists performed for a crowd of 200 at Old National Centre. The event raised nearly $22,000 to go towards ReadUP.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Kayla Halterman at Kayla.Halterman@uwci.org.

What is Coming to Indy 2023 and Beyond?

Join us on Nov. 2 at Ruth's Chris downtown to hear from a panel of executives from the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Sports Corp, and the Indy Chamber about all the exciting and fun opportunities coming to Indianapolis next year and beyond.

The NBA and the Indiana Pacers announced that the NBA All-Star Weekend, which was originally scheduled for 2021, will now be held in 2024. Public health conditions prevented the Pacers, the NBA All-Star Host Committee and the NBA from appropriately planning and executing fan-focused All-Star activities in Indianapolis that were envisioned. Learn more about the journey on how we got this spectacle in Indianapolis.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Speakers:

• Danny Lopez; Vice President for External Relations and Corporate Communications- Pacers

• Sarah Myer; Chief Marketing Officer for Indiana Sports Corp

• Portia Bailey-Bernard, J.D.; Senior Vice President, Indianapolis Economic Development at Indy Chamber for Indy Chamber

To get connected, contact Claire Smillie at Claire.Smille@uwci.org.

Trunk or Treat with United Way LINC this Halloween

No tricks, just treats !

LINC is partnering with Fathers and Families for a fun-filled family and community night on Thursday, October 27th, and we need your help! Sign up to volunteer at this year's Trunk or Treat by providing a "trunk" and distributing treats out to children and families. We will also need help with the other activities like face painting, games and cooking food!

Celebrate this "spooktacular" night with halloween-themed games, prizes, and more.

Costumes are strongly encouraged!

What's LINC? Unlock your potential, meet like-minded caring people and make a difference in your community. We’re LINC (Lead. Impact. Network. Change.)—a passionate, take-charge group exclusive to those 30 and younger who channel energy into improving our community. We believe giving back can make an impact. Show up. Good Deeds. Good time. For more visit: uwci.org/linc.

Why Fathers and Families? Because they are working to build stronger families and communities by giving men the resources, guidance and support they need to take on the responsibilities of engaged parenting. Find out more at https://fathersandfamiliescenter.org/.

To learn more, contact Stewardship Manager, Sarah Fuquay at Sarah.Fuquay@uwci.org.

October First Wednesday with Lieutenant Governor’s New Chief of Staff

Join us on Oct. 12 at 11:30 a.m. for the Tocqueville Society’s First Wednesday at Eddie Merlot's on 96th Street.

Anne Valentine, former United Way of Central Indiana Vice President of Public Policy, is back to share with us some of the pressing issues impacting poverty in our region.

She will discuss potential legislation coming in the next session that could affect them, and how we can all join United Way in advocating for the legislation needed to ensure that we can reduce poverty, remove barriers for individuals and families, and ensure that every person in our community realizes their true value and purpose.

We look forward to seeing you in October!

Planning for Healthcare in Retirement

Healthcare coverage is one of the biggest decisions you'll make when you retire. Discover how you can make the most of Medicare and understand other solutions available, so you can enjoy a comfortable retirement.

Join Always United on Thursday, October 6 for a Medicare Seminar in-person at United Way of Central Indiana office OR virtually!

This seminar will address the complexities of Medicare, important considerations for enrollment and the different features between Medicare and the Medicare Advantage program so you can choose the best plan for you.

If you can't make it in person on October 6, you can tune in virtually.

Want to learn more about Always United and how to get involved? Contact Stewardship Manager, Sarah Fuquay at sarah.fuquay@uwci.org today.

Energy Efficiency & Your Organization

Join us for a special edition facilities maintenance themed Nonprofit Learning Center session free to attend – Energy Efficiency & Your Organization.

We will be joined by folx from AES, Duke Energy, Englewood CDC, and the Indianapolis Office of Sustainability to hear about some available rebate programs, energy saving incentives, and ways to benchmark your energy and utility usage free of charge.

We hope you can join us virtually on Wednesday, October 5 from 11:30 - 1:00 pm.

Meet Our Speakers:

Armando Heredia; Energy Savings Market Outreach Specialist for AES

Kim Anderson MBA; Business Energy Advisor – Duke Energy

Lindsay Trameri; Community Engagement Manager | Office of Sustainability

Joe Bowling; Executive Director of Englewood Community Development Corporation (CDC)

Informational Webinar Covering Social Security

Feeling overwhelmed and confused by Social Security and all of its intricacies? You’re not alone!

Whether you are applying for yourself or on behalf of someone, Social Security can often feel complicated and difficult to navigate. Worse yet, a lot of misinformation exists that can lead to decisions that may result in penalties and a delay of benefits. However, you don’t have to do it on your own.

Join Always United on Thursday, September 29 for a virtual Social Security webinar.

Charo Boyd, Public Affairs Specialist, Social Security Administration, will share retirement planning strategies to help you navigate through the complexity and nuances of social security. Included in the session will be the impact that age and wages have on benefits and entitlement factors for spouse, survivor and disability benefits.

Want to learn more about Always United and how to get involved? Contact Stewardship Manager, Sarah Fuquay at sarah.fuquay@uwci.org today.

Meet Fred Payne, our President and CEO, as he talks about his vision for the organization

Last month, we were excited to announce a new president and CEO, Fred Payne, who will build upon our rich legacy of community impact and continue to advance our work in the future.

"This is an opportunity for me to be part of that mission on a daily basis and to help make a positive impact in our local community," Fred shared in his first interview with the United Way team.

As Fred continues to build new relationships with our community and donors just like you, we want to invite you to meet him for Tocqueville First Wednesday on September 7.

Join us to hear about his inspiration to take on this role, his vision for United Way of Central Indiana, and his hope for our community.

If you have any questions about the event or how to get involved with Tocqueville Society, please contact Lisa Busse at lisa.busse@uwci.org

Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive

United Way of Central Indiana is thrilled to announce Stephanie Land, bestselling author of the memoir “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive,” as the keynote speaker for "Maid for this Moment".

Join us on August 24 at the Indiana Historical Society to hear from Stephanie as she recounts her harrowing saga as a single mom navigating the poverty trap. Her unflinching and inspiring testimony exposed the physical, economic, and social brutality that domestic workers face, all while radiating a parent's hope and resilience.

Stephanie’s 2019 memoir explores poverty, surviving domestic violence and her experiences cleaning houses as a single mother. It was adapted as a Netflix miniseries, “Maid,” in 2021.

A limited number of pre-sale General Admission and VIP tickets are now available. VIP tickets includes free parking, preferred seating, and a copy of Stephanie’s book to be signed at a private reception after the event.

Pre-sale pricing ends June 15. Be sure to save your spot, today, before prices increase!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Leadership Giving Senior Manager, Katherine Kite at katherine.kite@uwci.org

On August 12, 2022, 80 brave Central Indiana philanthropists will rappel down 300 ft. "Over the Edge" of the 23-story high Keystone Group building in Downtown Indianapolis, to help raise funds for United Way's Basic Needs work in our community. 

Support United Way of Central Indiana's Basic Needs Fund by helping stabilize our neighbors in crisis and ensuring their access to healthy food, safe housing, quality healthcare and reliable transportation.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Director of Special Events, Jody Pope at jody.pope@uwci.org