“Walk United” is held at the Mud Island River Park, which co-sponsors the event with the Memphis Riverfront Development Corporation. The walking tour helps MLGW bring attention to health needs across our community and the upcoming United Way campaign at MLGW to improve education, financial stability and health. MLGW employees use personal time to participate in the activity. (Due to insurance regulations, participation in the event is limited to MLGW employees.)

Jerry R. Collins, Jr., President and CEO of MLGW is a volunteer member of the United Way Board of Directors and a past General Campaign Chairman. He is currently helping United Way’s strategic plan work as a Chairman of a key subcommittee.

United Way of the Mid-South’s 4-person Golf Scramble will take place on Monday, August 26th at The Links at Cottonwoods Golf Course at Harrah’s, Tunica Mississippi. The event’s primary sponsors are Harrah’s and Roadshow BMW/MINI, with special thanks to our friends at Memphis Light, Gas & Water, Coca-Cola and Clark Beverage Group, Inc.

The format is a 4-person scramble, with a new lower price of $275 per person or $1,100 per team. Each player can purchase two mulligans for $25, and mulligan purchases make players eligible for great door prizes. For more details  download this two-page Adobe Acrobat PDF flyer which includes a registration form.

The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is the fantastic hole-in-one prize on a predetermined hole of the United Way Scramble this year (actual model and color may vary)

The United Way Scramble features the return of its fantastic hole-in-one prize, a new BMW! This year, it’s BMW’s great 6 Series Gran Coupe. On one predetermined par 3 hole, Roadshow BMW/MINI will give a new 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe automobile to the first golfer to score a hole-in-one*!

The Scramble also presents flights prizes – after play is completed. The field is divided into two flights. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each flight.

Scramble players have an opportunity to take their skills to a national level, since a person to be selected from each winning foursome (a maximum of two people total) of each flight to represent the United Way Golf Scramble at the 2013 BMW Golf Cup U.S. Final held at the famed Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina in October.

For more information on the United Way Golf Scramble, please contact Barbara Butler at Barbara.butler@uwmidsouth.org or call 901.433.4355.

*Mulligans cannot be used for the purpose of the hole-in-one contest.

(Note: United Way News Center writer Paul Smothers also contributed to this article)

Unions across the Mid-South will be honored by United Way and the Memphis AFL-CIO Labor Council this Wednesday evening.

United Way of the Mid-South and the Memphis AFL-CIO Labor Council will recognize unions from across the region for their work to support education, financial stability and health last year at the Campaign Awards Dinner this Wednesday evening.

The event will take place at the IBEW Local 474 Union Hall, at 1870 Madison Avenue in Memphis beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Irvin Calliste, President of the Memphis AFL-CIO Labor Council, and Bryce Haugsdahl, President of United Way of the Mid-South, will recognize local unions for their generous work to support last year’s United Way fundraising drive.

If you need additional information, please contact Casel Jones, Director and Labor Liason for United Way at 901.433.4337 or the Memphis AFL-CIO Labor Council office at 901.332.3531.

As part of United Way’s Strategic Plan work we are continuing to gather information to inform volunteer leaders and staff about local health priorities. We are also working closely with the Shelby County Health Department in its work to conduct a community health assessment.  This community health survey will give United Way and Shelby County Government a better understanding of the health issues that our community cares about and considers a priority.

The survey, part of the Mobilizing for Action Through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) process, will help inform the planning of community health services, policies and programs across Shelby County. The MAPP process is made up of over 100 individuals from neighborhoods, nonprofits, hospitals, businesses and local governments.

To whet your appetite, here’s a sample question (but you have to go to the survey itself if you want to give your answers. Just click here).

	Very Important	Important	Neutral	Unimportant	Very Unimportant
Community health
Jobs
Education
Clean environment (clean air/water)
Safety
Emotional/spiritual well-being
Affordable healthcare
Access to parks, trails, greenspaces

If you have questions or comments about the survey, please contact Jason Hodges, Community Health Planner, Health Planning and Promotion for Shelby County Health Department at jason.hodges@shelbycountytn.gov or call 901.222.9620.

Later this summer when General Campaign Chairman Bruce Hopkins kicks off the United Way campaign, a key team of community volunteers will be on the front lines of sharing our message and reaching people across the Mid-South.

The United Way Loaned Executives and Sponsored Representatives team are vital to the success of our efforts to raise resources so our network can improve local education, financial stability and health.

Having served as a United Way Loaned Executive for seven previous campaigns, Brenda Taylor says that she has seen United Way support impact many lives throughout her years of volunteering.

Brenda Taylor

“Working as a Loaned Executive for United Way has been a real eye-opening experience for me,” Taylor said.

“I’ve had the opportunity to learn and understand the strong impact United Way’s programs and partner agencies have on our community,” she added.

Work for the Loaned Executive can be very challenging. Sometimes, it may mean working into the wee hours of the night to meet late shift employees and share how their support of United Way makes a difference. Weekends can be spent talking with citizens at local community fairs or making presentations at workplaces with nontraditional hours.

Michael Steward

“The first time you serve as a United Way Loaned Executive there is some apprehension because it’s new, and unknown,” said Michael Steward, a former Loaned Executive from FedEx.

“But once you have opportunities to visit some of United Way partner agencies and see the good things being done with the heartfelt contributions that come from across the entire community, it changed my life forever,” Steward added.

Annette Knox

Annette Knox is another member of the Loaned Executive team with many years of experience.

“I like the role that I play in addressing issues of family, health and financial stability with individuals throughout our community. It just means a lot to give back and after nine years in the program, it’s hard to put that much experience into words. You benefit from it. It makes you a better person,” Knox said.

Loaned Executives and Sponsored Representatives make a big difference in our community, working alongside United Way staff and with the Combined Federal Campaign. In many cases, they are so closely connected to the United Way cause and their passion for United Way’s work is so great that donors are surprised when they learn they are volunteers and not full-time staff members.

We thank our Loaned Executives and Sponsored Representatives, both present and past, for the sacrifices they make to improve people’s lives. Their work makes them unsung heroes for countless thousands who benefit from nonprofit programs and services everyday.

To learn how you and/or your organization can help underwrite a Loaned Executive or Sponsored Representative for this year’s United Way drive, please contact Senior Vice President of Fundraising Faye Carter at faye.carter@uwmidsouth.org

Bruce Hopkins

Bruce Hopkins, President, West Tennessee Region for First Tennessee Bank is United Way’s 2013-14 General Campaign Chairman.

The General Campaign Chairman is a critical volunteer role which steers United Way’s effort to raise funds and support for our network improving education, financial stability and health across the 8-county Mid-South area.

Hopkins has been working with United Way staff since he accepted the role earlier this year. He led his first formal meeting with his Campaign Cabinet last Friday at United Way. The cabinet continues to grow as local leaders are volunteering to oversee fundraising efforts in different business segments of our community.

Having a leader from First Tennessee Bank is perfectly natural, as it is one of the strongest supporters of the United Way network, consistently ranking in our top five giving organizations for many years. First Tennessee has also provided key support as high level executives have served as volunteers on the United Way Board of Directors and helped United Way fundraising efforts at the bank. Hopkins has been with First Tennessee since 1985.

Bryan Jordan, CEO of First Tennessee’s parent company, First Horizon National Corporation, said Hopkins is a role model and active leader both in the Memphis community and within his business sector.

“He has great relationships with our customers and he’s got a great reputation with our bankers because he leads by example,” Jordan said.

“Each General Campaign Chairman has their own unique skills and qualities. Every year I look forward to meeting the new Chairman in anticipation of the attributes they bring,” said Faye Carter, Senior Vice President of Fundraising for United Way.

“This year Bruce Hopkins is our ‘general on the hill’ and I learned very quickly that he is a man of faith, loves people, and has a deep sense of concern for his fellow man. He has honed an incredible volunteer spirit as evidenced by the many hours he gives to the numerous nonprofit boards he serves. Bruce has a special place in his heart for people in need and a tender compassion for children,” Carter said.

“Bruce’s favorite quote is the same as mine, ‘by the grace of God, we all go…’.  Our United Way is blessed and is a much better organization for our relationship with Bruce Hopkins,” Carter added.

The United Way campaign begins later this summer with our formal Day of Caring campaign kickoff scheduled for August 23rd.