Recent News
Buik Honored with Education Award
June 30th, 2010
The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform has honored United Way President and CEO Elise Buik for her leadership on education. Buik, the first non-educator to receive the award, was recognized for her vision and dedication to improving educational programs and academic achievement for students facing the greatest challenges. The award was presented at the organization’s national conference in Washington D.C.
Homeless Task Force In Denver
June 30th, 2010
Denver is nationally renowned for its collaboration between business leaders, nonprofits, and elected officials to end homelessness in the region. Recently, members from L.A.’s Business Leaders Task Force on Homelessness visited the city to meet with local leaders. “Denver has done some great work around ending homelessness and we hope to take their best practices and apply what we can to Los Angeles,” said United Way President and CEO Elise Buik.
Support Gulf Recovery Fund
June 25th, 2010
CNN hosted a telethon on Larry King Live in support of recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast. To date, thousands of families have received help with food, clothing, utility assistance, rent and mortgage relief, and access to health and mental health care. The United Way Gulf Recovery Fund will provide emergency assistance and support long-term recovery efforts to rebuild lives by addressing educational, financial and health-related challenges.
New Apartments for Chronically Homeless People
June 25th, 2010
Recently, United Way President and CEO Elise Buik joined County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and L.A. City Councilmember Jan Perry for the opening of the Charles Cobb permanent supportive housing apartments on Skid Row. The apartments, which were built by United Way partner Skid Row Housing Trust, will provide homes and critical services for 76 chronically homeless people.
Bobrick Washroom Equipment is Living United
June 9th, 2010
I give to help end poverty of knowledge. Everyone should have the opportunity to
receive an education.
Christine Kahn, Brobrick Employee 2 years.
United Way Honors Corporate and Civic Partners
June 7th, 2010
On June 3rd United Way honored top corporate and civic partners for their commitment to fighting poverty as well as having an open discussion on how companies can be socially responsible in this new economy.
For a full list of award-winners and event photos click here.
Business and Faith Communities to Partner on Homelessness
June 1st, 2010
United Way President and CEO Elise Buik has pledged that the business and faith communities will work together in “a powerful collaboration” to end homelessness. Buik was speaking at the PATH Partners “Our Faith Matters” symposium, during which Buik joined members of the Interfaith Leadership Council in signing a Covenant to End Homelessness.
Families Claim Over $44 Million in Tax Refunds
May 26th, 2010
Almost 40,000 people with low-incomes had their taxes prepared for free this year and reclaimed over $44 million in total refunds.
Read More
Tell Us How You’re Living United
May 14th, 2010
Did you participate in HomeWalk? Have you helped families prepare their taxes for free? Are you volunteering with our nonprofit partners? Then you’re Living United – and we want to hear about it! If you’re interested in sharing your story, please email us at unitedway@unitedwayla.org.
United Way Supports Measure E
May 12th, 2010
United Way lends its support to Measure E, a $100 parcel tax measure on the upcoming June 8 ballot. The tax would raise $92.5 million every year for the next four years to help struggling schools in LAUSD cover the cost of critical services, impacted by the District’s $640 million deficit. "It's really about kids and families who many times have no other choice but the neighborhood public school,” said Elise Buik, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles, in Steve Lopez’s column in
Los Angeles Times. Read official statement
Creating Jobs In Los Angeles
April 21st, 2010
Learn from Elise Buik, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles and Russell Goldsmith, CEO of City National Bank and chairman of the Los Angeles Coalition for Jobs and the Economy, on how we can grow L.A. County’s economy and create jobs.
Watch The Archived Webinar...
Volunteers Needed to Survey the
Homeless in Hollywood
April 21st, 2010
Volunteers will take to the streets of Hollywood on the mornings of April 26th-28th, interviewing homeless individuals. The information collected will identify those most vulnerable to premature death and help prioritize and allocate funding to get them into housing as soon as possible.
This is an incredible opportunity to be a part of the solution to end homelessness.
Register to volunteer for the
Hollywood Registry...
United Way and KPCC Present
Open Forum on Poverty
April 8th, 2010
On Thursday, April 8th, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, in conjunction with KPCC Southern California Radio, presented an open forum entitled: L.A. County 10 Years Later: A Tale of Two Cities & One Future. The event, held at the newly built Crawford Family Forum in Pasadena, was a poignant discussion of poverty and the working poor in Los Angeles County.
Read More…
Helping Students Succeed
April 1st, 2010
Orlando Sandoval finds it hard to push the pedals of his beloved low-rider bike around the playground of Carver Middle School. He hurt his back carrying sound equipment to his most recent job as a DJ and it hasn’t healed yet.
Read more…
Congress Asked to Support Increase in Federal Homeless Funding
March 28th, 2010
On Wednesday, March 17th, members of the Business Leaders Taskforce on Homelessness presented California Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard with over 1,300 letters signed by HomeWalkers, asking her to support an increase in funding for homeless assistance programs to $2.4 billion. Read More…
United Way Postpones RFP to January 2011
March 28th, 2010
As a result of the recession, a number of nonprofits are trying to meet increased demands for help with decreased revenues. In light of this, United Way has decided to extend its funding to its current partners for an extra year, beginning the summer of 2010. The next Request For Proposals will not be released until January of 2011, with decisions made by summer 2011. Learn more…
Task Force to Leverage Funding and
Policy Change
March 2nd, 2010
The Business Leaders Taskforce on Homelessness heads to Washington, D.C. this month. Top of the agenda is making sure that L.A. gets its fair share of federal dollars for local homeless services (the current funding formula means L.A. gets about $1,706 in federal funding per homeless person compared to Chicago’s $8,119). The group will also be pressing for policies that prioritize permanent supportive housing. Read More…
Complete Your Census Form and Bring
Funding to L.A.
March 2nd, 2010
During the month of March, census forms will be delivered to every home in the U.S. Take ten minutes to complete the ten questions and help make sure L.A. gets its fair share of billions of dollars in federal funding for schools, hospitals and roads. Every undercounted person costs L.A. almost $3,000 in funding. Learn more about the 2010 Census…
We Connect Los Angeles 2010
March 2nd, 2010
The We Connect Campaign, an effort led by Maria Shriver to connect low-income individuals and families in California to supportive services and information, will be holding a 3-day event from March 26th - March 28th expected to serve over 10,000 people from the Los Angeles area. This is a great opportunity to be part of an effort that will make a difference to thousands of families in Los Angeles. Please join us by volunteering to help support this important event. Find out more…
Help Chile Recover
March 2nd, 2010
You can help those affected by the catastrophic earthquake that hit Chile February 27th by donating to the United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund. Gifts designated for Chile will support recovery and long-term rebuilding needs of devastated Chilean communities. Contributions can also be made to the general long-term recovery fund, or to support the ongoing recovery work in Haiti. You can also text “Chile” to “United” (864833) to donate $10.
Hope for Students at LAUSD
February 24th, 2010
Today marked a historic moment in education reform with leaders from 18 major Los Angeles institutions, including United Way signing an agreement to reform Los Angeles public schools. The pact is a collaborative agreement from the public and private sectors to ensure students receive a high quality education in order for them to graduate high school prepared for college and the workforce. More information…
Archived News