Family Night at the Ballpark

Were you in the bleachers - did you cheer on the Alexandria Aces? United Way NCA volunteers, staff and many supporters recently came out for a family night at the ballpark on July 19. Everyone rooted on the Alexandria Aces collegiate baseball team as they played against the Baltimore Redbirds. It was also a great chance to offer a special thank you to the outgoing Alexandria Regional Council Chair, Delegate David Englin, for his leadership and support during his two-years of service.

The United Way NCA family also extended a warm welcome to the incoming Chair, Councilman Frank H. Fannon IV. The local Alexandria Gazette Packet came out to cover this great event. Read the clip here. Featured in the photo above are (from left) United Way NCA staff with Fannon and Englin. See more photos here.

Volunteering "So Others Might Eat"...

by Doug Tees, United Way NCA Young Leaders' Serve Chair

On Sunday, July 18, I was able to Live United by volunteering at So Others Might Eat (SOME) in downtown Washington, D.C. with 8 other Young Leaders. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing first-hand the impact that a great organization makes in the community. SOME made it easy for us to contribute by having a well organized process and a volunteer coordinator who gave out assignments and kept us on our toes!

Being able to greet the clients as they came in, wish them a good day, perhaps have a quick conversation, and offer them a smile (and more often than not receiving one in return) was energizing and more fun than I anticipated.

It was a strange mix of emotions - feeling sad for the poverty in our community, grateful for United Way NCA and SOME for their support, admiration for many of the clients who were appreciative and positive despite their hardships, guilt for personally having so much, and joy to be giving my time and connecting with great people (clients, staff and volunteers) - all of this packed into a few hours on Sunday!

This was a fantastic experience, and one I know I will repeat. I appreciate that United Way NCA gives me opportunities to volunteer and connect with parts of the community that I would not see otherwise. Thanks to this experience, I am more grateful for the abundance in my life and look forward to the next opportunity to connect with other Young Leaders and Live United!

Learn more about our Young Leaders and how to get involved today. Visit Young Leaders on facebook and contact Elizabeth Owens at eowens@uwnca.org for more information.

An Hour Out of His Busy Schedule

by Carol Andes, Young Leaders Member and part of the YL Marketing Committee

On July 7th, I had the great pleasure of having breakfast with Brian Gallagher, President and CEO of United Way Worldwide. Mr. Gallagher took an hour out of his busy schedule to talk with the Young Leaders Society as a part of our Leadership Breakfast series.

It was an intimate group, which allowed us to have a real discussion with plenty of questions from the YLS members. The conversation ranged from how he shaped his successful career to how he led United Way’s transition from an organization that simply raised and distributed money to one that now focuses on making a measurable difference in the community around specific, pressing issues.

Mr. Gallagher also shared with us what he’s learned about effective leaders, including that those with long-term success are the ones who are purpose driven, results oriented, collaborative in nature and kind.