Live United - The FHUW Blog

Powell: Well-Being of Children critical to Restoring Economic Health

In a recent editorial article for the Capitol Hill publication Roll Call, Retired General Colin Powell writes that we, as a nation, must work to improve health and educational well-being of our children, and that our success there is critical to restoring our country’s economic health.

We read the article with a great deal of interest, as one of Foothills United Way’s key areas of emphasis is nurturing and supporting children and youth.  We and our partner organizations work every day to help youth make informed choices, make sure children are ready for school, and to provide increased access to educational and developmental opportunities.

You can find the full article here.

A United Way Thanksgiving: Focusing on Youth Health and Fitness and Honoring Heroes

As you sit back to watch some football this Thanksgiving, make sure to catch the United Way/NFL halftime show during the Lions-Titans game on CBS.  The game starts at 10:30am Mountain Time.

Jesse McCartney will be the featured performer, and the show will focus on United Way and the NFL's commitment to youth health and fitness.  Click the picture for more details.

After the football games, tune in to CNN on Thanksgiving night for CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, honoring 10 ordinary people who are making extraordinary differences in their communities.  Two of the ten finalists have ties to their local United Ways.  Click the picture for details on the show.

LIVE UNITED Flash Mob in D.C.

Our friends at United Way of America Flash Mobbed Union Station in Washington, D.C. last Friday. More than 90 people gathered in the station, stripped to their LIVE UNITED t-shirts, and then froze in place for three minutes.

The Flash Mob was caught on tape by a random passerby, who posted the video on YouTube.

If you already have your LIVE UNITED t-shirt, remember to wear it often! If you'd like a shirt, contact us here at Foothills United Way.

Socks and Mittens Drive

Orange and blue gloves. Everywhere.

Five years ago, when Foothills United Way staff members emptied the first barrel of donated items to our first-ever Socks and Mittens Drive, among the items to come tumbling out were about two dozen pairs of matching gloves, in brilliant orange and blue. They were wool, and they were loud. But they were also warm, and we couldn’t wait to get them to people who desperately needed them.

Our partners in the community had told us that warm socks, mittens and gloves were some of the hardest items to come by for those in need. So the Socks and Mittens Drive was born. It’s grown every year; in 2007, 20 local companies and organizations took part in the drive and more than 3,000 items were donated.

During the Socks and Mittens Drive, collection bins are set out by participating companies, groups and organizations, where donors can drop off new pairs of socks, mittens, gloves, hats and scarves that will be donated to local non-profit organizations for distribution.

So far this year, 22 participants have signed on. Taking part are: Acxiom, Amgen, Boulder Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Brittany Ridge, Centennial Lending, FirstBank Longmont, First Community Bank, Foothills United Way, GE Analytical, Gold Systems, IBM-Boulder, Idexx Laboratories, InfoPrint Solutions Company, Level 3, Longmont Chamber of Commerce, McLane Western, Micro Motion, nSpire Health, Point 6, Polycom, Taggart and Associates Insurance, and St. Vrain Valley Credit Union.

This year’s drive runs through December 5th, so it’s not too late to take part! If your business, club or organization would like to set out a collection bin at your location, please contact Nancy Platt at nplatt@unitedwayfoothills.org or 303-444-4013, ext 112. Individual donors can drop off items at any participating bank or credit union, or at the Foothills United Way office.