Free Community Meal

When: Sunday, March 28 & Sunday, April 25
Time: 5:30pm
Where: Bellaire Senior Center

Join your neighbors for a great, free meal and a fun night out!
Food donated by local restaurants and a SUNDAE BAR for dessert

This is a free meal for one and all, and the general idea behind it is we'd like to provide a good hot meal and a fun night out to those in Antrim County that could use it. We've been putting on the meal for about 6 months now. Restaurants in the area have provided most of the food, and we're averaging around 50 guests.

A Day Without Shoes!

On April 8, United Way of Northwest Michigan is going barefoot for One Day Without Shoes. It might be cold, it'll probably be uncomfortable, and our feet will certainly get dirty, but by doing so, we’ll help raise awareness of the impact a simple pair of shoes can bring to a person’s life.

We hope that you will join us for our barefoot walk through downtown Traverse City on April 8. We will be meeting at the United Way of Northwest Michigan offices at noon. We’ll leave from the United Way and walk down Union Street to Front street then walk down Front Street to Cass and back to the United Way offices on Union.
In addition to our barefoot walk we will also be hosting a shoe drive April 5 through the 9. Bring new or gently used shoes to the United Way offices at 521 S Union Street. Donations will be accepted Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

One Day Without Shoes is an annual event that was started by TOMS Shoes in which students, friends, parents, strangers, and co-workers host or join barefoot events. Some go barefoot for an hour, some for the whole day, but all become a part of a greater movement toward change.

This April 8, please lead by example by going barefoot, and help mobilize our community to be a part of One Day Without Shoes.

Free Pistons Tickets!!

For those who’ve given – of their time, their wisdom, or their compassion – the Pistons want to give back to you. As part of the Pistons’ season-long commitment to giving back to the communities across Michigan and beyond where their loyal fans live and work, the Pistons are rewarding volunteers and mentors through the “Helping Hand” program. All who have participated in volunteer activities since Jan. 1, 2009 – or those who agree to volunteer in their community before April 12 – will be rewarded with a free ticket to any one of three Pistons home games.

“Being good neighbors is part of the fabric of the Pistons family,” said Alan Ostfield, president and CEO of The Palace. “We took that core principle from our late owner, Mr. Davidson, one of the greatest philanthropists our region has ever known, and try to live it every day and every season.”

“From our recent Pistons Care telethon that raised well over $400,000 to feed Michigan families in need to our ongoing efforts to outfit Michigan schools with books and computers, we never forget that it’s important to give back to the areas that make what we do possible. Recognizing those volunteers who share that belief with a free ticket to a Pistons game is a small way to acknowledge their efforts.”

The Pistons.com/helpinghand Web page lists volunteer opportunities in Metro Detroit and statewide. After completing a day of service, participants can log onto the Web page or redeem their free ticket for April 2, April 7 or April 12 games at The Palace for service days from Jan. 1, 2009-April 12, 2010. In addition, volunteers can purchase additional 200-level tickets for $5 or upgrade to a 100-level seat for $25. Visit Pistons.com/helpinghand, call (248) 377-0100 or visit The Palace box office to take advantage of these special ticket offers.

Fans can also submit volunteer stories for a chance to be honored or honor someone they know during the April 12 Pistons vs. Toronto Raptors season finale and Fan Appreciation Night at The Palace. The online submission form also can be found on Pistons.com/helpinghand.

The gift of tickets to volunteers continues the Pistons community night program that for the 2009-10 season has included fund-raising for the Karmanos Cancer Institute for Breast Health Awareness in October, honoring America’s military service personnel on Veteran’s Night in November, benefiting St. Vincent de Paul during December Pistons games, providing shoes for Detroit-area children as part of the Samaritan’s Feet charity in January, celebrating Black History Month with various outreach efforts in February, and hosting the Pistons Care Telethon to benefit the Food Bank Council of Michigan in March.

Be Counted!

In March of 2010, census forms will be delivered to every residence in the United States and Puerto Rico. When you receive yours, just answer the 10 short questions and then mail the form back in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you don't mail the form back, you may receive a visit from a census taker, who will ask you the questions from the form.

The majority of the country will receive English-only materials. Households in areas with high concentrations of Spanish-speaking residents may receive a bilingual (English/Spanish) form.

Any personal data you provide is protected under federal law. If you have questions about the census or need help completing the form visit the United Way on Monday, Wednesday or Friday between March 19 and April 16. A census worker will be at United Way (521 S Union St) on these days between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.


Did You Know?

-In 2008,$16 billion in federal assistance was allocated using data from the Census.
-For every 100 missed people in the count, a community could lose $1.2 million over a 10-year period.

Vote For Your Favorite Snowman

Help pick the winner! Vote for your favorite Live United Snowman each snowman picture has a number on it, simply email me the number of the snowman you think is the most creative. Voting ends Thursday 3/11 at midnight. Winners announced on Friday 3/12. Email votes to michelleg@Unitedwaynwmi.org. Please vote only one time.

Slide-A-Thon

At Great Wolf Lodge – Traverse City, we put fun first. On Friday, March 26, 2010 we’re planning on some record-setting fun: We’re going to attempt to break the Guinness World Record for “Longest Distance Water Sliding in 24 Hours in Multiple Venues.” All 11 Great Wolf Lodge locations will simultaneously participate in the record-breaking attempt. The Great Wolf Lodge “World’s Largest Waterslide-a-thon” will take place over 24 consecutive hours with one designated slide per resort. Every slider who descends the designated slide will count toward breaking the record for longest distance traveled on waterslides over a 24 hour period.

Participants in the Great Wolf Lodge “World’s Largest Waterslide-a-thon” will be asked to donate $1 per slide or $10 unlimited, with proceeds from the company’s U.S. locations going to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Great Wolf Resorts will be matching each donation, up to $50,000. Funds raised at the lodge level will go to their local chapters. Matching funds from Corporate will be donated to the National program. Along with this we are sending a sponsorship form to help collect these donations.

We need your help! Please contact Jenn Gillner at Great Wolf Lodge Traverse City to schedule your participation in this one of a kind event. One hour time slots are available with a group maximum of 40 participants.

231-499-8770 or jgillner@greatwolf.com

We look forward to your help in the World’s Largest Slide-a-thon Event!

Fun and Easy Fundraising Idea

We're always looking for new ways to raise money. La Senorita Mexican Restaurants has a new program called the "Give Back Fiesta" that looks like a simple way to raise some extra money for your nonprofit organization.

"La Senorita has a long standing tradition of being a local favorite. The La Senorita Gives Back Fiesta program is our way of thanking the local communities for their patronage. It is La Senorita's privilege to give something back to the local communities and to support your good work."

Let La Senorita help make your fund raising easy, while promoting a fun filled Fiesta for families, friends and co-workers! Many organizations have raised more money in one day through the La Senorita Gives Back Fiesta program than they did all year with other fund raising programs.

The La Senorita Gives Back Fiesta program is easy to promote and administer. On an agreed upon date, your organization is invited to come to a specific La Senorita restaurant. Your organization will earn 20% of the total guest checks of your organization's supporters. All your supporters have to do is turn in the Gives Back Tokens when they pay. You will earn 20% on lunch, dinner, food, alcohol, Fiesta To Go and gift card purchases. All you have to do is promote the La Senorita Gives Back Fiesta in advance and pass out the Gives Back Tokens. La Senorita will provide you with a kit with ideas on how to make the most of your Fiesta. Your check will be mailed to you within three weeks!

For more information on this program contact your local restaurant. In Traverse City call Michael Jackson, Garfield location, at 947-8820 or Lura Reude, US 31 location, at 946-4545.

Fundraiser at Lil Bo

Party at Lil Bo Pub & Grill

Monday March 15, 2010

5pm to 9pm

It's a fundraiser for Third Level Crisis Center's Transitional Living Program

Monday raised will go to transitional living apartments where youth coming out of foster care or homelessness can live while they learn skills to live independently.

The goal is to raise $7000.00 for two units by October 1, 2010.

The cost is a $5 donation at the door. Lil Bo is donating 50% of sales, 25% tips, all money raised from a silent auction and raffle will go to the Transitional Living Program

For more information contact:

Third Level
231-922-4800

spiotowski@thirdlevel.org