United Way Young Leaders Society

Event Recap

The annual meeting of YLS was held on February 23rd.  It was a great opportunity to meet new friends and celebrate some of the accomplishments of the past year.  Here are some highlights:

• YLS supported seven volunteer events including MLK Day in January
• Members met with seven of the community’s top executives for Lunch with Leaders
• There were three networking events, two leadership development events, and two strategic planning sessions held throughout the year
• 51 pledged members; 25 have served on committees; 3 members on United Way’s Board
• $50,200 generated to support United Way’s work in the community
• Companies represented include Intel, Wells Fargo, UPS, Nike, Bank of the West, Perkins & Co, Bullivant Houser Bailey, PacifiCorp, Pacific Continental Bank, Bank of America

Member Profile: Charles McGee

Charles McGee has a unique passion: To create the ultimate community. With his passion as a driving force for his public service mission, Charles ran for Portland Public School Board in 2006. Charles is not your average young adult. Born in Monrovia, Liberia the son of a government official and a stay at home mother, Charles and his family fled to Portland, Oregon due to the bloody civil war. 

Named among the most influential African Americans in Oregon, Charles has a lot to say about leadership, education and public service. At the young age of twenty, Charles co-founded the Black Parent Initiative, an organization who focuses on parental engagement in education. Charles is a visionary with fresh, organic foresight, his passion for Black America is timeless and his contribution to this world has just begun. Charles has spoken throughout the nation and Canada on various issues and topics.

At his young age, his resume includes starting a growing successful organization, running for public office, working to pass legislation as well as working with corporations around corporate responsibility. Asked what he wants to do when he grows up, Charles says, sleep and vacation.

Volunteer Event Recap

Thank you to our YLS members who participated in the MLK Weekend of Service volunteer event organized by United Way and HandsOn Portland. We had a mix of current and new YLS members volunteer to plant 14 of the 100 total trees for the event! The MLK Weekend of Service mobilized approximately 2,500 volunteers throughout the four-county area.