Homepage Stories
Read a Book, Help Our Community
On May 16 and 17, receive a 10% discount on your purchases at Portland Metro area Borders bookstores, and another 10% will be donated to the United Way.
Make sure you get the discount by presenting this barcode or mentioning United Way to the cashier on Border Benefit Days.
Long-term results
How are your dollars helping our community? With your help,
Planned Giving by Doug Everett, Planned Giving Committee Chair
Philanthropy is a cornerstone of American culture. The reasons for giving are as diverse as the organizations to which donations can be made, but the one common motivator among philanthropists is a strong spirit of altruism. For United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, these dollars help provide care and services every day to those who are less fortunate.
Many Ways to Give
I believe in leading by example. I and my family have made a charitable gift of a $500,000 life insurance policy to United Way of the Columbia- Willamette. This will help endow my annual gift to United Way.
Depending on the size of your gift and how it fits into your financial picture, charitable donations can take several forms: cash, appreciated assets, and life insurance.
There are also a variety of ways to structure your gift to best suit your individual financial planning needs. Some of these strategies lead to an income-stream for you, with the remainder of your gift eventually left to the charity. Others lead to an income-stream to the charity, with the remainder of the gift eventually going to your family.
The Government Says Thank You
Every dollar donated is a dollar less that the government needs to kick in, so tax breaks are offered to those who give. For donors, tax breaks are not the main reason for benefaction. Rather, gifts made in perpetuity enable the donor to create a legacy.
A Strong Planned Giving Team
United Way has assembled a strong team of professionals to assist with planned giving strategies: we have experienced stockbrokers, financial planners, accountants, and attorneys on board. Collectively, we have well over 100 years of experience in helping people reach their financial goals. It's important to consult your own professional advisors prior to making a planned gift.
A Call to Action
Make the most of your generosity by choosing an appropriate gift-giving strategy that will impact our local community, while cementing your legacy. Whether it is a moral obligation, family tradition, or in response to a life event that has had a profound personal impact, Americans are spreading the wealth through charitable giving. Speak to your financial and legal advisors to determine how planned giving may fit into your retirement or estate planning plans. Contact United Way at 503.226.9319 to learn more about making a planned gift.
Doug Everett, CFP at AXA Advisors, LLC, is involved in community and professional organizations including the Financial Planning Association, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, and the Portland Business Alliance.
Supported Employee Program Provides Meaningful Work, Equitable Wages
Leslie Hobaugh has an amazing memory for names, dates and times. Meet him once, and the next time you see him, he can tell you the exact time and date of your first meeting.
Leslie grew up in the now-defunct
For 13 years, Leslie worked at a warehouse, tearing down boxes. The job did not pay minimum wage, and there often was not enough work to fill the day. Leslie also did not have his own workspace, which was necessary for him to feel secure. The job wasn’t a good match, and Leslie expressed his frustration in inappropriate ways.
In 2006, Leslie’s life took a pleasant turn when he met Melissa Miller, a job developer at United Way Cerebral Palsy of Oregon and Southwest Washington (UCP). A three-year
For the past year, Leslie has been working as a tearsheet clerk for Community Newspapers Inc., publisher of the Portland Tribune and other community newsweeklies. Leslie’s task is to review newspaper editions, cut and collect print ads, and mail them to businesses that purchased advertising. Leslie feels that he is respected and treated fairly by his coworkers, and enjoys the fact that he has his own cubicle.
According to supervisor Michael O'Shaughnessy, Leslie is a great fit for the advertising office.
“Leslie has a terrific sense of humor, and still completes his work while having a good time. As time goes by, Leslie has expressed interest in taking on other related tasks, and has excelled at them as well,” Michael says. “What’s more important than the great job he is doing are the relationships we’re developing with him. It’s encouraging to see everyone in our office learning bits of sign language.”
“The best part is that his coworkers enjoy him thoroughly,” says Melissa. “He has not experienced the anger or frustration that haunted him in other jobs.”
UCP believes that every person with a disability has the right to work at a job that fits their skills and interests, and offers an opportunity for advancement, says Melissa.
“We may help people find vocational training or help match them with a specific job – but it’s the people we support who chart their own courses toward job satisfaction,” she says.
Some 68% of 50 million people with disabilities in the
Local companies are urged to find out more about UCP’s Supported Employment program and explore how workplaces can benefit from employing people with disabilities. Call Melissa Miller at (503) 777-4166, ext. 244.
