Growmobile Launched June 8th!
United Way & Empower's Growmobile is visiting neighborhoods around the county! The Growmobile is a mobile preschool providing on-site education to children & parents through games, crafts, and reading! Look for us at the following locations from 9:00-10:00AM
Mondays: Atwater
Tuesdays: Spicer
Wednesdays: Raymond
Thursdays: Pennock
Fridays: New London

Join us in Willmar at Dana Heights from 10:30-11:15, Regency West 11:30-12:30, and Regency East 12:30-1:30 daily!

Click Here for the Volunteer Calendar!

United Way Expands Territory & Changes Name!
In order to better reflect the area served by United Way of Kandiyohi County, the Board of Directors has determined the organizations name should be changed to "United Way of West Central Minnesota". In addition to the change, United Way of West Central Minnesota will continue to service Kandiyohi County and expand to include:
Belgrade, Brooten, Benson, Bird Island, Clara City, Cosmos, Danube, De Graff, Elrosa, Grove City, Lake Henry, Litchfield, Maynard, Olivia, Renville, Rosendale and Terrace.

"The name change better reflects the reality of the area that is positively affected by our organization", Nathan Streed, President of Board of Directors.

United Way is looking forward to partnering with our extended area to help all of our communities create positive change. We understand that when we reach out a hand to one, we influence the

condition of all.

Click here to JOIN THE MOVEMENT!

United Way-Bremer Golf Event
Monday, June 1st!
Join us at Eagle Creek Golf Course in Willmar for a day of golf benefiing the Growmobile!
Monday, June 1st
12:00 Registration & Warm Up
1:00 Shot Gun Start
6:00 Dinner at The Oaks

$95 for non-member & $75 for members.
Enjoy 18 holes of scramble golf, event prizes, team prizes, door prizes, a longest drive competition and a chance to win a new car from Swenson's Motor Company Hole In One Contest.

Register by clicking here or by calling United Way
320-235-1050 GOLF INVITE PDF

United Way's YOUTH DAYS OF ACTION kicks May 8th & 9th!
More than 800 youth are participating in the Youth Days of Action this Friday, May 8th and Saturday, May 9th! Youth Days of Action are days set aside to help our community's youth LIVE UNITED and volunteer to help agencies and individuals in need.

Thank you to our sponsors:
Bremer Bank, Cash Wise, & Hansen Advertising

United Way's Empower Hosts a Successful 3rd Annual Power of the Purse!
Thank you to the Empower Special Events Committee and United Way Events Committee for once again planning the Power of the Purse. It was an amazing event that raised funds & awareness for early learning in our community.

Thank you to our home hostesses & contributors:
Connie Duininck
Sheri TerWisscha
Julie Schultz
Carlson Construction/ReMax
for opening their home to our office.

Cash Wise Floral
Mary Kjolsing
Ali Lu Studio
Angels & Ivy
Premium Water
Northern Grounds
The Paper Place
Torry Norling & Jean Geselius



United Way of West Central Minnesota chosen as national finalist in the "Best of LIVE UNITED" Competition!
Our local United Way has been chosen as a finalist in two United Way of America competitions. United Way of West Central Minnesota will be competing along side cities like Boston, Miami, Nashville and others for the title of
"Shutter Bug" for our LIVE UNITED pictures taken by Carlson Studio in Spicer MN and "Virtual Virtuoso" for our on-line engagement campaign.

Winners will be announced at the national United Way conference May 12-15th. Stay tuned!

Empower's Power of the Purse set for Saturday, April 25th!
Empower's third annual Power of the Purse is set for Saturday, April 25th from 12:15 to 5:30.
The event includes home tours around Green Lake. At each home enjoy hors d'oeuvres and wine by Culinary Seasons and Northern Grounds along with silent auction items. The event concludes at Melvin's on the Lake with a LIVE PURSE Auction!

Empower Members are welcome to bring guests. Tickets are $40 for members before April 10th.
Non-members are $45. Contact United Way to RSVP or to donate a purse!

Cash or Purse Donations can be sent to:
United Way of West Central Minnesota
PO Box 895 Willmar MN 56201|
320-235-1050

All proceeds benefit Empower, an initiative working to prepare our county's children for kindergarten.

United Way's YOUTH AS RESOURCES invites Junior & Senior High Students to
COSMIC BOWLING!
Join the YAR board for an evening of Cosmic Bowling with Pizza & Pop.
Sunday, April 5th
6:30 P.M.- 8:30 P.M.
$12 at the door (2 hours of bowling, pizza & pop)
Kandi Entertainment Center
Senior & Junior high students from around the area are welcome to join us! Chaperones will be present!

United Way Annual "Thank You Event"
Set for Friday, April 17th!
Join United Way for the Annual Thank You Event!
Friday, April 17th from 11:30-1:00 at
The Oaks, in Willmar MN.
Tickets are $12 in advance, $80 for a Corporate Table of 8, or $15 at the door.
Enjoy a soup, salad and sandwich bar with live entertainment, LIVE UNITED Community Awards, and Key Note Speaker Greg Hilding (president of Bremer Bank in Willmar)

Contact United Way to reserve your tickets today!
320-235-1050 or click here to e-mail!

United Way looking for Review Volunteers!
United Way is looking for volunteers to review programs that have applied for 2009 United Way funding. On Thursday, March 19th from 8:30-3:00 volunteers will meet to interview and evaluate community programs.
Volunteer orientation is set for Wednesday , March 4th at 9:00 A.M. Bremer Bank or Friday, March 6th Noon at Bremer Bank. If you are unable to attend orientation but are available on March 19th, United Way can arrange a time to provide orientation.
This is a great opportunity to know other professionals in the community and see how United Way dollars make a difference in Kandiyohi County.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR TRAINING

Target Sponsors Imagination Library for November!
United Way of Kandiyohi County would like to thank Target and The West Central Tribune for helping to sponsor Imagination Library for the month of November! Imagination Library along with Target is helping to provide one hard cover book each month to children up to the age of five whose parents live or work in Kandiyohi County.  

Currenlty, United Way of Kandiyohi County has more than 1700 signed up for the program.  The program costs $30 per child for an entire year. If you are interested in sponsoring a child for Imagination Library please contact United Way.

Thank you to Target and the West Central Tribune for helping to prepare our community's children for kindergarten!