United Way hosted an engaging event on June 10th, bringing together nearly 100 nonprofit partners and their board members to share updates, gather feedback and welcome new members to the United Way family. The gathering was an excellent opportunity for all involved to connect, discuss important initiatives and plan for the future.
A special thanks to the team at Dual Temp Company Inc. for their unwavering support of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and our Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley mission. In the past month, they have spearheaded an initiative of installing 100 air conditioners in the homes of our aging seniors – enhancing their health and well-being during the warm summer months.
An additional thanks to our partners at Community Hubs in Allentown and Bethlehem for helping to pinpoint those in need of the A/C units.
“We’re excited to share our latest initiative: the “100 Cool Acts of Kindness Campaign. Our mission is to install 100 air conditioners in low-income elderly houses and apartments.”
Check out these pictures of our amazing teams hard at work, installing and working towards our goal. This year, Dual Temp is targeting 21 systems to make sure our elderly community members stay cool and comfortable.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far, and United Way for connecting our skills to those truly in need. Your kindness and generosity are making a real difference!”
On Thursday, May 28, over 100 Tocqueville donors gathered at The Shelby’s new outdoor dining and event space. Incoming CEO Marci Lesko expressed gratitude to Shelby owners and hosts, Donny and Ashley Petridis, and shared 2023 campaign successes, including $17M raised directly from Tocqueville donors! Last year, Tocqueville also boasted 73 new members, and we hope to welcome even more in 2024.
Marci highlighted the critical need for support, referencing recent ALICE findings that reported a 17% increase in local poverty. Previous campaign co-chair Ashley Russo emphasized the value of giving through United Way, while 2024 campaign chair Chris Martin discussed Martin Guitar’s growing involvement, particularly around building on the mental health campaign so successfully championed by immediate past campaign chairs, Adrienne and Tony DaRe.
United Way Tocqueville Society is an alliance of nearly 400 successful business and philanthropic leaders and their families who share a strong commitment and passion for investing in our local community. Learn more here.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — LINC, a nonprofit organization committed to fostering welcoming and inclusive workplaces and communities, announced the appointment of four existing board members to leadership roles on its Board of Directors Executive Committee: Marci Lesko, board chair, Scott Blair, vice chair, Joané Hockenbury, secretary, and Edwin Taliaferro, treasurer. These four professionals embody LINC’s mission to create an environment where everyone relocating to the Lehigh Valley feels like they belong. They join LINC President, Katelyn Mack, Executive Board Member ex-oficio Oldrich Foucek, III, and Orville Trout, co-chair of LINC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, in executive leadership roles.
“Together, this accomplished team brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and diverse perspectives to guide our organization forward,” said LINC’s president, Katelyn Mack. “Their collective leadership will strengthen our commitment to creating an inviting community for all those moving to the Lehigh Valley.
Marci Lesko, incoming CEO of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, has been appointed board chair. As chair, Lesko is responsible for guiding the board in fulfilling its governance duties and advancing LINC’s mission. Lesko has worked at United Way since 2006, having previously served as the organization’s Vice President of Community Impact, Executive Vice President, Chief Impact Officer and Corporate Secretary. She was appointed Chief Operating Officer by the Board of Directors in 2023 and will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer starting in June 2024.
In addition to being a proud member of United Way Tocqueville Society and long-time member of United Way Women United, Lesko serves on several boards and is affiliated with many community improvement efforts such as the Lehigh County Suicide Prevention Coalition, as Board Chair for Pennsylvania’s Family Support Alliance, as Chair of LINC, as Board Chair of Enduring Keys, Inc., and as a committee chair of the Concourse Club of Palmerton. Lesko has won several distinguished awards for her work, including the Human Relations Commission (2005), The Donley Award for Children’s Advocacy (2016), Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania Take the Lead Award (2017), Community Achievement Award/Woman of Influence Award from Lehigh Valley Business (2018), the PBS39 Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Award (2018) and led United Way to receive the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center Community Leadership Award (2021).
Scott Blair, senior director for diversity, equity and inclusion at B. Braun Medical Inc., is the board’s vice chair and co-chair of LINC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. As vice chair, Blair supports the chair in fulfilling her duties and assuming responsibilities in her absence. He previously worked as associate vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion at DeSales University, chief diversity officer at Northampton Community College and director of student diversity & inclusion initiatives at the State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry. A former Commissioner for the Pennsylvania Governor’s Commission on Latino Affairs and Board member with the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Blair is an active member with the AdvaMed Inclusion & Diversity practitioners community and serves as a Board member for the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.
Joané Hockenbury has been appointed as board secretary. Hockenbury worked at Just Born, Inc. for over two decades, most recently serving as Chief Human Resources Officer.
Hockenbury, who retired earlier this year is an active community member. She has served on LINC’s board since 2022 and is a member of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s board and the Dementia Friendly Lehigh Valley Steering Committee. She also sits on the advisory boards of Cedar Crest College and Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School. She previously served as president of the Society of Human Resource Management Lehigh Valley and Dream Come True.
Edwin Taliaferro, vice president of internal audit services at Lehigh Valley Health Network, will continue his service as board treasurer. He is a financial professional who has been performing financial and operational oversight for more than four decades. Taliaferro previously held positions at HD Vest Financial Services, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Hospital for Special Surgery, Jefferson Wells, RCN, McGraw-Hill, Gitano Group, CBS, AT&T and Ernst & Young (EY). He and his wife Nilda also received LINC services upon their relocation to the Lehigh Valley in 2017.
Taliaferro has sat on LINC’s board since 2021. He previously served on the Forum for Ethics in the Workplace board at DeSales University and Thea’s Star of Hope.
Meet LINC’s full Board of Directors by visiting www.linc-lv.org/about-us/board-of-directors/.
About LINC
LINC is a nonprofit organization that envisions communities and workplaces where everyone feels welcome, gets rooted, and thrives. It focuses on supporting employers by attracting and supporting relocating employees and other newcomers to the greater Lehigh Valley while helping advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations. For more information, visit www.linc-lv.org/.
One our most dedicated Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley volunteers, Carol Gonzalez, was recently honored with the Unsung Hero Award from Lehigh County Aging and Adult Services.
“Carol’s such a great example of how an age-friendly community builds intergenerational connections that make all residents feel safe, included and supported. They keep individuals socially connected and engaged in community life and they enhance opportunities to be healthy and active,” said Carmen Bell, Director of Healthy Aging for United Way.
The Unsung Hero event pays tribute to people 60 and older who displayed exceptional generosity with their time and talents for the benefit of their community and to enhance the lives of others. It salutes ordinary individuals who do extraordinary things. Unsung Heroes are people who live quietly among us, inspiring all those who are privileged to know them.
Each May, we celebrate Older Americans Month to recognize older Americans for their contributions.
Please help us in congratulating Carol on the well-deserved recognition!
The Volunteer Center has teamed up with the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to provide a DE&I Cohort program to help nonprofits identify a path forward for change on their DE&I journey. This program will address challenges nonprofits face in getting started, sustaining interest, navigating organizational change and finding resources for DE&I initiatives. It provides a supportive environment where you can learn from peers and experts while receiving practical guidance that you can use to tailor to your organization’s needs. This program is for the executive director/CEO and/or a person on staff who is responsible for DEI initiatives at your organization.
What is included:
Cohort session dates and topics. The first 2 are in-person at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, final session is on Zoom.
Program cost:
$75 for Volunteer Center members, $100 for non-members. View the list of member organization’s here: https://www.volunteerlv.org/member-listing Need-based discounts are available.
In April, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley (AFLV), in partnership with ArtsQuest and Lehigh University Art Galleries, hosted an outing for older adults at Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem. The Age-Friendly initiative is committed to connecting the area’s older adults to resources, activities and each other to keep seniors connected, active and engaged in their communities.
“We’re excited to partner with ArtsQuest and Lehigh University Art Galleries to bring this program together to eliminate barriers that would prevent older adults from participating in these activities, such as lack of transportation and cost,” said Carmen Bell, United Way’s Sr. Director of Healthy Aging.
ArtsQuest’s Creative Aging Program focuses on serving senior populations through art and creativity. Each partner brings something to the table—ArtsQuest provided the teaching artist, Lehigh University Art Galleries provided a tour of the museum and refreshments and AFLV provided the transportation.
Ten engaged participants from United Way Community Hubs received breakfast, a guided tour of one of the exhibits and created their own works of art led by one of ArtsQuest’s teaching artists, Monica Salazar.
Social isolation can have a negative impact on physical health and mental well-being and is associated with a lower use of healthcare and an increased risk of mortality. Strong social support and connections can boost a person’s well-being and life span by 50%, according to Scientific American.
See more: Living in the Lehigh Valley: Creative Aging Program Episode on PBS
Photography: Marco Calderon Photography
Kathryn
Retired Easton Resident
Carlton
Semi-retired Bethlehem Resident
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and Allentown School District have partnered to create an Equity Fellowship for educators with the goal of empowering teachers to lead initiatives aimed at enhancing equity outcomes for students within the Allentown School District.
The fellowship is an initiative of United Way’s Marcon Equity Innovation and Impact Lab, which creates community and resources to support existing and emerging equity leaders, enabling them to pursue bold and innovative action towards an equitable Greater Lehigh Valley.
The Equity Fellowship program will support and equip teachers in the Allentown School District to develop initiatives to promote equity and cultural responsiveness in schools.
Using data from the district’s equity audit, fellows will:
Three fellows will be chosen to represent the elementary, middle, and high school levels, respectively. Each fellow will receive a stipend of $3,500 to support the work.
The fellowship will run throughout the 2024-25 school year. Key dates include:
With support from United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s Fund For Racial Justice and Equity (FRJE) grant, organizations like Lycan Media are making significant strides to support underrepresented youth.
Lycan Media is a multifaceted production company dedicated to helping organizations have a voice in the community and create meaningful stories. From video production and short films to virtual training and documentaries, Lycan Media showcases the remarkable accomplishments of individuals and organizations in the Lehigh Valley. Its mission is to keep youth engaged and informed about the resources in their area, and believes that investing in healthy habits during youth is an investment in the community’s future.
KP Boisseau started Lycan Media by making calisthenics videos showcasing how to keep your body healthy. That eventually grew into offering fitness apparel. As time passed and social media platforms continued to evolve, KP realized Lycan Media could push forward a new wave of inspiration and embrace culture through film production and photography.
“The resources we received from the United Way are very helpful because everything I thought I knew, I learned as I started going through the process [of starting a nonprofit organization],” said Lycan Media Founder and CEO Boisseau. “The funding helped in terms of who I could talk to, opening up conversations with the city and other community-based organizations.”
With the FRJE grant’s support, Lycan Media has launched the Lifting Young Communities Against Negativity (LYCANS) Initiative – a project that offers children programs focused on technology, agriculture, fitness, science, carpentry, health and community development.
The LYCANS Initiative is a nonprofit program that serves as a conduit for Lycan Media, forging strong connections between surrounding organizations to develop and maintain a cohesive tapestry of vital resources. The organization believes that by strengthening the foundation of children in the region, we ensure a brighter future for their adulthood. The initiative aims to connect and support adolescents and their families, guiding them toward the knowledge and understanding of the abundant elements available to support their achievements. It was designed to keep youth engaged and provide them with access to local resources that cater to the child’s individual needs and foster development.
Lycan Media believes developing self-care and healthy habits promotes mental stability and, most importantly, is a valuable skill that should be instilled at a young age and carried throughout life.
The LYCANS Initiative teaches mental health awareness by guiding teenagers toward healthy coping mechanisms, mainly through fitness and exercise. The overarching goal is to help youth realize that regardless of the circumstances within their community, they can still develop healthy habits for themselves and their future.
Lycan Media highlights what’s possible when communities UNITE to uplift and empower the next generation. Through initiatives like the FRJE grant, United Way and its partners are not just investing in organizations; they’re investing in the futures of countless young individuals, ensuring that no dream goes unrealized due to lack of opportunity.
United Way awarded the following local organizations with grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 through the FRJE:
Grant funding is made possible thanks to partners and donors who directed their support to the Fund for Racial Justice and Equity, including PPL Foundation, Crayola, Behr, Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation, Truist, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation and United Way Women United.
Learn more about United Way and the grant program by visiting our Fund for Racial Justice and Equity page.
Allentown, PA, May 2, 2024 – To offer rapid financial support to the families and residents affected by the April 30 fire in the 700 block of North Seventh Street in Allentown, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Greater Valley YMCA and Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley have established the 7th Street Fire Fund. The community groups have united quickly to raise funds and coordinate relief efforts for victims of the fire with partners including Allentown School District, American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter, the City of Allentown, Community Action Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Health Network and Valley Health Partners, among others.
The fire destroyed or significantly damaged four homes, displacing 36 residents ages 2 to 65. The American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter provided relief to the impacted residents in the immediate aftermath of the fire including shelter, food and emergency supplies in partnership with the Allentown YMCA and Promise Neighborhoods. Now, United Way, YMCA and Lehigh Conference of Churches will work with partners to provide long-term assistance with 100% of funds going to aid those affected by this disaster.
“We understand that most of the families have lost everything and won’t be able to return to their homes. At United Way, we are committed to responding to the urgent needs of the community. Through this partnership with trusted and effective partners in Allentown, donors can take comfort knowing that their funds will be properly managed and used only for those affected by the fire,” said Marci Lesko, incoming Chief Executive Officer, United Way.
Donations can be made online at this secure website or via mail (checks payable to UWGLV, 1110 American Parkway NE, Suite F-120, Allentown, PA 18109 – attention “7th Street Fire Fund”). Additionally, individuals interested in making a donation can text “ALLENTOWN” to 40403. Gift card donations are also encouraged.
“When tragedy strikes the community, as it has in Allentown this week, it is the community that must respond to help those affected on their way to recovery,” explained Trish Feinthel, managing Chief Operating Officer, Greater Valley YMCA. “We are grateful to be part of the effort to provide for the victims of the 7th St. fire, and will continue to be at the ready to put our mission into action for those who have lost so much.”
For additional information or questions on the fund, contact Erin Connelly at 610-807-5723.
