To celebrate the halfway point of the annual campaign, 2023 campaign chairs Tony and Adrienne DaRe welcomed more than 150 members of Tocqueville Society at the grand opening of their new BSI Corporate Benefits headquarters in South Bethlehem. While a string quartet played lively music, guests toured the new offices in the Victory Firehouse building. The DaRe’s have championed mental health throughout the campaign and shared the positive response they’ve received from donors, partners and community members.
On the evening of October 12, Women United, a United Way giving society, hosted their annual meeting. Over 130 members and guests gathered at the beautiful Centennial at Homewood Suites in Center Valley to mingle, celebrate and learn about the work at their 10 Signature Projects.
During the celebration, Anne Baum, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital President, was recognized for Women United’s highest honor—the 2023 Betsy Torrence Philanthropist of the Year. Women United recognizes the Philanthropist of the Year as a member who is active in the community, is a philanthropic leader in the Lehigh Valley and demonstrates a personal commitment of time, talent and treasure to the best of her ability. The group’s founding president Betsy Torrence is recognized as the model of the Philanthropist of the Year awardee. Through her volunteerism, Anne embodies our vision to ensure everyone in the Lehigh Valley belongs and thrives. Congratulations again, Anne.
Special thanks to the Women United 2023 sponsors: Silver Sponsors: Air Products and Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital; Bronze Sponsors: Capital Blue Cross, Fulton Bank, King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC., People First Federal Credit Union.
United Way Women United 2023 Overview Video
Frances Hesselbein: Defining Moments
Frances Hesselbein “Defining Moments” Trailer
United Way and Women United are honored to play a small role in producing Defining Moments, a feature-length documentary based upon the groundbreaking life’s work of Frances Hesselbein.
The film explores the legendary leadership of the former Girl Scouts of America CEO, Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient and first woman to chair a United Way Campaign.
This documentary about a “pioneer for women, volunteerism, diversity, and opportunity” will be created for all of us by Sarah McArthur and the many Friends of Frances in association with Schler Productions LLC.
See the Impact: James Lawson Freedom Schools
Through your continued support, Women United is investing over $1 million over four years to advance the education and financial stability of women, children and families through 10 Impact Investments, including Freedom Schools.
This summer, Resurrected Community Development Corporation’s James Lawson Freedom Schools welcomed over 160 scholars to attend, learn and grow. With support from Women United, Freedom Schools added a new summer learning site in Easton, enjoyed several field trips and reported increased parent involvement.
Allentown, PA – United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV) Women United will honor Anne Baum, President of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, with the 2023 Betsy Torrence Philanthropist of the Year Award, the group’s highest accolade.
Women United recognizes the Philanthropist of the Year as a member who is active in the community, is a philanthropic leader in the Lehigh Valley and demonstrates a personal commitment of time, talent and treasure to the best of her ability. The group’s founding president Betsy Torrence is recognized as the model of the Philanthropist of the Year awardee.
“I am honored by this amazing recognition. Women United is a group of women that truly care about the Lehigh Valley. What I love most is that we do signature projects that make a difference for women and children right here in the Valley,” said Baum. “Women United changes lives and being a part of that impact feels great.”
Members will present Baum’s award at Women United 2023, sponsored by Air Products, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, Capital Blue Cross, Fulton Bank, King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC. and People First Federal Credit Union. This annual event will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at The Centennial Catering & Conference Center in Center Valley from 5:30-8 p.m. Registration is available HERE.
To be nominated for the Philanthropist of the Year award, let alone receive it, is an incredible honor,” said Lisa Daugherty, President of Women United. “Anne has impacted our community in more ways than I can name and Women United is grateful for her dedication to improving lives throughout the Lehigh Valley.”
“Anne Baum is a powerful community leader and a force in the Lehigh Valley. She’s an excellent role model for the next generation of female philanthropists,” shared Kendal Conrad who nominated Baum for the award.
Baum is the first President of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital and currently serves on UWGLV’s Board of Directors. She chaired UWGLV’s Resource Development Committee, served on the Executive Committee and Board and served as the 2016-2017 Campaign Chair raising $12,047,907 for United Way. She has been a member of United Way’s Tocqueville Society for over 10 years.
“We are so proud to recognize Anne as this year’s philanthropist of the year. Through her volunteerism, she embodies our vision to ensure everyone in the Lehigh Valley belongs and thrives,” shared Marci Lesko, Chief Operating Officer for UWGLV. “Women United represents the best of women coming together to do what’s right for all and Anne has an unrivaled level of dedication and drive. Congratulations, Anne.”
In Baum’s role at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, she leads strategic planning and operations for the third largest children’s hospital in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital cares for kids of all ages with comprehensive pediatric specialties, the region’s only children’s surgery center, children’s cancer center, children’s ExpressCARE and children’s emergency room.
She invests her time volunteering with various organizations throughout the area including Girl Scouts of Eastern PA, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Valley Youth House, Lehigh Valley Industrial Parks, Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority, Allentown Symphony and Northampton Community College Foundation. She serves on the Lehigh University Health Systems Engineering Industry Advisory Council and the Downtown Allentown Community Development Initiative.
United Way Women United fights for the education and stability of women, children and families in the Greater Lehigh Valley through philanthropy, advocacy and volunteer efforts. Women United is part of a global network of more than 70,000 women in 165 communities across six countries, all dedicated to improving lives and creating stronger communities.
Allentown, PA – More than 50 Crayola employees volunteered to clean, organize and make improvements at Easton Area Community Center and The Salvation Army Allentown Corps as part of United Way Day of Caring. This annual event brought together more than 1,200 energetic volunteers to complete community service projects at 53 area nonprofits throughout the Greater Lehigh Valley during the month of September.
“Our company culture is focused on fostering a giving spirit and helping others. Crayolians volunteer each year knowing they will learn more about our community, work together as a team and make a difference. When United Way, local companies and nonprofits work together, everyone wins,” said Crayola President and Chief Executive Officer Rich Wuerthele.
Presented by Crayola and coordinated by Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley, Day of Caring is the region’s largest collective community service effort and serves as the official kickoff to United Way’s annual fundraising campaign. Funds raised throughout the campaign directly provide support for 133,000 residents each year in the areas of education, healthy aging and community stability.
“Day of Caring is the perfect example of what it means to LIVE UNITED. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this our largest and most successful Day of Caring to date,” said David Lewis of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.
Crayola employees worked throughout the day at Easton Area Community Center and The Salvation Army Allentown Corps to clean and paint various rooms, organize food pantries, weed and mulch gardens, and power wash exteriors. They joined a total of more than 1,200 participants from 54 companies and organizations who contributed more than 6,150 hours of service valued at $195,570 to more than 50 nonprofits in Lehigh and Northampton and counties.
Day of Caring’s presenting sponsor is Crayola with additional support from:
Silver Sponsor: JP Morgan Chase & Co.;
Bronze Sponsors: Air Products, Capital Blue Cross, Just Born Quality Confections, KingSpry Law and AAA East Central;
Pearl Sponsor: Amazon Fulfillment;
In-kind contributors: ASR Media Productions, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Niagara Bottling Co. and Uline.
Lehigh Valley locations have been designated as winter warming stations for the community throughout the winter months. Warming stations are short-term emergency shelters that operate when the temperature and weather conditions become dangerously inclement. They serve in the prevention of death and injury from exposure to the elements. Many warming stations provide shelter, food and a safe place for those experiencing homelessness in our community.
For the most up-to-date listings and information on volunteering at these locations, contact PA 211 East by phone at 2-1-1 or visit pa211.org.
Greater Valley Y-Allentown Will open November 15 through April 15, 2024, from 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. daily Dinner meals will be served seven nights a week. 425 S 15th St., Allentown, PA 18102, entrance via rear parking lot 610-351-9622
Bethlehem Emergency Shelter Will open November 15 through April 30, 2024, from 5 p.m. – 7 a.m. Dinner will be served between 5:30-7:30pm. Breakfast to-go bags will be distributed as guests depart. 75 E Market St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 484-379-6694
Safe Harbor Easton Will open December 1 through March 31, 2024, from 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. daily 536 Bushkill Drive., Easton, PA 18042 610-258-5540
Allentown, PA – United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley announced it has named Amy Golding to serve as Associate Vice President of Philanthropy and Donor Engagement. In her new role, Golding leads donor engagement and philanthropy for United Way Tocqueville Society donors and prospects.
A recognized leader in community building, Golding brings with her decades of experience in leadership, major gifts and philanthropy. Most recently, Golding served for seven years as the Head of Schools at the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley, which she attended during her primary years.
“We are thrilled to have Amy’s experience in philanthropy and look forward to her assistance with spreading our organization’s message and attracting new donors,” said United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley President David Lewis.
“Her background in leading fundraising campaigns makes her the perfect addition to our leadership team, and her reputation in our community enables us to continue to grow and develop resources and solutions that improve our community,” Lewis added.
Golding is from Allentown and values giving back to the community. She currently sits on the board of Jewish Kids Groups, an independent network of Jewish supplementary schools that educate and inspire children, engendering positive Jewish learning, identity and friendships.
“As a native of the Lehigh Valley, I am honored for the opportunity to use my expertise to serve the region and surrounding areas,” said Golding. “United Way inspires me to advocate for building communities where every person thrives, and I’m excited to work with the organization’s committed donors to achieve lasting impact and fulfill our mission.”
Business leaders, elected officials and nonprofits will learn more about the local and national child care workforce crisis and how it is impacting local businesses and the economy. The Early Childhood Education Action Committee is hosting a roundtable discussion around the local and national child care workforce crisis.
The event will be held on Thursday, September 21, at Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem from 8 to 10 a.m. Registration is available here.
This event is held in partnership with United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers, The Greater Valley YMCA, Pinebrook Family Answers-Unconditional Child Care, The Children’s Center, Volunteers of America, Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) and the Lehigh and Northampton Chapter of PennAEYC.
The moderated panel discussion with representatives from Unity Bank, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Creative Learning Center of the Lehigh Valley and Northampton Community College will focus on how the child care staffing crisis is hampering industries from being able to recruit and retain employees.
According to a February 2023 Start Strong PA survey of more than 1,000 child care providers across the state, there are more than 3,600 open staff positions resulting in more than 1,500 closed classrooms with a combined waitlist of more than 35,000 children. The Start Strong PA survey included Lehigh and Northampton County child care providers, which reported a combined 260 open staff positions resulting in 90 closed classrooms with more than 1,400 children on waitlists.
“I really hope these sessions continue to bring actionable awareness to our legislative and business sectors. Through collaboration, I hope we can come out of this early childhood education crisis and work toward sustainable recovery,” said Colleen Gilbert, co-chair of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s Tocqueville Society and the event emcee.
“The event will highlight that high-quality child care is critical to the workforce. No business wants to deal with absenteeism, high turnover, and distracted workers, but if their employees don’t have stable and reliable child care all of these can and do impact the bottom line of a business,” stated the members of the Early Childhood Education Action Committee.
The Committee consists of Charles Dinofrio, President/CEO, Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers; Betty Druckenmiller, Director of the Children’s Center Volunteers of America; Shelly Feller, Program Manager, Unconditional Child Care Pinebrook Family Answers; Denise Madzik, Coordinator, Northampton Community College Children’s Center, Reibman Hall; Crystal Messer, Vice President of Child Care, Greater Valley YMCA; Dr. Anu Sachdev, Professor, East Stroudsburg University; and Jan Schwartz, Outreach Director, PennAEYC.
Allentown, PA – More than 1,200 energetic volunteers united to complete community service projects at 53 area nonprofits during the 30th United Way Day of Caring, presented by Crayola and coordinated by Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley.
“Today is a great day to live, work and give in the Greater Lehigh Valley. It’s the 30th anniversary of Day of Caring, and the largest one to date. I’m grateful to the hundreds of people who rolled up their sleeves and invested their talent and energy in serving our community during Day of Caring,” said David Lewis, President, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV).
United Way kicks off its annual campaign with Day of Caring, which is the largest single-day volunteer effort in the community.
“It’s inspiring to see so many companies partnering with United Way to embrace the importance of nonprofit work in our community. BSI Corporate Benefit’s partnership with United Way has affected our culture in the most positive way. It gives everyone the opportunity to volunteer and give, creating a sense of belonging, purpose, and empowerment,” said BSI Corporate Benefits Chief Executive Officer Tony DaRe, who is chairing the 2023 United Way campaign with his wife Adrienne.
“United Way Day of Caring celebrates the fact that everyone has something to give and to contribute. By connecting people to the causes they care about, United Way gives us all tangible opportunities to make a difference every day,” added Adrienne DaRe.
In the Greater Lehigh Valley, more than 1,200 participants from 54 companies and organizations contributed more than 6,150 hours of service valued at $195,570 to more than 50 nonprofits in Lehigh and Northampton and counties. Some Day of Caring projects included:
Beautifying outdoor spaces with PPL at Unidos in Allentown
Fall landscaping with Air Products at Children’s Home of Easton
Decorating United Way Community Schools with Just Born Quality Confections and City Center Group
Installing fire alarms in Easton with Victaulic, Dual Temp, JP Morgan Chase and American Red Cross
Hosting an outdoor picnic for Phoebe Allentown residents with BSI Corporate Benefits
“Connecting volunteers to our local nonprofits is what we do best at the Volunteer Center. This year is our largest mobilization of corporate teams with 1,200 volunteers who will be supporting the 53 local nonprofits. The impact that our collective efforts with United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has on our community is a game changer for the nonprofits and a tremendous opportunity for the businesses to have a team building experience for their employees,” said Karen Daly Smith, CEO, Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley.
Day of Caring’s presenting sponsor is Crayola with additional support from:
Silver Sponsor: JP Morgan Chase & Co.;
Bronze Sponsors: Air Products, Capital Blue Cross, Just Born Quality Confections, KingSpry Law and AAA East Central;
Pearl Sponsor: Amazon Fulfillment;
In-kind contributors: ASR Media Productions, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Niagara Bottling Co. and Uline.
Photo Credit: Marco Calderon Photography and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
Members of United Way’s Tocqueville Society are deeply committed to giving back through their leadership and service. Steve Jones and Melanie Sanchez-Jones, Tocqueville donors since 2021, share their personal reasons for giving back through United Way.
“We choose to support United Way because of its commitment to meaningful and impactful goals. As members of a family of educators, we recognize the importance of a strong foundation in providing equal opportunities for every child’s future. United Way provides an opportunity for everyone to contribute toward creating positive change in our communities.”
Steve and Melanie reside in Center Valley and have 2 children: Zac and Alex.
Allentown, PA – United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has announced a multi-year initiative to increase awareness and funding around the region’s growing mental health crisis. The UNITED for Mental Health campaign is a three-year initiative with initial support from BSI Corporate Benefits.
“Across the nation, mental health needs are rising rapidly, creating substantial impacts on all parts of life including physical health, quality of life and even a student’s ability to learn in school. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General has described declining mental health among youth as the crisis of our time,” said David Lewis, President of United Way.
In the Greater Lehigh Valley, statistics show a continued increase in depression, anxiety and isolation among children, teens, adults and seniors:
43% of youth report feeling depressed most days,
40% of adults report symptoms of depression or anxiety,
25% of seniors report feeling isolated from their community, and
The suicide rate is 34% higher than the state average, with Carbon County reporting the highest suicide rate among veterans in Pennsylvania.
“At BSI, we see the need growing every day when reviewing client claims data. Today, mental health challenges affect nearly one in four Americans, and impacts every family and every person in the community,” said BSI Corporate Benefits Chief Executive Officer Tony DaRe, who is chairing the 2023 United Way campaign with his wife Adrienne.
Throughout the annual campaign which ends March 31, 2024, BSI Corporate Benefits has pledged to make an additional gift in honor of every new or increased donation to support our neighbors’ mental health needs.
Donations will provide resources including:
Student mental health services in United Way Community Schools;
Programs to combat social isolation among older adults;
Housing, shelter and case management for veterans;
In-home services for babies and parents, and more.
“So many people in our community are struggling, and we believe we can make a real difference by working together to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and to raise funding for numerous United Way-supported programs and efforts to connect children, parents, employees and their families with the services they need,” added Adrienne DaRe.
All new and increased donations to United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley through March 31, 2024, are eligible for the additional gift from BSI.
