"Running America" takes an unscheduled detour
Charlie Engle, the ultra-athlete attempting to break a world record for running across America while partnering with United Way to promote youth fitness, has made it to McCook, Nebraska – more than 1,500 miles from San Francisco, where he started his journey on September 13. But his body has not been able to handle the strain—and pain—of trying to run 70 miles per day.
Last week, after an MRI, Charlie was told he could no longer run with his running partner, Marshall Ulrich. This news was devastating to Charlie, but he has adapted, and decided to get on a bike and continue the quest. He’s committed to raising awareness of childhood obesity, increasing youth fitness, and promoting United Way’s work to advance the common good. Follow Charlie’s saga—see photos and video—send him an encouraging message—or sign up to run with him—at www.runningamerica08.com.
To those of you whose communities were early on the route, thanks for cheering Charlie on. To those in the eastern half of the country: Join in! Gather a group to run or bike with Charlie along his route. You can track his progress and see where he's headed next at www.runningamerica08.com.
Last week, after an MRI, Charlie was told he could no longer run with his running partner, Marshall Ulrich. This news was devastating to Charlie, but he has adapted, and decided to get on a bike and continue the quest. He’s committed to raising awareness of childhood obesity, increasing youth fitness, and promoting United Way’s work to advance the common good. Follow Charlie’s saga—see photos and video—send him an encouraging message—or sign up to run with him—at www.runningamerica08.com.
To those of you whose communities were early on the route, thanks for cheering Charlie on. To those in the eastern half of the country: Join in! Gather a group to run or bike with Charlie along his route. You can track his progress and see where he's headed next at www.runningamerica08.com.
United Way and NFL Focus on Youth Fitness
Yesterday was the tenth annual NFL/United Way Hometown Huddle—a series of volunteer projects implemented on the same day in all 32 NFL cities nationwide. This year, the NFL and United Way teamed up to help kids get more physically active. I attended the Detroit event, where 16 players for the Lions helped kids from the Boys and Girls Club in Highland Park participate in a series of physical activities.
As part of the day’s focus on community and youth fitness, Detroit launched a HOPSports youth fitness zones (five other NFL cities launched fitness zones in their communities). This interactive media center and sports equipment offers fitness training while entertaining, evaluating and educating young people about nutrition and health. This fitness zone will remain active throughout the year, helping the kids to implement the lessons they learned at Hometown Huddle.
It was great to see the kids faces as they ran through the activities with their heroes. I know the kids were thrilled by the great turnout from the Lions players and enjoyed having a chance to meet them in person.
To learn more about the United Way and NFL partnership, go to liveunited.org/nfl.
As part of the day’s focus on community and youth fitness, Detroit launched a HOPSports youth fitness zones (five other NFL cities launched fitness zones in their communities). This interactive media center and sports equipment offers fitness training while entertaining, evaluating and educating young people about nutrition and health. This fitness zone will remain active throughout the year, helping the kids to implement the lessons they learned at Hometown Huddle.
It was great to see the kids faces as they ran through the activities with their heroes. I know the kids were thrilled by the great turnout from the Lions players and enjoyed having a chance to meet them in person.
To learn more about the United Way and NFL partnership, go to liveunited.org/nfl.
United Way scores a big policy victory
The United States Senate just passed the House-version of the federal government funding Continuing Resolution (H.R. 2638 - funding the government until March 2009) by a vote of 78-12. The resolution includes significant funding increases for some of the United Way's highest pubic policy priorities, the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). We asked you for your help in getting these increases through the Senate, and you delivered. Your calls to your Senators really made a difference. Thank you!
EFSP and LIHEAP are vital government programs that directly support United Way's goal of reducing the number of families who are financially unstable. United Way of America and its coalition partners have long supported increased funding for EFSP and LIHEAP to meet the needs of struggling families. With the current economic situation, additional funding is more important than ever. Under the Continuing Resolution, EFSP was increased from $153 Million to $200 Million for fiscal year 2009 and LIHEAP funding has been doubled from $2.5 Billion to $5.1 Billion for 2009!
The bill also includes significant increases for disaster relief funding and other United Way supported programs. We'll provide additional information once we've reviewed this comprehensive bill.
The President is expected to sign the resolution into law.
Even though the bill has passed Congress, it's important that your Congressional representatives know you appreciate these major funding increases. We encourage you to contact your Senators and Congressmen to thank them for their support for EFSP and LIHEAP. In addition, please encourage your network of volunteers and supporters to call their two Senators and Congressman.
To view the contact information of your Senators and Congressman, please click on the following link and enter your zip code in the proper field:
http://www.capwiz.com/unitedway/dbq/officials/
Once your Senators' and Congressman's names come up, click on "e-mail" or click on "info", then click on "contact" to find your Senators' Washington office phone numbers.
Tell them:
EFSP and LIHEAP are vital government programs that directly support United Way's goal of reducing the number of families who are financially unstable. United Way of America and its coalition partners have long supported increased funding for EFSP and LIHEAP to meet the needs of struggling families. With the current economic situation, additional funding is more important than ever. Under the Continuing Resolution, EFSP was increased from $153 Million to $200 Million for fiscal year 2009 and LIHEAP funding has been doubled from $2.5 Billion to $5.1 Billion for 2009!
The bill also includes significant increases for disaster relief funding and other United Way supported programs. We'll provide additional information once we've reviewed this comprehensive bill.
The President is expected to sign the resolution into law.
Even though the bill has passed Congress, it's important that your Congressional representatives know you appreciate these major funding increases. We encourage you to contact your Senators and Congressmen to thank them for their support for EFSP and LIHEAP. In addition, please encourage your network of volunteers and supporters to call their two Senators and Congressman.
To view the contact information of your Senators and Congressman, please click on the following link and enter your zip code in the proper field:
http://www.capwiz.com/unitedway/dbq/officials/
Once your Senators' and Congressman's names come up, click on "e-mail" or click on "info", then click on "contact" to find your Senators' Washington office phone numbers.
Tell them:
- Who you are;
- Where you're from;
- Thank them for supporting the EFSP and LIHEAP increases in the Continuing Resolution; and,
- Tell that you're calling for United Way!
Thank you!
United Way to Target Health, Education and Income
A brilliant and very supportive article about the 10-year bold goals in the Washington Post. Please click here to read.
United Way and Running America
For elite adventurer Charlie Engle, every day brings a new challenge. He has run through some of the most forbidding terrain on the planet and has learned many lessons about life along the way. With a lot of determination and the ability to endure hardships in every way, Charlie has moved from a life of drugs and alcohol to a life of understanding and learning to live with himself. After many years of sobriety, he has become a top athlete, spokesperson and philanthropist.
United Way is teaming up with Charlie and Running America to raise awareness about the issue of childhood obesity and to raise funds to support the recently announced United Way goals to address the issue. Our goal is to inspire more people to get involved in their communities and become part of the change: give, advocate, volunteer.
Beginning on September 13, 2008, in San Francisco CA and ending on or before October 27, 2008 in New York NY, "Running America" is an idea sparked by Charlie's recent run across the Sahara Desert to help Africa, and his desire to draw attention to childhood obesity and youth fitness. This time the task will be to finish the run in 45 days to break the world record.
Go to Running America's website>>
United Way announces bold 10 year goals
It sets three bold goals for where the nation should be by 2018:
- Cut by half the number of young people who drop out of high school.
- Cut by half the number of working families that lackfinancial stability.
- Increase by one-third the percentage of healthy young people and adults.
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