Thanks to our hosts The Friends of UCM, hundreds of community members enjoyed a glamorous eve-ning at the UCM Spring Gala on April 2, raising more than $188,000.

“The Friends of UCM are all volunteers with amazing dedication and such tireless energy,” says Nichelle Mitchem, UCM Executive

Director. “We are grateful for all their enthusiasm, energy, and creativity. They inspire us with their compassion and ‘can do’ spirit. Special thanks go to Suzy Coffey, Friends President, and to the gala co-chairs for their amazing success.”

We especially appreciate our event sponsors, listed

“Thank You for Believing in Me”

Glitz, Glamour & Giving at Viva Las Vegas Gala

S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

M I S S IO N

UCM mobilizes

the power of

community to

equip, educate,

and empower

people to

measurably

improve their lives.

V I S I ON

No member

of the UCM

community will

ever be hungry,

homeless, helpless

or hopeless.

BO AR D O F D I R E CT OR S

Charles O’Connor Chair

Janet Heddesheimer Vice Chair

Joseph Conti Treasurer

David Barbour Secretary

Abigail Arms

Diane Brooks

Suzy Coffey

Claudia Creo

Kenneth Disselkoen

Moira Flanders

Zeyad Mady

Andrew Reinsdorf

Martin Schaefermeier

James F. Seeley

Leah Tenorio Nichelle A. Mitchem Executive Director

U C M A G E N C Y . O R G

"Coming to the UCM Center every day after school has taught me to have a better outlook on things, on my self respect, and most important, to believe in myself, to be my own star in the story of my life. I am now on the right track, with a new appreciation for my teachers and for my peers.” - Sophomore Deneisha, UCM Creekside Village Community Center participant and honor student at West Potomac High School.

The success of Deneisha and so many teens like her starts with you. With the support of caring community members like you, UCM brings opportunity, hope, and a brighter future to children and youth in our Mount Vernon community. From birth through high school graduation, our programs provide youth with enrichment experi-ences and opportunities for them to reach new heights.

Your support gives our next generation a fighting chance to create a better life for themselves, through these programs.

Healthy Families Fairfax: Guiding and supporting new parents.

UCM Early Learning Center: Ages 6 weeks to 5 years for early. care and learning, and kindergarten readiness.

Forward Steps: Teaching leadership skills for a diverse world.

Computer Learning Center Partnership: Ensuring computer access and digital literacy.

We have many ways you can help our children, including organizing book or healthy snack collection drives; volunteering in our after-school programs; and making financial donations for enrichment activies.

We invite you to join us at a UCM Coffee for Children, for a community conversation to learn about our kids' programs directly from our program staff and see the impact of your support. For upcoming dates or to host a session at your location, contact Susan Johnson at susan.johnson@ucmagency.org or 571.255.8992.

A t th e H e a r t o f C o m m u n i t y

on page 4. A full list of all sponsors and event photos are at our website.

(story continues on page 2)

Volunteer mentor Kathy Lehner and teen Deneisha shared her inspiring story

at the UCM Spring Gala.

Guests enjoyed live Casino table games, live and silent auctions,

and gourmet dinner at the US PTO.

UCM Youth Tutor Annette Thompson (left) with Deborah Finley, Creekside Community Center Supervisor.

United Community Ministries

Community Connections

C O M M U N I T Y C O N N E C T I O N S - S P R I N G 2 0 1 6

P A G E 2

Waynewood Elementary

School has raised more

than $7,000 this year for

UCM, including $1,400 as

proceeds from the Staff

Basketball Game with

Stratford Landing.

Waynewood Principal

James Meier accepted our

certificate of appreciation

on behalf of the school.

Legacy Gift Establishes Arleen B. Richman Fund

Friends of UCM Events Raise $278K+ in FY16

Parents As Teachers

Thank you to Weichert Realtors /

Alexandria Old Town for the

363 pounds and more than $900

collected at their spring UCM

Food Drive to help stock our Pantry.

Realtors are the heart of our community!

Capitol Steps Benefit Perform-ance, now held in November at the US Patent & Trademark Office in Old Town.

Thanks to many generous spon-sors and guests, the Nov. 8, 2015, event raised more than $90,000+ to ensure that people have UCM as a caring place to turn in their time of need. The next Capitol Steps Benefit

(cont. from page 1)

“This year, UCM is putting a special emphasis on our programs that help adults obtain gainful employment for their families,” said UCM Board Chair Charles O’Connor. “Support for UCM is a sound social and financial investment that helps people become self-reliant members of our community.”

The other annual signature event hosted by The Friends of UCM is our

is set for Nov. 13, 2016.

Would you like to learn more about The Friends of UCM and how you can get involved? Contact Friend of UCM Judy Cahill at jcahill8252@gmail.com.

We extend a huge thank you to

Spring Gala Co-Chairs (l to r)

Colleen Haddow, Meg Galanty,

and Donna Jarvis-Miller.

Sheldon Richman accepts a plaque at UCM Gala, in

honor of his wife’s legacy.

Arleen Richman volunteered for many years at UCM, as a coun-selor assisting clients with emergency assistance in our Basic Needs program. After her death in 2014 and to honor her legacy of service, her estate established the Arleen B. Richman Fund at UCM, which that will provide financial assistance to help low-income adults, families, and children gain access to physical and behavioral health-related services.

“All of us at UCM appreciate the care, counseling, and support Arleen selflessly provided to hundreds of UCM clients over more than 15 years of volunteer service,” says Richard Dobber, UCM Director of Social Services. “Her efforts improved the quality of life for so many of our most vulnerable residents. Her impact will be felt for generations.”

UCM has provided vital services to vulnerable children, youth, and families for more than 47 years. Just as important is planning for the work that still needs to be done. Including UCM in your will or estate planning leaves a legacy that transforms lives for generations.

Most weeks, our Family

Support Workers make

home visits to parents

enrolled in our UCM

Healthy Families Fairfax

program. But once a

quarter, the families

meet together for an

educational “Parents As

Teachers” session. The

recent topic was healthy eating, where families

and children could make and eat fun snacks like

fruit faces on pancakes. Last fiscal year, there

were no reports of child abuse or neglect in any of

the 123 families enrolled in our program.

Volunteers are the Heart of Community! P A G E 3

Every April, we celebrate National Volunteer Month to honor our amazing

volunteers. We depend on their generosity every month, all year long, to

help our clients succeed.

UCM volunteers were invited to our 2016 Volunteer Recognition Event on the morning of April 16. All long-term UCM volunteers received certificates of appreciation. “The hard work and donations of time and talent by our hundreds of volunteers make our work possible,” said Nichelle Mitchem, UCM Executive Director. “It’s because of your service that UCM can provide such extensive, quality services that make for positive outcomes for thousands of people.”

UCM leadership nominated four UCM volunteers for this year’s Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards hosted by Volunteer Fairfax. We are thrilled that volunteers Nancy Hegland and her adult son Kenney were named “Family Volunteer” across all of Fairfax County, for their ser-

vice managing the UCM loading dock at our main Fordson Road location. Together, their volunteer service totaled 2,472 hours.

Director for Literacy and Work. “Mike Manion and his team of consultants were so helpful.”

Diagnostic feedback was provided so participants

could create and then deliver their “elevator statements. “I got job-related information, given from an interviewer’s perspective,” said one job seeker. Clients were also assisted with developing "smart responses" to interview questions.

"My job counselor had said simi-lar things,” said one client with an accounting career. “Today helped me see things more clearly. I have a solid under-standing and the confidence to be prepared for my interviews.”

The UCM Workforce Development Center hosts many special hands-on workshops and trainings for job seekers. This spring, a group from Accenture Federal Services (Rosslyn office) partnered with us for a free “Boost your Job Search” workshop.

“We are grateful for this collaboration with Accenture Federal’s consultants,” said Tami Hunt, UCM Assistant

Accenture Interview Workshop with UCM Clients

Helping our Youngest Community Members to Grow and Thrive

Children and families at the UCM Early Learning Center enjoyed special activities for learning

during Week of the Young Child in April. Sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, this annual celebration recognizes the early childhood years as the foundation for children’s success in school and life. “Week of the Young Child is intended as a time to plan how all community citizens will better meet the needs of all young children and all their families," explains UCM Center Director Torria Baker.

On "Music Monday" children had fun exercising in the Bryant High School gymnasium with the school's PE teacher Mr. Jones. "Taco Tuesday" was about healthy eating at school and home. Children helped prepare lunch, which was served “family style,” as it is every day at the Center. "Work Together Wednesday" included building activities in each classroom, with families invited to take a tour. On "Artsy Thursday" children were encouraged to use their imaginations and make their own choices to design art projects. “Family Friday” featured storytelling and pictures about their families.

We appreciate Devotion to Children for its ongoing partnership to ensure quality early care and learning for working families, especially for a recent $4,250 grant to purchase The Creative Curriculum for our infants and toddlers. Designed to maximize academic, social, and physical development for infants to 4-year-olds, this curriculum is already in use in our Pre-K classrooms. Research shows that the longer a young child is exposed to this curriculum, the better the outcomes, especially higher literacy and mathematics scores in Kindergarten. The new grant means that our Center can provide cohesive learning for infants and toddlers as the foundation for Kindergarten and beyond, exceeding the Virginia Preschool Initiative standard.

“He took a lot

of time to

work with me

and explain

ways to make

my resume so

much more

effective. Now

I'm excited to

apply for jobs

with my new

resume.”

- Workshop

participant

At the April 8 Volunteer Fairfax Awards Breakfast are (l to r) UCM nominees

Joseph Conti (UCM Board Treasurer), Diane Tollefson (former Board Director),

and Nancy Hegland and son Kenny, with UCM leaders Elizabeth

McNally and Nichelle Mitchem.

Volunteer Valerie Ciardi assists a preschooler

with a building activity.

Back to School 2016 Due Date: Late July/ early August

We’re already organizing to outfit 1,000+ students with backpacks and the supplies they‘ll need for the Fall 2016 school year. We need your help with new backpacks and financial donations so we can purchase supplies with our deep discounts. If your family or group would like to donate or organize a Back to

School drive this summer or volunteer to help out

email Emily Griffin at emily.griffin@ucmagency.org.

Always a sell out crowd! Join us at the US PTO in Old Town on the Sunday after the Presidential Election to enjoy the latest political satire! Tickets will go on sale this Fall at ucmagency.org. For further information or to reserve your event sponsorship, email info@ucmagency.org.

CFC #37839 United Way #8199

Volunteer with UCM

Volunteers are at the heart of the work we do. We have many opportunities for individuals and groups to donate time and talent From mentoring a child, to stocking the Food Pantry, to serving on an

event team you can make a critical

impact to change lives! Click on “Support Us” on our website.

At the Heart of Community

ucmagency.org info@ucmagency.org

Virginia Relay 711 Editor: Diane Hill

Join our e-news list at ucmagency.org

Your generosity helps community members in need build brighter futures. Thank you!

Save These Dates!

Join us at the Heart of Community!

Thank You to our 2016 Special Event Sponsors!

Please join us in gratefully acknowledging our Friends of UCM FY2016 Special Event Sponsors:

DIAMOND SPONSOR

DIRECTV

Doug & Eileen Kennett

Elaine Kolish and David FitzGerald

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Abigail Arms and Paul Dubberly

Fairfax County Professional Firefighters & Paramedics IAFF. Local 2068

Good Shepherd Catholic Church

Charles & Linda O’Connor

Time Warner Cable

GOLD SPONSORS Claudia Creo; Inova Health System; Tom & Kathy Lehner; Zeyad Mady, DDS; Drs. James & Melissa Thiel; Vogelman, Turner & Wright, PC

Complete lists of all sponsors and auction donors are on our website. Thank you one and all!

Capitol Steps Benefit for UCM

Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016