Michigan needs to get its priorities straight

Michigan is facing one of the most difficult budget crises our state has ever seen. There have been several proposals on how our state can solve this $2.8 billion shortfall, but no matter what, difficult cuts must be made. While Senate Democrats realize this, we also understand that with these devastating cuts, Michigan would not be able to successfully compete with other states in the region and our already-struggling families would continue to suffer. A budget that is only focused on slashing valuable programs will do more harm than good, and the Legislature should also be considering serious reforms.

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Remembering 9-11

In April, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which recognizes Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. The first annual National Day of Service and Remembrance occurred just a few weeks ago, and United Way for Southeastern Michigan was proud to be part of the effort.

Through partnerships with American Express, City Year, Hands On Network, and Channel 95.5's MoJo in the Morning Show, we brought 150 volunteers together to make an impact at Osborn College Preparatory Academy, in Detroit. The volunteers gave the high school a much needed face lift by painting lockers, walls, and even creating a mural. They also built benches and created new landscaping to give the students a new sense of pride in their school.

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Celebrate October with Blocktober Fest!

On October 13, the Detroit Media Partnership, Doubletree Guest Suites, Fort Shelby Tower Apartments, WDIV-TV 4, Comerica Bank, and Inside Detroit are hosting the block party of the fall.

Blocktober Fest will run from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. and include food, drinks, live music, games and raffle prizes. A portion of the proceeds will benefit United Way and its work in education, income and basic needs.

The event will take place on W. Lafayette St., between First and Third St., in downtown Detroit. Stop over on your lunch hour or bring your family downtown after work and experience Blocktober Fest. Still not sure where to go? Check out a map.

School breakfast

I skipped breakfast yesterday morning and by 10am I could no longer pay attention during my third meeting of the day. I began to think about how this must feel for a 7 year old child that is asked to pay attention during the school day, but can not seem to focus on anything else except how hungry s/he is.

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Hundreds unite for Day of Service

Travel With Your Mind' project helps clean up Detroit's Osborn College Prep school. Volunteers spent four hours painting murals, touching up classrooms, beautifying school grounds and more.

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How do you LIVE UNITED?

Grab the closest video camera & tell us! You could be featured in United Way’s 2010 ad campaign. www.liveunited.tv

I Live United 2009

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Dear Freep: Thank you!

Dear Editor: Kudos to the Free Press editorial board for finally saying what a lot of Michigan’s working parents already knew: That the state Senate’s budget plan “would have cut too deeply in core state services such as Medicaid and early childhood learning.”

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No, I'm not crazy. I like to talk to babies!

I was waiting in the checkout line at Meijer's on Sunday with my daughter, Abby. There was a woman in front of us busy buying her items. Her infant daughter was with her, hanging out in her car seat in the grocery cart.

Staring right at me, I couldn't help but start talking to her. I commented on all the groceries her mom had to buy, asked her whether she had any brothers or sisters, if she was enjoying the nice weather, and so on. She began waving her hands a little bit and I could see the corners of her mouth trying to move. She had so much she wanted to say!

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Travel with your mind

Press Release

AMERICAN EXPRESS LAUNCHES YEAR-LONG PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED WAY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN – INCLUDING REVITALIZATION PROJECTS AT DETROIT’S OSBORN COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY

DETROIT – (September 1, 2009) – As American Express expands its presence in Detroit as the official Credit Card provider for the newly merged Delta and Northwest Airlines, the company is enhancing its long-standing commitment to the metro Detroit area through the launch of a year-long philanthropic program. The program, entitled “Travel with Your Mind,” is designed to help revitalize one deserving local school, Osborn College Preparatory Academy, through a series of transformational projects and multi-cultural initiatives. The first project at Osborn will take place on Friday, September 11, 2009 from 3 to 7 p.m.

American Express will work with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, an affiliate of HandsOn Network, the largest volunteer network in the nation, to implement the organization’s signature HandsOn Schools program, which aims to reestablish schools as the focal point of the community. Throughout the school year, American Express will engage its employees, Delta and Northwest employees, as well as the broader community to perform a series of “Travel with Your Mind” projects at the Osborn College Preparatory Academy. The “Travel with Your Mind” theme was selected to help expose students to the new possibilities travel creates through a series of travel-related projects and multicultural initiatives – without the students ever leaving their own backyard.

“We know that schools are at the heart of every community and a resource that our Cardmembers care deeply about,” says David Rabkin, vice president, Delta Co-brands, American Express. “As more consumers in Detroit switch to the Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card, we want to support a cause that is near and dear to them. At American Express, we have a long history of supporting causes that are important to our Cardmembers so partnering with the United Way of Southeastern Michigan is a perfect fit.”

For the first project, American Express, Delta and Northwest employees are inviting local parents, students, teachers and other community members to help perform a variety of transformational activities at Osborn. The school will receive everything from travel-related murals to freshly painted classrooms, book shelves and outdoor beautification. Realizing that many students may have never had the opportunity to travel, the renovations highlight the world beyond these communities and encourage students to be global thinkers and citizens.

“As we focus on turning around local high schools that have graduation rates of 60 percent or less, we know lasting change will only be possible through powerful partnerships,” said Mike Tenbusch, vice president of Educational Preparedness at United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “We are excited about the spark of imagination that the ‘Travel with Your Mind’ projects will give the students of Osborn.”

The projects for Osborn were decided upon in advance at a “Design Day” meeting at which key community members discussed and selected proposed revitalization projects based on the school’s needs. Two additional projects are scheduled to take place at Osborn during the winter and spring semesters, which will be announced in early 2010.

In addition to Detroit, American Express is also working with HandsOn Network to bring the “Travel with Your Mind” program to Memphis, Minneapolis and Seattle, where similar projects will be executed throughout the year. Overall, American Express’ “Travel with Your Mind” program in all four cities is expected to deliver more than 500 volunteers, 1,500 volunteer hours and contributions totaling more than $350,000.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the first project at Osborn College Preparatory Academy on Friday, September 11, 2009 from 3pm to 7pm can register at http://volunteer.united-e- way/uwsem/volunteer.


Delta SkyMiles Credit Card -- The Official Credit Card of Delta
American Express offers several Delta Co-Branded Credit Cards, including the premium Gold and Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards, and Delta Reserve Credit Card. These Cards offer rich, added benefits including the ability to add miles from Credit Card purchases to SkyMiles mileage balances and redeem miles for any seat on any Delta- or Northwest-operated flight at any time, starting at only 10,000 miles. Cardmembers also earn double miles on all Delta- or Northwest-operated flight purchases and receive a complimentary companion certificate every year upon Card renewal. For additional details on the offer and Card benefits visit 1800skymiles.com.

American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments and travel company founded in 1850.

About United Way for Southeastern Michigan
United Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways throughout the region. The organization is led by a diverse group of volunteers from business, labor, government, human services, education and the community. United Way provides opportunities to invest in the metropolitan Detroit community through its annual Campaign and is a leader in convening partners to impact local residents each year by increasing economic self-sufficiency, protecting children and youth at risk, strengthening families, empowering neighborhoods and communities, and promoting health and wellness. Additional information is available at www.LiveUnitedSEM.org.

About HandsOn Network
HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, is the largest volunteer network in the nation and includes more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers that reach more than 83% of the nation's population and extend to ten countries. HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are answering the call to serve and creating scaled impact. In 2008, the network delivered approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service valued at $615 million. For more information, visit http://wwwhandsonnetwork.org.

Founded on the belief that communities can make a positive change, HandsOn Schools applies an innovative approach to school revitalization. By uniting the collective resources of parents, communities, and corporations, HandsOn Schools aims to reestablish schools as the focal point of the community.

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