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DIRT Turns 1
 From blisters to calluses, DIRT, United Way's Direct Impact Response Team, just hit its one-year mark. The small group of volunteers who wanted to find new ways to get involved in the community has grown into a group of more than 60 fearless DIRT clods who've given more than 250 volunteer hours of service. They've scrubbed, raked, swept, carried, hammered, and exposed themselves to any number of hazards at 10 different agencies, one lunch hour at-a-time.
To celebrate DIRT's one-year anniversary, the Idaho Statesman featured the group in a front-page news article recently.
Sound like fun? It is. Give it a whirl. To learn more or to sign-up click here
or contact Neva Geisler, Volunteer Center Director.
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Community Campaign Results
 The results are in! This year's United Way Community Campaign was a great success with more than 360 organizations conducting campaigns and helping improve lives and strengthen communities. Official campaign results will be released later in March, the end of our fiscal year.
The top fundraisers in this year's campaign were recognized in a full-page newspaper ad that ran on Sunday, March 16 in the Idaho Statesman and Idaho Press Tribune. Thanks to the above media partners for donating this advertising space and thank you to all the organizations who participated in this year's campaign.
While the traditional campaign drive has been in the fall, we welcome organizations to join us throughout the year. Check out the photos of employees at Image National participating in a Chili Cook-off on March 7... complete with 'Gator Chili!' Thank you Image National! Contact Kathy Wold, Community Campaign Director any time of the year, to have your organization participate in a future United Way campaign.
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Alternative Spring Break - Break Through Project
Some 60 high school students from across the Treasure Valley are ready to get busy making a difference in Nampa during this year's Alternative Spring Break - Break Through event, March 28-29. They'll be planting trees, constructing pathways, and building basketball and volleyball courts. All this is made possible through the generous sponsorships from Tates Rents, Greenhurst Nursery, Wal-Mart and Costco. Thank you to these great community partners as well as the Treasure Valley Family YMCA who is providing transportation for this project.
 All of the planning for Break Through has been done by a steering committee of very dedicated students from area high schools. Two of those students, Mara Truslow and Karl Schutz were both named People of the Week by KIVI Today's Channel 6 for helping organize the two-day event. Click here to see their inspiring story. The Idaho Press Tribune also featured the project in two recent news stories about the difference these young people are making in our community.
United Way is partnering with the Original Gangster's Academy on this project. OGA provides youth at-risk of gang involvement with educational programs, job skills training, and supervised recreational activity. Last weeks incident at OGA shows the need and importance of their work in Canyon County. The presence of 100+ volunteers working to develop the OGA campus makes a statement that change is vital to members of the community. United Way if proud to be part of this effort.
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2008 Annual Meeting - Register Now And Save
 Have you registered yet for this year's Annual Meeting, Tuesday, April 22nd at the Grove Hotel, sponsored by Albertsons/SUPERVALU? We're excited to welcome keynote speaker, Heather McLeod Grant, a graduate of Harvard and Stanford Universities and a published author, speaker, advisor, and consultant to high-impact organizations. Ms. Grant is the co-author of the new, best-selling book Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits, which was named a Top Ten Book of 2007 by the Economist magazine. The book reveals what it takes to truly change the world and shares the stories of 12 powerful organizations.
Be one of the first 50 guests to register and receive 40% off the book's list price. Click here to register. We're also excited to announce that Boise State Radio is a media sponsor for this event.
Whether you're a nonprofit leader, a philanthropist, a business executive, a donor, a volunteer, a board member, or simply interested in learning how to be a 'force for good', you'll find something that inspires you to be an even more effective catalyst for lasting change in our community.
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| Tates Rents Opens New Store In Nampa - Supports United Way
 Tates Rents, a United Way partner, is holding a Grand Opening on Thursday, April 3rd for their new Nampa store and as part of the celebration, they're making a $2,500 donation to United Way to support community programs in Canyon County. You're invited to join us at the event which will include a check presentation at 10:00 a.m., free hot dogs, refreshments and a free pair of Tates work gloves to all guests, perfect for those upcoming spring-time yard projects. You can also enter to win BSU football tickets; and Idaho Sports Talk on 1350 KTIK will be broadcasting live from Tates' new Nampa store between 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Click here for more information about the grand opening event.
As a community-oriented organization, Tates is also donating 10% of all April rentals at their new Nampa store back to United Way of Treasure Valley. Thank you Tates Rents for your support!
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Free Tax Help Progam - Off To A Great Start
 In the first month of this year's Free Tax Help Program - February 1 to 29 - the 20 sites located in the Treasure Valley have filed nearly 2,000 returns, and claimed $835,000 in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and $2.3 million in total tax refunds... and we're just getting started. State Treasurer Ron Crane's radio ads are running regularly, and last week we participated in a 30-minute interview on KWEI Spanish radio. Watch for a Readers View from Treasurer Crane at the Idaho Statesman on-line, in the Idaho Press-Tribune, and submitted to the Valley Times.
 According to Treasurer Crane, the tax credits system for the working poor is an effective tool in reducing the spiral of long-term, debilitating poverty. EITC is the nation's most efficient anti-poverty program for working families. Claiming EITC for those who qualify is a relatively simple process of filling out an additional schedule when filing federal income tax returns. However, many people do not realize they are eligible, resulting in an underutilization of tax credits. Without the availability of the Free Tax Help Program, EITC qualified taxpayers would be forced to use tax preparation agencies, paying on average $75 for simple returns, and often, as IRS data shows, with no better accuracy than self-preparation. In 1999, at least $1.75 billion in EITC benefits to poor families nationally were used to pay fees charged by commercial preparation and quick-refund services. Thank you to Bank of America and all our volunteers for supporting this program that helps so many low-income families in our community!
REMEMBER: In order to receive the 2008 federal economic stimulus payment, you MUST file a tax return by April 15. People who don't usually file because they receive certain Social Security, Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement, or wages from earned income or combat pay may be eligible for the payment and do not know it. For more information call 2-1-1 or click here to visit the IRS site.
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| Individual Development Accounts - A Better Way To Save
 United Way is committed to helping families become financially self-sufficient. In addition to our Free Tax Help Program, the Individual Development Account (IDA) Program helps families increase their income, build savings, and invest in assets for the future. IDA's are matched savings accounts and the savings of eligible individuals are matched at a rate of 2-to-1 for use toward homeownership, education, or a small business. Program participants receive case management and financial education from local partner agencies.
We are pleased to announce the addition of Boise State University as a new partner in the program. Students in the McNair Scholars Program can participate in the program and receive case management through BSU. In addition, Idaho Housing and Finance Association is partnering on a statewide basis to help their clients become financially stable. IHFA has also committed the financial match for client savings accounts. Both partnerships will make a significant impact in the lives of participants. For more information about IDA's, contact Melissa Krucker, Community Impact Coordinator.
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Local Cleveland Browns Fan Club Supports United Way
 As a State employee, Boisean Dustin Kuck was a "State of Idaho Charitable Campaign" coordinator last year - the State's campaign is administered by United Way. He is also the President of the local Cleveland Browns fan club, the Boise Valley Browns Backers, which is nationally registered and officially listed. During the football season, their 50-member club meets every Sunday at the Players Pub and Grill in Garden City where they become Boise's Dawg Pound - the name given the famous rooting section in Browns Stadium in Cleveland. Their passion for Browns football is evident in their anticipation of next season when the Browns make the playoffs and end up in the Super Bowl!??!
This year the Cleveland Browns team donated an autographed football to the Boise club. Knowing the relationship the NFL and United Way have nationally, Dustin decided to sell raffle tickets to club members throughout the season and donate the proceeds to United Way of Treasure Valley for the Idaho Meth Project. The winner was club member Harry Hans of Boise - pictured here with his prize. Dustin is already planning next year's event where he's devising a charitable challenge to other NFL team fan clubs in the valley. Way to go, Dustin!!
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"Did U Know?"
Each month we feature interesting facts, information and trivia about United Way in our e-newsletter. Answer the question below correctly and you could win some cool prizes courtesy of our generous Caring Club merchants and local retailers.
Trivia Question:
Name two of the sponsors of this year's Alternative Spring Break - Break Through project happening on March 28-29, involving more than 60 Treasure Valley high school students who will be "breaking ground and building community" in Nampa.
Our trivia contest winner will receive a $25 gift certificate from The Cheesecake Factory
courtesy of United Way and The Cheesecake Factory.
Submit your answer here.
Good luck!
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Trivia Contest Winner
Congratulations to Dan Herold at iLevel by Weyerhaeuser, last month's trivia contest winner. Dan correctly identified that Treasure Valley taxpayers left an estimated $11 million on the table last year in unclaimed Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that could have helped thousands of working low-income families gain greater financial independence.
Dan received two (2) tickets to an Idaho Stampede home basketball game.
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