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United Way joins the Women, Faith, and Development Alliance for "The Breakthrough"

United Way joined a group of international leaders Sunday at a summit committed to alleviating global poverty and increasing investments in women’s and girl’s empowerment worldwide. Sponsored by the Women, Faith, and Development Alliance, “Breakthrough: The Women, Faith and Development Summit to End Global Poverty” brought together leaders from the faith communities, governments, business and NGOs at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC to announce their commitments to this important work.

United Way of America President and CEO Brian Gallagher participated in the two-day event and spoke about impact that the United Way women’s leadership movement is making in our communities locally and around the world and the need to continue to find collective means of taking on those issues which are critical to long-term human success.

“Through community partnership, United Ways are working to create opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the areas of education, income and health,” said Gallagher.

He expressed United Way’s commitment to strengthening this work at the global level.

“The Breakthrough commitments are indicative of the kind of global social movement necessary to advance the common good for all people,” said Gallagher. “They work across sectors and borders. They seek to empower certain segments of the populations and communities to develop community-driven, long-term solutions. And they address the root cause of many of our families’ problems—financial stability.”

As a means of supporting the goals of these commitments, women leaders from throughout the United Way movement will convene the “2009 Women's Leadership Council Summit,” in March, 2009 and will, for the first time, invite colleagues from around the globe to participate in the event

It will convene United Way women leaders to build skills in the areas of leadership, advocacy and resource development to advance the common good.

Brian Gallagher, President and CEO, United Way of America (UWA) and Joe Haggerty, COO, UWA, presented Dr. Thomas F. Frist the National Promise of America Founders’ Award at United Way of America offices on March 12, 2008.

Dr. Frist was recognized for the award by President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at a White House event on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 honoring the 10th anniversary of the founding the America’s Promise Alliance. United Way of America is a founding partner. Dr. Frist, a surgeon and founder of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), is also a previous Board Chair of United Way of America.

Dr. Frist was honored for decades of commitment and leadership to the United Way system. Dr. Frist founded the first local and then the national United Way Alexis de Tocqueville Society honoring major gift contributors. He served as chair of the Council for the first seven years. Today, United Ways across the country raise over $500,000,000 annually through this giving society. Dr. Frist, and his wife Trish, are Million Dollar Roundtable members giving close $20 million to the United Way system.

These results of Dr. Frist’s leadership and personal generosity impact the lives of children and families in communities throughout the United States and abroad. Together with United Way, Dr. Frist’s leadership has advanced the common good through a focus on education, income, and health. United Way thanks Dr. First for his long-time, strong support and leadership.

Alexandria, VA – United Way of America announced today that young adult leadership has helped to multiply the effects of ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK (ASB) in 2008, bringing young adults from across the country to communities along the Gulf Coast and in Detroit, Michigan, and resulting in ongoing community involvement beyond the event.

Participants of past ASB events were often so moved by the scenes they witnessed in the Gulf Coast and their realizations that they were able to make a difference, they have become dedicated to community engagement. In a survey after ASB 2007, 84 percent reported they were more likely to volunteer in their communities after their ASB experience. Within three months of the event, 40 percent of them had already followed through on that pledge.

They also remain committed to ASB. This year, 27 percent of last year’s participants are returning, generally as team leaders this time around.

“We continue to build on the groundswell of compassion and commitment of Generation Y,” stated Brian A. Gallagher, President and CEO, United Way of America. “We’re extending service projects beyond the Gulf Coast because there are communities across the country that have pressing needs that can be addressed through thoughtful, focused and committed volunteer work,” Gallagher continued.

For ASB 2008, young adults will dedicate a week to helping rebuild three diverse communities:

• Detroit, Michigan, Feb. 23 – March 1: Volunteers will work in conjunction with local partners on such critical tasks as affordable housing, improving child care centers and building ramps to provide people with disabilities a safe means of leaving and returning to their homes.
• Hancock County, Mississippi, March 8 – March 22: Along the Gulf Coast, two groups of volunteers over two weeks will help to rebuild homes and communities severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
• Lake Charles, Louisiana, March 8 – March 29: Four groups of volunteers over four weeks will help to rebuild homes and community agencies destroyed by Hurricane Rita.

As part of their crucial support of United Way’s campus engagement efforts, Deloitte and FedEx, two United Way National Corporate Leaders, are lead sponsors of ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK 2008. Promotional Partners joining them: CheapTickets, supporting the program with travel and maintaining a joint volunteer vacations website volunteer.cheaptickets.com, and MTV, providing online promotion via think.mtv.com.

To follow the efforts of those participating in ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK 2008 during the month of March, log on to: http://blog.unitedway.org/asb

About United Way
United Way is a national network of more than 1,300 locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and people's lives. Building on more than a century of service as the nation's preeminent community-based fundraiser, United Way engages the community to identify the underlying causes of the most significant local issues, develops strategies and pulls together financial and human resources to address them, and measures the results. United Way of America is the national organization dedicated to leading the United Way movement. While local United Ways tackle issues based on local needs, common focus areas include helping children and youth succeed, improving access to health care, promoting self-sufficiency, and strengthening families. For more information about United Way, please visit: www.unitedway.org.

About Deloitte
As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.

About CheapTickets
CheapTickets is a leading seller of discounted leisure travel products online through its Web site, www.cheaptickets.com. CheapTickets provides consumers access to its collection of airfares on hundreds of airlines. In addition to air, CheapTickets' family of discounted travel products also includes hotel accommodations, cruises, rental cars, vacation packages, condo rentals and Last Minute Trips. Founded in 1986, CheapTickets is a brand that is owned and operated by Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW).
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Sally Fabens, Director, Media and Public Relations
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