News Story Archives : 2010
- Connections Rededication Ribbon Cutting
- Toys for Tots and United Way
- Volunteer Way's Sheltered Workshop 2010
- Staying Afloat on Troubled Philanthropic Waters
- United Way Holiday Open House
- Adopt-A-Family Christmas Project Huge Success!
- The United Way of Pasco County
awarded $8,625 grant from Wachovia – Wells Fargo. - Target Share-A-Tree Helps Five Families in Pasco
- Volunteer Recruitment Press Release
- A BIG Thank You November Workplace Campaigns
- Big Sister Nominee: Ann Sheeky
- A Heartfelt Thank You from Your Friends at United Way of Pasco
Connections Rededication Ribbon Cutting
Click either image to read the full story from the St. Petersburg Times.
Toys for Tots and United Way
Click the Toys for Tots logo to read the full article at TBO.com
Volunteer Way's Sheltered Workshop
October 2010
The Volunteer Way has started a sheltered workshop that employs 24 handicapped Pasco residents who work in the hydroponic garden and in the food bank. Our sheltered workshop was created to help the mentally challenged and mentally handicapped right here in our county. This awesome program brings the residents outdoors and part of society and keeps them from being isolated in their home.
Not only have they contributed to the well being of hungry people in Pasco County by growing food for them, but they earned money, did not isolate, exercised and had fun. If only you could see how happy they are to have some place to go and accomplish.
Staying Afloat on Troubled Philanthropic Waters
The Suncoast News Pasco
August 14, 2010
PORT RICHEY - A parable tells the story of the little Dutch boy who tries to plug a leak in a dike with his finger.
Charities supported through the United Way of Pasco probably have come to know the feeling all too well during the Great Recession. Funding often decrease even as the need rises....
United Way Holiday Open House
A big Thank You to everyone who joined us on Wednesday, December 15th for our Holiday Season Open House. For all of you who attended, we hope you enjoyed all the great food and company. We really enjoyed having you and seeing each and every one of you. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Adopt-A-Family Christmas Project Huge Success!
Seven Families Adopted by
Various Companies
Carrie Burke and Paul Givens from Publix Store #873.
With the help of Publix Supermarkets, Lake Myrtle Elementary School in Land O'Lakes, FL, 2-1-1 and United Way Partner Referrals, Kristen King-United Way Community Impact Director and Natalie Earley-Administrative Assistant Community Impact made the Adopt-A-Family Christmas project a huge success. The project helped seven families in Pasco County who will now have a wonderful Christmas.
A single terminally ill mother with seven children ages 2-12 years old, ages 10, 5, 4, and two 6-month old twins were adopted by Publix Supermarket Store #873 in Trinity. A single mom with three children ages 9, 10 and 12 were adopted by DSE, a medical supply company in Largo. A single mom with a 13-year old girl with a slight disability was adopted by Mosaic, an Oral 
Surgery and Implant Center in New Port Richey. A single mom with four children ages 20, 18 and age 17 were adopted by Michael Cox with Morgan Stanley, Smith Barney. An elderly couple living in the Community Aging and Retirement facility (CARES) in New Port Richey was adopted by an undisclosed company in Land O'Lakes. A grandmother with four children in Land O'Lakes ages 16, 8 and two ages 11 was adopted by an undisclosed company in Land O' Lakes. And, a single mom with four children ages 8, 7, 5 and 4 in Land O' Lakes was also adopted by an undisclosed company in Land O' Lakes.
Thank you so much to these Pasco County companies for participating in such a rewarding experience. We wish you all a very Happy Holiday!
The United Way of Pasco County
awarded $8,625 grant from Wachovia – Wells Fargo.
The grant is for the Prosperity Campaign, which is an internal program of the United Way of Pasco County. One of the key components of the Prosperity Campaign is that it offers free income tax preparation at ten sites throughout Pasco County from mid January to April 15. Taxes are prepared by appointment, which can be made by dialing 2-1-1.
In 2010, the Prosperity Campaign filed 6,506 tax returns. All the returns were electronically filed and prepared by approximately 120 volunteers that were trained and certified by the IRS. There was over $1.2 million refunded in Earned Income Tax Credit, and over $6 million in total refunds. The grant funds will be used for marketing, supplies, and other costs associated with the program.
For questions regarding the Prosperity Campaign please contact us at
(727) 835-2028 or via email.
PASCO'S COLD WEATHER SHELTERS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BLANKETS!
Anyone with blankets to spare can drop them off at the United Way of Pasco County at 8040 Washington St. in Port Richey. We will ensure the blankets are given to the shelters.
The office is open from 8:30a.m. to 5p.m. Monday through Friday. For information, please contact us at (727) 835-2028 or via email.
Target Share-A-Tree Helps Five Families in Pasco
Target's Share-A-Tree project came to a successful completition on Monday, December 20th. The three Pasco County Target stores distributed five beautifully decorated Christmas trees to five Pasco County families that could not afford a tree this Christmas. Target's Share-A-Tree project runs through December each and every year around the country. Thank You!
Volunteer Recruitment Press Release
For the past six years, United Way of Pasco County, in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service and AARP Tax Aide Program, has sponsored ten Free Income Tax Preparation sites for low and moderate income taxpayers in Pasco County. We estimate that our service has saved our clients over $2.4 million during that time.
Last year, our IRS certified volunteers prepared over 6,500 free tax returns, generated over $1.7 million in Earned Income Tax and Child Tax credits for eligible filers, and refunded over $5 million in total refunds. Refunds and credits are normally returned to clients within about ten days using electronic deposit or two weeks if using the U. S. Mail.
In order to expand our program and serve even more people, we need additional volunteers. Volunteers do not need tax experience. Training will be provided during the first two weeks of January 2011. If you would like more information on volunteering please contact the United Way of Pasco County at (727) 835-2028 or via email.
A BIG Thank You
November Workplace Campaigns
- REGIONS BANK
You Smashed Your 2009 Amount - DEPT. OF JUVENILE JUSTICE and
DEPT. OF CHILDREN & FAMILY
You Did a Smashing Job With Your Campaigns - UPS
Swing For Charity
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point
Plantation Palms
March 11, 2011
Please join us for one of the largest fundraisers in Pasco County. Swing For Charity is sponsored by Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point. Proceeds go directly to the United Way of Pasco County and into our community. Follow the links below for pricing, player packages and sponsor opportunities. Please respond by January 28th to secure a spot; you will be invoiced at a later date.
Big Sister Nominee: Ann Sheeky
Age is just a number to Big Sister Ann Sheeky, because at age 78, nothing can slow her down, not even a 16-year-old girl! Five years ago, Ann was matched with Little Sister Kristen. Kristen lives with her grandmother, mother, twin sister, an older sister and brother; her father is not in her life. Because of the personal dynamics in her family, Kristen had become an introverted little girl.
School social workers suggested Big Brothers Big Sisters to the entire family. And although all of the children were at one time matched with a volunteer, Ann was the only one who followed through and had the resolve to not give up and continue to be matched with Kristen.
Despite tough circumstances, Ann knew that she was going to stay with Kristen until she graduated from high school and went to college. They slowly started becoming friends and Ann realized that getting Kristen to believe in herself was going to be a long process, since Kristen suffered from low self-esteem.
Ann encouraged Kristen to play a sport to be more active and social. Kristen tried out for the volleyball team and Ann was at every game. This boosted Kristen’s self-esteem and she became more out-going and started making friends.
After being together for two years, Kristen became a different girl. Ann consistently preached to Kristen the importance of believing in yourself in order to accomplish anything in life, including school. Kristen went from a child who was failing and barely attending school to a child who was bringing homework over to Ann’s house to work on. Her grades went up and she is focused on graduating high school, a concept that she never believed in before. Kristen has grown to trust Ann and truly believes that she is her confidante.
Now in their sixth year together, Kristen is a strong, independent 16-year-old young woman with goals and dreams and with Ann’s love and guidance will become everything she was meant to be.
A Heartfelt Thank You from
Your Friends at United Way of Pasco
We are fast approaching the 2010-2011 Workplace Campaign season and want to give a whole-hearted thank you to everyone who participated in 2009-2010 workplace campaigns. 
Below is a list of some of our top campaigns. Without all of you, the people who need assistance the most in Pasco County, would not have the available programs we provide to them. Thank you again for all of your support and dedication.
- Publix Supermarkets
- Pasco County District School Board
- CF Industries, Inc.
- Combined Federal Campaign
- Target
- Withlacoochee River Electric
- Ferman Automotive
- Federal State Employee Campaign
- United Parcel Service
- Bank of America
- Progress Energy
- Macy's
- SunTrust Bank
- Wal-Mart
- Enterprise Rent-a-Car
- JC Penny
- Mosaic Phosphate
- IBM
- Wells Fargo/Wachovia
- Regions Bank
- Ceridian Corp
- United Way of Pasco County
- CARES, Inc.
- Republic Bank