5K for United Way - Beginner runner training program also available

This July, Marshfield Area United Way will be holding the first-ever ‘5K for United Way’ Run/Walk. The run/walk will be on Saturday, July 13, 2013, at Griese Park. Registration will begin at 7:00 a.m. with runners starting at 9:00 a.m. and walkers beginning ten minutes after. The race will be timed and awards will be given to first through third place finishers in six different age groups.

Registration fee for the event is $20 for all participants ages twelve and up who are registered by June 28, 2013, and $25 after. Ages six to eleven are $5 and children five and younger are free. All participants twelve and up will receive a ‘5K for United Way’ t-shirt on the day of the event.

In addition to the event on this day, there will also be a nine-week training program prior to the race for beginner runners wanting to participate in their first 5K. The training program is available online and a group will be organized to meet weekly for a run and to offer encouragement and support to one another.

There will be an organizational meeting for the training group on Monday, May 6, 2013, at the Marshfield Fire Department (514 E 4th Street). The meeting will start at 5:30 and will only last about thirty minutes.

Visit our website for more information about the training program, the organizational meeting, and to get registered for the 5K. Registration and payment must be received prior to the June 28, 2013, deadline to receive the discounted rate. Payment can be submitted online through the United Way website (www.marshfieldareaunitedway.org), mailed with the registration form to: PO Box 771, Marshfield, WI, 54449, or paid at the United Way office (156 S Central Avenue). There is also a waiver form to be completed prior to participating in the 5K event or training program.

Please call United Way at 715-384-9992 or send an email to unitedway@tznet.com with any questions or to RSVP for the May 6, 2013 meeting.

Free Tax Preparation Assistance Available

Filing your income taxes at the beginning of each year can be exciting, that is, if you are lucky enough to give your bank account a little boost by receiving a refund from the federal and/or state government. Tax time can also give you a headache. And with the recent political issues, such as, the fiscal cliff, attempting to save yourself some extra money by filing your own taxes, can become quite confusing. This Spring will mark fifth year volunteers will be offering their services and time to help individuals prepare their personal income taxes free of charge.

Almost every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from February 11, 2013, to April 10, 2013, trained volunteers will assist senior citizens with filing their homestead credit and also help individuals with an annual gross income less than $58,000 a year file their state and federal income taxes. Volunteers are able to assist with personal income taxes only. They are unable to prepare farm or rental income, health savings account deduction, etc.

If you are interested in receiving help with your taxes or have any questions about the services offered, please call Marshfield Area United Way at 715-384-9992 to schedule an appointment. No walk-ins will be accepted. At the time of your appointment, please bring the following items with you:

•           A picture ID and social security card.

•           Copy of your 2011 Homestead Credit or Federal & State Tax Return

•           Medical/Dental Insurance Premium

•           Pension statements

•           Any W-2’s related to employment

•           Any 1099’s related to interest and/or dividends

•           SSA-1099 Social Security Benefit statement

•           Property tax bill or rent certificate

These services are offered by: AARP, the City of Marshfield Parks & Recreation Department, Cellcom, and Marshfield Area United Way.

Volunteers Gather To Make A Difference In The Community

Approximately 215 volunteers gathered on Saturday, October 27, 2012, to make a difference in the community. Volunteers raked 42 lawns for elderly and disabled residents whom were unable to care for their lawns on their own. In addition to helping local residents with their lawns, a few members of the Marshfield High School Student Council helped label books United Way purchased with grant money received from Gannett and the Marshfield News Herald. The books will be distributed to area children through Marshfield Area United Way's new partnership with the Marshfield Clinic's Reach Out and Read Program.

View Make A Difference Day photos.

United Way Support Sealed with a Kiss

Al Nystrom, 2012 United Way Co-Drive Chair, makes good on a bet and kisses the pig!

Al Nystrom, Bank President at BMO Harris Bank in Marshfield and one of this year’s co-chairs for Marshfield’s United Way campaign, recently found himself  puckering up to a pig. This past Sunday, the two BMO Harris Bank locations concluded a friendly competition that was sealed with a kiss.

Brad Guse, Bank Vice President, represented the north-side location and challenged Al and the 4th Street location to see what branch could raise the most money. The loser would have to kiss a pig. Needless to say the north-side location raised the most money and consequently, Al owned up to his end of the bet.

The competition, alone, brought in over $1100 for BMO’s United Way campaign. Al took time after his kiss with the pig to thank all the employees for their effort and support during their campaign this year. BMO’s campaign has raised over $10,000 this year. A 72% increase from their previous year’s campaign.

Marshfield Area United Way’s campaign is well underway. Currently, United Way is at 23% of the 2012 goal of $915,000. The funds raised this year will support thirty local human service programs that focus on providing basic needs to families and individuals, supporting local youth and helping them achieve their greatest potential, and promoting financial stability and independence for families and seniors. You can learn more about any of these programs by visiting marshfieldareaunitedway.org.

To contribute to this year’s campaign, you can also visit Marshfield Area United Way’s website and securely give your gift electronically. Donations can also be mailed in to Marshfield Area United Way, PO Box 771, Marshfield, WI, 54449 or be dropped off at the United Way office at 156 S Central Ave. Please call United Way with any questions at 715-384-9992.

9-Pin Tap Fundraiser and Tailgate Party

On December 2, 2012, Marshfield Area United Way will be holding the 2nd Annual 9-Pin Tap fundraiser at Rose Bowl Lanes. Bowling will start at 12:00 pm with team registration beginning at 11:00 am. United Way is currently looking for teams to participate in the event. Availability is limited to the first twenty-four paid teams of five to six persons per lane. Registered teams will pay $50 per team if signed up before November 23, 2012, and $60 per team after the 23rd. Each team member will receive a FREE t-shirt.

In addition to the bowling fundraiser this year, there will also be a tailgate party at the bowling alley on this day. The tailgate party will be from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. For $10, party-goers will receive a 16 oz. Green Bay Packer glass and all the food and drink they want during the game. Brats, chips, and side dishes will be served and drink choices include beer or soda.

There will be a 50/50 raffle, door prizes and also many great raffle prizes. Some of the raffle prizes include: a Weber grill, an autographed Green Bay Packer football, men’s Badger basketball tickets, men’s Badger Hockey tickets and two Indoor Club Seat tickets to the Packers vs. Lions game on December 9, 2012.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will be put toward the 2012 campaign funds and help support thirty local human service programs next year. United Way is also looking for sponsors for this event. If your business is interested in becoming a sponsor, please call United Way at 715-384-9992 for more information.

WIPEOUT For United Way

Inflatable bounce-houses have been one of the most popular sources of child entertainment for years and years. Well, this is your chance to relive some of your best childhood memories. On October 12, 2012, Wipeout for United Way will be held at the Marshfield Middle School Track starting at 3:30 pm.

The event invites all friendly, competitive community members, businesses and organizations to engage in head-to-head competition and race in the dual-lane, ninety-nine foot, inflatable obstacle course. Some local businesses have already organized teams and issued public challenges to their competition. While some prefer to challenge outside competition or to challenge one another within their own organization, Marshfield Area United Way encourages anyone interested in having some care-free, light-hearted fun to round-up a team and run the course! Marshfield Area United Way will schedule race times for anyone wishing to join in the fun and participate.

Four-person teams will be facing-off throughout the afternoon until the championship round is determined. The fastest times will make it to the final round and each team will have an opportunity for a “fifth” man that has the potential to be a real game-changer. For every additional one-hundred dollars teams raise for United Way, five seconds will be marked off their total race time making for a very interesting competition.

Marshfield Area United Way is calling out bankers, realtors, doctors, teachers, dentists, downtown businesses, United Way partner programs, car dealerships, restaurants, bars, convenience stores, insurance agents, student councils/organizations or clubs, the University, Mid State Technical College, the Fire Department, the Police Department, and the entire community to accept the challenge and prove you have what it takes to Wipeout the rest of the competition.

The entry fee is one-hundred dollars per team. Anyone under the age of eighteen wishing to compete must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, please call 715-384-9992 or visit marshfieldareaunitedway.org. To sign your team up, call United Way at the number above or email unitedway@tznet.com with your team name, contact person and email as well as a desired race time between 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The deadline to register your team is October 5, 2012.

Marshfield Area United Way would like to thank Security Health Plan for sponsoring this new, fun community event. All proceeds will be put toward the 2012 United Way Campaign and help support thirty human service programs in 2013.

Campaign Kickoff Impactful

Last week, approximately 125 members of the community gathered to officially kick-off the 2012 United Way Campaign. The program was led by this year’s Campaign Drive Chairs Al and Amy Nystrom and was peppered with emotion, motivation, and inspiration.

The Campaign Drive Chairs shared their passion for leading this year’s campaign and how they want to make it very personal. Al and Amy want people to understand that giving through United Way is about reaching out and lifting up your fellow community members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Amy added the importance of giving while you can because tomorrow you may be the one in need of lifting up. As they are fully aware, life can change in an instant. A few years ago the Red Cross and the entire community was there for them when they lost their home to a fire.

The program featured two guest speakers whom have been impacted by United Way programs. Just over one year ago, the first guest speaker’s life was changed when a tornado hit her home. Her mother-in-laws trailer, next to her home, was destroyed. Her mother-in-law was lucky to leave with her life that day and was all she was left with. She lost everything. The American Red Cross and United Way played an integral part in helping her start from nothing and rebuild her life.

The second guest speaker is a survivor; a survivor in every sense of the word. She’s a survivor of sexual abuse from a family member as a child, and a survivor of physical, verbal, and sexual abuse as a young adult. Her story is too horrific to describe, and too unimaginable to comprehend. A lifetime of tragedy summarized in fifteen minutes that left a room so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Fortunately, she is here and able to help others through her own experience.

I think I cried at least three times that day. I cried for her. I cried with her, and I cried while sharing her story. Her story left me, heart-broken for her as a child, angry for her as a teenager, and terrified for her as a mother. But mostly, she left me with her strength as a survivor. She’s living proof that United Way is about the people who are impacted by other people’s generosity, daily.

The annual United Way Campaign is your time to invest in your community and that time is now.  I encourage you to educate yourself, get involved, and join us in making long-lasting change in our community. Give today. For more information and to find out how you can create change, please visit marshfieldareaunitedway.org or call 715-384-9992.

Scooter Races for United Way!!