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Acton-Boxborough
United Way |
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February
15, 2011
Dear Neighbor,
ABUW's
2011 Grant Application and Allocation process has begun. Each year,
careful
consideration of the communities' needs leads us to support a
number of excellent social service agencies and innovative
initiatives. Please enjoy our Spotlight article on the AB
Coalition for Healthy Youth and consider our invitation to volunteer
with ABUW.
Your
involvement and generosity are crucial to our efforts to strengthen
the community. Thank you!
Jane
Boatright,
ABUW President and Rachel
Sagan, ABUW Executive Director
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In
This Issue
SPOTLIGHT:
ABCHY
Grant
Allocations 2011
Volunteer
Needs
Noteworthy
News
Save
the Date for CCC
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Quick
Link
See
the ABUW
website
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Grant
Applications
Due
March 18, 2011
The annual Grant Application & Allocation
process is underway.
Agencies or groups applying to the ABUW must
provide services that meet identified needs in the
community within seven critical areas of
need:
- Children
and Youth
- Elderly
- Hunger
and Housing
- Family
Counseling
- Mental
Health
- Domestic
Violence
- Developmental
Disability services.
To obtain an
application, or learn more about the criteria for funding, please
visit our website or contact the Executive
Director, Rachel Sagan at abuw@abuw.org, or 978-263-1777.
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Save
The Date
Sunday,
June 5, 2011
Bike, Run and Row
with teammates in a fun
mini-triathlon to benefit ABUW.
Join us for our second year
at the Community Chest Challenge.
Form a team; Join
a team; Sponsor a team; or Help with logistics that
day.
Contact
Rachel Sagan for more information,
abuw@abuw.org
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Spotlight on AB Coalition for
Healthy Youth
Preventing Risky
Behavior in Adolescents
by
Beth Farley, ABUW Volunteer
Wellness checks,
vaccinations, 'what to expect when....' books.
Such are the resources for keeping our little ones
healthy. But, as they grow, things
change. Physical health, while still an issue,
can be subject to involvement with drugs, alcohol and violence.
Stress, bullying, and self- image can all affect the mental health
of our adolescents.
Enter ABCHY.
The
Acton Boxborough Coalition for Healthy Youth  strives to promote
positive youth development and prevent risky behavior in
adolescents. This non-profit organization was formed in 2007 with a
challenge grant from ABUW. Representatives from the nine founding
agencies comprise ABCHY's Board of Directors. This ensures open
communication and coordination of resources in identifying
adolescent & family issues, giving direction to those needing
help, and working to educate and empower parents.
The recipient of
another ABUW grant in 2010-2011, ABCHY has aggressively
pursued their charter. Jan Stewart, ABCHY
outreach coordinator, cites three major areas that the organization
is working to address; substance abuse, youth violence and mental
health and wellness issues. "Input and support
from the A-B Regional School District, High School
Principal Callen, A-B Counseling Department
Chair, Stephen Hitzrot, and others, have allowed ABCHY to develop a
plan for informing and equipping parents with the tools to deal with
such issues," stated Ms. Stewart. |
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Click
Here for the full story on ABCHY initiatives and upcoming
programs. |
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Please
Volunteer
Your Time and Talents are
Needed
Please let us know if you
have a few extra hours to devote to the community work of
ABUW.
Whether you are looking
to fulfill community service hours or a way to give back
to the community, we have many opportunities for you to
get involved. For example:
- Computer data entry
- Mailings - occasional or weekly
- Planning Community Events
- Fundraising
- Researching and writing short articles
- Day of Caring September 2011
- Booth tending - smile!
- Bike, run or row on a team, June 5th
- Other - tell us about a talent you want to share
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| ABUW Volunteers at a December
At Bats Event in
Boxborough | |
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Noteworthy
News Items
TONIGHT: "Creating
Change", presented by Alan Khazei, activist &
author. Acton Town Hall, 7:30pm, Tuesday, Feb. 15th. Sponsored
by Leaugue of Women Voters - Acton Area as part of the
Jen Haan Memorial Speaker Series on Contemporary Issues.
See www.lwv-aa.org for
details.
ABUW
is proud to support MASS 2-1-1, a free, fast,
non-emergency connection to services such as food, clothing,
shelter, legal assistance, and much more. Governor Patrick
declared 2/11/11 as MASS 2-1-1 Day in the Commonwealth and
announced the addition of Veteran's
Services. Please
Read More. |
ABUW
Seniors: check out free Healthy Aging Programs sponsored by
Minuteman Senior Services, an ABUW-sponsored agency. Details are on
their website at www.minutemansenior.org
Thank
You to ABUW friends & volunteers who answered the Acton
Food Pantry's plea for donations to replace their supplies after
recent thefts. Their special Donation Drive was a huge
success. |
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Cathy
Utt, eNews Editor, Board of
Directors | |
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