Community Event Held to Support Families and Children

SAN DIEGO (May 6, 2019) “We strengthen our community when we align, leverage and transform,” United Way of San Diego County’s President and CEO, Nancy Sasaki said, at the organization’s Annual Community Breakfast, held May 1 at the Doubletree Hotel at Hazard Center in Mission Valley. The event – in which United Way spoke about the vital work it does with over 400 business and government leaders, community partners, and school advocates present – highlighted United Way’s continued critical work in San Diego County, where the organization aligns partners to identify sustainable, long-term goals, leverages data and expertise to better understand causes and solutions, and then puts them in action. “Our work will lead to the transformation of the lives of children, young adults and families through access to a more efficient education and learning pathway and family stability,” Sasaki added. The breakfast also included a trio of awards to community partners that collaborate with United Way to change lives throughout the region. Honorees included: Dreams for Change – lauded for outstanding service that empowers and stabilizes homeless and low-income individuals. A key partner in the San Diego Earned Income Tax Coalition, led by United Way, Dreams for Change provides administrative and coordination support, and education and outreach as well as free tax preparation assistance at four mall sites. Since 2011, Dreams for Change has completed over 20,000 tax returns, resulting in over $30 million in federal refunds and $13 million in Earned Income Tax Credits. The City Heights Partnership for Children Leadership Table – for tackling some of the region’s most pressing challenges and creating a replicable framework to use in other underserved areas of the San Diego region. This partnership has resulted in a 360-degree, community-wide effort aimed at aligning neighborhood resources around a common strategy to drive youth success. Oceanside Promise – for working to ensure Oceanside is a thriving community with people ready for employment and actively engaged individuals and organizations. This forward-thinking organization has been a key partner in United way’s regional cradle-to-career work in San Diego County, focusing on the greatest needs of students and families, bringing together resources, and measuring regional impact. “We are proud to honor all of these organizations, each of which have worked tirelessly to leverage resources and move students and families forward to a brighter future through education and family stability,” said Sasaki. Attendees at the annual event also heard from keynote speaker Pedro A. Noguera, an education expert and distinguished professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. The author of 13 books, a regular contributor to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and a frequent commentator for CNN, MSNBC and NPR, Noguera’s work focuses on a broad range of issues related to education and public policy. His current research examines how children’s social and economic status intersects with their performance in the classroom. His challenge to the audience was to determine their role in supporting kids from cradle to career to ensure their success in the future.

About United Way of San Diego County

For 99 years, United Way of San Diego County has disrupted cycles of poverty by developing long-term solutions for children and families. United Way plays a unique role in the San Diego community, bringing people and resources together to spark breakthrough community action that elevates every child and family toward a brighter future. Developing regional partnerships around effective practices, the organization makes measurable, significant change in the education and success of children from cradle to career and helps families have the support needed to ensure that success. United Way focuses on educational milestones, such as kindergarten readiness, third-grade literacy, high school preparation, and college and career pathways. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to get involved by donating and volunteering. Learn more at uwsd.org, the blog, Facebook and Twitter. ###