Whether you're a donor, volunteer or community partner, WIN will keep you updated on the progress of our Early Childhood Literacy program, fundraising news, scheduled Women's Initiative and United Way events, new members, and more. Through WIN, you can also access the United Way website to learn more about the organization and how you can further help create long-term, sustained change in southeastern Michigan.

This e-publication is just one of many ways United Way is reaching out to you and others in our community.

In this Issue:

• Women's Initiative: A powerful force
• Early Childhood Literacy Program
• Born Learning campaign
• DaimlerChrysler forum
• Women's Initiative annual event
• Leadership profile
• Upcoming events
• Membership
• Join us

Women's Initiative: A powerful force

The Women's Initiative was launched two years ago by a visionary group of women to encourage, recognize and highlight the key role that women play in building the quality of life in the tri-county area. Membership is open to any United Way for Southeastern Michigan Leadership Giver.

The group's current focus on improving literacy rates for area children gives women a leadership role in creating and employing solutions to ensure that all children are prepared for success in school and in life.

Chaired by Susan M. Cischke, vice president, Environmental and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company, and co-chaired by Christine K. Cortez, senior vice president, Global Services and Parts, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, and Gail Duncan, president, Jerome Duncan Ford, the Initiative is committed to raising one million dollars over the next two years. Mobilizing women as engaged philanthropists through leadership, fundraising and advocacy will accomplish this goal.

Early Childhood Literacy Program

The Women's Initiative is focused on improving literacy levels for area children. Research shows that quality early education is key to a child's success in school, work and life.

According to a 2001 study ("Promoting Universal Access to High Quality Education for Three and Four Year Olds," Urahn), economically disadvantaged children enter kindergarten one to two years behind in language and other skills important to school success. Half of youth with histories of substance abuse and half of adolescents and young adults with criminal records have reading difficulties, cites the State of Michigan Department of Education (2002).

Motivated by these and other compelling statistics, the Women's Initiative set specific literacy goals to improve the lives of children in southeastern Michigan. Our first step in a continuum of services was to fund a home-based literacy program in the city of Detroit and the counties of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne. Initially, the funding is supporting the children of 100 families (birth to age four).

Outreach workers from the four partnering childcare agencies are each servicing 25 families. Each agency was awarded a $20,000 grant from United Way for Southeastern Michigan to provide literacy and numerical skill building activities through structured programs that include home-based services. Through the grant, these agencies are able to expand their existing literacy programs to reach more children of low-income families.

Early childhood development programs are very effective. One of the families, the Thornhills, is featured in our informational video and offers a prime example of how services such as these successfully prepare children for school.

Mrs. Justine Thornhill's three older children participated in Neighborhood Service Organization's (NSO) Home Instruction for Parents Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), and were well prepared for Head Start and kindergarten classes. Her first grader, Tomas Anthony, completed the program component for four- and five-year-olds this past summer and the video opens with audio of him reading aloud. Justine also works as a HIPPY home visitor who helps other parents with children in the program.

Look for WIN updates on the progress of these programs in future issues.

United Way joins national early learning campaign

In addition to its successful early childhood development initiatives, Success by Six® and the Early Childhood Literacy Program, United Way is also a partner in an unprecedented, national, public engagement campaign called Born Learning™.

In May, United Way of America, Civitas and the Ad Council launched the Born Learning campaign to help parents, caregivers and communities create quality early learning opportunities for young children. United Way for Southeastern Michigan is working with the state and intermediate school districts in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to raise public awareness about the importance of early learning.

Studies show that children learn constantly from birth, with 90 percent of their brain growth occurring by age five. What they learn within those first five years is critical for school readiness and for their successful development. Families and others who care for young children often don't know what to do to encourage early learning or they feel they don't have sufficient time to prepare their children for school. Through Born Learning, the public has access to user-friendly, fun tools and tips that can be easily used in the "everyday moments" of busy schedules.

For free, useful information, downloadable tips and other materials or to learn more about the campaign, visit the Born Learning website at www.bornlearning.org.

DaimlerChrysler offers unique opportunity

The Women's Initiative was recently invited to make a presentation during DaimlerChrysler's Women's Forum Meeting, which attracted over 400 employees. The forum featured Gov. Jennifer Granholm who spoke on economic initiatives.

Women's Initiative Co-chair Christine K. Cortez, senior vice president, Global Services and Parts, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, and Joan Lessen-Firestone, Ph.D., director of early childhood, Oakland Schools, delivered the presentation to generate more interest in the group and to share data that demonstrates the need for more early childhood literacy programs.

Five-year-old Isabella Carrillo, one of several children featured in the 2005 United Way Torch Drive campaign ads, was on hand to present the governor with flowers for her support of children and education. In February, the governor launched the Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation, a nonprofit public corporation to coordinate state and local efforts to promote early childhood development activities in Michigan.

Women's Initiative annual event a hit

August 23rd marked the second annual Women's Initiative recognition event, "Cultivating the Vineyard, A Celebration of Women Philanthropists Planting the Seed of Success."

The Detroit Science Center was the venue for the gathering that offered the 100+ guests the opportunity to learn more about the Initiative and to see how their investment is being utilized.

Campaign coordinators participated in a pre-event information session to preview the Women's Initiative strategies for the 2005 United Way Torch Drive campaign and the dynamic tools designed to enhance fundraising capabilities. Everyone had the opportunity to preview the Early Childhood Literacy Program video, participate in a tasting of wines by women growers, sample the United Way's web-based Volunteer Solutions web site, and network.

Comerica Inc., Fifth Third Bank, Lear Corporation, Mary L. Kramer, Christine K. Cortez, Susan R. Joseph, Kathleen A. Ligocki, Leslie Murphy, and Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Lutz were event sponsors.

Leadership profile

Susan Cischke, chair of the United Way Women's Initiative, has been in the automotive industry for 29 years. She has held her current position as vice president of Environmental and Safety Engineering for Ford Motor Company since January 2001.

Cischke began her career at Chrysler Corp. in 1976 and held various engineering positions until 1994 when she was named general manager of Scientific Labs and Proving Grounds. In 1996, she was named vice president of Vehicle Certification, Compliance and Safety Affairs, and was the senior vice president of Regulatory Affairs and Passenger Car Operations prior to her move to Ford.

Recognized as a leader in her field, Cischke been named Business Women of the Year (Detroit News), one of Crain's Detroit Business Most Influential Women, and one of Automotive News 100 Leading Women. In 1997, she was the first woman to be awarded the Horace H. Rackham Award for outstanding humanitarian achievements from the Engineering Society of Detroit.

Susan's professional associations include the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, the Engineering Society of Detroit and the Women's Economic Club.

Upcoming events

United Way's Southeast Michigan Employment, Training & Family Resource Expo
October 28, 2005
8:30 am - 5 pm
Michigan State Fairgrounds & Exposition Center
Michigan Mart Building
This expo is about more than jobs. It's about rebuilding lives.
Call 800.552.1183 or visit www.uwsem.org/expo for more information.

Victory Celebration
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
6 p.m., Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center
Results of the annual campaign are announced at this celebration, which marks the end of the 2005 Torch Drive. Call 313.226.9471 for more information.

Tocqueville Society Super Bowl week event!
At the Historic Firehouse in downtown Detroit
Event open to Tocqueville members ($10,000 or more annual campaign investors) and invited guests only.
Email Susan Foley (susan.foley@LiveUnitedSEM.org) for more details.

Women's Initiative membership

Join the ranks of a growing group of women who are making change happen in southeast Michigan. Members can elect to designate all or a portion of their gift to the Women's Initiative Early Childhood Literacy Program to improve children's readiness to read by third grade. Members must be Leadership Givers, meaning they contribute at least $1,000 or more annually to United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

This listing reflects our membership from the 2004/2005 campaign season. It does not include the eight members who wish to remain anonymous. Since our last campaign, the Women's Initiative has gained 70 members. The goal for the 2005 Torch Drive is 500 members.

Remember, if you have made a leadership gift to United Way, you can join the Women's Initiative. Are you a member? To become one or to receive more information, click here.

(Members confirmed as of October 14, 2005. Please note: not all 2005 members' names have been released by their companies to United Way.)

Executive Committee

Susan M. Cischke, Chair
Vice President
Environmental and Safety Engineering
Ford Motor Company

Christine K. Cortez, Co-Chair
Senior Vice President
Global Services and Parts
DaimlerChrysler Corporation

Gail Duncan, Co-Chair
President
Jerome Duncan Ford

Shari L. Burgess
Vice President & Treasurer
Lear Corporation

Mygene L. Carr

Donna Comer

Dana Coventry

Julie F. Cummings

Judith V. Hicks

Susan R. Joseph
Senior Vice President & General Auditor
Comerica Incorporated

Kathleen A. Ligocki
President & CEO
Tower Automotive

Leslie Murphy
Managing Partner-Client Services
Plante & Moran LLP

M. Cathy Nowosielski, M.D.

Rhonda Saunders
Senior Vice President
Retail Administration
Fifth Third Bank

Beth Noble
Manager
Women's Initiative/Major Gifts
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

General Membership

Bryan & Ursula Adams
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Elizabeth S. Acton
Comerica Incorporated

Rawaa Albilal
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Joscelyn Andrews
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Leslie G. Andrus
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Ms. Lizabeth Ardisana & Mr. Gregory Rouke
ASG Renaissance

Ms. Beth Bania
PVS Chemicals, Inc.

Mr. & Mrs. John Bellanti
American Axle & Manufacturing

Michael & Joan Brennan
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas S. Brennan

Beth Brockman
GE Commercial Finance

Mr. & Mrs. Eric Christian
General Motors Corporation

C.B. Comer
American Axle & Manufacturing

Ms. Ronda B. Coogan
ASC Incorporated

Rosalind J. Cox
Ford Motor Company

Shannon Cronan
American Axle & Manufacturing

Mr. & Mrs. Richard E. Dauch
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

Frances T. DeBasco
DTE Energy

Linda & Bruce Deschere
Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.

Walt & Retha Douglas
Avis Ford, Inc.

Joyce Easley
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Franz
American Axle & Manufacturing

Ms. Joan S. Gehrke

Salvatore F. & Mary Gianino
National City of Michigan Southeast Michigan Region

Louise & Dave Goeser
Ford Motor Company

Ms. Vanessa Gordon
ASC Incorporated

Joyce V. Hayes-Giles & Ronald Giles
DTE Energy

Ms. Deborah de Boer Henderson
ArvinMeritor, Inc.

Mr. & Mrs. Tim A. Hixson
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Charlie & Kathryn Holleran
Ford Motor Company

Ms. Cheryl Holm
Fifth Third Bank

Mrs. Lovie J. Hooks
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Nancy L. Hutcheson
ThyssenKrupp Budd

Carol Leigh Hutton
Detroit Free Press

Sheryl Hyman
Robert Bosch Corporation

E. Christopher Johnson, Jr. & Rhonda Davenport Johnson
General Motors Corporation & Comerica Incorporated

Ms. Jacqueline R. Jones
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Ms. Myrtiss Jones
VNA Inc./Visiting Nurse Association

Ms. Marge A. Kollar
Ford Motor Company

Mrs. Marianne B. Koller
ArvinMeritor, Inc.

Christine Kowal-Brookins
DTE Energy

Kathleen A. & Stephen A. Lang
Dickinson Wright PLLC

Marguerite Munson Lentz
Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn

Mrs. Candy Lewandowski
Kelly Services, Inc.

Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey N. Lutz
Deloitte & Touche LLP

Ms. Anna M. Maiuri
Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC

Daniel & Susan McGraw
DaimlerChrysler Corporation

Mrs. Karen R. Mendelsohn
Masco Corporation

Mrs. Terry Merritt
Walbridge Aldinger Company

Mr. John M. Mirsky
Robert Bosch Corporation

Karen Mitchell
DTE Energy

Ronald & Dara Munson
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Mrs. Donna L. Murray-Badgett
Charter One Bank

Ms. Flora Ng
General Motors Corporation

Mr. & Mrs. Brian Noble
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Ms. Ann R. O'Neil
Ford Motor Company

Ms. Rhonda B. Orr
General Motors Corporation

Marcus & Lynda Parham
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Ms. Shari Peltier
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Mr. & Mrs. Philip R. Peterson
American Axle & Manufacturing

Linda Remington
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Ms. Deanna M. Rowe
Ford Motor Company

Ms. Lori Suzanne Smith
General Dynamics Land Systems

Michelle Lynn Smith
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Anne & William Stevens
Ford Motor Company

Maria Szymanski
Trinity Health

Ms. Cheryl A. Tramble
DTE Energy

Lorna & Jud Utley
General Motors Corporation

Sylvia B. Vogt
Robert Bosch Corporation

Ms. Debra T. Walker
DaimlerChrysler Corporation

Ms. Robin Walker-Lee
General Motors Corporation

Tommy & Stefanie White
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Wilson
Kelly Services, Inc.

Mrs. Linda M. Woolwine
AAA Michigan

Ms. Kathleen A. Zak
General Motors Corporation

Marilyn Zasadny
YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit

Get Involved. Join Us!

The United Way Women's Initiative is a great opportunity to combine your time, talent and financial gifts with the contribution of others to create sustained change in the lives of families and children. Be a part of a group that will maximize your impact in our community.

As a member of the Women's Initiative, you can have confidence that your investment will be efficiently utilized to impact families and children in our community. Each year, United Way targets over $12 million annually to programs that strengthen this sector of our society.

Your leadership gift of $1,000 entitles you to become a member of the Women's Initiative. As a Leadership Giver, you may designate all or a portion of your current or increased investment to the Women's Initiative. There are three levels within the Leadership Giving Program at United Way:

• Signature Club, $1,000 or more
• Vanguard, $5,000 or more
• Tocqueville Society, $10,000 or more

Click here or contact Beth Noble at 313.226.9230 for more information on how you can join.