BMW Charity Pro-Am

Imagination Library has been chosen as a partner charity in the 2010 BMW Charity Pro-Am! This is such an exciting opportunity for Imagination Library and United Way of the Piedmont! The BMW Charity Pro-Am will be played May 13-16 at Bright's Creek Golf Club, The Carolina Country Club and Thornblade Club.  Amateurs and celebrities are grouped with Nationwide Tour professionals in the four-day competition, which is played at all three courses. Amateurs and celebrities will compete for individual prizes and cash donations to the charity of their choice. 

If you don't know about Imagination Library, you are missing out on a great program that touches thousands of children in our community each month.  Imagination Library is an early learning and literacy program which provides a free, age appropriate book each month to registered children in Spartanburg and Union Counties. United Way of the Piedmont serves as the primary fundraiser for the program and is charged with securing $30 per enrolled child, per year to cover the costs of shipping the books.

You can help support Imagination Library through the BMW Charity Pro-Am in many different ways:

1. Volunteer at The Carolina Country Club. There are different volunteer opportunities available, including serving as a marshal at holes 1 and 5. This is the best deal in town, folks! As a marshal, you will have a front row seat to greet celebrities and golfers...and it's all for charity!
2. Purchase your patron credentials for the tournament from the United Way office! Patron credentials are $25 each and serve as your pass to all four days of play at three beautiful area golf courses! The best part is when you purchase your credential from the United Way office, Imagination Library gets to keep the $25!

If golf and celebrities aren't your thing, but you would like to support Imagination Library, you can visit our website to give directly to the program.   $30 will provide a child in our community with free books for an entire year!

Census 2010: It's In Our Hands

What is the Census?

The Census counts every resident (citizen and non-citizen) living in the United States.  It is required, as stated in the Constitution, to take place every 10 years.  The data collected in the Census determines how federal funds are dispersed to communities for hospitals, senior centers, job training facilities, schools, emergency services and public works projects.  Census data also helps determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In March, a Census form will be mailed to every residence in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.  The form includes 10 questions which should be answered by a member of the household and mailed back in the postage paid envelope included in the packet.  People who do not mail back the form will receive a visit from a Census taker, who will ask questions that are listed on the form.

Why is the Census important?


We all count!  Each member of the community counts--and in order for our state to receive  representation in government that is reflective of our people, we must provide an accurate snapshot of our population.  Census data is also useful in advocating for causes--a major part of United Way's role in serving the communities of Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union Counties! Nonprofit and government agencies use Census data to determine areas of need within communities.   For example, you can view information from the 2000 Census about Spartanburg, South Carolina and learn:

• The total population of Spartanburg was 253,791
• 30,486 people 25 years or older held bachelor's degrees or higher
• 14,953 people spoke a language other than English at home
• The median age was 36.1 years
• 30,394 individuals were living below the poverty level
• The median household income was $37,579  

The national participation rate in 2000 was 72%. South Carolina's participation rate in the 2000 Census was 63-68%. We all need to do our part! Fill out your Census form and mail it back. Encourage your friends and family to do the same. For more information about the 2010 Census, including a list of commonly asked questions, please click here to visit the official Census webpage.

A Brighter Future: Ending Child Abuse through Advocacy and Education

There's still time to register for A Brighter Future: Ending Child Abuse through Advocacy and Education.  United Way of the Piedmont, as part of the Spartanburg Community Indicators Project, is partnering with USC Upstate's College of Arts and Sciences to host this seminar, which will focus on protecting our community's children.

According to the Children's Defense Fund (2008), in South Carolina a child is abused or neglected every 49 minutes. The keynote speaker at the conference, Victor Veith, is the Director of the National Child Protection Training Center at Winona State University in Winona, MN. Guest speaker, David Finklehor, is the Director of Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire.

For more information, or to register for "A Brighter Future" please click here