Nearly 14% of Families with Children Under 18 Live Below the Poverty Line

Dear______:

United Way is tackling big issues in our community. Homelessness. Financial stability for families in need. Ensuring that kids enter school ready to learn, and have the support they need to stay in school and graduate. As leaders in <NAME OF ORGANIZATION>, we have a unique opportunity to help shape this work and create positive change for people in our community.

I’d like to invite you to join me as amember of the United Way Leadership Society, where you will join a network of leaders from within <NAME OF ORGANIZATION>, our larger professional community, and our region’s most passionate philanthropists. Together, we are taking on some of our community’s most urgent needsand working to achieve real progress in helping improve the lives of individuals and families in our community.

This year, ourgenerosity is needed more than ever.In our community:

Nearly 14% of families with children under 18 live below the poverty line.

Your donation supports those struggling to meet basic needs, so they can get back on their feet and achieve financial stability.

More than 50% of low-middle income families are just one setback away from financial disaster.

Your donation empowers families and individuals with the financial knowledge, skills and resources to improve their lives,as well as providing emergency assistance when crisis hits.

66% of low-income children are not reading proficiently, compared with 44% statewide.

Your donation ensures that these children enter school ready to succeed.

85,000 young people are not in school or working.

Your donation provides low-income youth with out of school programs and support to stay on track and graduate.

Other organizations may take on one or two of these challenges.But United Wayunderstands that these issues are interconnected and must all be addressed in order to ensure the successof everyone in our community. No other single organization unitesthousands of volunteers, human service agencies, government and businesses to change the future for individuals and families in our region.

<NAME OF ORGANIZATION> has had the opportunity to be part of this work, through giving campaigns and volunteer programs that have raised $x and mobilized hundreds of our people into the community to improve the lives of people in need. By combining our contributions, commitment and collective action, we can accomplish more together than any one of us can alone.

Please join me in becoming a member of the United Way Leadership Society by completing your pledge card today.

Sincerely,