Join us for an Evening of Gratitude
The community is cordially invited to United Way of Southwest Michigan’s “Evening of Gratitude” on April 18, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the Grand Upton Hall at the Mendel Center on the campus of Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor. We want to give YOU our thanks and recognize all those who support our work.
Sponsorship opportunities available. Questions? Contact Erin Glaske at erin.glaske@uwsm.org.
The boats are back in town!
It’s official … United Way of Southwest Michigan is bringing back Rock the Boat this summer!
Ahoy mateys! ROCK THE BOAT is UWSM’s signature fundraising event where teams build boats out of cardboard and duct tape and then race in the St. Joseph River. The community has been anxiously awaiting the return of this wildly popular event, which went on hiatus in 2020. This is a great team-building opportunity for organizations. Trophies, bragging rights, glory, and legendary stories are up for grabs.
The event will take place on Thursday, July 11, starting at 5 p.m., at The Inn at Harbor Shores, 800 Whitwam Dr., in St. Joseph. There will be two food trucks, drinks and food at Plank’s Tavern, and a boat-load of fun!
Boat rules & regulations
Boat Race Waiver
ROCK THE BOAT MAP
Pop Up Giving to make instant impact at Silver Harbor Brewing Company on May 9
First Congregational Church of St. Joseph is sponsoring this next fast, fun opportunity to make a difference in the popular ongoing United Way event series.
The public is invited to join United Way of Southwest Michigan and First Congregational Church of St. Joseph at the next “Pop Up Giving” event at Silver Harbor Brewing Company (721 Pleasant St., St. Joseph) on May 9, starting at 5 p.m.
Here’s a reminder of how Pop Up Giving works: The audience picks the nonprofit with the winning pitch to get the donation pot.
This time around, three United Way impact partners—Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan, Region IV Area Agency on Aging, and Meals on Wheels of Southwest Michigan—have three minutes to pitch a project that will impact the community. The audience has two minutes to ask questions of the presenters and five minutes to complete their ballots to vote for their choice of the winner. Proceeds from ALL ticket sales are combined to create a “donation pot.” Second and third place finishers each receive consolation cash prizes of $300, while the project with the most votes WINS THE REST!
Individual tickets are $20 and include one free drink and light appetizers provided by Silver Harbor Brewing Company. Doors open at 5 p.m. Presentations begin at 5:45 p.m.
Due to past popularity of this event and the limited number of tickets (only 80 available), United Way is offering advance online sales. Click on the button below to purchase your ticket to the event. If there is still room available on the day of the event, tickets will be sold at the door.
United We Win.
WHY ME? It’s natural for people to ask when their lives and livelihoods hang in the balance. There’s no single answer to that question. But United Way does everything humanly possible to provide responses and solutions that protect, improve, and empower lives around Southwest Michigan. Whether it's through volunteerism, our strong nonprofit sector, or community-wide initiatives, change is happening in a big way.
Without the support from our community, we couldn't do the work that we do. But, there is still so much work to be done. Please join the fight. Because change doesn’t happen alone. Hope isn’t a one-man band. And there’s no such thing as self-taught or self-made.
We have one life. To live better, we must LIVE UNITED.
