LIVE UNITED Utah County

United Way is concerned about the health of our community.  We were wondering what you think is the biggest health issue we face in our community.

I am excited to tell you about an event we have going on tonight!  Wise Guys Comedy in Orem is hosting a United Way Night, tonight at 7 p.m.   All ticket sales proceeds from the show will be donated to United Way of Utah County!  This is a great fundraising opportunity for us!

But to make it a success, we need your support.  Tickets are only $10 and it will all be contributed to United Way.

So come enjoy a fun night of laughs and support your community at the same time! Hope to see you there!

(Wise Guys Comedy: 1270 W 1130 S Orem- Wolverine Crossing across I-15 from UVU)

APX Alarm is hosting a project called APX Gives Back where participants are encouraged to vote for their favorite charities on Facebook. The charities with the most votes will be eligible to win either the grand prize of $100,000 or one of 5 runner-up prizes of $30,000.  This means you can help us win part of $250,000 just by voting on Facebook in four simple steps.

We have already made it to the second round and with your help, we have a good chance of winning!  Vote for us each day to help us advance the common good of Utah County.

1.       Log on to your Facebook account and visit this link

2.       Go to the Application

3.       Click “Click to Start Voting”

4.       Click “Mountain”

5.       Scroll down until you find United Way of Utah County and click “vote this charity”

You can vote once a day, every day! Keep voting until August 23, when winners will be announced!

If you have a second and would like to learn more about APX Gives Back, check out their video.

Sometimes the weather in Utah can be a little unpredictable. Ok, you may be rolling your eyes as you read this, thinking, “Inches of snow on May 24? Followed by sun?!” While you never know what this crazy weather will bring, you can always count on community members and volunteers to get involved in rain or snow.

This past Saturday, the South Franklin Community Center held their Beginning of Summer BBQ. Though the rains eventually came pouring down, community members and volunteers alike came out for the event, which had great food, games, and community resources. Various nonprofit organizations came to the BBQ with information for the residents, sharing knowledge of free resources in the community. This great event was both social and purposeful, and we’re glad over 200 community members attended! If you’d like to volunteer with any South Franklin community events, please contact Amy at amyf@unitedwayuc.org. We can’t guarantee good weather if you help, but we can guarantee a great opportunity for you to get involved in your community!

Community members visiting agency booths.

Enjoying the BBQ.

Our VISTA Jeremy LIVES UNITED as he is initiated into the community!

This face shows a successful event!

Think your baby is the cutest in Utah County? We’ll find out on Saturday at the Freedom Festival’s Baby Contest at Utah Valley University. (Unless of course you choose to opt out of the contest to give some other baby a chance at winning!)

While you are waiting (and waiting and waiting) for your baby’s turn to be judged, come visit us in the children’s activity center from 9-2:00 pm. You’ll find an endless array of exciting activities and ideas to keep your baby busy and happy. Activities are targeted at children age 0-5 but older siblings are welcome. Activities include playing with blocks of all sizes, trails of bubble wrap to pop, playdough stations, puppet theater, fishing pond, a bounce house and more!! Parents will also be able to use a simple screening tool to see how their child is doing developmentally.

We’ll see you then!

The event is sponsored by Partners for Infants and Children, Utah County’s Early Childhood Council.

When we think about emergency preparedness, we often do things like get our food storage in order, put shoes and a flashlight by our bed, and choose an escape route out of the house in case of a fire. But where do you spend the majority of your day? For a lot of us, we spend it at work! How prepared are you for an emergency if something happened at work?

Just like we need to have a plan for our families, we need to have a plan for emergencies at work! It’s always a good idea to have an emergency kit in your car, as well as some basic essentials at your desk. Some things to keep at your desk might include a flashlight, water bottles, dry foods (fruit, jerky, cookies), walking shoes, essential medications, dust mask, and a basic first aid kit. Talk to your employer to learn more about your work’s emergency plans, if you aren’t already informed about them.

If you own a business, Be Ready Utah and the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce are hosting a FREE workshop on June 22nd about basic business continuity planning to be prepared for any hardship. For more details, go to www.BeReadyUtah.gov.

Wherever you end up spending your day, make sure you are prepared for whatever emergency might come your way!

“True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence.  People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.”

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Summer is here and there are lots of ways to enjoy the sunny weather in Utah! Here are some ideas for you and your family to enjoy. Don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!

The Hogle Zoo
Information on hours and admissions can be found here.

The Timpanogos Caves
This is a 1.5 mile hike on a paved trail. However, the trail climbs about 1,000 feet. For this reason strollers are not allowed. Information about cave tours and park admission prices can be found here.

Thanksgiving Point-Farm Country
This is an inexpensive way to give your children experience with life on the farm! It is only $3.50 a person, with children two and under getting in for FREE! More information can be found here.

Movies in the Park
This is a FREE event every Monday night in August starting at 9:00 pm. Movies are shown on a huge 25 ft. screen! Just bring a blanket, some pillows, bug repellent, and some popcorn! Here are the dates of the movies:

• August 2 - New in Town
• August 9 - Penelope
• August 16 - No Reservations
• August 23 - Enchanted

This event is held at Rock Canyon Park in Provo, Utah. Learn more by going here.

United Way of Utah County Summer of Service
This summer-long program encourages youth to serve in their community by participating in 1-2 weekly service projects hosted by United Way of Utah County. Also, each time you serve on your own, you can enter to win prizes.

Summer of Service is a national coalition of youth-serving organizations that are committed to engaging youth in service. The Summer of Service initiative recognizes the potential of all youth to contribute in meaningful ways. Join us for fun service activities all summer long by registering here or visit our Facebook page for more information by clicking here.

Visit your neighborhood park!
Here are some parks in the valley that sound like fun!

Provo: Visit this website for information on parks and recreation in Provo

Lehi: Click here for information on Lehi City Parks

American Fork: Information on parks in American Fork can be found by clicking here.

Springville: Click here for information on parks and recreation activities in Springville this summer.

Spanish Fork: This website provides information on park reservations and recreation activities in Spanish Fork.

Payson: You can find information on Payson City Parks and Recreation here.

Enjoy the SUMMER!

For more Summer Activities, take a look at the Child Care Resource and Referral Center’s Summer Activity Guide

Looking for something to do this summer? Join us in volunteering during Summer of Service!  Summer of Service is a summer long program that promotes youth service.  Even if you are not a youth, you are still invited to get involved and serve around the community this summer!

There will be one to two service projects a week all summer long.  Our kickoff is June 12 at 11:00 a.m. Join us at Provo’s North Park (500 N and 500 W) to help beautify the park!  Refreshments will be provided.

To learn more visit our website or join our Facebook group!

Don’t let boredom set in this summer.  Get involved in Summer of Service!