Many American communities remain devastated from recent disastrous hurricane seasons. Over the last two years, United Way has galvanized the power, energy and dedication of Gulf Coast communities, corporate partners, and civic-minded high school and college students to help rebuild after the devastation of Hurricanes Ike, Katrina and Rita. This year, we continue to build on the groundswell of compassion and commitment of Gen Y and our partners. United Way and young adults from across the country will again converge on communities along the Gulf Coast, plus we have added Detroit, Michigan and Terre Haute, Indiana as other communities in need of support. We are proud to join with thousands of young people in communities nationwide who've decided to trade hammocks for hammers, and take an alternative Spring Break.
We could not continue to run and grow our impactful youth-targeted programs without the support of our corporate sponsors. United Way National Corporate Leader Deloitte is the national sponsor of ASB 2009, and will help provide meaningful volunteer opportunities for hundreds of young people.
In all host communities, volunteers will dedicate a week of their lives to helping rebuild communities. Whether struggling to recover from the devastation of incredibly powerful hurricanes or combating the economic challenges the prevent our nation’s inner cities from realizing their potential, United Ways across the country are harnessing the power of young people to make a meaningful difference over their Spring Break in 2009.
United Way ASB 2009 includes:
In Detroit, Michigan, volunteers will work to help sustain and support the infrastructure of the nonprofit sector working to help families meet their basic needs, children be ready for school, and families to be financially stable.
In Indiana, hundreds of homes destroyed by severe flooding still need to be repaired and rehabilitated. Volunteers will work to ensure that families in the Wabash Valley can return to their homes safely.
On the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coasts, volunteers will assist with reconstruction efforts after the severe hurricanes of the last three years. From Katrina to Ike, families, businesses and communities have been decimated. Volunteers will play pivotal roles in helping communities to rebuild.
To get a better sense of what ASB has been and what it is all about, learn more about ASB 2008 at the ASB blog or the 2008 photo gallery. You can also see pictures from last year’s program at the 2007 photo gallery.
United Way Alternative Spring Break