United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra

✏️ Your child’s success begins with showing up! Each day in school helps them build the foundation for a lifetime of opportunities. 🍎 Yet, over 14,000 students in Washoe County miss more than a month of school each year, putting their dreams—and our community’s success—at risk. 🎓 Together, we can break barriers, ignite possibilities, and ensure every child has the chance to shine. Great things happen when you show up. 🔗 Attendance matters. For more information, visit uwnns.org/attendance. In partnership with Washoe County School District, PBS Reno, and Communities In Schools of Nevada

2025 goals: 1. Make a bigger impact. 2. Drink more coffee. 3. Survive our endless To Do Lists! 😂☕ Grateful for this incredible team who keeps us laughing and inspired every day. Let’s make this year one for the books! 📚✨ #NewYearNewGoals #TeamSpirit #UnitedWayImpact #CoffeeFirst

🎄 Holiday cheer was in full swing at our annual holiday party! From enjoying delicious food prepared by our amazing team, unwrapping thoughtful Secret Santa gifts 🎁, and rolling doubles to claim cling-wrapped goodies, to crafting gingerbread houses out of Pop-Tarts 🏠 and singing our favorite karaoke hits 🎤, we made unforgettable memories together. The holidays are all about joy, laughter, and coming together—and we hope you’re making the most of this special season with your loved ones. Happy Holidays from all of us at UWNNS! 🎅✨ #UnitedistheWay #happyholidays #communitymatters #newyearofimpact

Community Partner Spotlight Time! 🎁 Our team was lucky enough to adopt a family of six this Christmas from The Children's Cabinet! 👨👩👦 We are grateful to have such an awesome community partner doing everything they can to keep kids safe and families together in our community.🌈 We appreciate you and thank you for allowing us to be a part of your impact. Learn More about the Adopt a Family program here: https://lnkd.in/g_Jsm-Hn #UnitedIsTheWay #communitypartner #realimpact

In this spotlight, we’re excited to introduce Ann Marie Dickson, Deputy Superintendent for the Student Achievement Division at the Nevada Department of Education and a passionate board member of United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra. Ann Marie’s path to education is one of perseverance and a deep desire to make a difference. Growing up as a student who struggled in school, she understands firsthand the challenges that many students face. Her father, a second-language learner, also had a difficult experience in school, lacking the support he needed to succeed. Inspired by her own experiences, Ann Marie shifted her career from banking to education. Her journey began with volunteer work—reading to students in the classroom—and it sparked something powerful. She knew then that she wanted to give back to her community by helping students succeed. Ann Marie went on to earn a degree in curriculum and instruction, and from there, she worked with teachers, mentored new educators, and supported students in every way she could. Over the years, she saw how vital community involvement is to a child’s success. As a principal in Northern Nevada, Ann Marie worked alongside families facing challenges like transportation issues and multiple jobs. She collaborated with local partners to remove barriers and make sure students had access to the support they needed to thrive. One of the projects that’s especially close to Ann Marie’s heart is United Way’s United Readers program, where volunteers come into schools to help students improve their reading skills. Ann Marie is thrilled to see this program expand to include math support as well, providing even more opportunities for kids to succeed. For Ann Marie, education is about more than just what happens in the classroom—it’s about ensuring that families and communities are supported too. She believes that when we work together to meet everyone’s needs, whether it’s in housing, education, or other resources, we can build a stronger, more connected Northern Nevada. That’s exactly what United Way is all about—creating positive change through collaboration and community involvement. If you are interested in joining our board, email volunteers@uwnns.org. #UniteNevada #UnitedWayNNS #EducationEquity #CommunityImpact #NevadaEducation #NonprofitLeadership #UniteForEducation #StudentSuccess #CommunitySupport #EmpoweringYouth

A huge thank you to @mikerobisonphoto for capturing the magic of our Silver Soiree Fundraiser at The Paloma with these stunning photos. 📸 Everyone had an amazing time networking in the beautiful stage room in Downtown Reno. Thank you to everyone who attended! Let's keep connecting! 💬 #EventRecap #CommunityPartners #NevadaEvents #RenoCommunity

An Update from DPIL, USA! Holiday mail delays are possible! 📬 📚DPIL books ship via third-class mail, and with USPS prioritizing first and second-class packages this holiday season, orders may take a little longer to arrive. Thanks for your patience! 🎄✨ #CommunityPartners #Update #DollyPartonImaginationLibrary #HolidayShippingDelay

🤩 We are honored to be a recipient of the 2024 Scheels Sparks Community Partners Award of $10,000! We truly appreciate everyone who voted for our organization as it shows that our mission is resonating with more and more people in the region we serve. Thank you and here’s to another year of meaningful, measurable impact in the early childhood education and literacy space. 🌈 #communitypartners #earlyliteracymatters #UnitedistheWay

A big cheers to our incredible VP Emeritus of Finance and Operations, Kim Spiersch! This month, Kim is receiving our **Getting Stuff Done Award**, and it's so well deserved! 🌟 Kim demonstrates exceptional dedication and leadership every single day, ensuring that our operations run smoothly and efficiently. From tackling the toughest challenges to finding solutions that keep us moving forward, she truly goes above and beyond to make sure everything is on track. Her attention to detail and commitment to excellence are key to our success, and we are so fortunate to have her as part of our team. Kim, thank you for all the hard work, passion, and expertise you bring to our organization. You make a difference, and we appreciate everything you do for us! 💙 #UnitedWay #Leadership #GSDAward #GettingStuffDone #Teamwork #ThankYouKim #Dedication #OperationsExcellence #EmployeeAppreciation

Our team did an all day end-of-year organization retreat at Club Rancharrah to discuss our values and personal growth goals going into the new year! With the meaningful, future-focused work we do for the community, we have to prioritize our mental health, culture, and individual fullfilment above all. Thank you to our Culture Guide Larry Harvey, SPHR, GPHR for helping us to dive deep and get clarity. #organizationalvalues #professionaldevelopment #teambuilding #UnitedistheWay