1.       Support charities YOU care about – So you love helping the local animal shelter, or maybe you’ve been in the “Race for a Cure” every year. When you start your own UCT council YOU choose which charities to support – or just support the singular most important charity or cause you are most passionate about – all you need is 9 other people to support that cause and you’ve got a council!

2.       Start with $500 “seed” money – UCT understands that you need money to publicize your new council and get your first event off the ground – and we’re here to help!

3.       Access a volunteer network of thousands of people across the US and Canada – UCT has nearly 200 councils that have been there and done that. Get connected with other councils and Volunteer Coordinators who have been where you are – and know how to get where you want to go!

4.       Get help from seasoned community outreach managers – UCT is 100% committed to helping our councils make a difference in their communities. That’s why we have two Community Outreach Managers ready to help in any way they can! Our experts can assist with event planning, ideas, and walk you through the council formation process to make it as EASY as possible to get started supporting the cause you care about!

5.       Join an organization that supports you as you support others – UCT provides a variety of benefits for members as a “thank you” for all the positive ways you impact your local community. UCT Member Benefits include auto & home insurance discounts, rental car, hotel & travel discounts and more.  

6.       “Belong” to something. Maybe you were part of a fraternity or sorority in college, or you were an a cappella geek (like me), but we all like the sense of “belonging” to something. Join UCT and belong to a community of nearly 70,000 people who have access to social, leadership, volunteering and networking opportunities. 

To join UCT today, complete our online membership application 

For more information, complete our contact form or email volunteer@uct.org for more information.

The Wounded Warrior Project provides help with recovery and support for soldiers wounded in battle. There are many ways to get involved that range from making donations to giving back by volunteering your time.

Hire Heroes USA offers transition assistance and job search assistance as well as job placement services to military members and their spouses. Find out how you can help by making a contribution or helping to hire a vet.

Help rebuild the lives of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq by joining with Volunteers of America and the Home Depot Foundation in building homes for vets. The Home Depot Foundation has committed $80 million over five years to ensure that every veteran has a place to call home.

If building houses isn’t for you, you can help by making a donation to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which supports members of the Armed Forces and their families by serving returning vets suffering from traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress.

Show you care by sending a personal thank you to a soldier still serving. Anysoldier.com provides opportunities to create and send care packages to those abroad while United We Serve connects individuals with opportunities to say thank you to veterans – and makes it easy to volunteer in your community, or to start your own project.

Staying in touch with loved ones while serving is crucial for soldiers, but the costs of calling home from Afghanistan or Iraq are incredibly high. Cell Phones for Soldiers is trying to change that, and you can help! Each week the organization donates at least 12,000 calling cards to soldiers, providing enough money on each card for an hour of conversation. Donate money – or a gently used phone - to help soldiers keep in touch during a critical time.

Looking for more ways to help? Contact your state Veterans Affairs office or Veterans Service Organization to find out about volunteer opportunities in your community.

The ride is called Pelotonia, and it is a fundraiser for the Arthur James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.  The name of the event comes from a French word for the main group of riders in a bicycle race, a Peloton.  Over the four years the event has been held the number of riders has increased every year, as has the amount raised.  Cumulatively, since the first Pelotonia, 11,000 riders have raised over $42mm to support cancer research.  Donations to Pelotonia riders are tax deductible, and 100% of those donations go to support research efforts.  There aren’t many charitable fundraisers that can say that.

The James is one of the nation’s top cancer hospitals and research facilities, and they do great work.  UCT has sponsored an endowment at the James for many years.  Dr. James (for whom the hospital was named) was a member of UCT, and he certainly encouraged our involvement in funding Cancer Research.  Our endowment has helped to fund research in head and neck cancers – research led by Dr. Ted Teknos and his team. 

So my wife Loretta and I will be riding again this August to help support the research at the James, but there are many ways to help out with this effort.  Visit the Pelotonia website, volunteer, make a donation (if you’d like you can make a donation to either my ride or my wife’s ride), or register and begin training to do the ride yourself.  It is a great event, and it helps us move closer to the day when we will live in a cancer free world.

We’ll be out riding this weekend—perhaps we’ll see you out there too!

1. Take a Risk – Failure doesn’t happen to people who area timid, risk-averse and who maintain the status quo. Failure involves taking an initial risk by trying something new…a new process, new product or new idea. Don’t be afraid to move forward and try something new!
2. Experience Failure – So you took a risk and you failed. But the best part is that you actually took a risk! Without risk and failure we would be without amazing, life-changing products such as Penicillin, the slinky and post-it notes! Don’t believe me? Check out this article on Business Insider.   
3. Debrief and LEARN from your experience – Failure isn’t really failure unless we don’t learn from it. Every moment of failure is actually a learning opportunity that can help us move forward with more determination, and better information to make good decisions and take better risks.
4. Resolve NOT to fail in the same way again and take new risks – It’s been said that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” This couldn’t be more true – especially when the “same thing” you experience is failure. Once you fail – make 100% sure that you will never fail in the exact same way again.
5. Share your failures with others…be transparent…and help them learn from your mistakes – Once you take the time and energy to fail, don’t be shy with your experience – shout it to the world! Not only will you help others avoid the same failures that you experienced, but you might inspire someone to find a better way to the end goal, which could help you in the long run! If you or your organization has a great failure story to share, post it to #npfail_story by April 30th for your chance to win a Microsoft Surface Tablet from the Case Foundation.   

We want to hear from you! Let us know how you’ve failed in the past and what you’ve learned from your experience!

Autism prevalence is now one in every 88 children, but some studies suggest the number may be even higher. Whatever the exact statistic, the fact is that autism diagnoses are on the rise. In fact, autism is more common than childhood cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. There is no known single cause of autism, but increased awareness can help individuals and their families today.

Here are a few suggestions about ways you might help raise awareness about autism during April – and throughout the year:

Put on the Puzzle! The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most recognized symbol of the autism community in the world. Show your support for individuals with autism by wearing the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon – as a pin on your shirt, a magnet on your car, or even your Facebook profile picture – and educate folks on the potential of people with autism!

Make a difference. Politics is a 24/7 game, and it’s important to make your voice heard when it counts. Keep up to speed on the latest legislation that affects people with autism through the Autism Society’s “Vote 4 Autism” advocacy campaign – and reach out to your representatives on the state and federal levels to ask them to vote on legislation you consider vital.

Connect with your neighborhood. Many Autism Society local affiliates hold special events throughout the year to increase awareness in their communities. 1Power4Autism, a grassroots event program for the Autism Society, aims to increase awareness, raise funds, and expand volunteers for autism support programs. You can start your own event, such as walking, running, racing, golfing, cycling, jumping, rowing, or other organized activity for autism. Or you can join with others to volunteer or support autism through participating in events being held in your area.

Walk for Autism! Walk Now for Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest grassroots autism walk program, is Autism Speaks’ signature fundraising and awareness event that takes place in communities across the U.S. and Canada. It’s not too late to get involved or to start planning for next year! Powered by volunteers and families with loved ones on the autism spectrum – and local businesses and companies that employ those on the spectrum - this successful grassroots fundraising effort not only generates vital funds for autism research but also raises awareness about the increasing prevalence of autism and the need for increased research funding to combat this complex disorder.

For more ideas or information – or to make a donation to support autism research – contact your local Autism Society or Autism Speaks affiliate.

The meeting is a good opportunity to discuss issues all Fraternals are facing, and to hear how other organizations are dealing with those issues.

We will also spend some time meeting with members of Congress to make sure they are aware of the good work done by Fraternals throughout theUS. A study done by a Georgetown University economist determined that Fraternals provide $3.4 billion in value to theU.S.every year.  This is as a result of direct and indirect benefits of cash contributions and volunteer work done by members of all of the US Fraternal Benefit Societies.

Fraternal Benefit Societies are tax exempt under section 501(c) (8) of the Internal Revenue Code.  As Congress debates tax reform, tax exempt organizations are sure to come under scrutiny.  If Fraternals were to lose their tax exemption it would generate about $50 million in additional tax revenue, but it may put many of these organizations out of business.  It would certainly change all of them.  To put $3.4 billion in annual value at risk to collect an additional $50 million in revenue seems on its face to be a bad idea. This is the message we will be taking to Congress.

I will be leading a delegation of Ohio Fraternal CEO’s as we meet with members of the Ohio Congressional delegation.  We had some good meetings two years ago, and this is one issue where there is broad bipartisan support.  Members of both parties recognize the value of Fraternal Benefit Societies, hence the broad sponsorship from both parties of House resolution 116.

If you believe, as I do, that Fraternal Benefit Societies should keep their tax exemption, let your Senators and Representatives know.

Families for a Cure is a group of friends that have been united through their collective experiences supporting family and friends as they have battled cancer. Together, as a family dedicated to making the lives of other cancer patients and their supporters better, their goal is to raise $1 million dollars by 2021 through social fundraising events to help fund cancer research and patient care programs while advocating and educating the public about steps they can take to prevent cancer.

Each year, Families for a Cure donates 88% of the money they raise to The American Cancer Society and OSU James, and 10% is given to other cancer organizations and patients in need.

By partnering with UCT, Families for a Cure can now take advantage of the all that UCT and its creative consultants have to offer such as graphic design services, social media planning, event and fundraising concepts, planning and resources, public relations consulting and more!

UCT is proud to welcome Families for a Cure Council #2007 and support their growing efforts!

Be sure to check out the Families for a Cure website and “Like” Families for a Cure on Facebook 

For more information on how you can start your own alternative council, or how UCT can support your already existing organization, contact us at volunteer@uct.org 

1. “Spring Breakdown”

A trio of decidedly uncool thirty-something friends (Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, and Parker Posey) head to a popular spring break resort frequented by college co-eds in order to prevent a politician’s daughter from embarrassing her family. If you’re a Saturday Night Live fan – and even if you’re not – you might find this little film pretty hilarious.

2. “Hot Tub Time Machine”

A goofy but fun throwback to the 80s, this movie is a must-see for anybody who grew up in the era of excess. Disappointed at the way their lives have turned out, four longtime friends (led by John Cusak) reunite at the ski resort where they used to party and find themselves transported back to the year 1986 via a magical Jacuzzi. Determined not to make the same mistakes twice, the foursome attempts to right past wrongs, creating loads of laughs along the way.

3. “Jeepers Creepers”

Spring break can be a bit scary in a number of ways – at least for the kids in this frighteningly fun horror flick! Justin Long stars as a college student making a drive home for break when he and his sister make a gruesome discovery in the middle of nowhere and wind up running for their lives from “The Creeper.” Whoa! Hold on to your eyeballs!

4. “Girl Happy”

Elvis Presley got in on the spring break fun with this musical romantic comedy in which he and his band head to Fort Lauderdale to keep an eye on a mobster’s daughter. The film features the Top 40 Billboard hit “Puppet on a String,” which reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and was certified Gold by the RIAA. Not quite as much fun as Viva Las Vegas but, hey, it’s still Elvis!

5. “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini”

Probably the most self-consciously pseudo-psychedelic of the classic Frankie Avalon-Annette Funicello beach party franchise that ruled the 60s teen scene, this film stands out for having the weirdest title, as well as the strangest and catchiest soundtrack. Other worthwhile entries in the series include Beach Blanket Bingo and Muscle Beach Party.

6. “Where the Boys Are”

This 1960 American coming-of-age comedy about four Midwestern female co-eds who spend spring break in Fort Lauderdale is considered the original spring break blowout movie. Pronounced as scandalous when it was released, the film has been credited (and blamed) for hordes of young people migrating to Florida each spring. If you’re old enough, you might know it better as a song by Connie Francis, but many critics consider it the quintessential spring break movie – and it’s still better than the 1984 remake.

Do you have a favorite spring break movie? If so, please share!

When Sonia Truitt submitted their video entry for the UCT Gives Back contest, she never imagined they would win the $10,000 prize. But after they were named one of nine finalists in the contest, she began to think, “we could actually win this!”  Last week when UCT traveled to Galax to present the check, she along with Linda Hunter, teacher of the program for students with developmental disabilities at Galax Elementary, shared story after story about how the UCT Gives Back contest touched their lives and brought their community together. Not only did the school ask local pizza shops to add a “Vote for Galax” flyer to each pizza that was delivered, but they took business card-size handouts to local restaurants and asked people to scan the unique QR code they created to allow people to vote quickly and easily.   

Enter the UCT Local Council 720 from Galax – Tom Heaton took it upon himself to reach out to all UCT councils across the U.S. and Canada to enlist support and votes.  “If they didn’t have a dog in the fight, I emailed them” said Heaton of his efforts to add to the Galax vote tally.  When it was all over, Galax estimates they received votes from over 30 states and provinces which helped them reach over 60,000 votes in under 6 weeks.  Not bad for a community with less than 8,000 people!

As the $10,000 winner of UCT Gives Back, Linda Hunter’s classroom will now be equipped with a Smart Board and plenty of new learning materials.  “I want to be careful of how I spend every penny,” says Hunter, “an opportunity like this will never come along again.”  But that won’t be true if one local man has anything to say about it – an area resident was so moved by the program and the awareness raised by the local outreach and media that he offered a gift of $600 to the class.

With so many community members helping to ensure the win for Galax, it’s no wonder that the elementary school auditorium was standing room only last Friday when UCT presented the $10,000 check.  The mayor, city council, local police chief and many more were on hand to witness the fruits of their labors.      

Watch the news clip of the amazing, community-wide celebration

Galax Elementary Assistant Principal, Sonia Truitt, sums up the impact UCT Gives Back had on their local community in her own words: “Thank you UCT for making dreams come true! I am sure we will never know how many lives and hearts have been touched from this event. Your contest provided GES the opportunity to celebrate the gift of our precious students while at the same time uniting and inspiring communities across the United States. We will never forget this special time!”

See the celebration photos

UCT Gives Back

The “UCT Gives Back” video contest was launched in the fall of 2012 for U.S. and Canadian schools with programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities or universities with programs to train special education teachers. Nine 2-minute videos were selected as contest finalists and voting for the winning school took place on UCT’s Facebook page. Friendly competition was fierce to the finish on Feb. 15.

Learn more about UCT and our passion for helping our local communities. 

“Benefit Corporations are a new class of corporation that 1) creates a material positive impact on society and the environment; 2) expands fiduciary duty to require consideration of non-financial interests when making decisions; and 3) reports on its overall social and environmental performance using recognized third party standards.”

It sounds very familiar.  In another era, Fraternal Benefit Societies were a new creation designed to accomplish similar goals.

Fraternal Benefit Societies, like UCT, create a material positive impact on society.  Members of UCT, for example, have donated millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours to various charitable causes in their local communities.  Our common bond is an interest in good citizenship.  We want to improve our local communities.

Fraternal Benefit Societies consider non-financial interests when making decisions.  We have to manage our financial services business to ensure that we can meet our commitments, but we also must ensure that we meet the non-financial needs of our members and their communities.

UCT, like other members of the American Fraternal Alliance, reports on our community service work to the Alliance.  That information is compiled every year, and the benefits to society are enormous.

Benefit Corporations are an interesting idea, seemingly born out of a concern about companies not focusing enough on the needs of all stakeholders.  Corporations with an explicit focus on giving back to society would certainly add value. 

Fraternals have been doing exactly that for over 100 years.  Take a look at UCT and see how what’s old is new again.