August 23rd is the date golfers will have the opportunity to not only play their favorite game, but help those served by Plymouth Community United Way. Tee Off for a Friend combines a Golf Classic with dinner and an Awards Ceremony at Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center in Plymouth.

Teams are encouraged to register early as the event is always a sell out.

The day includes a continental breakfast, lunch on the course, dinner, cocktails, prizes, and raffles in addition to an 18-hole scramble with cart. The event is sponsored by Johnson Controls, DTE Energy and Plymouth Community United Way.

Sponsorship levels range from $3,000 for a foursome of golf to $200 for an individual. Proceeds benefit the Long Term Investment Fund to defer PCUW administrative costs. For information, call (734) 453-6879, ext. 4 or e-mail marie.morrow@pcuw.org.

Your contributions make it possible to help those in need.

Because of YOU we are able to continue assisting nonprofit agencies that provide food, rent and utility assistance, shelter for domestic violence victims and their children, housing for adults with developmental disabilities, pediatric and adult hospice, educational programs for youth, senior bus transportation, and many other services.

Recipients include:

The Salvation Army Plymouth Corps

Angela Hospice

First Step

Plymouth Community Council on Aging

Community Opportunity Center

Human Service Collaborative

YMCA-Plymouth Branch

Growth Works

Girl Scouts Hearts of Michigan

Great Lakes Council, Boy Scouts of America

Senior Citizens Club of Plymouth

Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency

New Hope Center for Grief Support

Personalized Nursing Lighthouse

Plymouth Dental Fund

Southeastern Michigan (Homeless) Veterans Stand Down

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul at Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. John Neumann and Resurrection Catholic churces

St. Christine's Food Pantry

The work of these nonprofits greatly impact our communities. Serving the Plymouth-Canton area since 1944, Plymouth Community United Way focuses on basic needs, stability and education.

PCUW Campaign Video

Over 100 business and community leaders attended the Plymouth Community United Way Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation March 2, at Comcast in Plymouth. The event is a way to thank businesses, government, professionals and schools who contributed or provided community service. It also serves as a showcase for several of the agencies funded by PCUW.

The morning began with a continental breakfast followed by the meeting that included reports on the nonprofit's 2011 finances and programs. Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards were then presented by 2011 Campaign Chairman, Jeff Bell.                                                     

Among the many recipients were Johnson Controls, Comcast, General Motors, DTE Energy, UPS, Robert Bosch LLC, Automotive Components Holdings, Burroughs Payment Systems, Visteon, UAW Local 845 (Ford), and Community Financial as well as dozens of other businesses, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, Plymouth Rotary Foundation, and the City and Township of Plymouth. 

Community Service Awards went to Bird and Hulsing Elementary schools for collecting nearly 10,000 cans of food for local pantries. Home Depot, Five Mile and Beck, was recognized for donating supplies to raking events in spring and fall 2011. Panera Bread and Einstein Bros Bagels received awards for providing food for special events during the year.

Marie Morrow founded the Human Service Collaborative because the PCUW President believes "No one organization can meet all the needs of the community." By pooling resources, local churches and organizations are able to help individuals and families who are unable to receive assistance elsewhere.

The process begins with an initial request from a collaborative member. Laurie Aren then takes over and completes the intake at The Salvation Army Plymouth Corps.

Utility shutoffs, evictions, and home repairs top the list of reasons collaborative members pitch in to help. Just before the holidays a mother and her disabled daughter had to leave their home when carbon monoxide began leaking from their furnace and they had no way to pay for a new one. In one of the more unusual cases a homeowner asked the collaborative to cover repairs after a drunk driver hit her mobile home.

"All groups are feeling a pinch financially," said Aren. "The collaborative is a think tank with so much networking involved, the input and resourcing."

Since 2004, the collaborative has grown to about 60 members.

"We partner all the time on these cases," said Aren. "Plymouth Community United Way is usually the biggest check writer."