TI President, Chairman and CEO Rich Templeton joined millennial generation volunteers for a United Way service project recently at Vickery Meadows Learning Center. Event photos are available here.

TI and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas (UWMD) volunteers handed out school supplies and backpacks to families in need recently as part of an event designed to promote United Way involvement and volunteerism by the "millennial" generation.

Rich Templeton, TI chairman, president and CEO, and about 100 volunteers who are all ages 35 and younger, participated in the giveaway.

As chair of the 2012 citywide UWMD campaign, Templeton and the United Way are making a concerted effort to get young adults involved in the work of United Way.

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"As a millennial, you are setting the pace early," Templeton said during the event. "I remember when participation in the United Way was a once-a-year event – it is humbling to see such a great group of young people so engaged."

By focusing on involving younger people in United Way's work, Templeton hopes to help build a new generation of engaged volunteers who make a measurable impact in the next decade.

"In the past, it was mainly long-time employees who were involved in volunteering with and giving to United Way," said Andy Smith, TI director of corporate philanthropy. "We know that younger people are the future of our company and our community. The members of the millennial generation also are passionate about giving back. So, we wanted to make a special emphasis to reach out to younger people — new employees and college hires – to get them involved with United Way early in their careers so they'll continue their support long term."

Smith said when people get personally involved they become passionate about the cause they serve, especially when they see how their donations are making a difference.

"Whether it's volunteering, giving, advocating or all of these, we want our employees' involvement to be a legacy we can look back on not only next year but in years to come," he said.

TI's 2012 United Way campaign will take place Oct. 22-Nov. 7.

Making a true impact
The children and families who received the free backpacks, books and school supplies are part of United Way-financed literacy programs at Vickery Meadows Learning Center (VMLC).

The center provides free educational programs for roughly 1,000 adults and 200 preschoolers who live in Vickery Meadows and West Dallas. VMLC relies on 200 volunteer teachers each week. The students served are from low-income, diverse areas of Dallas.

In addition to receiving school supplies donated by Target and books provided by Half Price Books, the children participated in activities such as an obstacle course, storytime for infants and toddlers, bowling, fishing, crafts and a hair-dressing salon.

Cathy King, VMLC's development director, said the center helps families and individuals of all ages learn to speak and write English.

"We help kids as young as four months and offer adult classes, too," King said. "We work with seven different languages, and our volunteer teachers don't have to speak another language to teach English."

Blanca has been coming to the VMLC for about three years. Her children, ages 6 and 4, learned English at the center and now speak two languages.

"I feel great at the VMLC," Blanca said. "Now, when my kids meet children on the playground who speak English, I feel very happy that they can speak with the other boys."

VMLC has been a UWMD service provider since 2011. United Way grants support VMLC's preschool English language program and workforce English literacy program.