This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Imagine a school bus empty of children, but crowded with pencils, pens, erasers, notebooks, binders, crayons and other miscellaneous school supplies. United Way's Stuff the Bus campaign is all about that image.

In the last several years, United Way of Salt Lake started a new focus on education, with the slogan "Cradle to Career."

To help with that goal, United Way of Salt Lake started its Stuff the Bus campaign three years ago, and community support has been growing, says Amy Worthington, this year's Stuff the Bus campaign coordinator.

She attributes one reason for the growth to what the organization refers to as a "Collective Impact Model." Under this model, United Way works with other local charities and businesses to provide more ways for individuals to donate. It is about combining resources and working together toward the same goal, rather than trying to achieve the same goal in each organization individually.

Local businesses including Discovery Gateway, for example, work with United Way by sponsoring drives at their location. On Aug. 12, Discovery Gateway will be accepting school supply donations in lieu of regular admission fees.

This year's goal is to fill 5,000 backpacks. The group is accepting donations through Aug. 31. The school supplies will support communities in Salt Lake, Davis, and Summit counties. Some specific schools or organizations served are Boys and Girls Club of South Valley, Kearns Junior High, Cottonwood High School and Granger Elementary.

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Good works

The Building Owners and Managers Association of Utah (BOMA) raised about $11,500 for the YWCA Salt Lake City at its Annual Charity Golf tournament.

In collaboration with KSL Cars and 103.5 The Arrow, the Young Automotive Group awarded Jalair Finlinson, an Ogden school teacher, a brand new car.

Stampin' Up! recently assembled and donated 2,000 birthday kits (worth more than $37,300) to Primary Children's Medical Center.

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How to help

Adult volunteers are needed for Youth Mentoring at The Sorenson Unity Center on weekday afternoons from 1–4 p.m. Programs include robotics, science, electronics, and computer skills. No experience is necessary and all training will be provided. Contact Carole Costa at carole.costa@slcgov.com or 801-535-6533 for more information and to sign up.

United Way of Salt Lake invites families and children 5-18 to participate in its annual Summer of Service. To participate, volunteer with an organization and/or organize your own service project and maintain a volunteer journal. To be connected to the hundreds of volunteer opportunities throughout the community, log onto http://www.uw.org/211.

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Upcoming events

Springville will host its Rotary Club Classic Car Show Fund Raiser on Sunday, Aug. 18 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. This event features hundreds of classic cars and motorcycles as well as some other unique vehicles. Steak dinners, burgers and other food will be sold to raise funds for the club. There will be live music and entertainment. For details, call Mikell Johnson at 801-491-4022.

Send information about corporate philanthropy to bizdesk@sltrib.com.