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![School Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism](https://www.uweci.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Blog_2016-03_Reading_Into_Success-1.jpg)
What is chronic absenteeism, and how does it affect young students in our communities?
![Outstanding Volunteer Awards Recap](https://www.uweci.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Events-VolunteerAwards.jpg)
On Friday, April 15 we hosted our annual Outstanding Volunteer Awards event.
![Time for Art Recap](https://www.uweci.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Blog_2016-04_TimeforArt_03.jpg)
Time for Art made a difference in our community by auctioning off local artwork for volunteer hours.
![Get to Know Our President, Lois Buntz](https://www.uweci.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Lois-Buntz-Blog-Post-0216.jpg)
In honor of President's Day, we'd like to feature our own President/CEO, Lois Buntz. Click here to learn more about Lois's guitar lessons and the best advice she's ever received.
![Campaign Celebration 2015 Results](https://www.uweci.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Blog_2016-01_campaign_celebration_Results-1.jpg)
We're happy to announce that together we raised a total of $10,318,151. Not only did you help us reach and surpass our campaign goal, but also more importantly your support made a difference to more people and improved more lives:
![End of Year Giving](https://www.uweci.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Blog_2015-12_End_of_Year_Giving.jpg)
The end of the year is a busy time for nonprofits. More than one-quarter of all charitable contributions are made every December. Contributions are deductible in the year you make them, so be sure and get your gift in by December 31.
![United We Dine 2015](https://www.uweci.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/United-We-Dine-Bistro-2015-Blog-042.jpg)
Stop in and enjoy coffee, lunch or dinner and support United Way at Bistro on the River December 8-11.
!['Tis the Campaign Season](https://www.uweci.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015-11-CampaignKickoff.jpg)
United Way of East Central Iowa celebrated the beginning of campaign season with a week of kick-off events in September.