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We are embarking on a new year, and for most of us, this means a period of unveiled excitement, hopefulness, high levels of emotional energy and usually renewing promises to accomplish a goal(s)that we’ve struggled with every year before—goals like lose weight, exercise more, give up smoking, get our finances in order. Sound familiar? Guess what? We can and we will be successful at money management by following these four simple steps that will take you into the New Year and beyond.

While college football fans packed into Fan Central for all the festivities celebrating tonight’s match-up between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers, hundreds of Valley teachers attended the Phoenix Extra Yard for Teachers Summit sponsored by the College Football Playoff Foundation and Valley of the Sun United Way.

With support from SRP, APS and Palo Verde, students also get on-site looks at the variety of energy industry careers available in their own communities.

As a mom and former teacher, the positive support I’ve seen for teachers this fall is incredibly encouraging. The passage of local school bonds and overrides helped to increase funding for public education. This collective action demonstrates local voters and the general public recognize that education is one of Arizona’s biggest priorities.

As a young boy growing up in Chicago, Jim Sliwicki has fond memories of accompanying his mom as she went door to door collecting donations for the March of Dimes, Veterans of Foreign Wars and other charitable organizations.

“I like seeing young people exposed to volunteer work and getting the importance of it,” says Jim, who, like his mother before him, introduced his son to helping others as a young boy. “The world isn’t always fair, and it’s nice to see kids can understand that at an early age.”

At Valley of the Sun United Way, our Generation United members enjoy a little friendly competition. That’s why they created Win United, an annual scavenger hunt where you can challenge your friends and coworkers to win awesome prizes and share the love on Instagram. The best part, you’ll have fun while helping kids and families right here in our community.

For many children in our community, breakfast is much more than a morning meal; it’s a vital pathway to successful learning, good health and a sense of security. “We aren’t just feeding hungry children,” says Jayson Matthews, Director of Ending Hunger at Valley of the Sun United Way. “We’re making that meal the best part of their day by providing nutritious, good-tasting food in a safe, happy, non-stressful environment in the presence of their friends and a caring adult.”

“Homelessness is a condition, not an identity.” That is the understanding that Barb Perry says inspired her to write the poem, I Am Sam.

“Experiencing homelessness should never define or place a value on any individual,” says Barb, Director of Annual Workforce Giving at Valley of the Sun United Way. “We are all human. We all strive to survive.”

Woodson spoke at his middle school alma mater as part of Extra Mile For Teachers, a program sponsored by the National College Football Playoff Foundation, the Arizona Organizing Committee and Valley of the Sun United Way. The initiative supports public school teachers by funding classroom projects, as well as providing professional development and leadership training.