United Way of Central Ohio’s Community Impact Fund supports a network of more than 80 local nonprofit partners that provide opportunities in these four critical areas:
1 in 3 central Ohioans lacks the income to meet basic needs without assistance.
2,000 young adults in central Ohio are homeless.
The bone-cold night that Lamar crawled into an unlocked church van to sleep was the same night he knew he had to ask for help. At age 22, his days were spent trying to find food and shelter, and he had little time or energy for anything else. Then he found the 24/7 drop-in center for homeless youth funded by United Way, where he could eat, shower and rest, get connected to resources, and receive support and encouragement.
Five years after the program changed his life, Lamar is back at the drop-in center changing the lives of homeless youth in the community as an outreach specialist. His true passion in life, he says, is to help others find theirs.
Full-time employment significantly reduces the likelihood that someone lives in poverty. Only 2.2% of people who work full time for the entire year have incomes below the poverty threshold in Franklin County.
From 2009 to 2015, the number of temporary jobs in Franklin County grew by 49%, nearly five times the rate of overall job growth.
Heath had a great paying job he loved doing closed captioning for hearing impaired students at a local university. When the recession hit, he lost his job and spiraled into a depression. He had little choice but to take several low-wage jobs that eventually crippled his self-esteem even further.
After discovering a free workforce development program funded in part by United Way, Heath found the support he needed to get back on track. His career counselor helped him focus and polish his resume, practice his interview skills and encouraged him to apply for jobs even when Heath was ready to give up. Today, he has another closed captioning job he loves, has regained his confidence and is financially stable.
There is a 20-year difference in life expectancy between certain Columbus ZIP codes. Opportunities are enhanced or limited by where you live, depending on:
Columbus is the 2nd most economically-segregated city in nation.
Born and raised in Linden, DeLena has fond memories of growing up surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Neighbors knew you and looked after you, she recalls, and everybody knew everybody. Everything she needed was right there in her community.
Today, she says, there are many great organizations offering services, but too many people don’t know about them. Through her roles as chair of the South Linden Area Commission and program manager of the new Linden Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA), DeLena is focused on engaging and connecting residents in her beloved community. She knows the challenges and problems in Linden can be solved, but only if and when organizations, community leaders and residents work together to solve them.
DeLena is an NLA graduate herself, applying her skills to connect the disconnected in Linden. United Way has helped her go from being a student then a mom in Linden to being a leader in Linden. But she’s not content with just honing and using her own leadership skills to build a brighter future for Linden, she’s also looking for and training tomorrow’s leaders. Her goal is to reach and involve children and youth early, and to transfer what she has learned about leadership to them.
The poverty rate and the unemployment rate for people who do not have a High School diploma is twice as high as for people who have graduated.
72% of disadvantaged preschoolers in Franklin County struggle to meet the skills needed for kindergarten.
When Allyson’s son Avett was born, there were several things she was not prepared for: a broken leg, surgery, a diagnosis of Down syndrome and the high cost of child care. Thanks to family support, Allie got through those first months. And thanks to her discovery of an affordable high-quality early learning program funded by United Way, she can confidently focus on Avett’s future.
“We live paycheck to paycheck. We have medical bills from my broken leg and Avett, and a lot of debt from being off work so long. What if we didn’t have Columbus Early Learning Center? I really, really don’t know,“ says Allyson.
Number of individuals in Franklin
County living in poverty*
Number of children in Franklin
County living in poverty*
The monthly income it takes for a
family of 4 to make ends meet**
* U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2014 1-year estimates
** The University of Washington, Self-Sufficiency Standard 2015
When Emi and Tia are together, an extraordinary amount of energy and joy fill the room, whether they are dancing, drawing or just hanging out. They like being together, and it shows. The teens clearly recognize and appreciate one another’s strengths, and they’re quick to point those strengths out to anyone who is listening. Tia,…
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When Allie’s son Avett was born, there were several things she was not 100% prepared for: a broken leg, surgery, a diagnosis of Down syndrome and the high cost of childcare. The young family got through those first months by deciding to just “roll with it,” she explains with a calm smile directed at Avett,…
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For as long as 18-year-old Joseline can remember, she wanted to go to college. At times, though, she didn’t feel like all her studying and hard work would be enough to get her there. Her Big Sister Zoraida, on the other hand, had no doubt Joseline would overcome any barriers she encountered, and succeed in…
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More than 20 Linden agency leaders dropped everything in the middle of a work day and enthusiastically responded to DeLena Scales’ request to join her for a quick group photo during our interview. That tells you a lot about DeLena, a passionate leader in the community, who others trust and look to for guidance. “I’m…
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After moving back to Ohio from Louisiana, Rachael was struggling to find a job that would pay her bills. After finishing a contract job running a summer youth employment program, she watched her small savings account dwindle. She knew her struggle would become insurmountable if she didn’t find help soon. “I had a couple of…
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Heath had a great paying job he loved and took pride in, providing closed captioning for hearing impaired students at a local university. When the recession hit, though, he lost his job and spiraled into a depression. He had little choice but to take several low-wage jobs that eventually crippled his self-esteem even further. “All…
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James has spent a good deal of his life watching loved ones and people around him battle drug addiction. As a boy growing up on the east side, life was “crazy” and difficult, he admits. He has lived and slept on the streets more than he cares to remember. After his mother went to jail,…
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The bone-cold night that Lamar crawled into an unlocked church van to sleep was the same night he knew he had to ask for help. At age 22, he had recently discovered a passion for politics, but he had also become homeless. His days were spent trying to find food and shelter, and he had…
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This year’s friendly two-week Knock Out Poverty competition (powered by Columbia Gas) will be in full swing from March 11 to March 22. Fans can start making donations to their favorite nonprofits at knockoutpoverty.org on February 25! But first, we want to make sure our nonprofit partners and their teams have everything they need for a…
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We have great news to share! Katy Burrier will be joining the United Way team as Senior Vice President of Resource Development. Katy is currently Director of Advertising at Columbus Business First. She is an experienced leader who has achieved excellent results over the course of her 20-year career. Katy is well known in our…
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At United Way, success is measured in the number of lives changed. That’s why we’re laser focused on supporting a network of 84 local partners that are most effective at fighting poverty and getting results. And we want to make sure YOU see those results. See for yourself what your gift, no matter the size,…
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