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
We deeply understand community conditions in Central Ohio and pinpoint the most effective approaches to reduce poverty.
We created a new pathway system which ensures families receive services, gaps in services are filled, and positive outcomes are achieved.
By convening and catalyzing people and systems, we help change community conditions and improve the chances that families will succeed.
We also prioritize neighborhoods of concentrated poverty, serving as a catalyst and organizer for revitalization efforts.
When Jaylin and his younger brothers arrived to live with their grandmother, she wasn’t quite sure what to do. “I had girls. I don’t know about guy stuff.” Fortunately, each boy found a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Fifteen-year-old Jaylin has really connected with his Big Brother, Matt. “Having a mentor has changed my…
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Destiny’s face lights up when her children run in the room. Like any mother, their happiness is everything to her. But happiness was hard to come by after mold forced her family to move out of their home and close their childcare business. She and her husband, Greg, both college graduates, were suddenly in a…
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Behind 17-year-old Alexis’ shy smile is a poised confidence many teens don’t possess. One of the first to join the South Side Boys & Girls Club, Alexis plays on the volleyball team, is a junior staff member and participates in the Club’s leadership program. She’s a role model who has testified at the Statehouse regarding…
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Roy grew up poor and couldn’t afford to attend college. For years, he worked low-wage sales jobs, barely making ends meet. Determined to follow his passion for computers, he quit one job but then was laid off a month later from his sales job in the tech industry. At his very lowest point, Roy discovered…
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North Columbus
Kaylah’s life has been filled with barriers. She remembers eviction notices and her mother missing meals so she could eat. When Kaylah became pregnant during senior year of high school, she fought through morning sickness and turmoil at home that led to living in her car for several days.
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Hand Raisers and Game Changers on the South Side
When Ken and Allen moved into and founded the Ganthers Place neighborhood in 2003, the 30-block area was awash in crime, litter, rats, dilapidated housing and overgrown lots.
Read More Watch VideoWe all have the potential to make central Ohio a better place. If you’re ready to Make Your Moment in our community, we can help you get started. Take the quick five-question quiz, give a gift to reduce poverty or find a volunteer opportunity near you. Whatever you decide, every moment counts.
Just like the real deal, our Knock Out Poverty bracket challenge came right down to the wire. A last second 3-pointer tossed to the skies brought one nonprofit from behind to win BIG BUCKS. That heart-stopping throw came from a donor who made an $8,000 gift at the buzzer to Columbus Early Learning Centers (CELC),…
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At age 26, Ryan Aguiar loves to hang with other passionate young professionals. But he’s also making sure he ventures outside of his daily “bubble” to focus on making Columbus a better community for everyone. “The Columbus community is doing a lot of great things in terms of community involvement,” says Ryan. “One area I…
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United Way is pleased to announce the opportunity to apply for 2019 and 2020 Program Investment. Through Program Investment, United Way seeks to support high-quality, high-impact nonprofit programs that: Help children develop the skills and behaviors needed to enter kindergarten ready to succeed, Help young people develop the skills and behaviors needed to graduate from…
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