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 missing meals. When she became pregnant during senior year of high school, she fought through morning sickness and turmoil at home that led to living in her car. Determined not to let barriers hold her back, Kaylah reached out for help…
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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. But the two men saw potential and neighbors who cared, so they rolled up their sleeves and went…
Read MoreWe 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.
United Way is focused on helping people. And what better way to emphasize that than to set a goal that is all about people? So, we are setting a new goal for 2017:350,000 central Ohioans will have access to resources to meet their basic needs and the opportunity to be on a path toward a…
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Our ’17-18 campaign video tells a bit of a different story. It’s a manifesto, a stake in the ground, and a snapshot of how, together, we tackle the critical issues throughout central Ohio. The picture isn’t always a rosy one. There are tough issues, like persistent poverty. But when we come together and fight for…
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Lisa Courtice, PhD, president and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio, today named Michael Wilkos as Senior Vice President of Community Impact. The Community Impact team at United Way develops effective approaches to fighting poverty and invests in programs provided by funded partners to implement these approaches. Michael is currently the Director of Community…
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