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.
The ZIP code you are born in or live in shouldn’t determine your destiny. But opportunities and access to resources vary widely from neighborhood to neighborhood.
Knowing how residents are doing in meeting basic needs, achieving student success and finding good jobs helps United Way craft the most effective solutions to our community’s biggest challenges.
Shadena always loved school and loved to learn. She dreamed of obtaining her college degree, but found it impossible to balance everything when she became a single mother. She withdrew from college, with the hope that she could return someday. Today, at age 39, Shadena is a full-time student at Ohio Dominican University and has…
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Donna faced enormous challenges when she decided to raise her deceased sister’s children in addition to her own. A single mom who had just launched her own catering business, she had unlimited determination and love but limited resources. “I know what it’s like to feel rejected. I know what it’s like to not have what…
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Jim and Molly have opened their hearts and home to numerous children. Four of their six kids have joined the family through adoption, including Braylon. At 16 months old, Braylon didn’t make eye contact, pull up, crawl or speak. Jim and Molly knew he was not where he should be developmentally so they set out to…
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Alphonso couldn’t imagine a future beyond the drugs and violence he saw in his neighborhood. He was angry with everyone and everything, and was regularly suspended from school. At one point, Penny, Alphonso’s mom, almost gave up on him. “I always told him, ‘if you don’t get it together, you’re going to be in jail or…
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April is a survivor who has battled and overcome poverty, addiction and human trafficking. “I was trafficked on the west side of Columbus for many years.” April said. “I was in and out of jail. I came from poverty. I just had this poverty mindset that kept me stuck. I didn’t strive for more.” The…
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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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In recognition of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, United Way of Central Ohio will make June 19 an annual paid holiday for employees. Lisa Courtice, president and CEO, shared this announcement with staff earlier this week. She hopes this decision will allow her colleagues to…
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Imagine a summer without the local pool, library, summer sports, day camps and more. With programs closed or limited to smaller groups due to COVID-19, thousands of kids in our community will be missing these and many other fun summertime activities. In response, United Way of Central Ohio is launching United for Kids, a summer…
Read MoreUnited Way of Central Ohio condemns the systemic racism, injustice and inequality that continue to exist in our community. The violent attacks and murders of African Americans and other persons of color by our country’s police force are alarming and must end. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected and who…
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