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A Community UNITED: 2021 Annual Report
April 25th, 2022We are grateful that so many corporate partners, individual donors and volunteers, remained with us throughout 2021 to help strengthen nonprofits and the families they serve in our community. When you join us, we can tackle challenges that no one organization or person can solve alone. Thanks to you, we raised and invested more than $24 million, of which the majority stayed in our community and $9 million was invested in our nonprofit partners. Together, we issued 128 grants to 91 local nonprofits helping families meet basic needs and youth achieve student success. Thank you! Our 2021 Annual Report is included in the May issue of Columbus Monthly. You can also see what you helped accomplish by downloading and reading it here.
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It’s Back! Get Ready to be UNITED for Impact from May 9 to 13
April 25th, 2022Mark your calendars! From May 9 to May 13, YOU can join forces with the collective caring power of central Ohio to give to your favorite nonprofit(s) and unlock an additional $250,000 sponsorship prize money for all 75 participating partners. 100% of your gift goes to the nonprofit(s) of your choice to help strengthen our community’s safety net. This year, we have both United Way of Central Ohio AND United Way of Union County nonprofit partners participating! Pandemic fatigue is real, but the reality is that the impacts of COVID-19 will be with us for the foreseeable future. No one knows this better than our local nonprofits, which have been struggling to do more for the families they serve with fewer resources, staff and volunteers. These local nonprofits are joining us to be UNITED for Impact, and they’re counting on you to help them be stronger together! Every gift, no matter the size, matters because bonus prizes will be unlocked when various levels of donations or number of donors are reached: ✅ Level 1: Unlocks at $60k raised or 500 donors ✅ Level 2: Unlocks at $145k or 1,025 donors ✅ Level 3: Unlocks at $255k or 1,625 donors ✅…
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Column: Together, we proved that when we stand UNITED, we shine like stars
April 13th, 2022https://www.dispatch.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2022/04/13/opinion-what-organizations-programs-benefit-united-way-funding/7275549001/ Reprinted from The Columbus Dispatch – April 13, 2022 While our community will feel the effects of the pandemic for years to come, it’s important to acknowledge the incredible ways we stand united in times of crisis. In 2021, United Way of Central Ohio, together with our corporate partners, individual donors and volunteers, raised $24 million resulting in program support for thousands of nonprofits. That money helped local families meet basic needs, children and youth achieve student success and much more. For example, Star House provided 819 youth experiencing homelessness with food, clothing, and a safe place to stay. Community Development for All People provided fresh and healthy food to 23,500 people. And Directions for Youth and Families helped 100% of children in their program improve Get Ready to Read scores. We measure success by actual lives changed, and those are just a few of the actual, tangible results that come from supporting United Way of Central Ohio. We know corporations and individuals have many ways and opportunities to support the causes they care about, and we’re grateful for their unwavering support. In 2023, United Way of Central Ohio will celebrate 100 years of working together with our…
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Nearly $27,000 Raised for United for Ukraine Fund
March 17th, 2022Almost 3 million people have fled Ukraine, and experts predict 7 million will be forced to leave before the conflict is over. Neighboring countries, including Poland, Romania and Hungary, are seeing the biggest waves of people escaping the violence. United Way is stepping up to support those displaced by the violence, providing life-saving relief. Nearly $27,000 was donated by 220 generous central Ohio donors on Friday evening when NBC4 and United Way of Central Ohio partnered for a CALL4 event from 4 to 7:30 p.m. The CALL4 was staffed with employees from United Way of Central Ohio who were inspired by the volume and generosity of the viewers who called in. Many of the donors mentioned how grateful they were to have a local trusted source to give to in order to help families and children fleeing Ukraine. The calls were so steady that many viewers waited on the lines to make their donations and some were unable to get through. If you were one of those callers who didn’t get through or you are looking for a way to make a difference today, you can still donate by clicking the button below. 100% of your donation will go…
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Working Together to Close the Digital Divide for Our Community’s Students
January 3rd, 2022Millions of students are facing a challenge that keeps them from succeeding in school. The digital divide in education is the gap between students who have reliable access to an adequate device or internet and those who don’t. The gap has existed for decades – ever since personal computers gained popularity – but during the COVID-19 pandemic our community saw how deep the challenge runs. This challenge impacts all of us, not just students. Two studies, from Michigan State University and University of Miami, respectively, show the connection between grades and future success. Michigan State researchers discovered a connection between access to broadband internet and higher GPAs among students. While the University of Miami study found that students with higher GPAs have higher earning potential. Paired together, the studies demonstrate the multi-generational impact of increasing connectivity for individuals. On top of the benefits for individuals, when students are more prepared to go to college and have more opportunities to secure high-paying jobs our local economy grows stronger. A skilled, high-performing workforce is essential to keeping our region thriving today as well as decades into the future. If the digital divide is so hurtful, why does it still exist? Most experts agree…
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CARDINAL HEALTH FOUNDATION AND UNITED WAY SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS WITH $150,000 GRANTS
December 13th, 2021The Cardinal Health Foundation and United Way of Central Ohio recently approved $150,000 in grant funding for 16 nonprofits that support student success in central Ohio. Recipients of this round of funding include many organizations that are new, smaller in size and/or provide culturally-specific opportunities. Of the 16 organizations selected, 63% are led by people of color: ● All THAT: Build and encourage healthy relationships and provide an open forum for students to design their own solutions to their challenges. ● Columbus Literacy Council: Support an academic enrichment program for youth in low-income households. ● Community For New Direction Incorporation: Fund a program that ensures kids who are most at-risk receive the most effective interventions. ● Community Refugee and Immigration Services: Non-intrusive youth mentoring program that provides one-on-one mentorship for new Americans. ● Foundation for Families: Youth empowerment program that provides mentorship and evidence-based curriculum. ● Girls On The Run of Central Ohio: Inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a curriculum that creatively integrates running. ● Hardy Center: Program that focuses on literacy, life skills and leadership for students in grades kindergarten through 8th. ● King Arts Complex: Empower young people to use their creativity and lived experiences…
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United Way Issues RFP for Sale of Building
December 6th, 2021For decades, United Way of Central Ohio has occupied 360 S. Third Street, a visible corner in the southern end of downtown Columbus at the southeast corner of South Third and East Mound streets. Now, the organization is ready to sell its desirable property. Because United Way’s mission is to improve the lives of others by mobilizing the caring power of our community, a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued today to purchase and develop the property includes a caveat: redevelopment proposals that include affordable housing will be given special consideration. “Our mission to improve the lives of others by mobilizing the caring power of our community impacts everything we do. Central Ohio is in desperate need of affordable housing, and our property is a prime location for redevelopment, as it is conveniently located to bus lines, services and nearly 100,000 jobs in the central core of the city,” said Lisa S. Courtice, CEO and President of United Way. “We want developers to meet a critical need in the transformation of our desirable location.” Affordable housing is generally defined as housing where the occupant pays no more than 30% of gross income for housing costs, including utilities. When selecting a successful…
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Advancing Racial Equity in Central Ohio
November 2nd, 2021At United Way of Central Ohio, advancing equity is at the heart of our mission. We support more than 90 nonprofits that provide basic needs and equitable educational opportunities for every person in every community – and that’s not possible without explicitly focusing on communities of color and ethnic minorities. In recent years, we made that commitment more explicit. United Way is quickly becoming a reliable source for diverse and more equitable board talent. A survey we conducted in 2019 confirmed central Ohio nonprofit boards are not diverse in comparison to county demographics. As a result, we created a policy requiring funded agency boards to reflect county demographics by 2025. To help support this effort, we’re working in collaboration with funded agencies to create and execute rigorous plans for achieving greater board diversity. We know the best decisions are made when everyone has a seat at the table and can contribute diverse perspectives, says Shayne Downton, United Way of Central Ohio Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Project Diversity Pride Leadership is our training program that has more than 700 graduates, 75% of whom have served or are currently serving on nonprofit boards. Local companies identify associates to participate and represent…
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COVID-19 IMPACT SURVEY REVEALS GREATER CHALLENGES FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
August 11th, 2021Results of a survey conducted this summer by United Way of Central Ohio, in partnership with United for ALICE and other local organizations, reveals Franklin County’s low-income households experienced greater challenges from COVID-19 compared to more financially-secure populations. A convenience sampling of 2,466 respondents residing in Franklin County show people in households below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and households that are ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed, experienced greater disparity during the pandemic in categories including employment, housing, finances, child care and technology. “When COVID-19 hit, 41% of all households in Franklin County were already struggling to make ends meet — a ten-year record high. That set the stage for the unprecedented economic impact of the pandemic,” said Lisa Courtice, CEO and President of United Way of Central Ohio. “While much of central Ohio is in recovery mode, many families are nowhere near recovering what they lost.” When respondents were asked their biggest concerns, people living below the ALICE Threshold (households below the FPL and ALICE) identified contracting COVID-19 (31%), paying housing expenses (19%) and mental health (13%). Similarly, respondents above the ALICE Threshold revealed contracting COVID-19 (53%) and mental health (18%), but saw child care (10%) as…
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Expanded Child Tax Credit Details and Resources for Families
July 28th, 2021The expanded Child Tax Credit is expected to lift 4 million children out of poverty. But that can only be accomplished if low- to moderate-income families are aware of this resource and what they need to do to receive support. The IRS began issuing the first-ever monthly installments in July 2021. Under the American Rescue Plan, families can choose to receive monthly payments in place of an annual lump sum. This change will help families cover real-time expenses throughout the year. Here are the details nonprofits and families need to know about to receive monthly payments: $3,000 – $3,600 per child is available to nearly all families. You can receive the Child Tax Credit even in you have no income for 2019 or 2020. If you don’t typically file taxes, families need to file 2020 taxes or register with the IRS to receive payments. Families will automatically receive half of their credit in monthly payments from July to December, and the other half when they file taxes in 2022. When providing banking information to the IRS to receive payment, families may be able to have it added to an existing prepaid card. United Way of Central Ohio is a valuable…
