What We Do

Since 1923, United Way of Central Ohio has been solving our community’s most pressing issues by mobilizing and convening individuals, organizations and systems. Over the past century, we’ve empowered our neighbors to succeed at every stage in their lives, and raised and invested more than $1.7 billion into building a stronger, more resilient central Ohio for everyone.

Our long history of strong partnerships and understanding of our community’s issues led us to the focus our expertise on the needs of our community’s students and their families with Success by Third Grade. We know that children’s success in the classroom is impacted by more than just instruction and materials. Students and their families must be supported inside and outside of the classroom.

Our nonprofit partners and our network directors, who work to create community partner networks within school districts, strategically support the unique needs of students and families, accelerating the path to reading proficiency like no one organization can.

Last year, our community joined us in strengthening families and putting more children on a pathway to succeed in school and life:

Students Received Support and Services

Neighbors With Food Insecurity Received Nutritious Meals

Families Experiencing a Housing Crisis Received Stable Housing

Because our young learners are tomorrow's leaders and innovators, our Community Response Fund invests in local, high-quality nonprofit partners that provide direct services in Success by Third Grade's participating school districts, focus on equal opportunities for everyone and have strong outcomes for programs serving families and students.

Our Nonprofit Partners

ACTION FOR CHILDREN UWCO 2025 Investment $160,000

Organization Description:

There are just 2,000 days between a child's birth and the day they enter Kindergarten--and those days are among the most important to a child's development. When parents, caregivers and teachers are prepared and supported, these moments enrich a child's life, promote healthy development, and ensure that he or she feels safe, loved, and prepared for a bright future. Since 1972, Action for Children (AFC) has worked to transform the lives of children during those first 2,000 days by supporting, empowering and advocating for the adults who make the biggest impact on children’s lives—their parents, caregivers and teachers. When children are nurtured by strong families and vibrant communities and when they have access to quality early learning experiences, they are better prepared for success in school and in life. To support this vital vision, and as the local child care resource and referral agency, Action for Children's services include: free child care referrals and access to community resources for parents and families; parenting education classes, seminars, home-visiting programs and workshops; professional development, coaching, and technical assistance for early childhood programs and practitioners; and child care resources and data for workforce development, public awareness and advocacy. AFC's service area includes Columbus and Franklin County as well as Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union Counties.

Address:

78 Jefferson Avenue (43215)

Phone:

614.224.0222

Organization Description:

The members of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio are 28 non-profit and for-profit organizations that represent the full spectrum of affordable housing activities in Franklin County, from homeless and housing services, to housing development and housing finance. Working together, we are advancing solutions to address the affordable housing challenge, which will support economic progress and strengthen the community.

Address:

215 N Front St, Suite 600, Columbus, OH 43215

Website:

https://www.ahaco.org/

AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY UWCO 2025 Investment $25,000

Organization Description:

Founded in 2004, The African American Male Wellness Initiative (AAMWI) was established to improve the health disparities affecting African American men. From our humble beginnings, the AAMWI has grown to become the largest health initiative locally and across the state of Ohio. Accelerated growth of the AAMWI can be contributed to our ability to engage African American men. Every year the initiative engages over 50,000 families nationwide providing health educational workshops, fatherhood training, employment training and free health screenings to over 3,000 African American men. Our educational programming focuses on topics such as mental health, opioid addiction, healthy cooking, work readiness, HIV prevention and financial wellness.

Address:

2780 Airport Drive, Suite 333, Columbus, OH 43219

Phone:

614.754.7511

Website:

https://aawellness.org/

ALVIS UWCO 2025 Investment $50,000

Organization Description:

Alvis provides research-based reentry programs for individuals with justice histories and/or substance use and behavioral issues. We also serve people with intellectual or developmental disabilities who face challenges as they seek to live independently. Alvis serves more than 8,000 men, women, young adults and children in Ohio each year, and our programs indirectly impact tens of thousands more. At Alvis, we give people the inspiration, the encouragement and the tools they need to turn their lives around 180 degrees.

Address:

2100 Stella Court (43215)

Phone:

614.252.8402

Website:

http://www.alvis180.org

Twitter:

AlvisHouse

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/AlvisInc

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL OHIO UWCO 2025 Investment $110,000

Organization Description:

Founded in 1933, the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. We do not create potential. We defend, ignite and empower the potential of the youth we serve. This way our youth can reach their biggest possible future! Abraham Maslow identified loving relationships and a sense of belonging as basic human needs, much like food, shelter and safety, and that the realization of basic needs are needed for people to achieve their full potential. The relationships provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters are essential for young people to thrive. During 2020, our volunteers and supporters have stepped up in a BIG way. They are preventing social isolation in our most vulnerable population, our youth, and helping kids hold on to the positivity and resiliency they need to get through this difficult time. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio was one of the charter agencies that founded Big Brothers of America in 1947. Today we are one of the largest agencies of approximately 240 Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates in the country. We accomplish our mission through our four core programs: * Community-based Mentoring matches caring adults with children in need of friendship and guidance. Mentors meet with youth twice per month. These one-to-one relationships help youth grow socially and emotionally. * School-based Mentoring matches positive adults with children at schools around central Ohio. Mentors meet with youth weekly during the school year. * Camp Oty’Okwa provides group mentoring in a safe haven for youth. Children can attend summer camp or weekend camp during the school year. We also offer environmental education programs for schools. * MENTOR Central Ohio provides training, organizational consulting, and capacity building to more than thirty youth mentoring programs. At the heart of Big Brothers Big Sisters is the one-to-one relationship between the mentor and youth. Our organization is uniquely positioned to bring diverse groups of people together from different racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, and build bridges of understanding through the power of one-to-one relationships. In doing this we are playing a powerful role in ending racism and inequality.

Address:

1855 E. Dublin-Granville Rd. (43229)

Phone:

614.839.2447/Toll free 866.892.2447

Website:

http://www.bbbscentralohio.org

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/BigBrothersBigSistersCentralOhio

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF COLUMBUS UWCO 2025 Investment $110,000

Organization Description:

The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio is to empower young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. We have been providing out-of-school programming to underserved youth in Columbus since 1948. We operate eight Clubs in central Ohio's most at-risk neighborhoods and serve kids between the ages of 5 -- 18. Residents in these neighborhoods face great challenges including poverty, high crime rates, vacant housing and barriers to educational and career attainment. Ninety-three percent of Club members are economically disadvantaged, and 23% report that they live in households with annual incomes under $5,000. At the Club we offer a comprehensive array of evidence-based programs that focus on three core pillars: 1) Academic Success 2) Good Character & Leadership and 3) Healthy Lifestyles. A typical day at the Club includes structured activities, a well-balanced meal and daily physical activity. Our Clubs are traditionally open five days a week from 3-7 p.m. during the school year and all day in the summer. In response to the pandemic and the full-time virtual programming that our local school districts are offering, our Clubs have shifted hours to 7:30 a.m. -- 3 p.m., Monday -- Thursday.

Address:

1000 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH 43201

Phone:

614.221.8830

Website:

http://www.bgccentralohio.org

Twitter:

'@BGCCbus

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boys-Girls-Clubs-of-Columbus/63244064927

BROWN GIRLS MENTORING UWCO 2025 Investment $10,000

Organization Description:

Our mission is to empower Black and Brown Girls through social emotional development to recognize their inherent value, cultivate resilience in the face of adversity, and foster a strong sense of confidence in their own identity. We achieve this by facilitating connections between the girls and accomplished women of color, enabling them to learn from and be inspired by shared life experiences.

Address:

P.O. Box 307504, Columbus, OH 43230

Phone:

(614) 749-3141

Website:

http://www.browngirlsmentoring.org

CENTRAL COMMUNITY HOUSE UWCO 2025 Investment $135,000

Organization Description:

Central Community House is a source of support and a community home for the children, teens, families and seniors living in the near east and near south areas of Columbus. Within a full-service community center, people of all ages come together to learn, play, share their gifts and find assistance when needed. The agency has been part of the fabric of the near east side since 1936 operating in the historic Settlement House model in cooperation with neighbors to improve the lives of residents, especially those struggling with longstanding poverty and social injustice. CCH offers youth/teen out-of-school programs, crisis material assistance, neighborhood initiatives, family strengthening/social work and senior programs.

Address:

1150 E. Main Street (43205) Child Care Center 614-253-7267

Phone:

614.252.3157

Website:

http://www.cchouse.org

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/centralcommunityhouse

CHARITY NEWSIES UWCO 2025 Investment $10,000

Organization Description:

The mission of Charity Newsies is that no child shall be kept out of school for lack of adequate clothing.

Partner Description:

Since our founding in 1907, Charity Newsies has served over 800,000 kids. Our mission is that no child shall be kept out of school for lack of adequate clothing. Charity Newsies received over 18,000 applications for clothing for kids in 2023. More than one third of the children we serve each year falls within Kindergarten through third grade. Each child receives a package of clothing worth $150. Charity Newsies provides brand new clothing to children in need, from Kindergarten through twelfth grade, who reside in Franklin County and attend in person schools. We have provided clothing to over 90% of the schools in Franklin County. Families directly apply for clothing assistance in the summer. Each child will receive a brand new clothing package consisting of six pairs of socks, underwear for the week, a coat, hat, gloves and three shirts and three pants. Should the child attend a school with a dress code, dress code compliant clothing will be provided. Children attending schools with a uniform with a logo will receive a full clothing package along with a voucher to use at a local uniform store for the items requiring a specific logo. In addition to applications received directly from families, Charity Newsies works with a number of partners to provide clothes to kids in need year-round including homeless shelters and families affected by fires, flooding, violence, etc.

Address:

4300 INDIANOLA AVE, COLUMBUS, OH 43214-2221

Phone:

(614) 743-0104

Website:

https://charitynewsies.org/

CHILDHOOD LEAGUE CENTER UWCO 2025 Investment $70,000

Organization Description:

With a mission to change the trajectory of a child’s life through innovative early childhood education, transdisciplinary teams, and family-centered partnerships, The Childhood League Center (The Center) has served children most at-risk of being left behind – at school and in life – since 1945. In 1961, President Kennedy brought awareness of developmental delays in children to the mainstream. The Center was at the forefront of that conversation with its first class for developmentally disabled children in 1964. By 1980, The Center had graduated 500 children! Following the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, The Center expanded services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays. We launched our Early Intervention (EI) program, which later became home-based Early Intervention Coaching, focused on teaching parents to intervene on behalf of their children with delays. In 2001, The Center was selected to implement Ohio’s Early Start program for children at risk (Help Me Grow). In 2012, The Center recognized the increased prevalence of children identified with the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the growing need for ASD-specific services and incorporated the PLAY Project interventions into our home-based Coaching Program. In 2016, we became the first licensed PLAY Project Center for children with autism in the nation. The PLAY Project (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) is an autism intervention based on how very young children learn best: through playing in their natural environment. In contrast to traditional intervention approaches that are more effective for older children, the PLAY Project is proven to have positive results for children as young as 14 months. The PLAY Project can be used as an immediate intervention, even before an official autism diagnosis, and can be integrated with other therapies. Today, The Center serves more than 550 Central Ohio children age 0-5 each year through our Early Intervention, PLAY Project and Preschool programs, and through the Ohio Department of Health’s Help Me Grow Early Intervention Service Coordination for infants and toddlers (one of four centers in Franklin County). We serve children both in their natural environment (where they live, learn, and play) and in the classroom. Each child has their own team of dedicated professionals who partner with that child’s family, drawing on the expertise of both the family and the professionals to address the child’s social, physical, and developmental needs. Critical early interventions and education for children, empowerment of parents, and greater access to community resources is our recipe for social change as we move vulnerable families toward increased success.

Address:

674 Cleveland Ave Columbus, OH 43215

Phone:

(614) 253-6933

Website:

http://www.childhoodleague.org

What We Do

Last year, our community joined us in strengthening families and putting more children on a pathway to succeed in school and life:

Students Received Support and Services

Neighbors With Food Insecurity Received Nutritious Meals

Families Experiencing a Housing Crisis Received Stable Housing

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