For a building to be stable for the long term, it needs a solid foundation. The same is true in life, and the building blocks for a solid life are a strong education, financial stability and good health.

 

For a building to be stable for the long term, it needs a solid foundation. The same is true in a community, and the building blocks for a solid community are a strong public education system, economic prosperity and quality health care.

 

The measure of United Way is not in the fundraising campaign, but in the ways we are impacting the community — in connecting people across the region, and in improving the foundation of our community.

 

Things have really changed at United Way; United Way is more focused and driven for outcome results than ever before. United Way has one mission that drives everything we do, and that is to advance the common good through sustainable, measurable improvements to our communities’ education, income stability and health - because we recognize that we are all united.

 

Education is a corner stone for success in school, work and life.  And it benefits the whole community:  high school graduates earn more and contribute more to their local economies, are more engaged in their communities, and are more likely to raise kids who also graduate.  United Way is about more than short-term charity for a few; we are about lasting solutions that build opportunity for all.  We look at the big picture:  what resources are lacking or need strengthening, and how can we address those gaps to keep kids on track to graduation.

 

The whole community benefits when more working individuals and families are able to stop walking a financial tightrope and get on solid ground.  That’s why we focus on lasting solutions that go beyond charity, because financially stable people are more likely to have access to quality healthcare, provide a good education for their children, and contribute to their local economy.

 

Good health is an essential ingredient for individual success and a thriving community.  Healthy kids are more likely to succeed in school.  The whole community will flourish when all of our residents have access to public parks, playgrounds, healthy foods and quality healthcare.   We are committed to more than short-term charity for a few; we are committed to lasting solutions that build opportunity for all.

 

We are focusing all of our energies on the three building blocks for a good quality of life — education, income and health. Specifically, we have set goals for 2032 that are focused on prevention and with the intention of aligning resources to focus on children and youth to give them a good start and shape their futures.

 

Priority # 1        Education:   Raise the High School Graduation Rate to 87%

Priority # 2        Income:  Increase by 20% the number of households in Wapello County

                        that are financially stable

Priority #3         Health:  Demonstrate improvement on the County Health Rankings by one quartile (move from the bottom quartile to the second quartile)

 

The United Way Board of Directors are investing over $492,000 in programs and collaborative initiatives from July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016.

 

Education:
Community Impact Grant to Al Exito for the Dream. Learn. Succeed Program

Community Impact Grant to American Home Finding Association for the AHFA Childcare Center

Community Impact Grant to YMCA for the Discovery Lane Early Learning Center                         

Community Impact Grant to YMCA for Summer Safari Childcare Program                                               

Iowa Reading Corps Third Grade Literacy Initiative at Cardinal Community School District            

United Way United With Youth Grants

 

Income:
Community Impact Grant to American Red Cross for Disaster Relief

Community Impact Grant to Food Bank of Southern Iowa for Feeding the Hungry Program

Community Impact Grant to Iowa Legal Aid for Income and Home Stabilization Project

Contract with Sieda Community Action for Basic Needs Services

United Way Strategic Initiative on Weatherization Program for Low-Income Residents      

United Way Strategic Initiative:  Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program                                                         

United Way Strategic Initiative to Increase Food Security – Community/Neighborhood Gardens   

Health:
Community Impact Grant to American Home Finding Association for the Teen Health Center

Community Impact Grant to Friends of Iowa CASA for the CASA Program

Community Impact Grant to Hospice, serving Davis and Wapello Counties for Bereavement Services

Community Impact Grant to Southern Iowa Mental Health Center for Potential Achievers Program

Community Impact Grant to YMCA for the Lifetime Wellness Program

United Way FamilyWize Prescription Discount Cards

 

United Way Strategic Initiatives and Programs focused on all three building blocks
ALICE - Asset Limited, Income Constrained Employed

United Way 2-1-1 First Call for Help

United Way Volunteer Center

United Way RSVP Program

LIVE UNITED Mini Grants

Community Collaborative Projects
Cradle, College to Career

Prevention Research Center for Rural Health, Active Ottumwa

Southeast Iowa Nonprofit Summit

Wapello County Food Security Consortium

 

Over $56,000 in donor directed contributions will also be distributed to numerous 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations whose focus in on health and human services through the United Way Donor Choice Designation Program.

 

“The strategic investments are just a part of what United Way is all about.  United Way has evolved from our roots as a fundraising organization to a critical community convener that mobilizes local partners, including businesses, community leaders, public officials and community residents, to expand opportunities for people to succeed.  Of course, United Way can’t do it alone.  We must work with our community partners.  Together, we must tap into people’s aspirations, focus on issues and underlying conditions for change, and bring people and organizations together to create collective impact” said Desiree Johnson, President and CEO.  “By working together as a community, we can change the condition of our community and create opportunities for everyone.  That’s what it means to Live United.”