Community Impact
United Way is about people helping people. We're doing what no other can - bringing the entire community together to magnify a shared vision of caring and impact the issues that matter most.
United Way works closely in partnership with community organizations and leaders to identify pressing health and human service needs in the community.
The Community Investment process used for awarding United Way funds to participating United Way agencies relies on the active involvement of community volunteers.
Annually, agencies present written information describing a program’s content, objectives, budget and staffing requirements to United Way, and then give presentations to groups of United Way volunteers documenting the need and benefit of each program to address our communities’ human services problems.
Based on United Way's funding strategy, the United Way Board of Directors places available funds into Need Areas (see Impact areas below) with certain funding focuses within each area. Participating agencies then prepare program specific requests for United Way volunteers to review. Agency proposals are compared and contrasted on a very competitive basis to assure that donors’ dollars are going to the most effective programs.
By prioritizing needs and bringing together resources - both financial and human - donors see tangible results. To ensure your contribution helps those most in need, United Way of North Central Massachusetts has identified six important impact areas.
Helping Youth Succeed
Supporting educational, social and recreational services designed to help youth develop life skills and healthy decision-making skills to reinforce positive behaviors and academic achievement.
- Through United Way support, Boy Scouts engaged over 1,700 youth ages 5 to 18 years living in North Central MA. In scouting, all members participate in activities designed to promote cooperation, respect and good decision-making.
Strengthening Families
Providing the opportunities for social, physical and emotional development of families in North Central Massachusetts.
- Forty-six women successfully completed the HOPE for Women job skills training program. Of the 38 women available for follow-up, 25 of them had achieved their long-term goal of further education or employment.
Responding to Basic Needs
Assisting front line response to meet basic needs of food, clothing and shelter for individuals and families in crisis.
- Catholic Social Services helped 330 children and 568 adults living in the Greater Gardner region by providing a variety of emergency and support services including developing payment plans to avert utilities shut offs, and budgeting classes.
Promoting Health & Wellness
Supporting programs that promote the general prevention and treatment of disease or illness - whether mental or physical.
- The Multi Service Center Preventive Health program provided numerous types of health screenings (blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, hearing, vision, dental, scoliosis) to over 1200 children and adults in 2002 at minimal or no cost to the client.
Assisting Seniors & Others
Providing opportunities for seniors and physically/mentally challenged adults to live secure, independent and meaningful lives.
- MAB Community Services is committed to reaching people BEFORE they are legally blind to empower them in maintaining independent lifestyles as their vision declines. MAB Community Services provided a variety of services including, education, one-on-one volunteers, support groups and transportation, to over 800 individuals experiencing vision loss and blindness.
Creating an Engaged Community
United Way is working in partnership with Mount Wachusett Community College to inspire volunteerism by informing and education the community.
- United Way has launched an interactive web site to match individuals with volunteer opportunities. In addition, it has recognized over 50 Community Builders for their volunteer work and has created a Fellowship program that awards grants to individuals, nonprofits, or businesses for engaging the community to address community issues.
To see how your investment is being utilized by community, click here for our Service By Town Report.
Leave a lasting legacy, remember the United Way of North Central Massachusetts in your will or estate plan.
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