United Way continues support of Catholic-run programs |
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Saturday, 11 July 2009 01:00 |
TOLEDO—In the midst of an uncertain economy, United Way of Greater Toledo is investing $12 million toward advancing the common good in the community during its next funding year, July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010. This includes continued support to several programs operated by Catholic Charities and Catholic Club.
This is the first year of investments in United Way’s new “Agenda for Change” unveiled last fall. The Agenda focuses on education, income and health, with a foundation of community outreach and essential services. While money is to be invested in every part of the Agenda, current economic times have called for a special focus on income and financial stability.
“We need to ensure our families have adequate income to support their basic needs,” says Terry Smith, chair of United Way’s Community Impact Cabinet, which makes all recommendations for investments. “Getting these families the right tools for self-sufficiency has become crucial to the overall stability of our community.”
As a response, United Way has created a new Financial Stability Collaborative involving several key Toledo agencies, including Catholic Charities. This group is striving to form a comprehensive program that not only addresses generational poverty, but also transitional and situational poverty. The Collaborative is currently developing a prospective model program that includes concepts like budgeting, workforce development and job retraining, individual development accounts and personal responsibility.
Also under the income area, United Way is investing $210,000 in financial stability programs at the Aurora Project, Catholic Charities, Northwest Ohio Development Agency (NODA) and the Greater Toledo Urban League. Overall, United Way is directing just more than $1 million to neighborhood centers and other local programs promoting financial stability. But there are also many other programs receiving United Way support.
“Although we believe investing in financial stability is a key,” says Bill Kitson, United Way of Greater Toledo president and CEO, “we’re also incredibly dedicated to the education and health components of the Agenda. We believe these three pieces are the building blocks for a good life.”
Within the education area, United Way is allocating $1.3 million. Two of those programs are hosted at Catholic Club. The Club Care program, for infants through 5-year-olds, is receiving just more than $100,000 in continued support of its work in early childhood development. Also, Parent Education & Support, a new program, is to receive $40,000 to support parents of children ages birth through six.
In the third area of the Agenda, United Way volunteers directed about $2.5 million to health programs, with many of those programs aimed at children. Catholic Club’s Club Recreation program is to receive $62,500 in an effort keep kids active and healthy to help prevent childhood obesity. United Way is also investing in Toledo-Lucas County CareNet, which helps people get connected to healthcare, and Oregon’s Community Care-a-Van, which provides transportation to preventive care.
Last, Catholic Charities’ La Posada Emergency Shelter and the Family Emergency Guidance program, which fall under essential services, are to receive continued support. The shelter, which helps provide temporary housing to homeless families with limited English skills, is to receive $25,000 and the family guidance program is to receive $40,000.
Of the $12 million investment, $7.9 million is to be invested in nearly 100 programs in Lucas, Wood and Ottawa counties and $4.1 million is to be distributed to programs and agencies based on donor designations.
“We’re so thankful our donors have given us the ability to invest more than $12 million in a community that needs it so much,” Mr. Kitson says. “We only hope donors will again recognize the great need for their support in 2009 and that we need everyone to pull together more than ever.”
For a complete list of 2009-2010 United Way of Greater Toledo community investments, visit www.unitedwaytoledo.org.
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