United Way Awards $5.5 Million In Community Impact Grants
Funds Provided for Area Residents’ Greatest Needs
Washington, D.C. (June 29, 2006) — United Way of the National Capital Area (UWNCA) today announced $5,499,862 in awards for community impact grants to 199 organizations that have demonstrated their ability to create positive change in the community. This represents a 28% increase over last year’s grants of $4.3 million.
“The local charities that receive community impact grants are on the frontlines of meeting critical needs in our community,” said UWNCA President and CEO Charles W. Anderson. “Working together we can continue to raise much needed funds to address major community problems that no one person or organization can handle on their own. The United Way is committed to doing everything we can to provide resources for the many nonprofit agencies helping people throughout the region.”
Seeking to return as much money to the community as possible, community impact grants allow UWNCA to direct help to where it is needed most and make a bigger impact in the community. Grants are awarded to charities in each of the eight regions that UWNCA serves – Alexandria, Arlington, District of Columbia, Fairfax/Falls Church, Loudoun, Montgomery, Prince George's, Prince William.
UWNCA assesses the population and poverty levels of each region based on the most recent U.S. Census data available to help determine where the greatest need exists in the community. A volunteer, citizen-led task force for each region works with area nonprofits, governments and business leaders to determine where there are gaps in services and approves grants for programs that will most effectively provide what is needed.
For example, the Main Street Child Development Center in Fairfax received a grant to provide a quality child care program and preventative screenings for children at risk.
“The Main Street CDC was thrilled to receive a larger Community Impact Grant than anticipated,” said Main Street executive director Elizabeth Egan. “Currently Fairfax County is challenged to fund subsidized childcare .We will be able to service more children with screenings, nutrition and literacy enrichment. It could not have come at a better time for a community based program. We are very grateful!”
The programs that are funded with community impact grants can be identified by the following focus areas:
Supporting Vulnerable and Aging Populations – Provides assistance for seniors and those with physical, mental and/or emotional disabilities to gain greater control over their environments and lead happy and productive lives. Agencies in this focus area include St. John’s Community Services in the District of Columbia which provides life skills training, counseling and social services to adults with developmental disabilities and Senior Services of Alexandria which matches in-home workers with seniors seeking assistance.
Strengthening and Supporting Families – Programs strengthen family units through counseling, crisis intervention, educational and job training, literacy and provision of emergency needs in a culturally sensitive manner that fits the specific needs of the family. Agencies in this focus area include CASA Montgomery County which provides advocacy services for abused and neglected children, Martha’s Table which provides meals and snacks to hungry children and adults in the District, and Northern Virginia Family Services which provides voluntary home visits for first-time parents of children who are at risk of abuse and neglect in Alexandria, Arlington and Prince William Counties.
Helping Children and Youth Succeed – Programs helps children overcome behavioral or social problems, provide day care and support systems, build leadership skills to enable each child to succeed. This focus area includes Success by Six programs, which provide pre-school children with developmental resources such as healthcare, nutrition, or tutoring so they are ready to learn when they enter school. Agencies in this focus area include Residential Youth Services in Fairfax/Falls Church which provides apartment based independent living for support services for foster care youths ages 17 to 23 and the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital which offers girls in Alexandria and Prince George’s Counties a variety of after-school programs, day camps and overnight camps.
Promoting Self Sufficiency – Provides basic needs and job training services to people with challenges allowing them to gain greater control over their lives and actively participate at the highest levels in their communities. Agencies in this focus area include Alternative House in Fairfax/Falls Church which works with homeless women ages 16 to 23 who are pregnant or parenting and Goodwill of Greater Washington which offers industry focused job training for unemployed and underemployed individuals in Prince George’s County.
Improving Health and Wellness – Provides services designed to reduce illness, disease and injury through education, promoting healthy lifestyles and providing health care. Agencies in this focus area include Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center in Loudoun which fund assessment to low income, hearing impaired seniors for the purchase of hearing aids and associated services and Lutheran Social Services which provides week-long overnight summer camp for low-income children living with HIV/AIDS in the District, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.
Donors can direct their donations to provide for community impact grants on their pledge form in three ways: 1) designating the Community Impact Fund for the National Capital Area, an umbrella fund for the entire region; 2) designating the Community Impact Fund of a particular region; or 3) designating one of the focus areas. Donations may also be directed to specific charities.
In addition, the Board of Directors can direct some portion of undesignated funds, funds not specified for a particular charity or cause, into the Community Impact Funds.
UWNCA funds only programs for the agencies receiving grants and the grants do not cover any overhead or administrative costs for the charities.
The UWNCA Board of Directors approved the grants at their annual meeting, Friday, June 9, 2006. Agencies began to receive notification of their awards following the board’s approval.
By the numbers
Percentage of grants for each focus area:
22.1% for Helping Children and Youth Succeed, including Success by Six
21.8% for Supporting Vulnerable Populations
19.2% for Strengthening and Supporting Families
18.8% for Promoting Self Sufficiency
18.1% for Improving Health and Wellness
Percentage of grants for each region:
4.5% for Alexandria
6.1% for Arlington
28.1% for District of Columbia
16.1% for Fairfax/Falls Church
3.5% for Loudoun
17.9% for Montgomery
17.2% for Prince George's
6.6% for Prince William
UWNCA President and CEO Charles W. Anderson is available for media interviews to discuss community impact grants. Photos are available of the Washington Redskins’ Marcus Washington with children at the Main Street Child Development Center. To schedule an interview or to receive photos, please contact Andi Murray at 202-715-1554 or andrea.murray@dittus.com.
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About United Way of the National Capital Area
The largest non-governmental health and human services fund provider in the area, United Way of the National Capital Area (UWNCA) has been bringing together people and resources to improve lives within our community for more than 30 years. Together and with local governments, UWNCA’s eight regional councils (Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax-Falls Church, Loudoun County, Montgomery, Prince George's and Prince William Counties, and the District of Columbia) respond to critical challenges affecting our communities. Supported by UWNCA staff, the regions often work together to solve complex community problems.