The United Way of Grant County raises $1,106,000 and opens funding after Strategic Action Plan.
To view the United Way of Grant County Annual report, visit www.unitedwayofgrantcounty.org.
Grant County, INDIANA — The United Way of Grant County Board of Directors undertook the process of a strategic action plan in early 2019 and continued through 2020. During this process, the United Way of Grant County Board of Directors reviewed the organizations’ role in Grant County. The United Way of Grant County is an organization that functions as a backbone organization, grant proposal writer, funder, fund raiser and community convener.
When COVID-19 hit, nearly 5,000 households were faced with poverty and almost 6,100 Grant County households were already one emergency away from financial ruin — a setting the stage for the unprecedented economic impact of the crisis, according to the state’s latest ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report, released May 26, 2020 by Indiana United Ways in partnership with United Way of Central Indiana and United For ALICE.
This data report coupled with other data from organizations like Indiana Youth Institute created a deeper desire for the United Way Leadership to create measurable change for the citizens of Grant County. So, beginning with the 2021 Community investment cycle the United Way of Grant County funded programs that were able to track measurable results for the funding provided. In the 2022 Community Investment funding cycle, the United Way will allow any nonprofit that has a targeted and measurable program in the areas of Health, Education or Financial Stability to request consideration. Organizations will just need to contact United Way Executive Director Alicia Hazelwood for details.
The United Way Board of Directors, lead by our 2021-2022 Board Chair Jonathan Perez, are committed to being accountable for these measurements by setting goals in each of the 3 pillars of work within the next 2 years. These goals will help drive the supported impact work forward and build even stronger partnership between organizations and the United Way for joint results for the citizens of Grant County.
The United Way of Grant County will continue to review each organization and program funded through the United Way Community Investment process. The gifts raised through the annual giving campaign are raised locally and utilized locally to assist families here in Grant County overcome transitions in life. During 2020 annual giving campaign, The United Way of Grant County raised $422,563.78. That amount combined with grant awards, special funds and NAP Credits the total raised by the United Way of Grant County reached $1,106,481.
This year the United Way honored Meijer Corporation as the 2020 Cornerstone Company of the Year and Brett Carey as the 2020 Volunteer of the Year.
For Grant County to continue to grow and be successful, the United Way of Grant County must continue to address emerging needs by remaining nimble. While the impacts of the pandemic are still hitting our families, the United Way of Grant County has been able to immediately address needs and fears with support and security. Donors to the United Way have generous hearts for this community and its people. We all stepped up together to meet the unknown needs created by the pandemic.
The new strategic action plan will create a clear plan of measurement and a report annually toward those community goals. Collectively the United Way and its partners will drive for joint success by leveraging our combined strengths.
For more information or to find data about ALICE in local communities, visit www.UnitedForALICE.org/Indiana or contact Alicia Hazelwood, director@uwofgrantco.com, 765-662-9811 or Kathryn Habecker, kathryn.habecker@iuw.org, 317-399-5844.
About United Way of Grant County
United Way of Grant County is focused on building stronger families in Grant County Indiana by supporting programming in Health, Education and Financials Stability to achieve measurable results by uniting community resources. Visit unitedwayofgrantcounty.org to learn more.
About Indiana United Ways
Indiana United Ways is the state association for United Ways in Indiana that supports thriving United Ways through capacity building, shared services, and partnering. Visit iuw.org to learn more.
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