United Way of Cascade County announced that it will invest $1,306,514 to advance bold goals in education, financial stability and health.
Thanks to last fall’s record-breaking campaign, United Way will help 31,581 people in the coming year through the local programs receiving grants alone. And its community impact work touches everyone living in Cascade County.
The annual United Way campaign, which kicks off Wednesday, aims to make it easy for people and businesses to build our entire community. Most give through a workplace campaign and deduct small amounts from each paycheck.
“Our generous community continues to step up their support of our efforts,” United Way President Gary Owen said. “Because of their support, United Way is able to bring together community resources to tackle some of our community’s biggest challenges.”
To broaden United Way of Cascade County’s impact in our community, the nonprofit is dedicating $599,654 to community initiatives in the coming year. That includes supporting efforts to address homelessness, prevent child abuse, improve education and manage the federally funded Retired Senior Volunteer Program.
Donors can designate their gifts to specific nonprofits that are close to their hearts. In last year’s campaign, donors designated $221,860 to 109 nonprofits.
For money that isn’t designated, a volunteer committee decides which programs best advance United Way’s goals of helping children achieve their potential and graduate on time, promoting financial stability and independence and improving people’s health.
A team of 40 volunteers spent hours reviewing written proposals and listening to presentations before allocating $485,000 to fund 31 nonprofit programs.
Many nonprofits requesting grants had increased costs and others looked for grants to replace state and federal funding. United Way will invest in new programs, including helping preschoolers with special needs get the extra support needed to succeed in kindergarten, providing substance abuse prevention education to children and giving Centerville children an opportunity for preschool education.
“Each year, our volunteers face the challenge of being able to fund half of what is requested of United Way,” Owen said. “Our hope is to rise to meet that need with this year’s campaign.”
This year’s campaign kicks off Sept. 4, at 5:30 p.m. outside Marsh McLennan Agency, 405 3rd St. NW.
In addition to the workplace campaign, people may give by sending contributions directly to United Way at PO Box 1343, Great Falls, MT 59403, or donating online at www.uwccmt.org.
Broken down into United Way’s focus areas of education, financial stability and health. Here are the 31 programs that are funded this year:
Education -- $87,000
- Boys & Girls Club -- $21,000
- Big Brothers Big Sisters -- $4,900
- Centerville Early Childhood Education -- $6,200
- Foster Grandparents -- $8,000
- Montana United Indian Association -- $8,000
- Peace Place preschool -- $21,000
- Young Parents Education Center -- $20,000
Financial Stability -- $166,000
- Alliance for Youth (youth resource center) – $23,000
- Cascade County Law Clinic -- $12,000
- Family Promise -- $10,500
- Great Falls Children’s Receiving Home -- $13,000
- NeighborWorks Great Falls -- $18,000
- Opportunities, Inc. (housing)-- $33,000
- St. Vincent de Paul (homeless outreach) -- $30,000
- Voices of Hope (2-1-1 information line) -- $12,000
- YWCA Mercy Home -- $14,500
Health -- $232,000
- Alliance for Youth (Sober Life) -- $33,000
- Adult Treatment Court -- $15,000
- Boys & Girls Club (substance abuse education) -- $3,000
- CASA-CAN -- $20,000
- Dandelion Foundation -- $12,000
- Get Fit Great Falls (afterschool program and Park Pals) -- $13,000
- Kairos Youth Services -- $24,000
- Meals on Wheels -- $15,500
- Peace Place Respite Care -- $16,000
- Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect task force -- $7,000
- St. Vincent de Paul (food program and community kitchen) -- $57,500
- Toby’s House -- $12,000
- Voices of Hope (crisis line) -- $5,250