Program areas at UWPC
Community Impact Grants and related. These are distributions to various nonprofit agencies providing programs that help reduce poverty in Pierce County Washington. Grants are reviewed by community volunteers before being submitted to the United Way Board for approval. Related donations received are restricted to the work that we do and we may distribute those dollars to nonprofits who are helping further our mission. More than 140,000 individuals accessed services moving them closer to self-sufficiency.
Donor Voice Program provides donors the opportunity to designate their gift to other charities. All charities are verified as to their non profit status and compliance with the Patriot Act.
211 A free and confidential service that connects people with critical resources helps to stabilize individuals in Pierce, Thurston and Lewis counties. 80,087 contacts were made in 2020. 79,407 contacts in 2020. A Covid 19 hotline was also set up to respond to the pandemic in 2020 and continued into 2021. An integral part of this program are on the ground navigators who are experts in the areas of transportation, behavioral health, basic food, housing and early learning. Ride United, a collaboration with Lyft, provided 717 rides to low income and disabled individuals. Other highlights include 20 people connected to permanent housing; 8,416 connected to rental assistance and 4,066 connected to shelter. 2 1 1 continues to be one of the most visited pages on the United Way of Pierce County website
Community Impact: In 2017 we made a bold goal to lift 15,000 household out of poverty by 2028. This takes a community wide effort of forming collaborations, agreeing on key measurements and tracking indicators with non profits, government, educators and businesses. One of our key collaborations is our eight Centers for Strong Families which provide coaching in the areas of jobs, finance and income supports. Since 2016, 3002 people have connected with a coach. 602 people saw a net worth increase collectively of $22.8M. 991 people achieved a key financial goal and 810 were placed in jobs.
Betye Martin Baker Human Service Center: Since 1995 our mission has been to offer other nonprofits significantly below market rent so they can put more money back into their missions.
Gifts in Kind: This program receives donations from companies and individuals and then gives those products out to other non profits to give to their low income clients. United Way does not charge for this program. Despite the pandemic we were still able to receive and distribute donated masks, diapers, gloves, paper products and cleaning solution to many food banks and other nonprofits to get out to their clients.
Volunteer Engagement: United Way connects volunteers with other nonprofits. It also utilized volunteers in our own activities such as our MLK Day of Service, United Way Day of Action and our Summer reading and food program. We engaged 405 volunteers in 1,758 hours of service, including 20 corporate teams that participated in MLK Month of Service Hygiene Kit projects and Day of Action Snack Pack projects. 1,400 snack packs and 960 books were provided weekly to 175 children at summer meal sites.
United Way Worldwide Dues Program Support: Provides for educational opportunities, strategic direction, advocacy support and the concept of local community impact to assist our various program activities.