UNITED WAY OF WESTERN CONNECTICUT INC
301 MAIN STREET SUITE 2-5, DANBURY, CT 06810 www.uwwesternct.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF HARD-WORKING, STRUGGLING HOUSEHOLDS BY MOBILIZING THE RESOURCES OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE. UNITED WAY OF WESTERN CONNECTICUT (UNITED WAY) IS THE CHAMPION FOR HARD-WORKING, STRUGGLING HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR 15-TOWN REGION ACROSS NORTHERN FAIRFIELD COUNTY, SOUTHERN LITCHFIELD COUNTY, AND THE CITY OF STAMFORD BY FOCUSING ON THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A GOOD LIFE: EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND HEALTH. OUR VISION IS THAT EVERY HOUSEHOLD IS FINANCIALLY STABLE, AND EVERY CHILD ENTERS SCHOOL READY TO LEARN AND GRADUATES READY TO SUCCEED. WE ARE PARTICULARY FOCUSED ON A POPULATION THAT UNITED WAY IDENTIFIES AS ALICE (ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED) IN OUR COMMUNITIES. A UNITED WAY REPORT PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER 2020 REVEALED THAT 38% OF HOUSEHOLDS STATEWIDE ARE ALICE OR LIVING IN POVERTY AND ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS.

COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS: UNITED WAY SUPPORTS PROGRAMS THAT MAKE A CLEAR DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND HEALTH. BOTH DOLLARS AND VOLUNTEER EFFORTS ARE LEVERAGED, AND UNITED WAY INVESTS IN PROGRAMS THAT DEMONSTRATE STRONG OUTCOMES, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND FOCUS ON LONG-TERM CHANGE. BOARD MEMBERS, COMMUNITY COUNCILS, AND VOLUNTEERS MAKE FUNDING DECISIONS ON A LOCAL LEVEL IN THREE COMMUNITIES THAT REPRESENT THE WESTERN CONNECTICUT REGION. DIRECT PROGRAMMING IS PROVIDED IN THE AREAS OF FOOD SECURITY AND IN EXPANDING AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CHILD CARE. GRANTS ARE ALSO MADE TO NONPROFITS ACROSS OUR REGION TO HELP SUPPORT RESIDENTS WHO FALL AT OR BELOW THE ALICE INCOME THRESHOLD IN WESTERN CONNECTICUT. DURING THE 2019-20 FISCAL YEAR, FUNDS WERE ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE DIRECT PAYMENTS TO PEOPLE WHO LOST JOBS OR WAGES AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. ADDITIONALLY, PROGRAMS AND FUNDING WERE EXPANDED TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY CAUSED BY THE ADVERSE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON LOW-INCOME WORKERS. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FUNDED, NEARLY ONE HALF OF ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE DESIGNATED BY DONORS TO SPECIFIC 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS.

COMMUNITY IMPACT INITIATIVES: UNITED WAY FUNDS SEVERAL INITIATIVES THAT FOCUS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. UNITED WAY IS THE LEAD FISCAL AGENT FOR DANBURYWORKS, AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE FUNDED THROUGH THE BOSTON FEDERAL RESERVE. THE FOCUS IS ON LIFTING IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR OUT OF POVERTY IN DANBURY BY IMPROVING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CHILD CARE, CONNECTING AND IMPROVING THE LANGUAGE SERVICES IN DANBURY, AND BUILDING TRUST AMONG DIVERSE GROUPS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.EDUCATION: UNITED WAY OF WESTERN CONNECTICUT PROVIDES FUNDING TO CHILD CARE CENTERS AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO MAKE QUALITY CARE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR STRUGGLING FAMILIES. MORE THAN 2,700 CHILDREN BENEFITTED FROM THAT FUNDING LAST YEAR. OUR ALICE ENRICHMENT FUND COVERS THE COST OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS MUSIC LESSONS, SWIM LESSONS, AND SPORTS, FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, PROVIDING UP TO $300 PER CHILD PER YEAR AND $900 PER FAMILY. MORE THAN 1,000 CHILDREN HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING THROUGH THIS PROGRAM SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2017. OUR CORA'S KIDS INITIATIVE IN DANBURY HAS EXPANDED THE NUMBER OF LICENSED FAMILY HOME CARE PROVIDERS, CREATING 144 NEW QUALITY CHILD CARE SPACES IN THE CITY. UNITED WAY ALSO SERVES AS THE BACKBONE ENTITY FOR STAMFORD CRADLE TO CAREER, AN INITIATIVE THAT CONVENES COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AROUND THE MAJOR TRANSITION AREAS FOR A CHILD'S LIFE, BIRTH TO CAREER, THROUGH THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED STRIVETOGETHER FRAMEWORK. IN THIS CAPACITY, UNITED WAY FACILITATES AND MANAGES THE FORMATION OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH MORE THAN 60 COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF STAMFORD CRADLE TO CAREER IS TO COLLECTIVELY ALIGN RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT ALL YOUTH SUCCEED IN EDUCATION, CAREER, AND LIFE BECAUSE SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN LEAD TO A VIBRANT AND THRIVING COMMUNITY. HEALTH: UNITED WAY TAKES A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TO ASSIST ALICE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HEALTHY SAVINGS PROGRAM ACROSS OUR REGION ALLOWS STRUGGLING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO SAVE MONEY ON FRESH PRODUCE AND OTHER HEALTHY FOOD ITEMS AT PARTNERING GROCERY STORES. THE PROGRAMS ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO SAVE UP TO $10 ON $20 OF PRODUCE EACH WEEK, AS WELL AS $50 OR MORE ON OTHER HEALTHY FOODS. DURING THE HEIGHT OF UNEMPLOYMENT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE PRODUCE BENEFIT WAS DOUBLED TO $20 EACH WEEK, AND PROGRAM PARTICIPATION WAS EXPANDED TO MORE THAN 600 FAMILIES. UNITED WAY ALSO SERVES AS THE CONVENING ENTITY FOR BOTH THE STAMFORD FOOD COLLABORATIVE AND THE DANBURY FOOD COLLABORATIVE. EACH COLLABORATIVE HAS A MEMBERSHIP OF 20-30 REPRESENTATIVES FROM FOOD PANTRIES, FOOD BANKS, SHELTERS, GROCERY STORES, HOSPITALS, AND OTHER FOOD-RELATED AGENCIES THAT WORK TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO STRATEGICALLY ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE COLLABORATIVES HAVE CREATED FOOD GUIDES FOR DANBURY AND STAMFORD, ORGANIZED FOOD RESCUE EFFORTS WITH LOCAL GROCERY RETAILERS AND THE US POSTAL CARRIERS, AND JOINTLY SOUGHT GRANTS THAT FUNDED THE PURCHASE OF REFRIGERATION UNITS THAT ALLOWED PANTRIES TO OFFER FRESH FOOD TO THEIR CLIENTS. DURING THE PANDEMIC, UNITED WAY OF WESTERN CONNECTICUT PROVIDED GRANTS EXCEEDING $60,000 TO THE FOOD PANTRIES THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THESE COLLABORATIVES TO ADDRESS THE DRAMATIC INCREASE DEMAND FOR FOOD. WE ALSO CONDUCTED FOOD DRIVES AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL DAY OF ACTION EVENTS IN DANBURY AND STAMFORD, AND WORKED WITH LOCAL BANKS TO RAISE MORE THAN $117,000 TO BENEFIT DANBURY PANTIES.FINANCIAL STABILITY: AS PART OF OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY EFFORTS, WE FUND AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE BUDGET COACHING SERVICES, HELPING MORE THAN 430 STRUGGING INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS, IMPROVE THEIR CREDIT SCORES, AND SET SAVINGS GOALS.IN ADDITION, WE FUND THE ALICE SAVES PROGRAM, WHICH INCENTIVIZED MORE THAN 500 LOWER-INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN CONNECTICUT TO SAVE MONEY WHILE ALSO PROVIDING THEM WITH TIPS AND IDEAS FOR REDUCING HOUSEHOLD COSTS AND SAVING FOR EMERGENCIES AND OTHER EXPENSES. THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA)PROGRAM THAT WE SUPPORT SERVED MORE THAN 1,500 TAX FILERS, RESULTING IN FEDERAL REFUNDS OF MORE THAN $2.9 MILLION AND $786,000 SAVED THROUGH THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT(EITC). VOLUNTEERISM: UNITED WAY WORKS WITH COMPANIES AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO COORDINATE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES ACROSS OUR REGION. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, VOLUNTEERS WERE COORDINATED TO DELIVER FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES TO SENIORS AND THE HOMEBOUND. VOLUNTEERS ALSO ASSISTED IN DELIVERING FOOD TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN WERE LEARNING VIRTUALLY AND WERE THEREFORE NOT RECEIVING MEALS IN SCHOOL. IN STAMFORD, STAFF WERE REDEPLOYED TO WORK ON STAMFORD TOGETHER, THE CITY'S 5-PRONG RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, TO REGISTER VOLUNTEERS. IN DANBURY, UNITED WAY OPERATES THE SAVE PROGRAM (SENIORS ADD VALUABLE EXPERIENCE), WHICH PROVIDES INCOME-ELIGIBLE DANBURY RESIDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 65 OPPORTUNITIES TO VOLUNTEER 100 HOURS PER YEAR IN LOCAL NONPROFITS AND CITY AGENCIES AND IN RETURN, RECEIVE A PROPERTY TAX CREDIT. IN 2019-20, 50 SENIORS VOLUNTEERED, PROVIDING 4,635 VOLUNTEER HOURS TO 17 DANBURY AGENCIES, RESULTING IN TAX SAVINGS OF $35,000 FOR DANBURY SENIORS. VOLUNTEER COMMITTEES IN STAMFORD, DANBURY, AND NEW MILFORD BRING TOGETHER CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ASSIST WITH PROJECTS AROUND EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND HEALTH SUCH AS FOOD DRIVES AND CHILDREN'S BOOK DISTRIBUTIONS, AND BACK-TO-SCHOOL BACKPACK PROGRAMS. VOLUNTEERS IN EACH COMMUNITY ARE ORGANIZED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO READ TO PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. EACH YEAR, UNITED WAY OPERATES TWO LARGE-SCALE VOLUNTEER DAYS OF SERVICE CALLED DAY OF ACTION, MOBILIZING HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS TO SUPPORT ALICE HOUSEHOLDS. ALL TOGETHER, UNITED WAY COORDINATED 1,883 VOLUNTEERS, WHO PERFORMED A TOTAL OF 8,137 HOURS OF SERVICE IN 2019-2020.

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