UNITED WAY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN
3011 W GRAND BLVD SUITE 500, DETROIT, MI 48202 www.liveunitedsem.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO MOBILIZE THE CARING POWER OF DETROIT AND SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN TO IMPROVE COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUAL LIVES IN MEASURABLE AND LASTING WAYS.

EDUCATIONOUR WORK CONTINUES TO SUPPORT LIFELONG LEARNING AND LITERACY, FROM BOOK FAIRS TO CAREER FAIRS TO OUR EFFORTS TO CONNECT STUDENTS WITH TECHNOLOGY AND CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. MORE THAN 1,000 PONTIAC STUDENTS SELECTED BOOKS TO TAKE HOME FREE OF CHARGE IN OUR FIRST MY HOME LIBRARY BOOK FAIR IN 2019 - ALL PART OF OUR PONTIAC LITERACY INITIATIVE, WHICH AIMS TO BUILD FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY THROUGH GRANT FUNDING TO THE CITY'S SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS. IN 2021, THE PARTNERSHIP WILL GROW IN PONTIAC AND EXPAND INTO DETROIT AS WELL. FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR, OUR FIND YOUR FUTURE CAREER EXPLORATION FAIR SHOWED DETROIT STUDENTS THE OPTIONS THEY HAVE AFTER GRADUATION. NEARLY 1,000 DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMMUNITY DISTRICT FRESHMEN ATTENDED THE 2019 EDITION OF THE FAIR. SPECIALIZED SESSIONS, INTERACTIVE BOOTHS AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES PROVIDED KNOWLEDGE FOR STUDENTS TO USE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND. AS THE PANDEMIC SET IN AND SCHOOLS SHIFTED TO VIRTUAL LEARNING, THE DIGITAL DIVIDE BECAME MORE EVIDENT THAN EVER. FOR 35 PERCENT OF STUDENTS IN DETROIT, THAT POSED A MAJOR PROBLEM, AS THEY LACKED ACCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGY THEY NEEDED TO LEARN. OUR COVID-19 COMMUNITY RESPONSE FUND WAS THERE. WE GAVE GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HELP THEM PURCHASE TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD'VE HAD NO WAY TO CONTINUE LEARNING. GRANTS TO 74 SCHOOLS CONNECTED MORE THAN 8,000 STUDENTS WITH LAPTOPS.

ECONOMIC MOBILITYFOR THE THOUSANDS OF METRO DETROIT FAMILIES THAT STRUGGLE TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS, KEEPING THEIR CHILDREN ON-TRACK TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE IS A CHALLENGE. THE SCHOOL CLOSURES AND DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY COVID-19 MEAN THAT EVEN MORE CHILDREN IN OUR REGION STRUGGLE EVERY DAY. WE KNOW THAT LEARNING BEGINS THE DAY A CHILD IS BORN. THAT'S WHY WE WORK TO CREATE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CHILD CARE BY EDUCATING PARENTS ABOUT THEIR CARE OPTIONS AND WORKING TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF CARE AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF A FAMILY'S INCOME OR LOCATION. WE SUPPORT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AS THEY WORK TO EARN THEIR CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE (CDA) CERTIFICATION, HELPING INCREASE THE QUALITY OF CARE AND EXPAND OPTIONS FOR PARENTS. WE ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT THROUGH OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPPORT NETWORK. WE STRIVE TO EQUIP FAMILIES WITH THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN SUCCEED -- LIKE PROVIDING A CHILD'S FIRST BOOK AND FUNDING FREE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS. AS THE PANDEMIC SET IN, OUR COVID-19 COMMUNITY RESPONSE FUND HELPED CHILD CARE FACILITIES STAY SAFE AND STAY OPEN TO CARE FOR THE CHILDREN OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS. WE INVESTED $2.28 MILLION INTO THESE FACILITIES THROUGH MORE THAN 500 GRANTS. WE ALSO CONNECTED MORE THAN 400 ESSENTIAL WORKERS WITH CHILD CARE SO THEY COULD CONTINUE TO GO TO WORK.

BASIC NEEDSEVEN BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, 44 PERCENT OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN HOUSEHOLDS WERE JUST ONE MISSED PAYCHECK AWAY FROM A FINANCIAL CRISIS. THE IMPACTS OF THE VIRUS HAVE PUT THESE HOUSEHOLDS AND MANY OTHERS INTO A CATASTROPHIC SITUATION WHERE EVEN THE MOST BASIC NECESSITIES LIKE HOUSING AND FOOD ARE OFTEN OUT OF REACH. IF PEOPLE CAN'T MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS NOW, THEY'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO CREATE STABLE HOUSEHOLDS. THAT'S WHY UNITED WAY WORKS TO ENSURE FAMILIES IN OUR REGION HAVE ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT HELP THEM NOT JUST SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE. WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE HELP FAMILIES GET OUT OF CRISIS AND STAY OUT. WE LEAD EFFORTS IN SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN TO FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY AND INCREASE ACCESS TO FOOD THAT IS NUTRITIOUS AND AFFORDABLE. THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE BETTER WITH BREAKFAST AND MEET UP AND EAT UP, WE HELP ENSURE THAT CHILDREN HAVE FREE, NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO EAT DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AND ALL SUMMER LONG. OUR BETTER WITH BREAKFAST PARTNERSHIP WITH OAKLAND COUNTY MAKES FREE SCHOOL BREAKFAST AVAILABLE TO 3,500 STUDENTS IN THE COUNTY. EVERY YEAR, OUR EFFORTS TO HELP SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN RESIDENTS PREPARE THEIR TAXES HELPS PUT MONEY BACK INTO FAMILY BUDGETS. WE WORK ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS TO CONNECT FAMILIES WITH VOLUNTEER TAX SERVICES TO ENSURE THEY GET THEIR FULL REFUND. AS A RESULT, LAST YEAR NEARLY 90,000 DETROITERS CLAIMED A TOTAL OF NEARLY $310 MILLION THROUGH THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT. OUR 2-1-1 HELPLINE CONNECTS FAMILIES WITH RESOURCES THAT HELP THEM MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS LIKE FOOD AND SHELTER, FIND FINANCIAL COACHING AND JOB TRAINING, AND JOIN UTILITY SHUTOFF OR EVICTION AVOIDANCE PROGRAMS. IT'S ALSO A CONNECTION TO PROGRAMS THAT HELP FAMILIES ADDRESS FACTORS THAT CAUSE INSTABILITY, LIKE A LACK OF STABLE INCOME OR AFFORDABLE QUALITY CHILD CARE. WHEN THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK BEGAN IN MICHIGAN, CALLS TO 2-1-1 SPIKED. IN MARCH OF 2019, OUR 2-1-1 TEAM HANDLED 9,162 CALLS. IN MARCH 2020, CONTACTS TOPPED 19,000. WE SPRUNG INTO ACTION AS THE PANDEMIC REACHED MICHIGAN, CREATING THE COVID-19 COMMUNITY RESPONSE FUND. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE RAISED ENOUGH TO DISTRIBUTE $32 MILLION IN GRANTS TO NEARLY 900 PARTNERS IN OUR REGION. FUNDS HELPED WITH FOOD DISTRIBUTION, SHELTER, AND FINANCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. GRANTS HELPED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES CLOSE OPERATIONAL GAPS AND EXPLORE INNOVATIVE WAYS TO PROVIDE SERVICES DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS.

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