United Way grants $4.84 million to projects in four-county area

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette will be distributing $4.84 million in grant funding to projects in the Portland-Vancouver area on July 1, 2012. The grants will enhance education, reduce poverty, improve community health and meet families’ emergency needs.

“We are thrilled to be making these investments," said Keith Thomajan, President and CEO. "Each organization, in its own way, helps build stronger, healthier communities in our region. And each grant was made possible by thousands of generous donors -- people who give, volunteer and use their voice to create change in our communities."

In the four-county area, one-third of local high-school students do not graduate on time. Half a million people in the area live in poverty. At least 15% of people do not have health insurance. United Way’s funded projects aim to meet immediate needs while working to change systems so that all people have the support they need to succeed.

$3.22 million will go towards 48 one-year grants in the areas of education, income and health. Grants for direct-service programs range from $50,000 to $100,000 and capital project grants range from $2,000 to $40,000.

• Education projects support middle school success, high school completion and transition to career or college.
• Income projects reduce poverty by promoting family-wage employment and affordable housing.
• Health grants help to build healthy, non-violent family relationships and connect people in need with mental and oral health care.
• Capital projects help nonprofits whose overall work is in education, income and health better serve their clients through facilities improvements and equipment purchases.

In addition, $1.6 million will fund ongoing strategic initiatives that have proven results in supporting United Way’s focus areas of enhancing education, reducing poverty, improving community health and meeting families’ emergency needs.

In past funding cycles, United Way has given out three-year grants. This year, the organization is giving out one-year grants to give nonprofits a chance to access funds while United Way takes the time to research needs, engage with the community and sharpen its strategic focus for the next grant cycle.

The funding decisions were driven by a diverse pool of volunteers from corporate partners, community leaders, and United Way staff members who collectively contributed nearly 2,000 hours towards the process.  “I was truly impressed with the rigor and thoughtfulness employed by our staff and volunteers,” said Thomajan.

In this year’s giving campaign, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette raised $22,005,560. That includes donations from more than 20,000 people as well as corporate and individual gifts. The funding that did not go to this year’s grants was made up of donations sent directly to the charity of the donor’s choice. This $11 million in general-purpose funding provides important sustaining support for hundreds of local non-profits.  Importantly, thanks to the support of United Way’s Cornerstone Partners, 100% of overhead costs are covered and, as a result, 100% of every private donation goes directly back into our community.

More information about the funded projects is available online at bit.ly/uwgrants.

 

Funded Projects: Education

Adelante Mujeres	Journey to College	$97,000
Camp Fire Columbia	From Surviving to Thriving	$97,000
Concordia University Foundation	Launch Pad	$58,200
IRCO: Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization	IRCO - School Success for Newcomers	$97,000
Janus Youth Programs, Inc.	Janus Youth - Food Works Academic Youth Leadership Program	$97,000
Mt. Scott Learning Centers	Transitions Program	$97,000
Native American Youth and Family Center	NAYA Family Center Early College Academy Enhancement Project	$97,000
Open Meadow Alternative Schools	Step Up	$97,000
Self Enhancement, Inc.	SEI - Youth Potential Realized	$97,000
Todos Juntos	Todos Juntos	$97,000

Funded Projects: Income

Bridge Meadows	Uniting Foster Youth, Families and Seniors	$65,250
CASH Oregon	Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Tax Help	$82,650
Community Housing Resource Center CHRC	Financial Education & Counseling Program	$69,600
DePaul Industries	Finding Employment for Homeless People with Disabilities	$87,000
JOIN: Connecting the Street to a Home	JOIN: Leading from Home	$87,000
Mercy Corps Northwest	Reentry Transition Center	$87,000
Northwest Housing Alternatives, Inc.	HomeBase	$62,640
Northwest Pilot Project, Inc.	Housing Stabilization & Retention for At-Risk Seniors	$87,000
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.	Constructing Green Futures - Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc	$87,000
Second Step Housing	Positive Steps to Community	$69,600
Verde	Let Us Build Cully Park!	$84,349
Voz Workers' Rights Education Project	Martin Luther King Jr. Worker Center	$65,250

Funded Projects: Health

Asian Health and Service Center	Tri-County Mental Health Connection for Asians	$100,000
Cascade AIDS Project	Youth HIV Education	$98,000
Clackamas Women's Services	Clackamas Women's Services A Coordinated Community Response	$100,000
Free Clinic of Southwest Washington	Adult Dental Access Program	$50,000
Listen To Kids	Parent Child Involvement Project	$86,500
Luke-Dorf, Inc.	Peer Supported Engagement	$75,000
Lutheran Community Services Northwest (Portland Metro)	Lutheran Community Services NW - Pathways	$72,168
Northwest Family Services	Access to Dental Care Program	$100,000
The Wallace Medical Concern	Lasting Smiles	$49,144
Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation	Enhancing Access to Oral Health Care for Low-income Children and Families	$100,000
Youth Contact, Inc.	Rebuilding Family Alliance	$100,000

Funded Capital Projects

Asian Health and Service Center	Stay in Touch	$28,000
Bienestar	Receta para Exito (Recipe for Success)	$33,349
Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, Inc	Prescott Terrace - Green Heat Upgrade!	$24,000
Clackamas Service Center	Food Services and Warehousing Job Training Program	$10,200
CODA-Comprehensive Options for Drug Abusers, Inc.	Fresh Start in New Housing	$22,000
Columbia River Mental Health Services	Improve Mental Health Therapy	$40,000
Emile Fries Piano Hospital and Training Center	HVAC Replacement Project	$2,000
Friends of the Children - Portland	On the Road to Success	$30,000
IRCO: Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization	IRCO: Africa House	$40,000
Native American Youth and Family Center	NAYA Family Center Early College Academy Enhancement Project	$40,000
New Avenues For Youth	Social Purpose Enterprise Initiative	$40,000
Outside In	IT/Communication Project	$40,000
Peninsula Children's Center	Family Services Expansion Project Peninsula Children's Center	$32,500
The Salvation Army Cascade Division	White Shield Center Independent Living Capital Project	$33,210
YWCA Clark County	Facilities Upgrade to Impact Survivors of Violence	$13,120

Funded Strategic Initiatives

• Community Relief Fund: Helps families in need with emergency food, rent, utility and prescription assistance.
• Earned Income Tax Credit: Helps low-income working families get the tax credits they deserve through free tax preparation and filing.
• 211info: Provides free referrals to community resources.
• Project Access NOW: Helps low-income and uninsured people access free health care.
• Labor’s Community Service: Assists unemployed union workers with emergency rent and utility assistance.