Our Impact

Bold Goals. Meeting Needs. Improving Lives.

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Bold goals by 2028

Our Bold Goals are the focus of our work at United Way of Summit & Medina. They are what keep us accountable to our community.

Bold Goal 1:

Ready for success

65% of APS third graders reading at or above grade level

2015-2016 baseline: 38%
2023-2024: 51%

Bold Goal 2:

Youth success

COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS
90% of APS high schoolers graduating in 4 years, with 60% college/career ready

2015-2016 baseline: 75% and 21% respectively
2022-2023: 88% and 77% respectively

YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES & SUCCESS
60% of Akron youth employed or active in extracurriculars

2019 baseline: 46% (Suburb = 60%)

Bold Goal 3:

Financial empowerment

Financially empower 11,000 people in Summit County and 2,500 people in Medina County

Summit County 2016 baseline: 42,000 people in Akron live in households earning less than Ohio’s cost of living.

June 2024: 5,144 Summit County residents are on the path to financial empowerment.

Medina County 2021 baseline: 9,000 people in the city of Medina live in households earning less than Ohio’s cost of living.

June 2024: 229 Medina County residents are on the path to financial empowerment.

Bold Goal 4:
Bold Goal 4:

Healthy Babies

Reduce the infant mortality rate in Summit County to 5 per 1,000 live births

2019 baseline: Infant mortality rate in Summit County is 6 per 1,000 live births.
2023: Infant mortality rate in Summit County is 6.6 per 1,000 live births.

A System that Puts People at the Center

Our services put people at the center, recognizing and valuing the variety of voice, experiences and needs within our community. We work alongside individuals from all backgrounds, breaking down obstacles that prevent access to resources and co-creating lasting solutions that reflect the strengths and aspirations of everyone we serve in, with, and for our community.

Meeting Needs by the Numbers

In 2024, there were more than 175,058 requests for help. United Way of Summit & Medina manages this up-to-date database of support services. This data provides unique insights into how people are connected with the solutions they seek.

​Referred services in Summit County

Top 5 Zip Codes Assisted

44306     44320     44305     44301     44314

Referred services in Medina County

Top 5 Zip Codes Assisted

44256     44212     44281     44254     44273

Making an Impact In Our Community. With Our Community. For Our Community.

In our community. With our community. For our community.

Invest where it matters

Our system puts people at the center. We break down the barriers that prevent our neighbors from getting help by working in, with and for our community to build lasting solutions.