As published by Cleveland.com>
United Way of Summit County today announced investments for its 2018-19 cycle — a $1 million increase over the previous funding cycle.
The investments align with the organization's four Bold Goals for 2025, which include:
- To increase the number of Akron Public Schools third-graders reading at or above grade level to 65 percent.
- To increase the number of Akron Public Schools high-schoolers graduating in 4 years to 90 percent, with 60 percent college/career ready.
- To financially empower 11,000 Akron residents.
- To reduce the number of emergency room visits caused by drug overdoses to 1,000.
The goals were established earlier this year to "move United Way to a model that prioritizes lasting, measurable community impact," said United Way Community Impact Task Force Chair William Lowery II in a news release.
Investments for the upcoming cycle, subject to partnership agreement completion, include 49 programs at 40 partner agencies.
Bold Goal 1 investments are:
Akron Area YMCA Early Care & Education, Akron Area YMCA: $306,000
Toddlers & Preschoolers Succeeding (TAPS), Child Guidance & Family Solutions: $250,000
The Learning Zone, The Salvation Army: $20,000
The READY Program, Asian Services in Action (ASIA Inc.): $76,000
AMHA – Early Childhood Initiative, Building for Tomorrow: $204,700
LINKS Early Intervention Home Visitation Program, LINKS Community Family Services: $55,000
South Street's After School, South Street Ministries: $50,000
Bold Goal 2 investments are:
Year-Round Youth Development/After School Soccer Program, Akron Inner City Soccer Club: $20,000
Summer Enrichment Day Camp, Akron Urban League: $60,000
Urban Youth Academy STEAM Program, Akron Urban League: $125,000
International Community Empowerment Project, Asian Services in Action (ASIA Inc.): $35,000
Summer Environmental Education Academy – Akron, Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park: $40,000
School to Career Transitions Program, Jobs for Ohio Graduates (JOG): $75,000
College and Career Central, Project GRAD Akron: $75,000
Students With A Goal (SWAG), Students With A Goal: $65,000
Investments that align with Bold Goals 1 and 2 are:
Building Great Futures for Akron's Youth, Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Reserve: $100,000
Girl Scout Journey Program, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio: $50,000
Learning Zone Afterschool and Summer Programming, The Salvation Army: $35,000
Catch Kids Club (CKC), Akron Area YMCA: $88,500
APS Innovation 365, National Inventors Hall of Fame: $170,000
Kickin' UP KidsSpace, Shaw Jewish Community Center: $28,700
Set On Success (S.O.S.) Afterschool Enrichment, Urban Vision: $95,000
United Way's Bold Goal 3, which requires direct service programming, is being furthered by the creation of the city's Financial Empowerment Center, with supported from United Way.
Bold Goal 4 investments are:
Mobile Ascent Solution, Catholic Charities: $82,235
Barberton Emergency Department Medically Assisted Treatment Program, Summa Health: $80,000
Technology-Enabled Transportation Program, Summa Health: $100,000
The Deterra Project: Prevention of Prescription Drug Abuse, Summit County Community Partnership: $50,000
Summit County Opiate Task Force, County of Summit ADM Board: $35,000
Rock and Recovery 2.0, Friends of 91.3 The Summit FM: $20,000
Mobile Outreach Program, Summit County Combined General Health District: $50,592
Recovery Coach Academy & Community Response Team, The Packard Institute, Inc.: $100,000
Additional investments awarded for the 2018-19 cycle include the following basic needs programs:
Emergency Shelter for Women & Children in Crisis, ACCESS, Inc.: $75,000
Self-Sufficiency Services, Asian Services in Action (ASIA Inc.): $29,500
Basic Needs Program, Battered Women's Shelter: $110,000
Basic Needs/Emergency Services, Catholic Charities of Summit County: $49,120
Family Promise of Summit County, Family Promise of Summit County: $30,000
Recovery Housing for Women, Legacy III: $44,500
Education & Support, Stewarts Caring Place: $15,000
Goodwill Agency Bus Pass Assistance Program, The Goodwill Industries: $10,000
Safe Housing & Support Services for Individuals Reentering Community, Truly Reaching You: $25,000
24 Hour Crisis Response Program, Victim Assistance Program: $51,117
United Way nonprofit partners receiving investments are:
Summit Education Initiative: $220,000
ConxusNEO: $100,000
Heart to Heart Communications: $65,000
Leadership Akron: $40,000
Lebron James Family Foundation: $25,000
YMCA Neighborhood Leadership Institute: $15,000
Summit County Fatherhood Initiative: $40,000
Soap Box Derby: $15,000
United Way will also invest $250,000 on the following impact initiatives: iC.A.R.E. Mentoring, Imagination Library, Bridges Summit County, AmeriCorps VISTA and the City of Akron's Bank On Rubber City.
"None of this would be possible without the incredible support we have received," said Jim Mullen, president and CEO of United Way, in a news release. "People have been inspired to invest in the future of their community through the Bold Goals, and the result will be a better, more stable Summit County for everyone – from students working toward the careers of their dreams to families striving for the security of financial independence."