REDUCING POVERTY IN ERIE COUNTY
UNITED WAY OF ERIE COUNTY
COMMUNITY IMPACT
GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.
United Way of Erie County UnitedWayErie.org
REPORT
REFLECTIONS AT 100 In 1914, 11 of the 22 social service agencies in Erie County united to form the Erie Social Service Federation. In the past century, many things have changed, but our commitment to improving lives and building a stronger community in Erie County has stayed the same. Thanks to the money and time donated by you and tens of thousands of others before you, more than one million people in Erie County have been helped over the last 100 years through programs and services funded by United Way. While our name has changed (more than a few times), the one constant has been our dedication to helping the most people in the most effective way possible. With that in mind, United Way launched LIVE UNITED 2025 two years ago to provide the community with a roadmap for decreasing poverty and increasing self-sufficiency. We are measuring our progress by looking at key indicators provided through Erie Vital Signs to ensure our community is moving in the right direction. With your help, we are setting hardworking people on the path to meet their basic needs without any form of public or private assistance. Children who will be born in 2025 may never need to rely on the services we fund thanks to our work today. Instead, they'll live in a healthier, stronger community with more self-sufficient families. THANK YOU for supporting us over the past 100 years. Your consistent giving, advocating and volunteering has positioned us for tremendous success as we enter our second century.
Bill Jackson President
James E. Martin Chair, Board of Directors
Reducing poverty through
Education
It’s been just one year since United Way of Erie County launched the Imagination Library in our community. In that short time, nearly half of all children under the age of five have registered to receive a free, high quality, age-appropriate book mailed to their homes every month. In fact, more than 8,000 children throughout Erie County have signed up for this game-changing program, designed to help ensure every child in Erie County is prepared to enter kindergarten ready to learn and with a love of reading. In addition, over 100 "Reading Buddies" volunteers have signed up to maximize the impact of the Imagination Library by working directly with parents to learn how to effectively read with their children. The Imagination Library is a United Way of Erie County initiative that was launched in collaboration with The Erie Community Foundation and other community and funding partners. It offers a free book each month from the time a child is born until he or she turns five years old. Learn more about the Imagination Library by visiting UnitedWayErie.org/Imagination.
1 00 Years of Improving 1914
1919
1914
Eleven out of the 22 local social service agencies in Erie County unite to form the Erie Social Service Federation. The first campaign in 1915 raises $66,324 (approximately $1.5 million in 2014 dollars).
The 22 members that made up the Erie Social Service Federation form the "Community Chest of Erie County." By 1932, the Community Chest will have 25 member agencies.
22 members of the Erie Social Service Federation along with "United War Work" and several other local charities organize a combined fundraising appeal under the name of Victory Chest. The campaign, under the leadership of Charles R. English, raises $895,091 (nearly $14 million in 2014 dollars)! The campaign is so successful that no fundraising effort was needed the next year.
1918
1942-1946 Several national and international war-related agencies joined the Community Chest during World War II, leading the organization to temporarily become known as the "Community and War Chest."
Edward Doll, president of the Community Chest, activates "fair share" giving at Lovell Manufacturing. This guideline encourages workers to donate the equivalent of one hour's pay each month. By 1930, the campaign is raising approximately $400,000 per year (roughly $5.6 million in 2014 dollars).
As part of a national trend, Erie's Community Chest forms a partnership with the AFL-CIO by hiring the first Community Services Liaison, Alton Ross.
1928
1952
Reducing poverty through
INCOME
United Way's Erie FREE Taxes program continues to reach new heights of success. End-of-season statistics show that over 5,200 federal returns have been filed this tax season through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and the free online filing program, Myfreetaxes. These figures represent a 30% increase over last year's tax filing season. The program returned over $7.9 million in federal refund dollars to the Erie region this year, including more than $3.1 million in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) dollars. Erie FREE Taxes clients also saved more than $1.1 million in estimated tax preparation fees, bringing the total economic impact of Erie FREE Taxes to over $9.1 million – a 20% increase over last year. Specifically designed to assist low income, hard-working families, the EITC is considered to be the most effective poverty reduction program in the United States. Delivered in collaboration with The Erie Community Foundation, United Way’s Erie FREE Taxes provides a significant economic boost not only for families but also area businesses because research shows that 80% of the refund dollars are re-circulated locally.
mproving L ives and Building a Stronger 1956
1974
The 33 Community Chest members join with 14 other local agencies to form the United Fund of Erie County. The United Fund's annual campaign in 1956 raises over $1.2 million.
United Community Services officially changes its name to "United Way of Erie County," joining a nationwide movement to share a common brand.
1983
1993
The first annual Alexis de Tocqueville Award is presented to former Community Chest president Edward Doll.
United Way launches Project Blueprint, a minority leadership training program, to accelerate minority volunteer involvement and support minority organizations.
The United Fund merges with the Community Services Planning Council to become United Community Services of Erie County.
United Way begins implementing a new priorities system to allocate funding based on the most pressing needs in the community each year.
United Way's annual campaign experiences a period of tremendous growth. The 1983 campaign becomes the first one to surpass $3 million. By 1990, the annual campaign exceeds $5.1 million.
1970
1982
1983-1990
Reducing poverty through
hEALTH
Nearly 50% of adults have either no prescription coverage or inadequate coverage, making medication unaffordable. In fact, according to Consumer Reports, Americans who are struggling financially tend to skip their medicines or lower their dosages. That's why United Way of Erie County partnered with FamilyWize last year. Together, we are on a mission to help individuals and families get the medicines they need at a price they can afford. Since United Way began offering the FamilyWize Prescription Discount Card in September, 1,431 local people have already been directly helped by this program and saved more than $140,000 on their medical prescriptions. The FamilyWize card can be used by the whole family and is for people with no insurance or for medicine not covered by insurance, Medicare or other benefit plans. United Way of Erie County is providing these cards free-of-charge to everyone in our community. There are no age restrictions, no income restrictions, no limits on how many times you can use it and no waiting to get a card. You can download your own FamilyWize card today by visiting UnitedWayErie.org/FamilyWize.
tronger Community 2007
2011
An Anonymous Friend grants an $11 million gift to United Way of Erie County. This amount is specifically earmarked for United Way's Endowment Fund, which provides a critical safety net to ensure United Way funding will remain stable for generations to come.
2013
United Way moves to a new building located at 420 West 6th Street. Formerly the home of AAA, this new location provides additional meeting space and parking that enhances United Way’s ability to work as a convener to address the community's biggest challenges.
United Way, along with GECAC and Mercyhurst University, launch Erie Together, the region-wide movement to reduce poverty. By 2010, the community had settled on its aspiration statement: “Working together to make the Erie region a community of opportunity where everyone can learn, work and thrive.”
2006
2009
United Way launches the Imagination Library, a gamechanging program designed to increase literacy rates and prepare more children to enter school ready to learn. The program signs up more than 40% of all eligible children in Erie County within one year.
United Way announces "LIVE UNITED 2025," a bold, long-term vision to help reduce the number of families struggling to meet their basic needs by one-third by 2025. United Way begins realigning all funding criteria to ensure it funds effective and efficient programs that will help reach this goal.
2012
2014
With funding from The Erie Community Foundation, United Way of Erie County assumes responsibility for operating Erie FREE Taxes, a local anti-poverty initiative that promotes the Earned Income Tax Credit and provides free tax preparation to eligible tax filers.
United Way of Erie County
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420 West 6th Street Suite 200 Erie, PA 16507 814.456.2937
UnitedWayErie.org
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