2019 IMPACT REPORT
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MISSION: CRUSH POVERTY
In the following pages, you’ll see everyday superheroes working to CRUSH poverty and BREAK barriers. Together, we envision Erie County as a place where every student succeeds and every family thrives.
MISSION STATEMENT:
United Way of Erie County mobilizes resources to break the cycle of poverty and improve our community.
POVERTY DATA
GWEN WHITE ROLE: United Way Board Member SUPER POWER: Crushing poverty — one good deed at a time
VISION STATEMENT:
The Erie region is a collaborative community of opportunity where students succeed and families thrive.
BELOW POVERTY LEVEL
% BELOW POVERTY LEVEL
City of Erie
24,843
26.9%
Erie County
41,865
16.0%
City of Erie
9,373
43.5%
Erie County
14,452
24.9%
City of Erie
2,784
44.1%
Erie County
5,072
34.1%
ADULTS LIVING IN POVERTY
CHILDREN UNDER 18 LIVING IN POVERTY
CHILDREN UNDER 5 LIVING IN POVERTY
Poverty Data: 2018 Federal Poverty household income is $12,140 (individual) and $25,100 (family of four) .
PROGRAM AND INITIATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
DIANE SUTTON
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS • 4,543 students served
All of the following statistics are aggregated from quarterly reports in the 2017–2018 academic year; these numbers only include Erie’s Public Schools (5) community schools. • 31 new partnerships developed • 86 additional programs offered • 145 student engagement events • 119 parent engagement events • 70 teacher engagement events • 8,907 volunteer hours • $239,450 estimated value of volunteer hours • $175,075 estimated value of in-kind donations
ROLE: Director of Teaching and Learning, Erie’s Public Schools SUPER POWER: Knocking down barriers to education
We know many students in Erie County face barriers to learning including stress caused by hunger, family trauma, or a need for mental and physical health supports and basic-needs resources. Families and educators can’t address these barriers alone. That is why United Way’s community schools model brings resources into the school, so children do not miss out on lessons that will help them succeed in the classroom and in life.
COMMUNITY SCHOOL
LEAD PARTNER
CORPORATE PARTNER(S)
Erie Public Schools Diehl Elementary
COMING SOON!
Accudyn Products, Inc., American Tinning and Galvanizing, Custom Engineering, Lincoln Recycling, McInnes Rolled Rings, Reddog Industries, Inc., Smith Provision Company, Inc., Team Hardinger
East Middle School
Safe Harbor Behavioral Health at UPMC Hamot
Hamot Health Foundation
Edison Elementary School
Achievement Center
GE Transportation
McKinley Elementary School
Edinboro University
LORD Corporation
Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School
Family Services of NWPA
Erie Insurance
Strong Vincent Middle School
Gannon University
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Achievement Center
Reed Manufacturing Company, United Way of Erie County
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Reed Manufacturing Company, Widget Financial, United Way of Erie County
Girard School District Elk Valley Elementary School Iroquois School District Iroquois Elementary School
DEBBIE NAGELI ROLE: Lead Volunteer, Imagination Library for Erie County SUPER POWER: Books — lots and lots of books
We know from local groundbreaking research that young children are significantly more prepared for kindergarten with a high level of early literacy skills just by having books in their home. That is why United Way gets new books in the hands of young readers each month through the Imagination Library in Erie County — for free. Over time, generations of students will be better prepared for life because they are prepared to learn.
PROGRAM AND INITIATIVE HIGHLIGHTS IMAGINATION LIBRARY
• 116,619 books mailed in 2018 • 2,762 new children served in 2018 • 2,329 children graduated in 2018 • 20,041 total children served since 2013 • 577,750 books mailed since program inception for students
We know it can be hard for people to find the help they need. That is why United Way’s 2-1-1 is available 24/7/365 to confidentially help people get connected to available social services and resources in our community. Help is truly only one call, text, chat or email away.
JOSH JAEGER ROLE: 2-1-1 Database Coordinator, Pennsylvania 211 Northwest SUPER POWER: Opening lines of communication
PROGRAM AND INITIATIVE HIGHLIGHTS 2-1-1
• 3,598 contacts (calls, chats, texts and emails) • 265 organizations listed in database* • 995 services listed in database*
* Northwest region
KIM BEERS ROLE: Vice President, Early Connections Community Outreach SUPER POWER: Turning tiny tots into lifelong learners
We know high-quality early childhood education better prepares children for kindergarten. That is why United Way provides scholarships through Erie’s Future Fund to families that would otherwise struggle to afford enrollment in these programs. Early learning ensures children are eager and ready to learn by the time they enter kindergarten.
PROGRAM AND INITIATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
UNITED WAY SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH ERIE’S FUTURE FUND • 32 scholarships awarded (equivalent of two full classrooms) 2017–2018 Scholars IN PROCESS or PROFICIENT in the 5 Key Learning Areas (Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards) • At least 80% 3-year-olds • 100% 4-year-olds
We know sometimes people have to choose between paying for their prescriptions and addressing some of their basic needs. That is why United Way offers the FamilyWize Prescription Discount Card to help reduce prescription costs just by showing the card at the pharmacy counter so there’s more left in the family budget at the end of the month.
PROGRAM AND INITIATIVE HIGHLIGHTS FAMILYWIZE PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD • 1,847 people helped • $140,091 total savings • $75.8 average savings per person
PROGRAM AND INITIATIVE HIGHLIGHTS ERIE FREE TAXES
• 6,877 tax returns filed • $10.9M returned to filers • $1.8M tax filer savings • $12.8M program value (new economic activity)
JEFF ROZIER ROLE: Site Coordinator/Certified IRS Tax Preparer, Erie FREE Taxes SUPER POWER: Helping everyday people keep more of what they earn
We know working families often struggle with the additional financial burden of paying to have their taxes prepared. That is why United Way Erie FREE Taxes deploys IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers to help remove this financial burden by completing tax returns for free. Significant dollars are returned to the Erie economy each year through this program.
WHAT’S RAISED HERE, STAYS HERE
Ninety-nine cents of every dollar raised by United Way of Erie County stays in Erie County. Your support is helping to break the cycle of poverty and ensure students succeed and families are stable.
2018–2019 UNITED WAY OF ERIE COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS The investments below reflect a one-year period from July 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019.
PROGRAM/SERVICE
PROVIDER
INVESTMENT
2-1-1
PA 2-1-1 Southwest
$114,000
Behavior Support Services
Achievement Center
$58,000
Big Brothers/Sisters
Family Services
$20,000
Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Coordination Services
Various
$165,000
Career Street
Erie County Technical School Foundation
$25,000
Collective Impact Coordination Services
United Way Community Schools
$225,400
Direct Assistance
The Salvation Army – Erie Service Unit
$9,700
Disaster and Armed Forces Emergency Services
American Red Cross
$152,900
East Middle School Community School Coordination Services
Safe Harbor Behavioral Health of UPMC
$60,000
East Middle School Out-of-School Time Coordination Services
Safe Harbor Behavioral Health of UPMC Hamot
$45,000
Edison Elementary Community School Coordination Services
Achievement Center
$60,000
Edison Elementary Out-of-School Time Coordination Services
Boys & Girls Club of Erie
$45,000
Elk Valley Elementary Community School Coordination Services
Achievement Center
$60,000
Emergency Human Services
The Salvation Army – Erie Temple Corps
$56,900
Emergency Residence
Community Shelter Services
$173,500
Erie County Re-Entry Services Support Alliance
Greater Erie Community Action Committee
$190,700
Erie FREE Taxes
Various
$223,300
Financial Assistance
St. Martin Center
$108,100
Hospitality House
SafeNet
$42,700
I Can See
Union City School District Foundation
$15,000
Identification & Treatment of Vision Problems in Young Children at Edison Community School
Sight Center of NWPA
$35,300
2018–2019 United Way of Erie County Community Impact Grants Continued
PROGRAM/SERVICE
PROVIDER
INVESTMENT
Imagination Library
Various
$301,700
Iroquois Elementary Community School Coordination Services
Iroquois Elementary School
$60,000
Kindergarten Readiness Summer Program
Iroquois Elementary School
$10,000
McKinley Elementary Community School Coordination Services
McKinley Elementary School
$60,000
McKinley Elementary Out-of-School Time Coordination Services
YMCA of Greater Erie
$45,000
Mental Health Liaison Services
Achievement Center
$50,400
Mirror Program
USCRI International Institute of Erie
$85,000
National Night Out
Various
$13,000
Parent Truancy Education
Family Services of NWPA
$22,200
Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary Community School Coordination Services
Family Services of NWPA
$60,000
Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary Out-of-School Time Coordination Services
Family Services of NWPA
$45,000
PLAYtime
Erie Playhouse
$20,000
Positive Youth Development
Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research, and Evaluation
$80,000
Rape Crisis Intervention
Crime Victim Center
$53,600
Shelter & Counseling
Safe Journey
$52,100
Strong Vincent Middle School Community School Coordination Services
Gannon University
$60,000
Strong Vincent Middle School Out-of-School Time Coordination Services
TBA
$45,000
Success By 6
Early Connections
$30,000
Triple Play
Boys & Girls Club of Erie
$40,000
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at McKinley & Pfeiffer-Burleigh Community Schools
Family Services of NWPA
$30,000
United Way Scholarships through Erie’s Future Fund
Early Connections
$180,000
Women’s Recovery Center
Hamot Health Foundation
$75,000
TOTAL LOCAL INVESTMENT: $3,303,500 The data in this report was the most recent available at the time of printing. Please visit UnitedWayErie.org for the most up-to-date information.
THIS PUBLICATION PRODUCED THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF:
We’re on a mission to crush poverty right here in northwest Pennsylvania. That’s the new LIVING UNITED.
United Way and our impact partners work every day to defeat the cycle of financial hardship and to knock down barriers to opportunity.
ROLE: United Way Board Member SUPER POWER: Mapping a clear vision for Erie’s future
JIM OHRN
420 West 6th Street, Suite 200 Erie, PA 16507 unitedwayerie.org
United Way of Erie County
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