INVEST TODAY. WE RESEARCH COMMUNITY NEEDS AND DRIVE LASTING
CHANGE TO BUILD BETTER LIVES AND STRONGER COMMUNITIES.
60
AGENCY PARTNERS
provide 110 programs to build better lives in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties.
+ COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS NTEERS S
1,300
make a measurable andd sustainable change in our community.
8,400
+ VOLUNTEER HOURS
$8.7 64,000
improve lives by focusing on education, income and health.
EDUCATION
20,882
UWCF helped children to succeed in school by:
INCOME UWCF promoted financial stability
3,042
for families in the tri-county area by:
HEALTH UWCF improved the health of patients by:
20,483
Increasing ACCESS to quality childcare n Taking ACTION to improve school readiness n Increasing ACCOUNTABILITY for academic achievement K-12.
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Increasing ACCESS to financial services n Taking ACTION to improve and maintain financial stability n Increasing personal ACCOUNTABILITY for finances.
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UWCF partnered to provide early literacy and school readiness programs for 6,892 children, 6 weeks - 5 years of age. These programs helped prepare children to enter school ready to learn while parents worked to support their families.
3,042 heads of households were helped to avoid homelessness through emergency assistance while learning of access to programs for GED and other credentials to increase family income.
UWCF is improving health in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties. Specific measurements in health including body mass index, vision, seizure control, blood pressure, blood sugars and more were reported for 11,485 adults and children.
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UWCF increased accountability for academic achievement for 13,990 children in grades K-12 by measuring attendance and improvements on standardized tests in reading and math.
+ MILLION
was raised in 2011 by more than 400 organizations and nearly 20,000 donors.
UWCF helped create free tax preparation sites where families were encouraged to use some of their tax return to open emergency savings accounts. Classes on budgeting and banking also helped families with basic money management and credit repair.
Increasing ACCESS to medical care n Taking ACTION to improve and maintain health n Increasing personal ACCOUNTABILITY for health choices.
UWCF partnered to provide medical and mental health services for 20,483 children and adults whether or not they have insurance.
+
BUILDING BLOCKS THAT
CONNECT
US ALL
Education
Income
Health
Helping Kids Succeed in School
Promoting Financial Stability for Families
Improving People’s Health
Increase ACCESS to quality childcare
Increase ACCESS to financial services
Increase ACCESS to medical care
Take ACTION to improve school readiness
Take ACTION to improve & maintain financial stability
Take ACTION to improve & maintain health
Increase ACCOUNTABILITY for academic achievement K-12
Increase personal ACCOUNTABILITY for finances
Increase personal ACCOUNTABILITY for health choices
2-1-1 is free, bilingual, and
A quality education is the first step toward a stable job and steady income. Without good health, everyday life becomes a struggle. United Way is working to provide opportunities for all of us to succeed. We are all in this together. So, when you help your neighbor in need, you also make your community stronger.
available 24 hours a day. All calls are confidential. Dial 2-1-1 on any phone in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties. If you have trouble, dial 863-648-1515. Services and information can also be accessed online at www.uwcf.org/211
LIVES CHANGED
United Way
in the tri-county area last year FA
IMPACT TOMORROW.
UNITED WAY IS CHANGING OUR COMMUNITY by making sure children start school ready to learn and succeed, through to graduation and beyond.
UNITED WAY IS CHANGING OUR COMMUNITY by helping hard working families increase their financial stability by building savings, improving credit scores and increasing family income.
UNITED WAY IS CHANGING OUR COMMUNITY by improving people’s health and increasing responsibility for personal health choices; many health problems are prevented by changing behaviors.
United Way of Central Florida
United Way of Central Florida PO Box 1357 Highland City, FL 33846 PH (863) 648.1500 FAX (863) 648.1535
United Way of Central Florida n Highlands County Division PO Box 3860 Sebring, FL 33871 PH (863) 453.3401
United Way of Central Florida Partners and Programs Polk and Hardee Achievement Academy, Inc. Birth to Three Alliance for Independence, Inc. Adult Day Training, Residential Services American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, Patient Lodging American Red Cross-Polk County Chapter Emergency Services, Health & Safety Services Big Brothers Big Sisters Comprehensive Mentoring Boy Scouts of America Gulf Ridge Council Boy Scouting for At-Risk Youth Boys & Girls Clubs of Lakeland & Mulberry Wogan S. Badcock Jr. Club, Youth Development (3 Lakeland Clubs)
Camp Fire USA Youth Mentoring Catholic Charities of Central Florida, Inc. Agape Food Bank, Family Empowerment, Lake Morton Senior Center, Mental Health Counseling Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center Audiology for Kids, Audiology for Seniors, FastForword Program, Language Is All Around Us, Speech-Language Pathology Children’s Home Society of Florida Advocacy Center, Hansen House Center Church Service Center, Inc. Creating Healthy Families Citizen CPR, Inc. CPR/First Aid Training Citrus Center Boys & Girls Clubs George W. Jenkins Memorial Complex, Lake Wales Unit, North Ridge Unit Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Heartland - Hardee Accessible Quality Childcare Early Learning Coalition of Polk County Accessible Quality Childcare Enterprise Community Services, Inc. Workplace Financial Education Epilepsy Services of West Central Florida Case Management Explorations V Children’s Museum Biggest Saver-Exploring Family Finance, Financial Education Services, Storybook Camp Program Family Emergency Services of Winter Haven Financial Building Blocks Family Literacy Academy at Lake Wales Early Literacy-Family Program Frostproof Care Center, Inc. Financial Fitness Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. Girl Scouting for At-Risk Youth - Hardee County Girl Scouts of West Central Florida-Polk County Traditional Troop Membership, Membership Extension Outreach
Girls Incorporated of Lakeland Building Strong, Smart & Bold Girls Girls Incorporated of Winter Haven, Inc. Before, After School, & Summer Program Good Shepherd Hospice The Caregiver Program, The Grief Center Hardee Family YMCA After School Program-Adventure Club, Summer Program-Adventure Club, Young Adults - Achievers Club
Hardee Help Center Basic Needs Heart of Florida Legal Aid Society, Inc. Legal Services HELP of Fort Meade, Inc. Access to Healthcare, Building Family Savings, First Steps to Financial Stability, Preschool Literacy Program InnerAct Alliance Drug Prevention Education Lake Wales YMCA Preschool Language & Literacy Development, After School Care & Summer Day Camp Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, Inc. Pharmacy Program, Targeted Chronic Disease Management Learning Resource Center Academic Assistance Lighthouse for the Blind Early Intervention, Rehab for Blind or Visually Impaired Mulberry Community Service Center Financial Stability NAMI Polk County, Inc. Family Support & Education Neighborhood Service Center, Inc. Services for Seniors NU-HOPE Elder Care Services, Inc. Senior Meals-Hardee Peace River Center Children’s Psychiatric Services, Domestic Violence-Polk County, Rape Recovery & Resource Program
Sunrise Community of Polk County, Inc. Adult Day Training, Residential Services Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland, Inc. Emergency Shelter/Basic Needs, Good Samaritan Free Clinic, Supportive Housing/Trustee Renewal Program The Salvation Army of East Polk County Shelter for Women & Children, Social Services The Salvation Army Serving West Polk County YES! Youth Education Success, Emergency Family Stability & Nutrition, H.A.L.O. Child Enrichment Center, Family Financial Stability Ministry, Family Living Program Tri-County Human Services, Inc. Agape Halfway House for Women, Health Care Educator Drug Abuse Treatment Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE) Service to Seniors Women’s Care Center of Bartow, Inc. Women’s Shelter Women’s Resource Center of Florida, Inc. Independence Program for Women YMCA of West Central Florida, Inc. After School Child Care, Summer Day Camps Youth and Family Alternatives, Inc George W. Harris Youth Shelter
Highlands American Red Cross-Highlands County Emergency Services Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Boys & Girls Club of Highlands Project Learn Boy Scouts of America Gulf Ridge Council Boy Scouting for At-Risk Youth Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center Audiology for Kids Children’s Home Society of Florida Hansen House Center Champion for Children Foundation of Highlands Co., Inc. Children’s Advocacy Center, Eye Check,
education
income
health
Student Overcomes Family Trouble to Win Scholarship
Struggling Family Learns Financial Survival Skills
Woman Receives LifeSaving Medical Help
For April Contreras, United Way’s Financial Fitness for Families program helped her family achieve financial stability for the first time ever.
Connie McAdams has been a diabetic for over 25 years and had always managed her health through regular doctor visits and medication. That is until she lost her healthcare insurance through a divorce.
A’Nasia is a 12-year-old girl who entered a United Way funded program at Girls Inc. of Winter Haven in 2006. She was very shy, insecure and had little interest in school. A’Nasia’s mother Angela was unemployed due to health issues and the family of five struggled to cope after her dad left them. In 2010, Girls Inc. started a Step Club for girls. A’Nasia was reluctant to get involved but eventually joined the group. The club helped her develop a different perspective on life and school. She participated in Girls Inc’s homework assistance program and her school grades began to improve. The agency staff communicated routinely with her mother and teachers about ways they could all work together to help her succeed in school. Her teachers noticed a positive change in A’Nasia’s attitude as she gained confidence and excelled academically. She graduated fifth grade with a 3.75 average and earned a Fancelli Family Future Leaders Scholarship from Polk State College. Today, she enjoys attending school and has matured into a confident young lady. “Girls Inc. has not only made an impact in my girls’ life but they have also made an impact on my life, or should I say, my entire family’s life as well,” says A’Nasia’s mom, Angela.
April and her husband have three small children. Their oldest son, now nine years old, received heart surgery two months after birth. To add to the tough times, their youngest son recently became diagnosed with sleep apnea. So when April’s sister-in-law told her about the Financial Fitness for Families classes at the Frostproof Care Center, a United Way partner, she decided to venture over. Families learn how to become more financially stable and self-sufficient through budgeting, creating a savings plan and, if needed, sessions on credit counseling. The workshops focus on the adults and offers hands-on educational activities for their children. The program also offers fun weekly challenges and incentives for families to utilize the financial tips they have learned. The Contreras family was able to create an emergency savings account and is now better prepared for life’s challenges. “The program opened my eyes for how to save money,” said April. “A simple decision like not buying fast food and finding a cheaper way to make dinner are things I never thought about before taking this class.”
Because of her past medical history, healthcare insurance through her employer was far too expensive so Connie was not able to see a doctor or find medications for her chronic diseases. Then, someone told her about Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine (LVIM), a United Way partner. She visited LVIM where a nurse discovered that Connie’s blood sugar was over 400 and her blood pressure was very high. In addition, it was found that she was in 3rd stage kidney disease and her kidneys were working at only 40 percent. LVIM staff began treating Connie’s condition and worked to get her the medications she needed through a United Way-sponsored pharmacy program. Now three years later, Connie is healthy and enjoying life to the fullest. “I truly believe that I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for LVIM,” says Connie. “I know I wouldn’t. I owe them my life.”
Emergency Rescue Services
Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Heartland-Highlands Accessible Quality Childcare Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. Girl Scouting for At-Risk Youth Heart of Florida Legal Aid Society, Inc. Legal Services Heartland Horses and Handicapped, Inc. Horse Therapy Program Highlands Family YMCA Summer Camp Scholarship Program NU-HOPE Elder Care Services, Inc. Home Delivered Meal Program Peace River Center Domestic Violence Ridge Area Arc Community Employment, Adult Day Training, Residential Services Webber International University High School Academic Success Youth and Family Alternatives, Inc. George W. Harris Youth Shelter
LIVE UNITED
Invest Today. Impact Tomorrow. Helping Kids Succeed in School
Promoting Financial Stability for Families
Improving People’s Health