United Way Of Greater St Joseph Inc

United way initiatives and programsfinancial stability providing opportunities for individuals and families to become financially self-sufficient since 2009. Leadership st. Joseph building the skills of individuals to be effective leaders in the community since 1982. United way leadership st. Joseph is an annual, year-long leadership development program for adults living or working in the st. Joseph area. The program helps create a network of trained individuals willing to engage in leadership and community service with enhanced knowledge of our community's opportunities, realities and challenges. In 2024, the program graduated 28 community members, bringing the total number of graduates to more than 1,000 since 1982. During the year, participants learned and practiced project development and essential leadership skills. The class was divided into four groups and was challenged to learn the process of developing a project that would meet a community need. Group projects included: enhancing the support system for chuukese families in the community; making a guided organizational evaluation process available for non-profits; creating a life skills curriculum for young teens; and placing sharps containers in the community for safe and sanitary disposal of hypodermic needles. The 2024 distinguished leader award was presented to debra bradley, 2009 united way leadership st. Joseph graduate. The distinguished leader award is presented every year to an individual who exemplifies leadership while serving the greater st. Joseph communityprofit in education improving the education level of the potential and current workforce since 1989. United way profit in education works to increase the high school graduation rate and collaborate with and support education efforts across the community. In 2024, united way reading adventure was held at five school-age child care sites during the summer, at four elementary schools during the spring semester and at five elementary schools during the fall semester, reaching more than 700 children. The goal of united way reading adventure is to help elementary-age students maintain and improve their reading skills and help build their home libraries through new and donated books. In partnership with second harvest's no hunger summer, united way take a book tuesday distributed thousands of books to hundreds of children throughout the summer. United way speakers' bureau linked volunteers from different industries with classrooms, career days and events to help students learn about various careers and employer expectations. More than 100 local professionals shared with more than 2,000 students across 14 schools about their careers in business, skilled trades, information technology, arts, science, public safety and healthcare. United way profit in education partners with mid-buchanan r-v school district, savannah r-iii school district, st. Joseph school district, multiple agencies, dozens of businesses and hundreds of volunteers to impact the lives of thousands of students. Safety and healthcare.singlecare prescription assistance saving residents money on prescription medication with a free prescription discount card since 2007. Success by 6 preparing children to be successful learners when they begin kindergarten since 1999. United way success by 6 works to prepare all children to be successful learners when they begin kindergarten. The initiative works through community-wide collaborations to support parents, child care providers and others to facilitate the development of children ages birth to six.united way success by 6 works to prepare all children to be successful learners when they begin kindergarten. The initiative works through community-wide collaborations to support parents, child care providers and others to facilitate the development of children ages birth to six. In 2024, support was provided to early care and education professionals through educational scholarships, trainings and leadership development opportunities. Nine individuals were awarded scholarships to pursue associate and bachelor degrees in early education. Area early care and education providers recorded more than 400 hours of training through workshops, events and sessions organized by united way success by 6. 43 individuals in leadership roles in early care and education settings participated in the 18th annual united way success by 6 directors' symposium to increase their knowledge and skills. Resources and training to empower parents and primary caregivers to be their child's best first teacher and prepare their children for kindergarten were made available in 2024. Raising children with conscious discipline sessions equipped parents, caregivers and child care providers with a better understanding of how to support the social and emotional development of children. Parent educators from the st. Joseph school district delivered united way success by 6 baby bags to more than 875 families with newborns at mosaic life care. The bags include guides to early development, information about local resources and a new children's book to help build each child's home library. Soon-to-be kindergarteners and their families were supported in their journey to be 'kindergarten ready' through united way destination: kindergarten resource kits and united way kinderclub. These efforts are designed to help families prepare their child for kindergarten. Area school districts offered united way kinderclub with 160 families participating. Nearly 600 united way destination: kindergarten resource kits reached families. Throughout the year, united way: facilitated local conversations about gaps in the early care and education system and how to address them; engaged with local, regional and statewide groups focused on early childhood issues; participated in local events such as tiny tot town, children's fair and my success event; and organized opportunities for providers and those delivering programs aimed at families with young children to connect, share and collaborate. Unmet needs committee collaborating to connect people in need to resources to solve immediate needs with lasting impact since 1993. Volunteer center connecting the community through volunteerism since 2009. United way volunteer center is a central resource for volunteer needs across the greater st. Joseph area. Individuals, groups and corporations seeking volunteer opportunities can find a variety of options calling for varying levels of commitment available at many different non-profit organizations. In 2024, through united way volunteer center's online presence, 68 unique volunteer opportunities were shared by 16 local agencies.throughout the year, united way community volunteer resource network (cvrn) meetings were attended by individuals who manage volunteers for local organizations. Cvrn promotes and develops effective volunteer management programs in the community and enhances the knowledge, skills and connections among members. The 16th year of united way stuff the bus! School supplies drive, sponsored by mosaic life care, brought together more than 250 volunteers who collected nearly 24,000 school supply items. Collected supplies were distributed through the salvation army and to area schools. The st. Joseph mustangs and united way volunteer center continued the united way team player award program in 2024. The goal of the program is to highlight and celebrate the impact volunteers have in our community. This year's honorees included: erin bradley; roger collins; josh emberton; hannorah harrah; ron hook; emily lindsay; missouri western state university center for service; and isaac unruh. Housing stabilitysince 2018, united way housing stability has provided financial assistance to qualifying households with goals of maintaining stability, preventing or resolving homelessness. Housing stability is designed to complement other existing resources, fill gaps where other assistance does not exist and be one-time assistance to aid a household in a path toward maintaining stability without further need for assistance. In 2024, 165 client cases were approved for assistance totaling more than $123,000, with most requests being for rent, deposit or transportation to relocate and live with family or a friend. Paceunited way pace is a learning series designed for agencies and their staff. The goals of the series are to help increase capacity, aid staff as they are working with clients and improve collaboration. Staff from more than 20 agencies participated in pace sessions in 2024 and sessions focused on a variety of topics, including: tips for working with landlords; de-escalation; trauma informed care; energy, home repair and weatherization programs; working with aging clients; and resources 101.

Communicationsit takes strong community support to produce the level of program achievements and sustaining that support requires an active communications effort. United way lets donors and the general public know about the organization's accomplishments through printed materials including; an annual report, e-newsletters, web site, video productions, media outreach, and special events.

Othergeneral activities of the united way, which contribute to building community coalitions, participating in community groups and supporting community planning, are accounted for in the community building program. United way's role goes far beyond the raising and allocating of dollars and implementation of initiatives and programming. In recent years, united way has participated in a number of community coalitions, committees, task forces and efforts that improve the community. In many cases united way is an active participant, providing staff resources, leadership, facilitation, advocacy and action. Continuum of care for homeless services * lepc (local emergency planning committee) * st. Joseph chamber of commerce workforce development committee * mosaic life care foundation children's discovery center committee * st. Joseph chamber of commerce diplomats * st. Joseph chamber of commerce member council * st. Joseph chamber of commerce government relations committee * st. Joseph chamber of commerce finance committee * st. Joseph community alliance * imagine st. Joseph 2040 implementation team * downtown rotary club #32 * kiwanis club of st. Joseph * kiwanis club of st. Joseph board of directors * st. Joseph school district parents as teachers advisory committee * st. Joseph school district early childhood professions advisory committee * north central missouri college early childhood education advisory committee * missouri western state university teacher education advisory board * dc fly in * joseph company * missouri western state university craig school of business advisory committee * kids win missouri child care coalition * kids win missouri early childhood workgroup * opioid task force * st. Joseph school district carpentry program advisory * st. Joseph school district early childhood professions advisory * interfaith alliance for immigrants * saint joseph missouri marathon steering committee * brittany village response work group * main street st. Joseph * great northwest daysunited way also fills gaps and responds in unplanned and unexpected ways when gaps are recognized. Examples of this include the creation of united way's housing stability and covid-19 relief funds, disaster response and facilitation of planning for community issues such as winter emergency shelter for those experiencing homelessness.