United Way stories of impact: Abusive relationships

GRCC employees do a great job of supporting our community through their annual commitment to the West Michigan Heart of United Way. Each month we are sharing a story that demonstrates the outcomes of your commitment.

Read how a young immigrant and mother of two escaped an emotionally and physically abusive marriage without becoming homeless with help from the Women’s Resource Center.

 

United Way stories of impact: What we do

GRCC employees do a great job of supporting our community through their annual commitment to the West Michigan Heart of United Way. Each month we are sharing a story that demonstrates the outcomes of your commitment.

West Michigan is a great place to live, work, and raise a family, but that’s not the whole story. Learn about our communities challenges and how United Way is changing the odds.

 

United Way stories of impact: GED and life skills

GRCC employees do a great job of supporting our community through their annual commitment to the West Michigan Heart of United Way. Each month we are sharing a story that demonstrates the outcomes of your commitment.

Learn how a Elizabeth, high school drop out and new mom, earned her GED, gained parenting skills and become a student at GRCC – though Steepletown Neighborhood Services.

 

United Way stories of impact: social and behavioral development

GRCC employees do a great job of supporting our community through their annual commitment to the West Michigan Heart of United Way. Each month we are sharing a story that demonstrates the outcomes of your commitment.

Learn how a summer at Camp Blodgett helped Ben, who experiences mild autism, gain the confidence to speak to his classmates.

 

United Way pledges total $30,000!

Thank you to our 122 generous donors, and to everyone who dedicated their time and energy to this campaign.

Congratulations to our gift card winners Nancy Forrest in Math, Mark Jasonwicz in Business and Melanie Schiele-Gady in Exercise Science.  Nancy and Mark each won a Visa gift card which was generously donated by Lake Michigan Credit Union. Melanie who won a Subway/Patatas gift card which was generously donated by our campus location.

United Way stories of impact: Tax credit coalition

GRCC employees do a great job of supporting our community through their annual commitment to the West Michigan Heart of United Way. Each month we are sharing a story that demonstrates the outcomes of your commitment.

The Kent County Tax Credit Coalition offers free tax services and financial literacy courses to combat tax refunds and credits going unclaimed by working individuals and families.

Last day to make a pledge – enter to win!

Any GRCC employee who makes a pledge by today, the last day of the GRCC United Way campaign, will be entered into a GRCC raffle.  You could win one of two gift cards or a Whitecaps Baseball suite rental (an $800 value)! The suite rental includes (1) April/May Whitecaps Suite for the 2017 season and 25 tickets – it does NOT include the cost of food and beverage.
Plus any donor who makes a gift of $50 or more, and at least $50 of the gift is undesignated, i.e., Community Investment Fund, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $5,000 gift card, if he or she is otherwise eligible. Visit hwmuw.org/givetowin for complete rules.

Your United Way donation form is due Friday.

As of today, our GRCC Heart of West Michigan United Way campaign has raised $24,596.

Thank you to the 104 employees who have donated. If you can join them in making a difference in our community you have until this Friday to turn in your form.

Heart of West Michigan United Way got results for 34,914 children in 2014-15

Because of you, we changed lives 206,966 times in Kent County from July 2014 to June 2015. Fifty-nine percent of people helped were under the age of 18, and ten percent were younger than three-years-old.

Under child education alone, 34,914 children received educational support and 5,245 children expanded their education in safe after-school or summer programming.

Check out the numbers for food security, workforce development, housing, violence prevention and parental support.

 

Schools of Hope and high school completion

High school graduation is a powerful predictor of a young person’s future success, and research shows that students who don’t read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma.

Every school year, Hear of West Michigan United Way pairs more than 400 Grand Rapids Public Schools students who are behind in reading.

 

 

Who is Alice?

Thirty-nine percent of households in Kent County are struggling to afford the basic necessities of housing, child care, food, health care and transportation.

ALICE, is a United Way acronym which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, represents the growing number of individuals and families who are working, but are unable to afford the basic necessities of housing, food, child care, health care, and transportation.

 

How does United Way help?

Learn what Heart of West Michigan United Way does in your community.

 

UW: Helping people is simple when we work together.

Just $1/week helps feed hungry families in Kent County. Your donation matters. Thank you for supporting Heart of West Michigan United Way.

 

UW campaign update and incentives.

Campaign update.

We are off to a great start. At the end of last week 76 donors had pledged $19,920. Join them and you will have a chance to win some great prizes!

Win a Whitecaps suite, $5,000 or a gift card.

Any GRCC employee who makes a pledge by Nov. 18, the last day of the GRCC United Way campaign, will be entered into a GRCC raffle.  You could win one of two gift cards or a Whitecaps Baseball suite rental (an $800 value)! The suite rental includes (1) April/May Whitecaps Suite for the 2017 season and 25 tickets – it does NOT include the cost of food and beverage.
Plus any donor who makes a gift of $50 or more, and at least $50 of the gift is undesignated, i.e., Community Investment Fund, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $5,000 gift card, if he or she is otherwise eligible. Visit hwmuw.org/givetowin for complete rules.

United Way stories of impact: employment barriers

GRCC employees do a great job of supporting our community through their annual commitment to the West Michigan Heart of United Way. Each month we are sharing a story that demonstrates the outcomes of your commitment.

Learn how Kelly, who had been in prison for five years, gained marketable skills and valuable referrals through the Grand Rapids Urban League, which led to a steady position at a local restaurant.