HEART OF WEST MICHIGAN UNITED WAY

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUNDS OF $2,874,000 WENT TO NONPROFIT PROVIDERS THAT PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICE TO PEOPLE IN KENT COUNTY. DIRECT SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO APPROXIMATELY 63,000 INDIVIDUALS AND 16,000 FAMILIES. DONORS MAY DESIGNATE GIFTS TO OTHER UNITED WAYS OR SPECIFIC CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, IN SUPPORT OF EQUITY WORK, $237,500 WAS GRANTED TO BIPOC LED ORGANIZATIONS. DONOR DIRECTED DESIGNATIONS OF $1,177,000 WERE MADE TO OTHER UNITED WAYS, UNITED WAY PROGRAMS AND/OR OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. AGENCY IMPACT UTILIZES A VOLUNTEER DRIVEN PROCESS TO REVIEW PROPOSALS FOR UNITED WAY FUNDING FROM LOCAL NON-PROFITS. THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO UNITED WAY AND ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO INVEST IN PROGRAMS THAT WILL ACHIEVE MEASURABLE IMPACT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DRIVEN BY UNITED WAY'S FOCUS ON REDUCING POVERTY THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN FAMILY STABILITY, YOUTH EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL SECURITY. COMMUNITY IMPACT DECISIONS ARE BASED ON BEST-PRACTICE RESEARCH AND REPORTED ANNUALLY.

INTERNAL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS INCLUDE 2-1-1, KENT COUNTY TAX CREDIT COALITION (KCTCC), VOLUNTEER CENTER, LABOR PARTICIPATION PROGRAM, WOMEN UNITED AND YOUNG LEADERS. UNITED WAY 2-1-1 IS A FREE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES "HOTLINE" THAT CONNECTS CALLERS TO MORE THAN 8,000 DISTINCT SERVICES IN 14 WESTERN AND NORTHERN MICHIGAN COUNTIES 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK. IT IS STAFFED AND MANAGED BY EXTENSIVELY TRAINED AND CERTIFIED UNITED WAY STAFF MEMBERS. UNITED WAY'S 211 SERVICE SUPPORTED MICHIGAN RESIDENTS BY TAKING OVER 67,000 CALLS DURING THE YEAR. UNITED WAY KCTCC ENGAGES OVER 150 VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WORKING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES GAIN ECONOMIC STABILITY WITH FREE INCOME TAX RETURN PREPARATION, ENSURING THAT THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT IS RECEIVED BY THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.