TRIDENT UNITED WAY

COMMUNITY IMPACTTRIDENT UNITED WAY EXISTS TO STRENGTHEN WORKING FAMILIES ACROSS BERKELEY, CHARLESTON, AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES. TODAY, MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR REGION ARE ALICE (ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED) - FAMILIES WHO WORK HARD YET STILL STRUGGLE TO AFFORD THE BASICS DUE TO RISING HOUSING COSTS, INCOME VOLATILITY, AND FINANCIAL SHOCKS. THESE INCLUDE CHILDCARE WORKERS, HOSPITALITY STAFF, MEDICAL ASSISTANTS, TEACHERS' AIDES, RETAIL EMPLOYEES, AND OTHER FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO KEEP OUR REGION RUNNING, YET REMAIN ONE UNEXPECTED EXPENSE AWAY FROM HARDSHIP. IN 2025, TRIDENT UNITED WAY ESTABLISHED A BOLD GOAL: UPLIFT 15,000 FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY BY 2035. ACHIEVING THIS GOAL REQUIRES BUILDING A REGIONAL STABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SURROUNDS FAMILIES WITH COORDINATED, HUMAN-CENTERED SUPPORT ACROSS MULTIPLE ACCESS POINTS - WORKPLACES, SCHOOLS, HOUSING COMMUNITIES, AND NEIGHBORHOOD HUBS. THIS STRATEGY IS DELIVERED THROUGH THE STRONG FAMILIES, STRONG COMMUNITY INITIATIVE, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER:1) CENTERS FOR STRONG FAMILIESCOMMUNITY-BASED HUBS IN MONCKS CORNER (500 S LIVE OAK DR, MONCKS CORNER, SC 29461) AND SUMMERVILLE (133 EAST 1ST NORTH ST, SUITE 3, SUMMERVILLE, SC 29483) SERVE AS TRUSTED ENTRY POINTS WHERE FAMILIES CONNECT WITH FINANCIAL COACHING, WORKFORCE NAVIGATION, STABILIZATION RESOURCES, AND COORDINATED REFERRALS. IN THE CENTERS ARE PROVIDED THROUGH A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDING ADULT EDUCATION, CHARLESTON LEGAL ACCESS, CHARLESTON PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES, FOODSHARE SOUTH CAROLINA, MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK, ORIGIN SC, PALMETTO COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP, PALMETTO GOODWILL, ROPER SAINT FRANCIS, SALVATION ARMY, SC THRIVE, SC DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE, SC WORKS, VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, AND YOUNG MOMS TOGETHER. DURING FY 2024-2025, THE CENTERS FOR STRONG FAMILIES SERVED 6,219 HOUSEHOLDS COMPRISING 12,367 HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS AND PROVIDED 18,380 INSTANCES OF ASSISTANCE.2) THRIVE@ ACCESS POINTSTO REDUCE BARRIERS AND INCREASE ENGAGEMENT, TRIDENT UNITED WAY IS BUILDING A MULTI-ACCESS-POINT APPROACH THAT EMBEDS SERVICES WHERE FAMILIES ALREADY LIVE AND WORK. THIS INCLUDES THRIVE@WORK (SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES IN PARTNER COMPANIES), THRIVE@SCHOOL (SUPPORTING FAMILIES CONNECTED TO SCHOOL SYSTEMS), AND FUTURE PATHWAYS SUCH AS THRIVE@HOME AND THRIVE@WORSHIP, WHICH WILL EXTEND SUPPORT INTO HOUSING COMMUNITIES AND FAITH-BASED SETTINGS.3) CHANGEMAKER GRANTSTRIDENT UNITED WAY INVESTED OVER $500,000 IN CHANGEMAKER GRANTS SUPPORTING NONPROFIT PARTNERS ALIGNED WITH STRONG FAMILIES, STRONG COMMUNITY - STABILIZING FAMILIES, STRENGTHENING SERVICES, AND ADVANCING EQUITY FOR ALICE HOUSEHOLDS. 4) CHARITYTRACKER NETWORKTRIDENT UNITED WAY PROVIDES CHARITYTRACKER, A SECURE, COORDINATION TOOL CONNECTING MORE THAN 400 NONPROFIT PARTNERS AT NO COST. IN FY 2024-2025, THIS NETWORK SUPPORTED 13,844 HOUSEHOLDS, 27,189 INDIVIDUALS, AND 89,547 DOCUMENTED SERVICES. THIS COORDINATED APPROACH REDUCES DUPLICATION, IMPROVES ACCESS TO SUPPORT, AND STRENGTHENS LONG-TERM FAMILY STABILITY.

FINANCIAL STABILITYFINANCIAL STABILITY SUPPORT HELPS FAMILIES MAINTAIN INCOME, MANAGE EXPENSES, AND REDUCE FINANCIAL STRESS - ENSURING THAT SHORT-TERM CRISES DO NOT BECOME LONG-TERM SETBACKS. THIS WORK IS GROUNDED IN TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS, COORDINATED REFERRAL SYSTEMS, AND FAMILY-CENTERED COACHING DELIVERED ACROSS MULTIPLE ACCESS POINTS IN THE STRONG FAMILIES, STRONG COMMUNITY INITIATIVE.1) FAMILY COACHING MODELAT THE CENTER OF TRIDENT UNITED WAY'S WORK IS A STRUCTURED COACHING APPROACH GROUNDED IN FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, GOAL-SETTING, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. FAMILY COACHES HELP HOUSEHOLDS STABILIZE INCOME, ACCESS RESOURCES, IMPROVE CREDIT, REDUCE EXPENSES, AND BUILD SAVINGS. COACHING IS DELIVERED ACROSS CENTERS FOR STRONG FAMILIES AND THRIVE@ ACCESS POINTS TO ENSURE SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE WHERE FAMILIES ALREADY ARE. 2) AMERICORPS FAMILY NAVIGATORSTRIDENT UNITED WAY'S AMERICORPS PROGRAM BUILDS LOCAL WORKFORCE CAPACITY IN HUMAN SERVICES WHILE DIRECTLY SERVING FAMILIES SEEKING FINANCIAL STABILITY. AMERICORPS FAMILY NAVIGATORS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING, RESOURCE NAVIGATION, BENEFITS ACCESS, AND REFERRALS - STRENGTHENING THE REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF SUPPORT FOR ALICE HOUSEHOLDS. DURING FY 2024-2025, AMERICORPS MEMBERS CONNECTED FAMILIES TO COORDINATED SERVICES THAT ADDRESSED BASIC NEEDS, EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS, INCOME STABILIZATION, AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING. IN TOTAL, AMERICORPS MEMBERS SUPPORTED 2,025 HOUSEHOLDS - INCLUDING 4,325 INDIVIDUALS - AND CONNECTED THEM TO 5,261 SERVICES, 3,116 OF WHICH ADDRESSED IMMEDIATE BASIC NEEDS. THE PROGRAM ALSO HELPED DEVELOP A STRONG PIPELINE OF TRAINED PROFESSIONALS PREPARED TO CONTINUE CAREERS IN THE NONPROFIT AND HUMAN SERVICES SECTOR.3) BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENTBARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT PROVIDES SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME OBSTACLES THAT PREVENT THEM FROM FINDING OR KEEPING A JOB - SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE, UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT, CERTIFICATION FEES, AND OTHER WORK-RELATED COSTS. THIS RESOURCE ALLOWS FAMILIES TO MAINTAIN STABLE EMPLOYMENT AND AVOID INCOME DISRUPTION DURING PERIODS OF FINANCIAL STRAIN.4) 2-1-1 INFORMATION & REFERRAL SERVICE2-1-1 PROVIDES FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, 24/7 CONNECTION TO ESSENTIAL HUMAN SERVICES VIA PHONE, TEXT, AND WEB. DURING FY 2024-2025, TRI-COUNTY RESIDENTS PLACED 17,084 CALLS, RESULTING IN 40,337 REFERRALS AND 19,515 WEBSITE VISITS FOR ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING, UTILITIES, FOOD, AND EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES. TRIDENT UNITED WAY CONTRACTS WITH THE UNITED WAY OF ASSOCIATION OF SC, WHICH MANAGES THE CALL CENTER AND PROVIDES UP-TO-DATE, LOCAL INFORMATION ABOUT RESOURCES IN THE TRI-COUNTY TO TRI-COUNTY CALLERS.5) VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA)THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE IRS, FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME. IN FY 2024-2025, MORE THAN 450 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED FREE FEDERAL RETURNS GENERATING $354,514 IN REFUNDS INCLUDING $156,635 IN EARNED CREDITS. THESE SERVICES HELP FAMILIES KEEP MORE OF WHAT THEY EARN AND REDUCE RELIANCE ON HIGH-FEE TAX PREPARERS.6) FOODSHARE FOODSHARE EXPANDED ACCESS TO FRESH, AFFORDABLE PRODUCE ACROSS THE REGION BY ADDING NEW DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS AND STRENGTHENING RURAL DELIVERY POINTS, HELPING MORE FAMILIES STAY CONNECTED TO HEALTHY FOOD YEAR-ROUND. FOODSHARE BERKELEY COUNTY IS MAKING MEANINGFUL STRIDES IN ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY - DISTRIBUTING MORE THAN 70,000 POUNDS OF PRODUCE TO 1,041 CUSTOMERS, TOTALING OVER 4,300 BOXES IN FY 2024-2025, WITH SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 50% OF BOXES PURCHASED USING SNAP BENEFITS. THE PROGRAM ALSO IMPROVED CUSTOMER RETENTION AND LONG-TERM PARTICIPATION, REFLECTING STRONG SATISFACTION AND CONTINUED COMMUNITY DEMAND.