MESA UNITED WAY INC

Founded in 1966, Mesa United Way operates as a nonprofit philanthropic corporation under the State of Arizona laws. Mesa United Way focuses on addressing poverty challenges related to foster/kinship children, youth aging out of the foster care system, child literacy, veterans, and tax assistance to low- and moderate-income households. Through community partnerships Mesa United Way provides resources to these populations. Mesa United Way depends upon undesignated contributions from individuals and corporate donations to support its mission. These contributions often vary, based on current economic conditions. In addition, some donors will request their gifts be earmarked to agencies that do not share Mesa United Ways mission, resulting in decreased funding for Mesa United Ways priorities. Helens Hope Chest was launched by Mesa United Way in 2009 and became a separate legal entity in 2014. Helens Hope Chest is focused on addressing the needs of foster/kinship children from infancy through early adulthood. In July 2023, Mesa United Way created two new nonprofit corporations: Azura Inc. and Foster360 (which had previously operated as a program of Helens Hope Chest). Additionally, Helens Hope Chests affiliation with Mesa United Way was eliminated and reorganized as an independent nonprofit corporation. The purpose of these structural changes furthered Mesa United Ways goal of launching sustainable programming that directly improves the lives of our community members. This community has grown beyond the geographic boundaries of the City of Mesa. The newly incorporated programs that previously operated under the Mesa United Way organization, as well as the Mesa United Way initiatives of 12Books/Mesa Youth Unite, Mesa Veterans Resource Center, and VITA, were placed under the umbrella of Azura Inc. Not only has Mesa United Way succeeded in its goal, the programs and initiatives themselves were now able to flourish and grow without the limitations of the United Way structure. Whether through its traditional United Way workplace campaigns or finding the next gap in services that needs a solution, Mesa United Way remains committed to both supporting the work of its progeny while also remaining even more closely focused on its core mission of fighting for the health, education and financial stability of every person in Mesa.