UNITED WAY OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

DURING THE 20242025 FISCAL YEAR, UNITED WAY OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS INVESTED APPROXIMATELY $485,000 TO SUPPORT IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES ACROSS OUR REGION, MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ADVANCING COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND EDUCATIONAL EQUITY. THROUGH DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY, WE DISTRIBUTED 32,892 BOOKS TO 2,741 CHILDREN, FOSTERING EARLY LITERACY AND A LIFELONG LOVE OF READING. OUR TABITHA'S CLOSET PROGRAM HELPED STUDENTS FEEL CONFIDENT AND PREPARED BY LOANING OVER 400 DRESSES AND SUITS FOR EVENTS SUCH AS DANCES, CEREMONIES, AND JOB INTERVIEWS. IN ADDITION, OUR ADOPT A STUDENT PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED FINANCIAL BARRIERS, ENABLING STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SPORTS, AP TESTING, AND DRIVER'S EDUCATION. WE CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL IMPACT THROUGH TARGETED GRANTMAKING, INCLUDING $43,500 IN MINI GRANTS AND $32,000 IN COMMUNITY GRANTS. THESE FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED TO ORGANIZATIONS AND INITIATIVES ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION TO IMPROVE LIVES AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES. WE ALSO SUPPORTED SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMMING, PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING, GROWTH, AND CONNECTION DURING OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME.

AS THE BACKBONE ORGANIZATION FOR ELEVATE, A COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE, WE COLLABORATED WITH A WIDE RANGE OF PARTNERS TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES ACROSS COLUMBIA AND WALLA WALLA COUNTIES IN. THIS YEAR, ELEVATE PARTNERS DEDICATED 720 HOURS TO ADVANCING THE INITIATIVE'S MISSION562 HOURS FOCUSED ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, AND KNOWLEDGE BUILDING, AND 92 HOURS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WITH 45 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONSINCLUDING K12 SCHOOLS, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONSELEVATE PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL ALIGNMENT AND ACCESS, ESPECIALLY IN THE WALLA WALLA REGION.RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, WE INTRODUCED THE EARLY LEARNING FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT & EXPANSION TOOLKIT, A RESOURCE CREATED BY THE ELEVATE EARLY LEARNING FACILITIES WORK GROUP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS. THIS TOOLKIT ADDRESSES CRITICAL BARRIERS TO CHILDCARE EXPANSION BY SUPPORTING PROVIDERS WITH PLANNING, FACILITY DEVELOPMENT, AND CAPITAL ACCESS. BUILDING ON STUDIES CONDUCTED IN 2021 AND 2022 THAT IDENTIFIED A SHORTAGE OF LICENSED CHILDCARE SLOTS AND FACILITY LIMITATIONS, WE COLLABORATED WITH ESD 123 IN 2024 TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE EXPANSION PLAN. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDED PROVIDER-FACILITY MATCHING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE MORE FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE.