United Way Announces Investments in the Community

Community Impact Work Focused on Helping Children and Families Succeed

[Fort Collins, Colo.]- United Way of Larimer County today announced its total community investment of more than $5.7 million to support nonprofit programs and organizations.

United Way is providing more than $5.1 million to nonprofit programs and organizations in Larimer County. Of those funds, $4.8 million support programs and organizations in Larimer County specifically related to United Way’s community impact agenda of helping local children and families succeed in school, work and life.

“United Way of Larimer County has mobilized the tools, the people, and the partners who are working collaboratively right now to attack the root causes of generational poverty,” said Paul Mueller, Board Chair for United Way of Larimer County. “This is big work with the potential to transform and strengthen our community. We thank our donors for providing the resources to underwrite this work, and welcome the entire community to join us as we create a brighter future for the children, families, and everyone in Larimer County.”

A total of more than $2.4 million goes directly to United Way’s Community Impact Partners as they work together in a new era of collective problem-solving to create long-term, systemic change that impacts the entire Larimer County community.

Currently, United Way has 70 Community Impact Partners, including nonprofits, school districts, local and county government, and foundations, who are channeling and sharing resources, eliminating duplicative programs and trainings, and bringing good work to scale. This not only helps to not only more people, but helps children and families more effectively.

“United Way is our daily reminder of how much more we can do together than we could ever do apart,” said David Rout, Executive Director of Homeless Gear. “It’s the glue that holds us together - the puzzle-master who steps back, sees the big picture and helps us arrange the pieces.”

United Way’s community investments include several types of funding and initiatives. The $4.8 million investment in nonprofit programs and organizations related to United Way’s community impact agenda includes funding that creates long-term solutions for issues related to poverty in Larimer County, including:

• Helping kids be ready to learn and succeed in school through access to quality early care and education, and parent/family awareness and engagement.
• Ensuring student success in school by boosting reading skills through Colorado Reading Corps, a partnership with SERVE Colorado and AmeriCorps that provides one-on-one literacy tutoring in local elementary schools.
• Supporting youth to be successful inside and outside the classroom through mentoring programs and enrichment opportunities outside of school.
• Providing students with pathways to high school graduation and post-secondary success.
• Helping adults become self-sufficient through access to job training and supports to overcome barriers to sustaining employment.
• Providing single mothers with scholarships for quality child care so they can return to school and become self-sufficient through United Way’s WomenGive program.
• Creating empowered financial consumers through financial education and counseling, free tax preparation, and first-time homebuyer classes.
• The $4.8 million investment also includes funding provided for programs and Partners working to address immediate needs of local children and families, including:
• Stabilizing families in crisis by providing emergency food and shelter, transportation, and rent and utility assistance.
• Providing seniors and individuals with disabilities with services to lead healthy and productive lifestyles.
• Connecting community members with information about available services and resources through United Way 2-1-1.

“Coming off a challenging campaign year, we’re thrilled with the progress that we are making with our partners,” said Gordan Thibedeau, President and CEO of United Way of Larimer County. “We continue to do exciting work in this community, and we are starting to see the results. Our collaborative approach is focused on creating results that work better for everyone, including donors, nonprofits, and especially kids and families in need.”

Media Contact:

Shantel Rizzotto
srizzotto@uwaylc.org
970-407-7099

			Elizabeth Simons Elizabeth Simons is the Digital Marketing Manager at United Way of Larimer County. An alumni of CSU, she has worked in marketing, technical support, and blogging for the last five years. Elizabeth is also an artist working primarily in fiber arts, watercolor painting, and fashion design.