Page 19 - Florida Sentinel 6-17-22

Local
United Way Suncoast To Launch Historic $18M Multi-Year Commitment To Community
Extending its role as the best way to help the most peo- ple, United Way Suncoast an- nounced last week it’s making a three-year commitment in 101 nonprofit programs that will total nearly $18 million.
The community invest- ment represents a first in the leading nonprofit’s 98-year history — multi-year funding that will amplify the impact of the data-driven programs. In past years, United Way Sun- coast issued grants on a 12- month rotation. Now the three-year commitment will empower the 88 nonprofits to boost the strategic planning behind the programs and grow together with United Way Suncoast.
“Our strategic community partners requested a change to multi-year funding and the reasons are clear,” United Way Suncoast CEO Jessica Muroff said. “It’ll create trends and allow us to meas- ure true impact; it’ll reduce the strain of the application process for the partners and
UWS, and it’ll strengthen our ability to tell stories and fundraise.”
The community invest- ment is part of a broader mis- sion to elevate ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Con- strained, Employed) families and address the systemic bar- riers impeding their progress.
UWS helps hard working com- munity members by strategi- cally promoting early learning, youth success and financial stability. It focuses on neigh- borhoods, ZIP codes and school attendance zones where UWS’ investments and partnerships will make the biggest impact.
“Parents pushing to ready their kids for kindergarten, students navigating the chal- lenges of secondary education and families taking on infla- tionary prices can all look for- ward to continued and improved support,” Muroff said. “This multi-year invest- ment not only propels United Way Suncoast’s community care, but it represents unyield-
ing stewardship of our donors’ contributions.”
The first year of the $5.9 million investment will impact more than 100,000 people in UWS’ five-county region (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Man- atee, Sarasota, DeSoto). In ad- dition to these programs, UWS operates its own initia- tives to fuel its solution-ori- ented focus.
Among the organiza- tions receiving support: Champions For Children, CDC of Tampa, Dress For Success, Gentleman's Quest, Girls Empowered Mentally For Success, Pace Center For Girls, Seniors For Service and the University Area CDC.
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