Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
EDUCATION: • UWWCM ran a survey in January 2013 with 240 donors responding.
? 70% indicated Education as the impact area that creates the most lasting change.
? “The issue you feel most pressing in your community?” Top response was “Children and
Youth reach their full potential”.
? “Which would you rate as most important within the Education impact area?” #1 response was “School Readiness” and #2 response “Early grade level and academic achievement”.
WHY WE INVEST:
• To improve reading proficiency based on data for our region - Increased our Imagination Library registration by over 100 kids from previous years.
• Willmar Early Childhood Cabinet identified over 150 preschoolers did not receive a preschool opportunity in Willmar before they enter kindergarten in 2013. - We provide an early learning experience to over 200 children through our Gromobile Mobile pre-school programming.
• 1 in 5 children in Minnesota faces hunger or food insecurity. This means that the child does not always receive three meals a day or sometimes forced to skip meals. Most of this happens, the evenings, on weekends and during summer vacation. Nutrition is vital for proper brain development . - over the summer months, the Growmobile programming delivers more than 2,100 weekend meal backpacks to families in need.
• we also provide funding to a minimum of 28-agency programs that address educational needs.
For our Health & Basic Needs - we invest in at least 14-agency programs that address Health related programs and 4-agency programs that address basic needs.
Current Goals
2015-2016 Priority Areas of United Way of West Central Minnesota
1. EDUCATION-Making sure that our children come to school prepared to succeed, supporting them through high school, and helping people of all ages gain job skills creates a ripple effect of success throughout our UWWCM communities.
Aspirations around Education:
• Prepare children of West Central Minnesota for kindergarten and support learning opportunities for ages 0-6.
• Every youth (Pre K to 12th grade) engaged in ongoing experiences that build positive life skills and receive the support they need to be successful.
• Promote education to address adult needs to enhance financial stability and independence.
2. HEALTH- Health is essential to a quality of life. Quality health keeps children on track in school and adults productive at work.
Aspirations around Health:
• Promote access to affordable and quality physical, mental and dental health care.
• Promote independent living and quality of life by investing in programs that help older adults and those living with disabilities.
• Promote access to programs that teach healthy behaviors and promote wellness to prevent future problems.
3. Basic Needs-United Way of West Central Minnesota works hard at building the long-term future and strength of our communities by targeting key areas and conditions that if improved, will have a profound positive and lasting impact on our region for years to come.
Aspiration around Basic Needs:
• Supporting agencies that provide building blocks for a good life for individuals and families in West Central Minnesota.
Community or Constituency Served
We serve a wide range of community members from the very young (age birth to 6 years old) all the way up to the elderly (age 65 and older). United Way of West Central MN supports agencies and programs that cover all ages and stages of life.
Geographic Area Served
United Way of West Central Minnesota serves Atwater, Benson, Bird Island, Blomkest, Clara City, Clontarf, Cosmos, Danube, Danvers, Darwin, DeGraff, Grove City, Hawick, Kandiyohi, Kerkhoven, Lake Lillian, Litchfield, Maynard, Murdock, New London, Olivia, Renville, Pennock, Prinsburg, Raymond, Sacred Heart, Spicer, Sunburg, Sacred Heart, Spicer, Svea, and Willmar.
This encompasses an approximate 30-mile radius from the town of Willmar and includes all of Kandiyohi County and portions of Chippewa, Meeker, Renville & Swift Counties.
