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630 Janet Avenue
Lancaster, PA 17601
717.394.0731
717.394.6118 (fax) |
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UNITED WAY BOARD APPROVES 2010 PROGRAM INVESTMENTS
Lancaster, PA (May 21, 2010) –On Thursday May 13, United Way of Lancaster County’s Board of Directors voted to approve funding to improve lives and change community conditions in the following five issues, as prioritized by the community during the 2005 assessment:
• Housing and Homelessness – $532,237
• Early Care and Education – $497,683
• Lifelong Learning and High School Completion – $981,885
• Primary and Preventive Health – $833,744
• Safety Net for Vulnerable Populations – $830,921
Funds will be distributed to programs at United Way partners based on investment decisions made following an intensive review of programs 2009. These continuing investments reflect the shift from historical funding to performance-based funding, and will begin July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.
Joan Paxton, volunteer Chair of United Way’s Community Impact Cabinet says, “Decisions recognize the demonstrated ability of programs to improve lives and to achieve outcomes that change community conditions.”
The five new programs have shown promise to improve education in Lancaster County, including an Urban Debate Club operated Neighborhood Services, a literacy program at the Lancaster Lebanon Literacy Council, a preschool program at the S. June Smith Center site in Ephrata, a child care scholarship for low income families through Luthercare, as well as Luthercare’s Mentoring program for child care providers.
The Luthercare mentoring program works to help family or group child care providers provide quality care. The child care mentor visits child care homes and offers information about safety, child development and curriculum, and helps providers work toward Keystone STARS, Pennsylvania’s continuous quality improvement initiative for child care.
United Way volunteers identified the Luthercare program as an opportunity to create maximum impact with limited dollars. While a $25,000 investment might serve three children in a high quality child care center, the same investment in the Luthercare mentoring pilot program improved the quality of child care and the foundations for success of 140 children in family group child care settings.
The Board acted on its commitment to improving educational outcomes in Lancaster County with investments in other services, including $60,000 for the community schools initiative. Boys and Girls Club and Compass Mark will receive $30,000 each to lead the implementation of community schools in the School District of Lancaster’s four middle schools. Community schools draw nonprofit organizations, health and human services, and untapped civic resources into school improvement efforts, and have proven results, including increased graduation rates.
Other services receiving partial funding include a AmeriCorps position for United Way’s financial stability initiative. The AmeriCorps coordinates Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Earned Income Tax Credit Outreach. In 2009-2010, an investment of approximately $12,000 in the AmeriCorps position, and partnerships with Community Action Program and Franklin and Marshall College, leveraged more than $780,000 in income tax refunds for Lancaster County families thorough free tax return preparation and tax credits.
With the decrease in United Way’s 2009 campaign, fewer dollars were available for investment in the 2010-2011 funding cycle. In a time of scarce resources, program effectiveness is especially critical, says United Way Board Chair Steve Stockwell. Thousands of volunteer hours have been spent evaluating programs, making funding recommendations and monitoring outcomes. “Volunteers have made strategic decisions and have awarded funding in a manner that is making the greatest impact for the most people. Donors can take heart in the thorough process that assures their contributions are being used responsibly to build a stronger Lancaster County,” Stockwell says.
See 2010-2011 funding by priority area.
See an overview of 2010-2011 United Way investments.
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