United Way Of Massachusetts Bay Inc

AT UNITED WAY, WE'RE ON A MISSION: CREATE POSITIVE, LASTING CHANGE FOR PEOPLE IN NEED. AS NEW ENGLANDERS, WE HAVE GREAT LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, CITIES, AND TOWNS. THERE IS PLENTY TO CELEBRATE AND WE HAVE MANY REASONS TO BE PROUD. BUT THERE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES IMPACTING MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS, AND THEY'RE EASY TO IGNORE WHEN YOU DON'T FACE THEM EVERY DAY - HIGH RATES OF VIOLENCE, FAILING SCHOOLS, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, AND LACK OF ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE. UNITED WAY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY IS WORKING TO CHANGE THE STATISTICS. TOGETHER WITH THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS, SUPPORTERS, AND ADVOCATES, WE ARE BUILDING STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS BY FINDING SOLUTIONS, SUPPORTING PROGRAMS, AND FIGHTING FOR THE FINANCIAL STABILITY AND EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS OF EVERY PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY.

EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS: SUPPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN - AT UNITED WAY, WE BELIEVE THAT ALL YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD ENTER SCHOOL ON A PATH TO SUCCEED, AND THAT TO DO THIS, WE MUST MOVE THE ENTIRE FAMILY FORWARD TOGETHER. A CHILD'S FIRST FIVE YEARS OF LIFE ARE THE MOST CRITICAL TIME FOR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, BUT 33 PERCENT OF MASSACHUSETTS CHILDREN ENTER KINDERGARTEN UNPREPARED TO LEARN. ALL CHILDREN HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE, BUT NOT ALL CHILDREN HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES TO REALIZE THAT POTENTIAL. MANY CHILDREN LACK IMPORTANT SUPPORT THAT PREPARES THEM FOR SCHOOL AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS. WITHOUT IT, THESE CHILDREN CAN QUICKLY FALL BEHIND AND OFTEN NEVER CATCH UP. UNLESS THEY CAN READ AT GRADE LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE, THEY'RE FOUR TIMES LESS LIKELY TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. OUR SOLUTION IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, THE YOUNGEST CHILDREN ARE MOST VULNERABLE. THE STRESSES OF POVERTY DURING THESE CRITICAL YEARS DO TREMENDOUS HARM TO A GROWING BRAIN. AND CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS ARE UNABLE TO ENGAGE IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT CAN LAG AS MUCH AS 6 MONTHS BEHIND IN VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT BY AGE 2. OUR SOLUTION INVOLVES THE WHOLE FAMILY, ALLOWING PARENTS TO WORK AND THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN TO GROW AND THRIVE, SUPPORTING THEM BY: EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE EARLY LITERACY AND SOCIAL SKILLS. GIVING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS THE RESOURCES TO ENGAGE WITH CHILDREN AND SUPPORT HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS THE TOOLS TO SCREEN FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS IF NEEDED. SCALING A 2-GENERATIONAL, WHOLE FAMILY MODEL THAT ENABLES PARENTS TO WORK AND CHILDREN TO THRIVE. HOW WE'RE DOING SO FAR: $3.3M UNITED WAY'S ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN SUPPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN 12,681 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE PROGRAMS LAST YEAR 4,462 FAMILIES RECEIVING HOME VISIT AND PARENT SUPPORT SERVICES PREPARING YOUTH FOR SUCCESS - AT UNITED WAY, WE BELIEVE THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL PREPARED TO SUCCEED IN WORK AND LIFE. LOW-INCOME YOUTH IN MASSACHUSETTS CONSISTENTLY SCORE 25-30 POINTS LOWER ON READING AND MATH ASSESSMENTS THAN THOSE IN HIGHER INCOME BRACKETS. THESE GAPS IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND PERSONAL SKILL-BUILDING CAN BE THE START OF A TRAJECTORY OF LIFELONG CHALLENGES, LEADING TO FEWER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND LOWER LIFETIME EARNINGS THAN THEIR WEALTHIER PEERS. DESPITE ONE OF THE HIGHEST ACADEMIC RANKINGS IN THE NATION, MASSACHUSETTS FALLS SHORT WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS. IN ADDITION TO THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAPS, MANY UNDER-FUNDED SCHOOLS LACK THE RESOURCES TO FOCUS ON BUILDING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS SUCH AS TEAMWORK, PROBLEM SOLVING, EMPATHY, GRIT, AND SELF-CONTROL. COMPETENCE IN THESE AREAS HAS BEEN LINKED TO HIGHER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, MORE POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE, AND FEWER BEHAVIORAL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD. OUR SOLUTION WE'RE WORKING TO HELP THE MORE THAN 73,000 YOUTH IN MASSACHUSETTS, AGES 16-24, WHO DO NOT CONSISTENTLY ATTEND SCHOOL OR WORK AND ARE AT GREATER RISK OF LONG-TERM POVERTY, INCARCERATION, AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE. WE'RE OFFERING PRACTICE WITH THE EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL SKILLS THEY'LL NEED TO SUCCEED, AS WELL AS BUILDING THEIR CREDENTIALS AND EXPERIENCE FOR THE WORLD AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. THROUGH OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, 41,000 K-12 STUDENTS WILL WORK TOWARD SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL READINESS, AND 3,600 OFF-TRACK KIDS WILL FIND A PATH TOWARD COLLEGE AND A REWARDING CAREER. THESE EFFORTS ARE ALL GEARED TOWARD CREATING A HIGHER SKILLED WORKFORCE THAT CAN SUSTAIN A THRIVING ECONOMY. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT KIDS WHO FACE SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC BARRIERS CAN PLAY A VITAL PART IN THE WORKFORCE AND THEIR COMMUNITY, SO WE'RE PREPARING YOUTH FOR SUCCESS BY: PAIRING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILL-BUILDING WITH MEANINGFUL, HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES. EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON PUTTING DISCONNECTED YOUTH ON A PATHWAY TO ADVANCING THEIR EDUCATION AND/OR CAREER. SUPPORTING OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS LIKE COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING AND GRIT. HOW WE'RE DOING SO FAR: $5.5M UNITED WAY'S ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN PREPARING YOUTH FOR SUCCESS 52,442 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS (LIKE CRITICAL THINKING AND TEAMWORK) 3,421 YOUTH AGE 16 TO 24 ENGAGED IN COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAMS

FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY: COVID-19 FAMILY SUPPORT FUND SINCE THE START OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS, UNITED WAY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND MERRIMACK VALLEY HAS RAISED AND DISTRIBUTED OVER $8 MILLION TO MORE THAN 300,000 VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT MASSACHUSETTS AND THE GREATER SEACOAST OF NEW HAMPSHIRE THROUGH OUR COVID-19 FAMILY SUPPORT FUND. THIS FUND PROVIDES EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP PAY FOR FOOD, RENT/HOUSING, UTILITIES, AND OTHER NECESSITIES, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING VITAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE OPENING TO MEET THESE NEEDS. WE HAVE PROVIDED: $1.5M TO FOOD PANTRIES, SHELTERS, AND OTHER MEAL DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE EXPANDED PURCHASE OF FOOD. THIS MONEY HAS PROVIDED FOOD AND SUPPLIES LIKE DIAPERS TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. $1M SPECIFICALLY TO ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING VULNERABLE TENANTS - DECREASING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THESE 1,300 HOUSEHOLDS WILL FACE EVICTION WHEN THE MORATORIUM LIFTS THIS SUMMER. $3.6M IN TARGETED ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WHO LOST WAGES DURING THE SHUTDOWN, PARTICULARLY IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND OTHERS NOT ABLE TO ACCESS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OR STIMULUS FUNDING. ENDING HOMELESSNESS AT UNITED WAY, WE BELIEVE ALL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SHOULD HAVE SAFE, STABLE HOMES AND THE RESOURCES TO KEEP THEM LONG TERM. ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT IN MASSACHUSETTS, MORE THAN 3,700 FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THAT'S MORE THAN 13,000 INDIVIDUALS, 60% OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN. THE EFFECTS OF HOMELESSNESS ARE DEVASTATING FOR FAMILIES. CHILDREN WITHOUT HOMES ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO REPEAT A GRADE, FOUR TIMES AS LIKELY TO DEVELOP ASTHMA AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES, AND ARE AT A 52% HIGHER RISK FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS. FOR PARENTS, JOBS CAN BE HARD TO COME BY AND HARDER TO KEEP, PUTTING THE DREAM OF SECURITY FURTHER OUT OF REACH. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY. OUR SOLUTION RISING HOUSING COSTS, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE MISUSE, AND A HOST OF OTHER FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THE INCREASING HOMELESSNESS RATE IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR SOLUTION BRINGS TOGETHER NONPROFITS THAT ADDRESS EACH OF THESE ISSUES AS PART OF THE COMPLEX WHOLE. WE FUND PROGRAMS THAT ARE WORKING EFFECTIVELY, AND WE CREATE AND PILOT NEW SOLUTIONS WHERE WE SEE GAPS. OUR GOALS ARE: STABILIZING FAMILIES IN SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PROVIDING LONG-TERM SUPPORT SO THEY CAN WEATHER FUTURE EMERGENCIES. INVESTING IN AND PILOTING INNOVATIVE NEW PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE ROLLED OUT STATE-WIDE. SCALING SCHOOL-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT PREVENT HOMELESSNESS, REDUCE DISRUPTIVE SCHOOL MOVES, HELP FAMILIES DEVELOP FINANCIAL WELL-BEING, AND HELP VULNERABLE STUDENTS ATTEND SCHOOL REGULARLY. HOW WE'RE DOING SO FAR: $5.7M UNITED WAY'S ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN ENDING HOMELESSNESS 10,264 FAMILIES IN CRISIS WHO AVOIDED HOMELESSNESS LAST YEAR 970 CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS PLACED IN SAFE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THROUGH OUR PAY FOR SUCCESS PARTNERSHIP MOVING FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY AT UNITED WAY, WE BELIEVE EVERY FAMILY DESERVES A PATHWAY OUT OF POVERTY. TOO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR REGION KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE UNEMPLOYED OR WORK MULTIPLE JOBS AND STILL STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET. TOO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN FILLING THE FRIDGE OR FILLING A PRESCRIPTION. AND TOO MANY PEOPLE CAN'T FIND A JOB THAT PAYS WELL ENOUGH TO FACE THESE CHALLENGES HEAD ON. FOR THESE FAMILIES, A SINGLE SETBACK IS ENOUGH TO BE FINANCIALLY DEVASTATING. OUR SOLUTION THERE ARE FEW CHOICES AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES ON THE EDGE OF FINANCIAL CATASTROPHE. THEY COULD FALL PREY TO PREDATORY FINANCIAL ADVICE OR SERVICES, AND IF THEY DEFAULT ON THE LOAN, THEIR CREDIT SUFFERS. WITHOUT GOOD CREDIT, THEIR OPTIONS THIN EVEN FURTHER. JUST "FINDING A BETTER JOB" ISN'T ALWAYS THE ANSWER EITHER. WITHOUT SPECIFIC SKILLS AND TRAINING, PEOPLE SETTLE FOR LOW-PAYING JOBS, LEAVING THEIR SAVINGS TO DRY UP BEFORE THE MONTH IS OUT. CLIMBING OUT OF POVERTY IS COMPLEX. UNITED WAY IS PROVIDING LEADERSHIP TO A NETWORK OF NONPROFITS WHO SERVE FAMILIES ACROSS OUR REGION. TOGETHER, WE ARE CREATING SOLUTIONS THAT WORK. WE HELP FAMILIES IN NEED SET REACHABLE GOALS SUCH AS CLEANING UP THEIR CREDIT SO THEY CAN RENT A HOME, SENDING A CHILD TO COLLEGE, OR GETTING A JOB THAT WILL PAY A LIVING WAGE. WE HELP FAMILIES BY: INVESTING IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOCUS ON JOB SKILLS TRAINING THAT OFFERS A DEFINED CAREER PATHWAY DRIVEN BY EMPLOYER NEEDS. SCALING AN INTEGRATED SERVICES MODEL WITH: FINANCIAL COACHING, CAREER PLACEMENT, PUBLIC BENEFIT SCREENING SERVICES, ALL UNDER ONE ROOF. EXPANDING ACCESS TO FINANCIAL COACHING THAT HELPS FAMILIES BUILD CREDIT, INCREASE THEIR SAVINGS, REDUCE DEBT AND BUILD ASSETS. HOW WE'RE DOING SO FAR: $6.9M UNITED WAY'S ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN MOVING FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY 1,627 INDIVIDUALS PLACED IN AND RETAINING JOBS FOR AT LEAST 90 DAYS $238 AVERAGE INCREASE IN ANNUAL EMERGENCY SAVINGS FOR FAMILIES RECEIVING FINANCIAL COACHING

DONORS TO THE CAMPAIGN MAY DESIGNATE ALL OR PART OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SPECIFIC AGENCIES. SUCH AMOUNTS ARE NOT INCLUDED AS ALLOCATIONS TO AGENCIES AND ARE RECORDED AS A DEDUCTION FROM DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES. ALL DONOR DESIGNATIONS ARE VERIFIED FOR 501(C)(3) ELIGIBILITY AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE USA PATRIOT ACT

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION INCLUDES UWMB'S INTERNAL RESOURCE ALLOCATION TO SUPPORT CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS.