United Way Of The Greater Lehigh Valley

TO FIGHT FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND EDUCATION OF EVERY PERSON IN THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY

COMMUNITY IMPACT INVESTMENTS: IN SUPPORT OF OUR 2022 COMMUNITY GOAL OF INCREASING BY 50% THE NUMBER OF THIRD GRADERS IN THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY READING ON GRADE LEVEL, OUR EDUCATION INVESTMENTS TOTALED $4,524,261; PROVIDING NEARLY 19,000 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH EARLY LITERACY SKILLS SUPPORT, HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING, PARENT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION, SUMMER KINDERGARTEN READINESS, AND SKILL-BUILDING COURSES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS AS WELL AS PROVIDING ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH TARGETED ACADEMIC INTERVENTIONS, SUMMER LEARNING, MENTORING, POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND FAMILY CASE MANAGEMENT. SEE ADDITIONAL INFO ON SCHEDULE O.IN SUPPORT OF OUR 2022 COMMUNITY GOAL OF INCREASING BY 50% THE NUMBER OF DEPENDENT SENIORS IN THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY WHO ARE SUPPORTED, OUR HEALTHY AGING INVESTMENTS TOTALED $576,867; PROVIDING OVER 2,700 OLDER ADULTS WITH GROCERY-SHOPPING SERVICES, FALL-PREVENTION PROGRAMS, TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, CHRONIC DISEASE PROGRAMS, AND IN-HOME SUPPORT SERVICES. IN SUPPORT OF OUR 2022 COMMUNITY GOAL OF DECREASING BY 50% FOOD INSECURITY IN THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY, OUR FOOD ACCESS INVESTMENTS TOTALED $353,650, PROVIDING OVER 30,000 PEOPLE WITH FOOD FROM PANTRIES, HOME-DELIVERED MEALS, AND NUTRITION EDUCATION COURSES. FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT, OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES INVESTMENTS TOTALED $896,987, PROVIDING OVER 13,000 LEHIGH VALLEY RESIDENTS WITH EMERGENCY SHELTER, VIOLENCE AND CRISIS SHELTER, COVID-19 DISASTER RELIEF, EMERGENCY FOOD, VIOLENCE AND CRISIS SUPPORTS, HOUSING-BASED LEGAL SERVICES, RESOURCE AND ASSISTANCE INFORMATION REFERRALS, AND DAY OF CARING VOLUNTEER SERVICES.SERVING CARBON COUNTY, UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY INVESTED $55,988 INTO 16 PROGRAMS IN THE REGION, SERVING 3,600+ PEOPLE IN THE REGION. THESE PROGRAMS RANGED IN SERVICES FROM INTERVENING IN HOUSING/UTILITY CRISES TO AVOID EVICTION, HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, FOOD PANTRIES, AND COVID-19 DISASTER RELIEF. AGENCY DESIGNATIONS ACHIEVEMENTS: UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY HONORS DONOR REQUESTS TO DESIGNATE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO ANY 501(C)(3) AGENCY WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS. UNITED WAYS AROUND THE COUNTRY PERFORM THIS SERVICE FOR AGENCIES AS A COURTESY TO DONORS. LEHIGH VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS: UNITED WAY OF GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY INVESTS IN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS THAT TRANSFORM HIGH-POVERTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS INTO RESOURCE HUBS THAT OFFER A RANGE OF SUPPORTS TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THIS APPROACH ENSURES ACCESS TO SAFE AND STABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE EVERY CHILD CAN BELONG AND EVERY CHILD CAN THRIVE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 32 LEHIGH VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SERVING NEARLY 19,000 KIDS IN FOUR LEHIGH VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICTS: ALLENTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT, BANGOR AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT, BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT AND EASTON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT. UNITED WAY SERVES AS THE CONVENER AND THOUGHT LEADER IN MOBILIZING SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP, PRINCIPALS AND STAFF WHO LEAD THE VISION AT EACH SITE, AND TEAM OF PARENTS, EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS PARTNERS. THEY INVEST IN STAFFING AND SUPPORTS THAT IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN READING AND MATH, INCREASE STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND ENGAGE MORE FAMILIES IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LEARNING.LEHIGH VALLEY READS: LEHIGH VALLEY READS IS A REGIONAL LITERACY CAMPAIGN COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT ALL LEHIGH VALLEY STUDENTS READ ON GRADE LEVEL BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE BY 2025. THIS COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE IS POWERED BY UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY AND LEHIGH VALLEY PUBLIC MEDIA, HOME OF PBS39. WITH OVER 100 COMMUNITY PARTNERS WORKING TOGETHER WITH 17 LEHIGH VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MAXIMIZE RESOURCES, LEHIGH VALLEY READS IS A COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE WITH KEY FOCUS AREAS: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, SUMMER LEARNING, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, TRAUMA-INFORMED CLASSROOMS, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND INSTRUCTION BASED ON THE SCIENCE OF READING.RESILIENT LEHIGH VALLEY: RESILIENT LV IS DEDICATED TO BUILDING SAFE, STABLE AND NURTURING COMMUNITIES THROUGH TRAUMA-INFORMED SYSTEMS. THIS CROSS-SECTOR COALITION RAISES COMMUNITY AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF TRAUMA, PROVIDES TRAINING IN TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES AND RESILIENCE-BUILDING STRATEGIES AND ADVOCATES FOR TRAUMA-INFORMED LEGISLATION. COALITION EFFORTS AIM TO HELP MAKE THE LEHIGH VALLEY A PLACE WHERE EDUCATORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND HEALTH PROVIDERS ARE TRAUMA-INFORMED, SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS CAN BE MORE SUCCESSFUL, SAFER AND HEALTHIER. UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY PROVIDES BACKBONE LEADERSHIP FOR THIS COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE, WHICH HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 10,000 INDIVIDUALS IN TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES.OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY (UWGLV), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL LEADERS, CREATED THE FUND FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY. INVESTORS CAN GIVE DIRECTLY TO THE FUND TO NURTURE AND ADVANCE EXECUTIVE BIPOC (BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR) LEADERSHIP AND BUILD THE CAPACITY OF BIPOC-LED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY. LEHIGH VALLEY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL SHAPES THE LANDSCAPE FOR REGIONAL FOOD ACCESS, POLICY, AND COLLABORATION BY INCREASING FOOD SECURITY AND SUPPORTING A THRIVING LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY. RECOGNIZED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND AARP NETWORK OF AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES, AGE-FRIENDLY LEHIGH VALLEY IS A COLLECTIVE IMPACT COALITION DEDICATED TO BUILDING A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AGE SUCCESSFULLY. LED BY UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY AGE-FRIENDLY LV FOCUSES ON KEY AREAS INCLUDING HEALTH SERVICES, SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION.TEENWORKS IS A UNIQUE COLLABORATION OF LOCAL TEENS, LABOR UNIONS AND MEMBERS AND UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY. GUIDED BY A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF TEENS AND LABOR LEADERS, TEENWORKS HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN $500,000 IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT 500+ COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS LED BY TEENS.