United Way Of Colquitt County

TO ASSESS THE NEED FOR HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS; TO SEEK SOLUTIONS TO HUMAN PROBLEMS; TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT, EXPANSION OR MODIFICATION OF HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS; TO PROMOTE PREVENTIVE ACTIVITIES; AND TO FOSTER COOPERATION AMONG AGENCIES SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

THE MISSION OF THE UNITED WAY OF COLQUITT COUNTY,INC. IS TO ORGANIZE, COORDINATE, AND MAXIMIZE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. IN 2021, THE UNITED WAY OF COLQUITT COUNTY, INC. PROVIDED OVER $417,087 IN GRANTS TO 26 HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES BY FUNDING 41 PROGRAMS SERVING MORE THAN 21,193 INDIVIDUALS IN COLQUITT COUNTY. ANNUALLY, THE UNITED WAY PROVIDES ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING TO MAKE POSSIBLE THE DICTIONARY PROJECT WHICH PROVIDES A STUDENT DICTIONARY TO EVERY 3RD GRADER IN COLQUITT COUNTY. IN THE 2020 YEAR, THIS PROJECT HAD TO BE PUT ON HOLD DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE BOARD MADE A DECISION TO ACCOMMODATE THIS PROJECT FOR THE LAST TIME IN SPRING OF THE 2021. IN 2021, 780 DICTIONARIES WERE DISPERSED WHICH INCLUDED A GAZETTEER AND OTHER FUN FACTS FOR LEARNING.DAY OF ACTION IS ANOTHER ANNUAL EVENT WE HOST TO PROVIDE HANDS ON VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. DAY OF ACTION WAS HELD SEPTEMBER 2021 WHERE MORE THAN 51 VOLUNTEERS WORKED AT 5 AGENCIES ON PROJECTS OF NEED. CHILDREN'S TOY SHOP, COLQUITT COUNTY ARTS CENTER, HERO HOUSE, MOULTRIE COLQUITT COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY ALL HAD TEAMS OF VOLUNTEERS WORKING AND A WHEELCHAIR RAMP WAS BUILT FOR A FAMILY IN NEED. MORE THAN 300 HOURS WERE GIVEN BY VOLUNTEERS. THE HUMANE SOCIETY WAS A NEW ADDITION TO OUR PROJECTS IN THE 2021 YEAR. IN 2021, THE BOARD MET WITH A FACILITATOR TO DEVISE A NEW THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AND A NARROWER FOCUS ON OUR GOALS OF MEETING THE NEW NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY: TRANSPORTATION ACCESS, MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES, AND HIRING A GRANT FUNDED ASSISTANT.THE UNITED WAY CONTINUES TO FUND FOUR THREE YEAR COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS THAT WERE AWARDED IN 2017 AND 2018: FAMILY CONNECTION'S COLQUITT COUNTY BABY BOOK, COLQUITT REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER'S HEALTH OCCUPATION AND MATH ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, COLQUITT COUNTY ART CENTER'S ABC GRANT, SOUTHWEST GEORGIA COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL'S SUMMER EXPANSION PROGRAM(YES!).IN 2021, WE COMPLETED FUNDING FOR THE COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT AWARDED TO THE COLQUITT COUNTY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION. THIS GRANT WAS A JUMP START TO GET THE FOUNDATION READY TO START COACHING AND TEACHING THEIR NEW MENTORS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE EARLY LITERACY AND GROWTH IN READING LEVELS.UNITED WAY AWARDED 3 THREE-YEAR COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS TO THE FOLLWOING ORGANIZATIONS COVERING THE 2021-2023 YEARS: LEADERSHIP LEGENDS TO PROVIDE MENTORING AND CURRICULUM IN DEVELOPING A PIPELINE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES BEGINNING IN 8TH AND 9TH GRADES; COLQUITT COUNTY ARTS CENTER DEVELOPED A HEART SMART PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH, HEALTHY CHOICES AND HEALTHLY LIFESTYLE GOALS; AND COLQUITT COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM'S EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM TO IMPLEMENT THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROVIDING FREE MONTHLY MAILED BOOKS TO COLQUITT COUNTY RESIDENTS BIRTH TO AGE FIVE.DURING THE 2021 YEAR, WE AWARDED THREE SPECIAL GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS TOTALING $5,600: GREEN OAKS CENTER TO PROVIDE NEW COMPUTER SCREEN MONITORS FOR THEIR CLIENTS; COLQUITT COUNTY ARTS CENTER WITH AUDIO AND BLUETOOTH SPEAKER AND A DIGITAL CAMERA; AMERICAN RED CROSS WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE AND HOST A BLOOD DRIVE IN COLQUITT COUNTY DURING SICKLE CELL MONTH.WE HOSTED OUR SECOND ANNUAL "BID UNITED: AUCTION FOR ACTION" FUNDRAISING EVENT. THIS SOCIAL MEDIA AND RADIO AUCTION WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER $79,000 OF FUNDS RAISED DURING THE YEAR.