Town Of Palm Beach United Way Inc

THE TOWN OF PALM BEACH UNITED WAY, INC IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY BY HELPING PEOPLE CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND INVESTING IN PROGRAMS THAT BUILD A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL BY FOCUSING ON IMPROVING EDUCATION, INCOME, AND HEALTH.

BUILD HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES FOR ALL: INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BECAUSE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE ARE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND REQUIRE FEWER GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND COSTLY LONG-TERM CARE. HEALTHY KIDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND HEALTHY ADULTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO MAINTAIN OR GAIN EMPLOYMENT. THE TOWN OF PALM BEACH UNITED WAY INVESTED $1,538,068 INTO 29 PROGRAMS AT 19 NONPROFIT PARTNER AGENCIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. MEDICAL AND DENTAL: MANY INDIVIDUALS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE OR DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY CO-PAYS FOR PRESCRIPTIONS. AS A RESULT, THEY ARE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH STATUS AND ARE AT-RISK FOR LONG-TERM, SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES. POOR HEALTH IMPACTS THE ABILITY TO FUNCTION, TO ATTEND SCHOOL AND TO MAINTAIN OR GAIN EMPLOYMENT. $402,400 WAS INVESTED INTO 5 PROGRAMS.MENTAL HEALTH: MANY PEOPLE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS FROM TIME TO TIME. A MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN BECOMES A MENTAL ILLNESS WHEN ONGOING SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS CAUSE FREQUENT STRESS AND AFFECT THE ABILITY TO FUNCTION. IF IMPLEMENTED EARLY, SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS WILL ALLEVIATE THE NEED FOR MORE EXTENSIVE SERVICES FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS. $335,000 WAS INVESTED INTO 11 PROGRAMS.SUBSTANCE ABUSE: INDIVIDUALS ENGAGING IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR FAMILIES, JOBS AND ENGAGING IN RISKY BEHAVIORS. MOST PEOPLE WHO GET INTO AND REMAIN IN TREATMENT STOP USING DRUGS, DECREASE THEIR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, AND IMPROVE THEIR OCCUPATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING: ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE TREATMENT, INTERVENTION OR ON-GOING RECOVERY PROGRAMS IS NECESSARY TO HELP INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME SUBSTANCE ABUSE ADDICTION OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. $346,200 WAS INVESTED INTO 3 PROGRAMS.OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVER SUPPORT: THE NEW GENERATION OR SENIORS HAS DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS THAN PREVIOUS ONES. OLDER ADULTS NEED SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT HELP THEM MAINTAIN INDEPENDENT LIVING AND/OR INCREASED OR SUSTAINED FINANCIAL SECURITY. CAREGIVERS OF FAMILY MEMBERS NEED SERVICES THAT PROVIDE THEM SUPPORT AND HELP MAINTAIN A STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR LOVED ONES. $170,468 WAS INVESTED INTO 6 PROGRAMS.DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS: AFTER AGE 21, YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES "AGE OUT" OF THE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS PROVIDED THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS NEED SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT HELP THEM MAINTAIN INDEPENDENT LIVING, FINANCIAL SECURITY, AND A STABLE ENVIRONMENT. $284,000 WAS INVESTED INTO 4 PROGRAMS.

HURRICANE IAN: HURRICANE IAN, THE FOURTH MOST POWERFUL STORM TO HIT FLORIDA, MADE LANDFALL ON FLORIDAS GULF COAST ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2022. THE TOWN OF PALM BEACH UNITED WAY CREATED THE HURRICANE IAN RECOVERY FUND TO ASSIST WITH BOTH IMMEDIATE RELIEF EFFORTS AND LONG-TERM RECOVERY WORK, PARTICULARLY IN THE HARDEST-HIT AREAS OF LEE COUNTY. GRANTS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO NONPROFIT AGENCIES PROVIDING FOOD, WATER, MEDICAL CARE, HOUSING SUPPLIES, BUILDING MATERIALS AND OTHER EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. THE FUND WAS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO 17 MATCHING GIFTS FROM NUMEROUS DONORS. THE FUND RAISED $1.1 MILLION AND DISTRIBUTED GRANTS TO 8 ORGANIZATIONS ASSISTING WITH RECOVERY EFFORTS.SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE: THE 10TH ANNUAL TOWN OF PALM BEACH UNITED WAY SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE COLLECTED 16,500 INDIVIDUAL ITEMS AND RAISED $29,000. SCHOOL SUPPLIES WERE DONATED TO ACHIEVEMENT CENTERS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CARE GIVING YOUTH, AND TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN. FUNDS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 15 UNITED WAY PARTNER AGENCIES.TOY DRIVE: THE 29TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE COLLECTED HUNDREDS OF TOYS AND RAISED $24,525. TOYS WERE DONATED TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES, CLINICS CAN HELP AND FARMWORKER COORDINATING COUNCIL. FUNDS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 18 UNITED WAY PARTNER AGENCIES.FOOD DRIVE: THE 10TH ANNUAL EMPTY YOUR PANTRY FOOD DRIVE COLLECTED HUNDREDS OF FOOD ITEMS COLLECTED VALUED AT $5,315. FOOD DONATIONS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 5 UNITED WAY PARTNER AGENCIES.TURKEY TROT: THE 14TH ANNUAL 5K TURKEY TROT HELD ON THANKSGIVING MORNING PROVIDED THANKSGIVING MEALS FOR 4,984 CHILDREN AND ADULTS AT 19 NONPROFIT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT PALM BEACH COUNTY.

HELPING ADULTS ACHIEVE FINANCIAL STABILITY AND STRENGTHEN THE SAFETY NET: INVESTMENTS IN FINANCIAL STABILITY LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY BECAUSE INCOME-BASED PROGRAMS ALLOW ADULTS TO FIND AND MAINTAIN JOBS, SECURE HOUSING, PAY DOWN DEBT AND SAVE FOR THE FUTURE. ADULTS WHO ARE FINANCIALLY STABLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS, ENGAGE IN CRIME AND DEVELOP HEALTH PROBLEMS. THE TOWN OR PALM BEACH UNITED WAY INVESTED $1,243,400 INTO 20 PROGRAMS AT 13 PARTNER AGENCIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY.ACCESS TO JOBS AND JOB SKILLS TRAINING: ALTHOUGH UNEMPLOYMENT HAS GONE DOWN IN THE LAST DECADE, SALARIES AND WAGES HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THE COST OF HOUSING AND DAILY LIVING EXPENSES. FOR THIS REASON, THE MAIN INCOME EARNER IN A LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLD WORKS 2 OR 3 JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET, AND MANY FAMILIES ARE BORROWING HEAVILY AND RELYING ON HIGH-COST ALTERNATIVES TO COVER THEIR DAILY EXPENSES. $175,000 WAS INVESTED INTO 3 PROGRAMS.FOOD PANTRIES: FOOD INSECURITY IS THE LIMITED OR UNCERTAIN AVAILABILITY OF NUTRITIONALLY ADEQUATE FOOD FOR AN ACTIVE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY NEARLY 158,000 PEOPLE ARE FOOD INSECURE, INCLUDING MORE THAN 48,000 CHILDREN. HUNGER CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. $174,000 WAS INVESTED IN 5 PROGRAMS.HOUSING AND COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT: INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES OFTEN LIVE ON THE EDGE BETWEEN LOW INCOME AND BECOMING HOMELESS. THEY MAY FIND THEMSELVES IN NEED OF EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR A VARIETY OF COMPLEX ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL REASONS. EMERGENCY SHELTERS ARE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES AND ARE OFTEN THE FIRST PLACE TO TURN. $572,400 WAS INVESTED IN 8 PROGRAMS.DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS THE WILLFUL INTIMIDATION, PHYSICAL ASSAULT BATTERY, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND/OR OTHER ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR PERPETRATED BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER AGAINST ANOTHER. IT AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS IN EVERY COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF AGE, ECONOMIC STATUS, RACE, RELIGION, NATIONALITY, OR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND. $322,000 WAS INVESTED IN 4 PROGRAMS.