Greater Gallatin United Way Inc

GREATER GALLATIN UNITED WAY ENVISIONS LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHERE ALL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH EDUCATION, INCOME STABILITY, AND HEALTHY LIVING.

OUR WORK ADDRESSES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, FROM BABIES TO SENIORS.1. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT/IMPACT: FUNDS RAISED IN GGUW'S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN ARE INVESTED, "COMMUNITY INVESTMENT/IMPACT", INTO LOCAL PARTNER PROGRAMS AIMED AT COMBATING POVERTY AND SUPPORTING EDUCATION AND HEALTH INITIATIVES. SUPPORTING SENIORS TO REDUCE ISOLATION AND LONELINESS AND SUPPORTING BASIC NEEDS TO LIFT UP ALL THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS, HUNGRY OR STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY ARE PRIORITIZED AREAS FOR GGUW FUNDING. CENTRALIZED FUNDRAISING BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY BY ALLOWING DONORS TO EASILY SUPPORT MULTIPLE WELL-VETTED ORGANIZATIONS WITH ONE DONATION; PROVIDING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AN EFFICIENT METHOD TO ACCESS COMMUNITY DOLLARS THROUGH AN OPEN AND STRINGENT GRANT PROCESS; AND, MOBILIZING BUSINESSES, THEIR WORKFORCE AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GET INVOLVED. THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATES AT ALL LEVELS THROUGH GIVING, ADVOCATING, AND VOLUNTEERING. 2. KIDSLINK AFTERSCHOOL: A GGUW INITIATIVE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1997, THE PROGRAM IS A FUN, SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR K-8TH GRADERS THAT PROVIDES RICH OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING, PERSONAL GROWTH, AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. WITH AUTONOMY PROVIDED SO THAT EACH SCHOOL OR DISTRICT MAY USE THEIR COMMUNITY OR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSETS, THE OVERALL INITIATIVE OBJECTIVES ARE TO SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES, ENHANCE CHILDRENS EMOTIONAL/SOCIAL WELL-BEING, IMPROVE CHILDRENS PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, SUPPLEMENT CHILDRENS ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND SPARK THEIR INTEREST IN LEARNING THROUGH VARIED ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES OFFERED THROUGH THE PROGRAM. KIDSLINK AFTERSCHOOL IS THE RESULT OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, MSU, LIBRARIES, NON-PROFITS AND OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES. 3. DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY(DPIL): GGUW LAUNCHED DPIL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DOLLY PARTONS FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE FREE BOOKS TO CHILDREN TO PROMOTE CHILDHOOD EARLY LITERACY SKILLS-DEVELOPMENT AND A LOVE READING AND LEARNING. CHILDREN 0-4 YEARS OLD MAY ENROLL AND RECEIVE 1 BOOK DELIVERED TO THEIR MAILBOX EACH MONTH; FOR CHILDREN STARTING AT BIRTH THEY BUILD A PERSONAL LIBRARY OF 60 BOOKS BY THE TIME THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN. GGUW PROMOTES RECRUITMENT OF THE PROGRAM FOR ALL CHILDREN IN GALLATIN COUNTY AND RAISES FUNDS FOR THE COSTS OF SHIPPING THE BOOKS TO EACH CHILD WITH A GOAL OF REACHING A MINIMUM OF 2,000 CHILDREN ANNUALLY BY 2023. GGUW ALSO PROMOTES PARENT ENGAGEMENT AND ACTIVITIES TO HELP CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY REACH OUR EARLY LITERACY GOALS: 85% OF INCOMING KINDERGARTNERS SCORE 530 OR ABOVE ON STARS EARLY LITERACY ASSESSMENT BY 2022 AND 90% OF THIRD-GRADERS ARE READING AT GRADE LEVEL BY THE END OF THE 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. WITH CHILDREN'S LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES MORE LIMITED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE DPIL BOOK DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM HAS BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. 4. VOLUNTEER CONNECTIONS / VOLUNTEERMT.ORG: THIS GGUW INITIATIVE IS TO BUILD VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT BY PROVIDING A CENTRAL RESOURCE FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO SHARE QUALITY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE GOALS ARE TO BUILD THE CAPACITY FOR LOCAL VOLUNTEERING, RAISE AWARENESS OF THE VALUE VOLUNTEERS BRING TO OUR COMMUNITIES, AND TO MOBILIZE VOLUNTEERS TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY MEET LOCAL NEEDS.5. EARTH DAY FESTIVAL: GGUW SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE GALLATIN VALLEY EARTH DAY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE WHICH AIMS TO BUILD ON THE 50-YEAR LEGACY OF EARTH DAY BY PROMOTING CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, AND A HEALTHIER WORLD AND TO INSPIRE COMMUNITIES TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES WE FACE FROM A CHANGING CLIMATE.6. DISASTER FUND: ON JUNE, 2022 PARK COUNTY EXPERIENCED EXTREME AND UNPRECEDENTED FLOODING CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE COMMUNITY, RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESSES. ON JUNE 16, 2022 GGUW AND PARK COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED THE SOUTHWEST MONTANA FLOOD RELIEF FUND TO SUPPORT FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS, AND BUSINESSES EXPERIENCING STRUCTURAL AND FINANCIAL DEVASTATION. GGUW OPERATES WITH TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGHOUT ALL ITS PROGRAMMING AND OPERATIONS AND INVESTS DONATIONS WISELY AND EFFICIENTLY. TO LEARN MORE, VISIT WWW.GREATERGALLATINUNITEDWAY.ORG.