United Way focusing more on community impact

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley’s 2016 disbursement of $2,331,367 to UW-led initiatives and local nonprofit agencies reflects the organization’s transition to a Community Impact model, which places the focus on education and emergency services.

The 2016 disbursements were approved by the United Way board of directors Wednesday.

“This year’s funding shows our United Way’s continued commitment to Community Impact,” said Laura Lyden, a member of the board of directors and chairwoman of the Community Impact Committee.

“Our donors can be assured that their dollars are being used to fund efforts in education and emergency services that create lasting and sustainable community change,” Lyden said.

The newest example of an impact program is Success After 6, which was piloted during the 2015-16 school year at Youngstown Community School.

Third quarter literacy tests presented at the board meeting by Dr. Karen Larwin, Youngstown State University associate professor, indicate that the at-risk students in the Success After 6 program are closing the gap in early literacy, with reading scores improving.

Other United Way-led initiatives funded in this cycle include Success By 6, Imagination Library, and the Young Women’s Mentorship program.

Success By 6, a pre-kindergarten readiness program that started in 2009, continues to grow and will serve nearly 700 children in 23 schools this summer.

Imagination Library allows 3,800 children up to 5 years old to receive free books each month. Through a partnership with the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County and area school districts, Imagination Library also provides literacy education programming and Reading Buddy volunteer opportunities to children, parents and students.

The Young Women’s Mentorship Program focuses on girls in middle school and pairs them with mentors. It provides supplemental educational experiences designed to inspire young women to succeed in a global economy, develop self- confidence, and become future leaders in our community and beyond.

The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley spent the last three years identifying the needs of the Mahoning Valley through community conversations, said Bob Hannon, president of UYMV.

Volunteers from Mahoning County, 10 experts in the field of education and 12 experts in emergency services made up two impact panels that spent more than 300 hours evaluating proposals from numerous agencies.

“As the needs in our community change and as our donors evolve to be more results-oriented, we realize our United Way has to do the same. Therefore, we are changing the way we do business so that our funds and resources are strategically aligned to drive great change and get more positive results,” Hannon said.

For example, Hannon said Success After 6 focuses on the whole child by offering wrap-around services to students and their families.

It also brings together several community impact partners, including the YMCA of Youngstown, Second Harvest Food Bank, and OH WOW! children’s center.

One of the main components, the after-school program run by the YMCA, provides the students with additional academic support and enrichment opportunities, as well as a warm meal and busing home at the end of the day.

Success After 6 also provides social-emotional curriculum, tutoring, and report-card mentoring during the day, in addition to health screenings, counseling services, food pantries, parent education, and out-of-school engagement opportunities.

United Way is expanding Success After 6 to Taft Elementary School for the 2016-2017 school year.