Funding Recipients by Issue Areas

Helping Children & Youth Succeed

Promoting Self-Sufficiency & Poverty Reduction

Supporting Vulnerable Populations

Cedar Valley United Way Awards $1.92 Million in Funding

WATERLOO, IA—Cedar Valley United Way announced $1,916,702 is being awarded in grants and donor designations to local non-profit programs, a 10 percent increase in distributions over the previous year.

“It’s great to see the impact United Way has in our community,” said Ken Nelson, an attorney with Randall & Nelson, P.L.C. and chairman of the Cedar Valley United Way Board of Directors. “We had a record campaign last fall and are now investing those dollars in the Cedar Valley to make our community a better place.”

Ninety-one programs were awarded funding grants. These funded programs were chosen by three teams of volunteers knowledgeable of the areas funded—helping children and youth succeed, promoting self-sufficiency and poverty reduction, and supporting vulnerable populations. The volunteers reviewed the applications and evaluated objectives and outcomes for each program. To be eligible, programs must target one of the three program areas. In addition, the Financial Stewardship Committee reviewed the programs’ parent agencies for the financial ability to provide the programs for the year.

“Programs receiving funding this year were able to show how they will use the grant money to generate outcomes,” said Sheila Baird, Cedar Valley United Way president. “By helping those in our community who need it the most, these programs are truly advancing the common good – improving life for all of us in the Cedar Valley.”

Programs funded for 2008-2009 target issues and services in the following areas:

Helping Children & Youth Succeed
Before & After School Services         $154,700
Child Care                                           $48,895
Health & Wellness Services               $154,240
Mentoring                                            $33,500
Successful Parenting Skills                $75,750
Youth Development & Advocacy       $201,000
Total                                                   $668,085

Promoting Self Sufficiency & Poverty Reduction
Advocacy                                         $47,950
Crisis Services                                  $177,350
Domestic Violence                             $64,750
Employment                                        $29,434
Health                                                 $77,500
Housing                                              $140,725
Immigrant/Refugee                              $22,350
Income                                                $7,890
Transportation                                     $16,625  
Total                                                    $584,574

Supporting Vulnerable Populations
Family Support Services                      $58,500
Health & Wellness Services                $194,350
Independent Living                              $40,750
Special Needs Advocacy                    $27,875
Transportation                                     $68,200
Youth at Risk                                       $27,878 
Total                                                    $417,553

Donor Designations                            $223,293
2-1-1 Information & Referral             $20,000
Community Partner Fund                  $3,197

Total Distributions                             $1,916,702

Issue areas Cedar Valley United Way focuses on are identified through a community assessment conducted every five years to identify what is important to residents of the Cedar Valley. The organization is in the process of completing another assessment, with the results due out in the summer.

“We want to keep working on the issues that are important here in our community, and the assessment is helping us get a true picture of what is happening here in the Cedar Valley and where we should target our efforts,” said Baird.