Cedar Valley United Way Distributes Over $2 Million in Funding

WATERLOO, IA— Cedar Valley United Way will distribute over $2 million in programs to advance the common good in the 2009-10 funding year. The dollars invested were given through the donations of individuals, businesses and foundations.

“Our partnership with local programs helps to advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health. These are the building blocks for a good life—a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health,” said Ken Nelson, an attorney with Randall & Nelson, P.L.C. and chairman of the Cedar Valley United Way Board of Directors.

Of the money being distributed:

• $393,159 will be invested in programs that provide mentoring and encourage positive behaviors with area youth so they are able to complete high school.
• $192,795 will be invested in quality youth and child care scholarships to allow the parents of these children to work or further their education.
• $166,713 will be invested in programs that support employment and transportation services to help families increase their income.
• $228,542 will be invested in programs that support families, giving them the skills and tools needed to raise the next generation.
• $625,836 will be invested in domestic violence, healthy choices, safe housing and basic need crisis services so families can feel secure and are able to focus on the key building blocks for a good life.
• $20,000 will be invested in the 2-1-1 Help Line to give people the opportunity to connect with the resources they need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• $5,000 will be invested in the Community Partnership Fund to provide training opportunities to local non-profits to enhance their capacity and effectiveness.
• $382,371 will be distributed to non-profit organizations through donor designations to enable the agencies to further their own mission.

These funded programs were chosen by three teams of volunteers knowledgeable of the areas funded. 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.

“Our goal is to create long-lasting changes today that prevent problems from happening in the first place,” said Sheila Baird, Cedar Valley United Way president. “Together, united, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow for the people in the Cedar Valley.”

Non-profit partners for 2009-2010 include: Allen Women’s Health, The Arc of Cedar Valley, ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa, Black Hawk Center for Independent Living, Boy Scouts of America-Winnebago Council, Boys and Girls Clubs of Black Hawk County, Cedar Valley Friends of the Family, Cedar Valley Preschool, Christian Community Development, Communities in Schools, Community Housing Initiative, Covenant Medical Center, Exceptional Persons, Inc., Family and Children’s Council, The Family YMCA of Black Hawk County, Friends of CASA, Friends of the Hartman Reserve, Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, Grin and Grow, Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging, Iowa Legal Aid, Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center, Lutheran Services in Iowa, Mid-Iowa Community Action Agency, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Operation Threshold, Pathways Behavioral Services, People’s Community Health Clinic, Positive Steps of Northeast Iowa, Quakerdale, The Salvation Army, Seeds of Hope, Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley, Waterloo Visiting Nursing Association and YWCA of Black Hawk County.

For more information about Cedar Valley United Way and how you can give, visit www.cedarvalleyunitedway.org.

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