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WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

 

Local United Way announces 2023-2026 Community Grant Fund recipients

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Heart of West Michigan United Way has announced its Community Investment Fund grant recipients for 2023-2026.

The funds total $2.6 million and will benefit local nonprofit organizations that are working to reduce poverty and social inequities in Kent County.

More from a HWMUW news release:

These grants are made possible by the generosity of donors, foundations, and companies who donated to United Way’s Community Grant Fund last year.

Heart of West Michigan United Way recognizes low-income families and individuals in Kent County—including people of color, immigrants, refugees, veterans, those with disabilities, older adults, those residing in rural parts of the county, and returning citizens—disproportionally experience the effects of poverty. Therefore, we focus on funding solutions that effectively serve these priority populations and reduce disparities. The Community Grant Fund complements funds directed to specific nonprofits by supporting both immediate needs and addressing the root causes of poverty focusing on family stability, economic mobility, and education.

“At Heart of West Michigan United Way, our mission is to unite community resources to invest in solutions that reduce poverty in West Michigan. Only through reducing poverty and growing social equity will we have a thriving community for all. It will take all of us to work together.

Over the next three years, we will partner together to ensure families have adequate and affordable housing, to make sure individuals, children, and seniors have access to nutritious meals, to make sure our workforce is ready and able to respond to our ever-changing economy, and much more,” says Michelle Van Dyke, President and CEO. 

Grant recipients were selected from among 95 programs in which each application was scored and rated by a diverse team of 47 community volunteers. Scoring was based on specific criteria including program type, population served, program design, and disparities addressed. To ensure accountability, each agency was then vetted in the areas of quality programming, governance, finances, and administration to make sure donations are invested in the most effective and efficient way possible.

“We sought out collaborative programming that could help reduce the impact of poverty in Kent County,” says Shannon Gardner, Vice President of Community Impact. “We are funding interventions to help people immediately, but we are also investing in long-term, sustainable solutions.”

Heart of West Michigan United Way is rated 4 out of 4 stars by Charity Navigator, earning scores of 100 in both the financial rating and accountability and transparency rating. Less than 1% of the thousands of charities that Charity Navigator rates have earned perfect scores.

2020-2023 Community Grant Fund Grants:

 

FAMILY STABILITY - $1,587,556

HOUSING: emergency shelter, homelessness prevention assistance, legal assistance, permanent housing support, affordable housing solutions, and asset development.

Grant Recipients: Access of West Michigan, Arbor Circle, AYA Youth Collective, Community Rebuilders, Dwelling Place, Family Promise & Mel Trotter Collaboration, ICCF Community Homes, Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Migrant Legal Aid, The Salvation Army, YWCA

 

FOOD SECURITY: Congregate meals, meals for homebound seniors, “pantry markets” that source food from local farmers, low-cost community food clubs, healthy food options for people with transportation barriers.

Grant Recipients: Community Food Club, Health Net of West Michigan, Meals on Wheels Western Michigan, North Kent Connect, SECOM, Senior Neighbors, The Other Way Ministries, United Methodist Community House, YMCA

 

MENTAL HEALTH: Mental health services for youth experiencing housing instability or homelessness, self-esteem and self-worth programming for underserved youth, direct services for victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking, substance abuse treatment for women.

Agency Partners: AYA Youth Collective, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, Our Hope Association, Positive Impact for Life, Puertas Abiertas, Sacred Beginnings.

 

FAMILY CRISIS: Expanded access to services in rural communities, medical and legal services for victims of violence, family preservation services, domestic and sexual violence prevention and intervention, advocacy for children, outreach, and counseling.

Grant Recipients: Arbor Circle, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), DA Blodgett-St. John’s, Family Outreach Center, Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Migrant Legal Aid, Safe Haven Ministries

 

ECONOMIC MOBILITY: $768,747

Free tax preparation, credit repair, financial literacy, soft skill building, credentialing, GED preparation and testing, adult career training, resume development, youth employment and internships, financial empowerment for youth.

Grant Recipients: 70x70 Life Recovery, Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Disability Advocates of Kent County, Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids, HOAP Inc. Hope Gain Network, ICCF Community Homes, Kent County Tax Credit Coalition, Literacy Center of West Michigan, New City Kids, New City Neighbors, R2H Secure Living, Steepletown Neighborhood Services, West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology (WMCAT), Women’s Resource Center, Young Money Finances

 

EDUCATION: $234,450

Middle School STEM Programming, academic support, STEAM summer programming for youth.

Grant Recipients: Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids, Camp Blodgett, STEM Greenhouse, WMCAT


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