Creating Opportunities in Our Community
United Way's footprint in our community is both broad and deep, affecting lives in ways that matter. United Way is creating opportunities for individuals and families in our community to thrive by providing access to programs and services designed to improve their health, education, and economic stability. This December, when you give to United Way of Northwest Georgia, you will be helping people change their lives.
Elevating Health as a Community Asset
We recognize that health is not just a personal concern but a communal asset. When you give to United Way, your gift supports prevention services, so youth and adults are healthy and avoid risky behaviors. Your gift also provides access to mental and physical health services. Our health affects all that we do, from our productivity or absences from work, to our performance in school, and our relationships with others in our community. United Way of Northwest Georgia partners with the DEO Clinic. The DEO Clinic provides free medical care to working members of our community who lack health insurance and the financial resources to access quality health care. United Way and DEO Clinic are partnering with CLILA to contact the Hispanic community about Diabetes Self-Management. The goal is to help the participants achieve better blood glucose control through knowledge, skill, and life choices to help manage their diabetes. People can work, volunteer, and actively participate in the community when they are healthy. Our approach doesn't just tackle problems on the surface but seeks to create a healthy foundation for everyone in our community.
Unlocking Future Success through Education
Education is also a cornerstone for personal and societal development. Read United is a year-round series of programs aiming to improve children's childhood literacy in Whitfield and Murray counties. Did you know that 3rd grade students who are not proficient in reading by the end of the year are four times more likely to drop out of high school? Through United Way's early education reading programs like Keep Kids Thriving, we help ensure that children read at grade level. What this means for families is simple yet powerful: kids who read well early on have a better chance of succeeding in school and life. Our United Way seeks to meet immediate educational needs and build a strong foundation for future academic and career success.
Economic Mobility: A Generational Investment
We are also focusing on adults, particularly in the realm of job skills and financial education. The Pathway of Hope initiative was launched by United Way Community Partner, The Salvation Army, to provide targeted services to families who want to break the generational cycle of crisis and enable a path out of poverty. Through this initiative, we are building pathways to economic stability. Initiatives like this are so important because they help break the cycle of financial instability that can trap families for generations. The aim is to go beyond quick fixes, providing lasting solutions that elevate entire communities.
How Can You Help?
We have already made meaningful strides, but challenges remain. Far too many people in our community struggle to meet basic needs, and too many children risk falling behind. These challenges call for collective action. Join us in creating opportunities so everyone in Whitfield and Murray County can thrive. Please help us reach our goal of $5,000 by December 31. The $5,000 will help us meet the overall campaign goal of $4.155 million, which supports the education, basic needs, and health of individuals and families in our local community. Last year, United Way touched the lives of over 40,700 of our friends and neighbors. Please give today - www.ourunitedway.org/create-opportunities-today
With deepest gratitude,
Amanda Burt, President & Mike Sanderson, 2023 Board Chair