United Way of Abilene

The mission of United Way Abilene is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of the 19 counties in the West Central Texas area. United Way Abilene supports programs that help children become successful in school, families become self-sufficient, and all local citizens have their basic health needs met. The 3 impact areas we target to measure improvement are:

Education - we help all children graduate from high school with the skills necessary to be prepared for the workforce and/or higher education;

Income - we help families and individuals become financially stable with an adequate income to be self sufficient; and

Health - we help families and individuals of all ages have adequate medical, dental, and nutrition services, while also being protected from abusive situations.

United Way supports programs in the area of education that ensure:
 Children are safe and secure and have responsible caring adults in their lives.
 Students succeed in school.
 Students graduate and are ready for higher education or work.
 Children and youth have the tools they need to make good decisions and effectively deal with social challenges.

United Way supports programs in the area of income that ensure:
 Families have access to affordable childcare that allows for growth and development while preparing children to be school-ready
 Families learn to budget and save money for housing, utilities, transportation, and other expenses.
 Families have access to emergency/transitional housing and basic needs services.
 Individuals have access to information, services and support that allow them to overcome challenges to be more self-sufficient.
 Community members, including the elderly, feel secure in their home, and maintain quality of life.

United Way supports programs in the area of health that ensure:
 Families have access to adequate dental and medical services.
 Families have access to nutritious meals or food supplies.
 Families develop positive habits and have resources to help them cope with challenges.

United Way Abilene has awarded $7,817,364 in allocation grants and other assistance grants over the last five years to local nonprofit partner agencies and individuals. These nonprofit partner agencies serve the 19 county area of West Central Texas. The funds raised were invested in organizations that improve lives in our 3 focused impact areas: health, education, and financial stability.

In 2019, United Way Abilene provided $1,525,971 in allocation grants and other assistance grants to partner agencies that deliver United Way impact programs. These allocations were carefully decided upon under the guidance of the Community Investment Review Teams (CIRT). These teams are made up of over 70 community volunteers whose responsibilities are to:

1. Review the applications and determine if the nonprofit presents sufficient examples of community needs, relevant or innovative approaches to address those needs, and measurable outcomes.
2. Attend partner agency site visits and program presentations
3. Review each agency's board governance, finances, audit, and administration, as well as other general agency information.

This process ensures that donor funds are delivered to those who need it most while also showing the highest levels of accountability for
the investment made by donors and distributed by United Way Abilene.

In 2019, we also awarded $311,450 in disaster relief funds that directly helped families and individuals with financial needs recover from a devastating tornado that damaged over 400 homes and businesses in Abilene on May 18, 2019. These assistance funds paid for home repairs, vehicle repairs, and replacement of food and supplies destroyed by the storm. We also helped renters whose homes were unable to be repaired move to new leased residences.

United Way programs have been highly successful because of how our campaign dollars are assigned. We continue to see amazing results through United Way investments including:

Education
1. Ninety-nine percent of case-managed students stay in school.
2. More than 600 students are matched with caring adult mentors.

Health
3. More than 1,500 patients per year receive affordable dental care.
4. More than 800 individuals per year receive financial assistance and support to help them cope with cancers and Alzheimer diseases.

Income:
5. More than 600 families access affordable quality childcare so they can continue to work.
6. Ninety-four percent of residents living in transitional housing were able to move into permanent housing with a job and a saving account.
7. Each year more than 78,000 meals are served to neighbors in need.