2020 Community Impact Awardees
Waynesburg, PA – On May 4, Greene County United Way announced they will be distributing $40,000 to 11 community nonprofits for 2020’s Community Impact Grants. Each organization submitted a proposal detailing a program or service that assists Greene County residents, young and old.
“We were so impressed by the quality programming and services these organizations bring to our community. Each agency works extremely hard to help the residents of Greene County and we are excited to be a part of that work,” said Executive Director, MaChal Forbes.
This year's grants were given to:
“We were so impressed by the quality programming and services these organizations bring to our community. Each agency works extremely hard to help the residents of Greene County and we are excited to be a part of that work,” said Executive Director, MaChal Forbes.
This year's grants were given to:
Blueprints - $5,000
Aging Services Support Program
As the subcontractor for the Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging, Blueprints has been delivering aging related programming to the older adults of Greene County since 1968. The program has enhanced the quality of life for seniors residing in Greene County through Care Management, Home Delivery Meals, Ombudsman and our Senior Centers. Support from Greene County United Way will allow Blueprints to offset the expense of our Home Delivered Meals and Volunteer programs for Greene County’s homebound seniors.
CASA of Greene County - $1,650
Volunteer Training & Reporting
CASA of Greene County is requesting funds to increase the number of volunteer advocates by training six new advocates by the end of 2020. This would allow CASA to increase the number of children served by 12, using the average of two children per case. In order to accomplish this goal, CASA would also require additional funds to cover the cost of the reporting software that the volunteers use to input and track case information.
Catholic Charities - $3,500
Greene County Outreach, Pregnancy and Parenting Support Program
Catholic Charities Pregnancy and Parenting Program provides support and tangible assistance to expectant mothers and the parents and caretakers of children up to the age of two. Many of the parents we serve come from low-income homes and are struggling with crisis pregnancies. We provide pregnancy tests, guidance, and if desired, information about adoption. In addition, our case workers educate new parents on basic domestic skills (such as budgeting and time management), counsel them on infant-care and supply parents with tangible items, like diapers, formula and clothing.
Corner Cupboard Food Bank - $5,000
Kids' Bags Program
This program is structured to assist in providing nutritious food items to the youth of Greene County, items which they can easily access and prepare. These special food bags are given six months out of the year, during our pantry distribution, to children ages 3-17, whose families meet the eligibility requirement of our Pantry Box Program and are receiving a monthly food box. The Kids Bags Program is offered during the summer months, when children are out of school and do not have school lunch available to them, during Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving breaks.
Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania - $4,000
Youth Prevention Education Program
Greene County United Way funding will allow Domestic Violence to continue the prevention work in both Greene County School Districts and in the community. We are currently offering a Social Emotional Learning curriculum with the elementary schools called Connected and Respected, a Healthy Relationship curriculum with the middle schools called Safe Dates, and we offer a Dating Violence Awareness program to the high schools. Programs are also offered to children in the community with the goal of continuing the conversation about healthy, respectful relationships beyond the classroom.
Dress for Success Pittsburgh - $4,500
Mobile Boutique/Employment & Support
Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and life. In Greene County, the goal is to build out the program partnership base in order to reach even more women in need through participation in community events via the mobile boutique and outreach efforts. We provide each client with professional attire to secure employment as well as resume review, interview techniques, etc.
Eva K. Bowlby Library - $5,000
Summer Learning Program – Imagine Your Story
Eva K. Bowlby Library is celebrating over 25 years of summer programming with “Imagine Your Story 2020”. The library will offer and encourage literacy opportunities as well as other educational endeavors with a focus on STREAM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Education, Art and Math) will be offered. Weekly classes will be offered for children from 6 weeks through 18 years of age. They will participate in story classes, day camps and special events that all unite with the theme of fairy tales, myths and legends. Summer Quest will focus on education and classes will align with the PA Learning Standards.
Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania - $1,000
Girl Scout Leadership Experience in Greene County
Girl Scouts is committed to ensuring that all girls develop to their fullest potential. For over 100 years, Girl Scouts has had a successful track record of providing outstanding, transformative leadership development opportunities. Through the mentorship provided by adult volunteers, the cultural experiences provided through both domestic and international travel; as well as the self-discovery and personal growth gained through camping; and financial literacy gained through participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program; Girl Scouting has helped girls learn to make healthy choices, build strong self-esteem and develop and exercise strong leadership skills. There are 110 Girl Scouts in Greene County as of December 2019.
Greater Waynesburg Christian Outreach - $3,850
Summer Day Camp Program
The day camp is a six week program for local children in 1st – 6th grade. Roughly 40-45 children participate each year. The allocated funds from United Way would be used to employ 3-4 senior counselors for the season. The counselors lead, plan and facilitate the program under the director and work directly with the children for all six weeks.
Greene Arc, Inc. - 1,500
AED Equipment
Greene Arc requested financial support to enhance the safety of their individuals while in attendance of programs with the much needed additional of automated external defibrillator (AED’s). An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It’s a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. With an aging and medically fragile population, the need for AED’s are crucial.
Salvation Army - $5,000
Emergency Direct Assistance Program
Through this program the Salvation Army provides emergency direct assistance for financially struggling individuals and families unable to make ends meet for basic needs, including meals, lodging and assistance for rent, household utilities, medical expenses, transient care and disaster services. Clients are able to resolve the immediate crisis, contact other community resources, understand behaviors leading to budgeting issues and learn how to better deal with crisis.
Aging Services Support Program
As the subcontractor for the Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging, Blueprints has been delivering aging related programming to the older adults of Greene County since 1968. The program has enhanced the quality of life for seniors residing in Greene County through Care Management, Home Delivery Meals, Ombudsman and our Senior Centers. Support from Greene County United Way will allow Blueprints to offset the expense of our Home Delivered Meals and Volunteer programs for Greene County’s homebound seniors.
CASA of Greene County - $1,650
Volunteer Training & Reporting
CASA of Greene County is requesting funds to increase the number of volunteer advocates by training six new advocates by the end of 2020. This would allow CASA to increase the number of children served by 12, using the average of two children per case. In order to accomplish this goal, CASA would also require additional funds to cover the cost of the reporting software that the volunteers use to input and track case information.
Catholic Charities - $3,500
Greene County Outreach, Pregnancy and Parenting Support Program
Catholic Charities Pregnancy and Parenting Program provides support and tangible assistance to expectant mothers and the parents and caretakers of children up to the age of two. Many of the parents we serve come from low-income homes and are struggling with crisis pregnancies. We provide pregnancy tests, guidance, and if desired, information about adoption. In addition, our case workers educate new parents on basic domestic skills (such as budgeting and time management), counsel them on infant-care and supply parents with tangible items, like diapers, formula and clothing.
Corner Cupboard Food Bank - $5,000
Kids' Bags Program
This program is structured to assist in providing nutritious food items to the youth of Greene County, items which they can easily access and prepare. These special food bags are given six months out of the year, during our pantry distribution, to children ages 3-17, whose families meet the eligibility requirement of our Pantry Box Program and are receiving a monthly food box. The Kids Bags Program is offered during the summer months, when children are out of school and do not have school lunch available to them, during Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving breaks.
Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania - $4,000
Youth Prevention Education Program
Greene County United Way funding will allow Domestic Violence to continue the prevention work in both Greene County School Districts and in the community. We are currently offering a Social Emotional Learning curriculum with the elementary schools called Connected and Respected, a Healthy Relationship curriculum with the middle schools called Safe Dates, and we offer a Dating Violence Awareness program to the high schools. Programs are also offered to children in the community with the goal of continuing the conversation about healthy, respectful relationships beyond the classroom.
Dress for Success Pittsburgh - $4,500
Mobile Boutique/Employment & Support
Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and life. In Greene County, the goal is to build out the program partnership base in order to reach even more women in need through participation in community events via the mobile boutique and outreach efforts. We provide each client with professional attire to secure employment as well as resume review, interview techniques, etc.
Eva K. Bowlby Library - $5,000
Summer Learning Program – Imagine Your Story
Eva K. Bowlby Library is celebrating over 25 years of summer programming with “Imagine Your Story 2020”. The library will offer and encourage literacy opportunities as well as other educational endeavors with a focus on STREAM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Education, Art and Math) will be offered. Weekly classes will be offered for children from 6 weeks through 18 years of age. They will participate in story classes, day camps and special events that all unite with the theme of fairy tales, myths and legends. Summer Quest will focus on education and classes will align with the PA Learning Standards.
Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania - $1,000
Girl Scout Leadership Experience in Greene County
Girl Scouts is committed to ensuring that all girls develop to their fullest potential. For over 100 years, Girl Scouts has had a successful track record of providing outstanding, transformative leadership development opportunities. Through the mentorship provided by adult volunteers, the cultural experiences provided through both domestic and international travel; as well as the self-discovery and personal growth gained through camping; and financial literacy gained through participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program; Girl Scouting has helped girls learn to make healthy choices, build strong self-esteem and develop and exercise strong leadership skills. There are 110 Girl Scouts in Greene County as of December 2019.
Greater Waynesburg Christian Outreach - $3,850
Summer Day Camp Program
The day camp is a six week program for local children in 1st – 6th grade. Roughly 40-45 children participate each year. The allocated funds from United Way would be used to employ 3-4 senior counselors for the season. The counselors lead, plan and facilitate the program under the director and work directly with the children for all six weeks.
Greene Arc, Inc. - 1,500
AED Equipment
Greene Arc requested financial support to enhance the safety of their individuals while in attendance of programs with the much needed additional of automated external defibrillator (AED’s). An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It’s a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. With an aging and medically fragile population, the need for AED’s are crucial.
Salvation Army - $5,000
Emergency Direct Assistance Program
Through this program the Salvation Army provides emergency direct assistance for financially struggling individuals and families unable to make ends meet for basic needs, including meals, lodging and assistance for rent, household utilities, medical expenses, transient care and disaster services. Clients are able to resolve the immediate crisis, contact other community resources, understand behaviors leading to budgeting issues and learn how to better deal with crisis.