(June 22, 2023) – United Way of Southern Kentucky announced today that it is investing a total of $630,397 in Education, Health, Income and Safety Net programs and services in Warren County. These investments start July 1, 2023 and will continue through June 30, 2024. In total, $1,036,955 will be invested across the 10-county Barren River Area Development District (BRADD).
In October of 2022, organizations with programs impacting UWSK’s strategic imperatives in each of the defined Community Impact issue areas (Education, Income, Health, and Safety Net) were asked to submit a Letter of Intent indicating their desire to complete a full application request for funding. Across the 10-county BRADD, 68 total Letters of Intent were submitted.
To receive funding from United Way of Southern Kentucky (UWSK), programs had to align with the four areas deemed most important by a community research project conducted by United Way that began in 2012 and included nearly 5,000 surveys, 55 Community Conversations, and large amounts of secondary data. The four broad areas of most concern were defined by the community as: Education, Income, Health, and Safety Net. Programs were also evaluated on the following IMPACT criteria: Innovative, Measured, Partnered/Collaborative, Accountable, Community-centered, and Transformative. This includes an emphasis on programs that provide services within a best practices framework, that are collaborative and integrated into the fabric of other community education, income, health and safety net efforts, that consider the goals, needs and aspirations of the communities they serve, and that are innovative.
In March 2023, Warren County specific programs who had the opportunity to complete the full application moved forward to a full review and visit with the Allocations Committee. With the full review by the Allocations Committee and recommendation to and approval by the UWSK Board of Directors complete, funding will now be awarded to the programs selected. In Warren County, 26 local programs provided through 17 service providers will receive the allocated campaign dollars and donor designations.
Allocation dollars were determined based on the work of 92 volunteers working specifically in their home counties of Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, and Warren. In total, these volunteers invested 1,278 hours in the process which began with training sessions for all volunteers. This time generated an impact of $40,640 in service to our community (based on National Rate of Volunteer Time: $31.80 per hour). Volunteers reviewed programs, finances, governance, and outcomes to develop the recommendations for program investments.
In WARREN COUNTY, $630,397 will be allocated by volunteers, led by Warren County Allocations Committee Chair Tad Pardue.
EDUCATION: $339,147
Kindergarten Readiness: Led by Committee Chairs, Kenly Ames and Joe Tinius
Family Enrichment Center, Little Bobcat Learners Program: $27,193
Family Enrichment, Wee Care Child Care Center: $55,193
The Foundry Christian Community Center, Preschool Academy: $60,000
Suzanne Vitale CED, Building Bridges to Kindergarten: $9,000
Warren County Public Schools, Kindergarten Readiness Summer Camp: $21,500
Warren County Public Schools, Little Learners Mobile Classroom: $37,500
College/Career Readiness: Led by Committee Chairs, Dr. James McCaslin & Erin Ballou
Boys & Girls Club of Bowling Green, The CLUB Teen Center – CAREER LAUNCH: $34,000
Warren County Public Schools, College/Career Transition Readiness – Connect Students to Success: $40,000
WROTE Foundation, Bridging the Gap After-School/Summer Enrichment Program: $54,761
INCOME: $26,093
Workforce Development: Led by Committee Chairs, Lincoln Skaggs and Jonathan Wysong
Refuge Bowling Green, English Academy: $15,093
SKYCTC Foundation, CDL Program: $8,000
Lifeworks Bridge to Independence Scholarship Program: $3,000
HEALTH: $142,294
Access to Affordable Health Care: Led by Committee Chairs, Lindsay Sanson and Brooke Schakat
Barren River Child Advocacy Center, Trauma Focused Mental Health Therapy: $24,000
CARE USTZ, Resettlement & Empowerment Program: $3,000
Kentucky Legal Aid, Barren River Long Term Care Ombudsman: $25,000
Kentucky Legal Aid, Benefits Counseling: $25,000
New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding, Inc., Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies Program: $5,000
Safe Home & Community: Led by Committee Chairs, Brenda Polley and Thomas Manco
BRASS, Emergency Shelter & Crisis to Protect & Empower (ESCAPE): $30,294
Kentucky Legal Aid, Emergency Shelter & Crisis Aid to Protect & Empower (ESCAPE): $30,000
SAFETY NET: $122,863
Access to Basic Needs: Led by Committee Chairs, Tom Flynn and Angela Dossey
GLEAN of South Central Kentucky: $7,500
Habitat for Humanity, Affordable Workforce Housing: $33,000
Kentucky Legal Aid, Emergency Legal Assistance: $42,500
Megan’s Mobile Grocery: $12,277
Transportation: Led by Committee Chairs, Lincoln Skaggs and Jonathan Wysong
BRASS, Shelter Transportation Assistance Program: $6,294
Refuge Bowling Green, Driver’s Education Program: $11,292
Union of Refugees and Immigrants for Development in America: $10,000
“The impact of the past few years with COVID and the tornado has dramatically increased the need for services”, said Debbie Hills, President & CEO of United Way of Southern Kentucky. “Our investments in the areas of Education, Income, Health and Safety Net that support local nonprofit programs assisting with so many key issues throughout the BRADD are more critical than ever. We are honored to partner with the nonprofits that are working to address both existing and ever-changing challenges. It is the support of local businesses, organizations, and individuals which enables this funding, which will impact thousands of lives, and we are so grateful for it.”
If you would like to volunteer to participate in the United Way of Southern Kentucky Allocation Process, please visit www.uwsk.org or call 270-843-3205 to learn more.
United Way of Southern Kentucky (UWSK) is a local, independent, non-profit organization that works to identify and address the issues that matter most, change conditions and improve lives. The mission of United Way of Southern Kentucky is to be the leader in bringing together the resources to build a stronger, more caring community. United Way is focused on the building blocks for good quality of life – Education, Income, Health and Safety Net. Therefore, the vision of United Way is a Southern Kentucky where all residents are educated, healthy, and financially stable. Incorporated as a charitable non-profit entity in 1956, UWSK has long served a major role in the community by bringing people together to create opportunities that make a measurable difference in the quality of life for people where they live and work.
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