United Way of Treasure Valley announces $1.65 million in grants
Boise, Idaho – United Way of Treasure Valley awarded more than $1.65 million in grants last week to Treasure Valley non-profit organizations. 50 community programs in 32 local agencies will receive United Way funding this year that will improve lives in our community. United Way recognized the 2008 grant recipients at its 80th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 22nd.
Grants were awarded in three impact areas: youth, health and families. More than 70 different programs applied for United Way funding, totaling over $3.2 million in requests. This year’s grant awards range in size from $1,500 to $120,000.
United Way of Treasure Valley facilitates an open, competitive process in awarding Community Care Fund Grants. At the heart of the process are 65 community volunteers who collaborate with a year-round team of 20 volunteers to make funding recommendations. The volunteers review each program application, attend on-site information visits, and evaluate every agency and program’s long-term viability and community impact. This year, our community volunteers invested more than 1,900 hours ensuring that our community dollars are invested into high impact programs.
“Making funding decisions is a rigorous process, one that brings together our community’s most committed experts and volunteers,” said Carl Arriola, CEO of Tates Rents and this year’s Community Impact Council Chair.
“If we were to put a dollar figure on all the time our volunteers spent this year reading grant applications, conducting site visits, listening to presentations and discussing where to invest your United Way dollars – it would top $37,000. Our volunteers are incredible and deserve our thanks.”
2008-09 United Way grants were awarded in the following three impact areas:
Youth: $660,000 to help children and youth achieve their potential
EXAMPLES: Support for quality early education programs serving low-income children; parent training and skill-building to ensure healthy family functioning; and enriching after-school and mentoring programs in neighborhood-based youth organizations.
Health: $330,000 to improve health
EXAMPLES: Support access to health services for low-income residents at neighborhood clinics; mobile dental services for at-risk youth; and drug prevention programming in area schools.
Families: $660,000 to improve family economic stability and independence
EXAMPLES: Provide educational and training opportunities so low-income adults can earn higher wages; shelter and nutritious food for people in crisis; and services to help seniors remain independent.
For a complete list of the 2008-09 Community Impact Grant Recipients click here.
“United Way works to create opportunities for a good life for all by focusing our grants and activities on youth, health and families, with a 100 percent local approach,” said Sally Zive, President and CEO of United Way of Treasure Valley. “Our donors can feel good in knowing that every dollar they pledge to United Way will improve lives right here in our own backyard and help some of the Treasure Valley’s most vulnerable citizens.”
An additional $2.3 million in contributions to United Way of Treasure Valley will flow directly to more than 250 nonprofit organizations located throughout the United States. Individual donors designate these funds to specific agencies during United Way’s annual community campaign.
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About United Way of Treasure Valley
For nearly 80-years, United Way has been working on community problems and improving lives right here in the Treasure Valley with measurable results in three priority areas – helping children and youth achieve their potential, promoting financial stability for working families, and improving people’s health.