COMMUNITY OUTREACH SUCCESS
Mission
Heart of Missouri United Way fights to improve lives in the community.
Our Vision
Our community wins by Living United: By responding to changing community needs. By forging strategic partnerships and fostering effective solutions to tackle local issues. By harnessing the best resources and inspiring others to join the fight in defeating barriers to basic needs, health, education, and financial stability.
2023 Financial Snapshot
- 2023 990 Tax Return
- For more financial information, please visit our Guidestar profile
YOUR DOLLARS YOUR IMPACT*
Impact*
Of those served and assessed:
%
of students met or exceeded expectations for benchmarks in reading and mathematics
%
of students demonstrated an increase in their self-esteem & positive self-image
%
of participants transitioned into permanent or stable temporary housing
%
of participants were employed and maintained employment
%
of clients avoided disconnection of utilities
%
of seniors served reported social support services positively impacted their ability to live independently
*Numbers reflect programs and reported outcomes from 2023
Community Impact
Heart of Missouri United Way has three impact areas: Health, Education, and Financial Stability.
HEALTH
United Way funds services that strengthen the health and well-being of individuals and families who are most vulnerable. The organization recognizes four programmatic areas necessary to achieve health and well-being: Basic Needs; Safe, Healthy, Affordable Housing; Mental Health care; and Medical and Dental care.
In November of 2020, Heart of Missouri United Way announced a $1,000,000 investment in health annually over the next three years. The investment commitment to Health and Basic Needs started in January of 2021 and will continue through December of 2023.
The Health Impact Investment Portfolio includes funding for programs at 19 local organizations: The Boys and Girls Club of Columbia, Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoptive Association, City of Refuge, Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, Compass Health Network, Defense Against Diabetes, Easterseals Midwest, First Chance for Children, Great Circle, Heart of Missouri CASA, Love Columbia, Lutheran Family and Children’s Services, Mid-Missouri Legal Services, Services for Independent Living, The Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri, The Salvation Army, True North of Columbia, Turning Point at Wilkes Blvd, and Voluntary Action Center.
“Some of our neighbors have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. Investing more in programs that we know improve lives in our community just makes sense,” said Executive Director of Heart of Missouri United Way Andrew Grabau about the Health Impact Awards.
EDUCATION
OUR GOAL: Helping young people realize their full potential.
OUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY: United Way funds services that ensure young people have equitable access to gain the knowledge, skills and credentials so they’re prepared for the workforce and able to obtain sustainable employment. We recognize community investments are crucial from early childhood through the transition to young adulthood (age 0-26 years).
UNITED WAY INVESTS IN PROGRAMS THAT REMOVE EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BY DEMONSTRATING THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM OUTCOMES:
– Improve Kindergarten readiness
– Improve or maintain academic performance
– Graduate from high school / earn a HiSET or GED high school diploma equivalent / career and college readiness
– Meet or exceed age-appropriate developmental milestones
– Develop positive values, social competencies, and positive identities
– Identify, manage, and appropriately express emotions and behaviors
– Increase prosocial behaviors / increase social connectedness
The Education Impact Investment Portfolio includes programs at 14 local organizations:
Community Playground of Columbia, Inc., CHA Low-Income Services, Inc., First Chance for Children (FC4C), Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, P.E.A.C.E. – People Embracing Another Choice Effectively, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri, Grade A Plus Incorporated, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Area, United Community Builders Community Development Corp, Harrisburg Early Learning Center, Kingdom Konnections, Central Missouri Community Action, City of Refuge, Jabberwocky.
Financial Stability
In 2023, Heart of Missouri United Way continued funding services strengthening the financial stability and economic mobility of financially vulnerable individuals and families. United Way addresses the community’s financial stability needs by investing in programs demonstrating the following client and/or community outcomes: gains in skills and/or credentials needed for employment and/or increased wages, gain and sustain employment and/or increase income, increase disposable income by increasing financial literacy and/or reducing costs and/or accessing benefits. United Way’s current investment in Financial Stability began in July of 2023 and will continue through December of 2026.
The Financial Stability Impact Investment Portfolio includes programs at 8 organizations:
City of Refuge, Job Point, Love Columbia, Mid-Missouri Legal Services, Rock the Community, Services for Independent Living, United Community Builders, Central Missouri Community Action
Community Engagement
Heart of Missouri United Way believes in community engagement. We engage the community through the following community events: Day of Caring, Day of Action, LIVE UNITED Day, Give 5 Graduation, Campaign Kic-off and more.
Volunteers for the Day of Caring operated in small, safely-distanced groups to compile LIVE UNITED Care Kits for Adults, which included an assortment of self-care and hygiene items, and Read Across Columbia Literacy Kits for Children, which contained five inclusive book titles and a free book coupon from Daniel Boone Regional Library, an application for a library card, bookmarks to encourage reading, and a pencil. The Care Kits for Adults were distributed through United Way Partner Agencies to individuals in need. The Literacy Kits were delivered to more than 600 children in five elementary schools with the highest poverty rates and lowest levels of third grade reading proficiency.
