Fund will support out-of-school enrichment activities for families who live paycheck to paycheck
DANBURY, CT -- United Way of Western Connecticut (UWWC) is seeking nonprofit agency, foundation, school, or government partners to assist in administering its newly created ALICE® Enrichment Fund (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). The ALICE Enrichment Fund will provide families who fall within the ALICE income category* with financial subsidies for their children to participate in extracurricular activities.
The newly-created Fund will require some flexibility on the part of administering agencies and parents as the implementation of the Fund is launched. Partners selected to administer the ALICE Enrichment Fund may reserve 15% of the grant amount for administrative costs. A total of $100,000 will be invested throughout UWWC’s 15 town service area. For more detailed information about amounts per town, please visit our website: https://www.uwwesternct.org/aliceenrichmentfund.
Applications to administer funds are due by Monday February 13, 2017. To apply to be a Northern Fairfield County fund administrator, please visit https://www.uwwesternct.org/aliceenrichmentfund.
The creation of the Fund is supported by research that shows that children who participate in youth sports, for one example, have improved levels of physical and mental health. In 2015, Project Play, an initiative of the Aspen Institute, found that nearly 70% of children from families making more than $100,000 played team sports, whereas only one in four children from low- income families participated in sports. UWWC’s goal with this fund is to help close the gap between children from families who currently do not have access to extracurricular enrichment activities (including, but not limited to sports, arts, field trips and clubs) and those who do.
The Fund is intended to supplement the cost of an activity, not necessarily cover the entire cost of an activity. To increase the impact of the ALICE Enrichment Fund, UWWC welcomes local private and public organizations to match United Way dollars. Persons interested in financially contributing to this fund may contact UWWC.
For questions about the ALICE Enrichment Fund, please contact Bridget Fox at United Way of Western Connecticut at 203-883-0960 or bridget.fox@uwwesternct.org.
ABOUT UNITED WAY OF WESTERN CONNECTICUT
United Way of Western Connecticut (UWWC) helps residents across Northern Fairfield County, Southern Litchfield County and the City of Stamford by focusing on the vital building blocks for a good life: Education, Financial Stability and Health. Our mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the power of caring communities to create lasting change. We are committed to ensuring that every child enters school ready to learn, every family is financially stable, and every community we serve is healthy and strong. We are particularly focused on a population in our communities that United Way identifies as ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). A United Way report published in October 2016 revealed that in Connecticut, more than 1 in 4 households have earnings above the Federal Poverty Level, but below a basic cost-of-living threshold. Combined with those who are struggling below poverty level, 38% of all households in the state are experiencing financial hardship. By leveraging the collective power of the community, we are focused on creating an environment where individuals and families are self-sufficient and can achieve financial independence. For more information about United Way of Western Connecticut, please visit: www.uwwesternct.org. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Follow us on Instagram. Watch us on YouTube.
* Per Appendix A ALICE Household Survival Budget, 2016 ALICE Report Update
https://www.uwwesternct.org/sites/uwwesternct.org/files/14UW-ALICE-Report_CT.pdf
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Contact:
Bridget Fox
United Way of Western Connecticut
203-883-0960
Bridget.fox@uwwesternct.org