United Way of Western Connecticut Announces Nearly $500,000 in Grant Funding

Monday, June 11, 2018

35 nonprofit agencies to receive program support for households living paycheck to paycheck

DANBURY, CT -- United Way of Western Connecticut (UWWC) announced today the investment of $498,000 to support education, financial stability, and food insecurity programs in Greater Danbury, Greater New Milford, and Stamford. The funding supports households that fall within the ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) income threshold and below. ALICE families earn income above the federal poverty level, but not enough to make ends meet. ALICE includes the people we depend on every day, such as childcare providers, nursing assistants, and grocery store cashiers.

“We are hearing firsthand the difference that these programs make in the lives of ALICE families in Western Connecticut,” said Kimberly Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of UWWC. “Helping ALICE households keep fresh food in the house, support children's success in school and access free financial services to help families stay on budget and save—these are ways we can alleviate stress and improve the lives of people who work at meaningful jobs, but just don’t make enough to pay all of the bills. United Way is pleased to invest half a million dollars in our communities to support programs that provide critical services to our hardworking neighbors.”

Education Funding
UWWC’s funding for education helps families afford quality early childhood, after-school and enrichment programs for their children:

  • $157,440 will support 10 early childhood agencies that will make quality childcare more affordable for parents in the region. Childcare can be the greatest single expense for families with preschool children, consuming as much as 28% of a family’s income if they have one infant and one toddler.
  • $125,560 will support 13 after-school programs that provide affordable and accessible after-school care for lower income families.
  • $75,000 will be invested in United Way’s ALICE Enrichment Fund, which helps families afford the cost of out-of-school activities for their children. In 2017, more than 350 children were able to play sports, take swim lessons, learn a musical instrument, or participate in a variety of other activities because of this fund, which provides funding support up to $300 per child.

Financial Stability
To help ALICE families achieve stronger financial footing, United Way will fund $62,000 to three nonprofit organizations: The Bridge to Independence and Career Opportunities (TBICO) in Danbury, Catholic Charities, and Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC) in Stamford. Each agency will deliver financial literacy training and budget coaching to individuals in the ALICE population. The partner agencies will collect three key outcomes to measure clients’ success:

  • improving credit health,
  • helping clients achieve one financial goal, and
  • ensuring adherence to a household budget.

Since United Way began funding financial stability programs in 2016, more than 600 individuals have benefited from these programs.

Food Insecurity
UWWC will invest $78,000 to alleviate the stress faced by residents who are food insecure. Funding supports Connecticut Food Bank to bring monthly mobile food pantries to Stamford, Danbury and New Milford. Combined, these pantries provide free, fresh food to 600 households each month. Additionally, Filling in the Blanks and Connecticut Food Bank are funded to provide weekend food packs to public school students in Danbury and Stamford. UWWC focuses on providing fresh, healthy food that improve nutritious choices while reducing a family’s grocery bill.

For more information about UWWC’s programs and funding details, please contact Bridget Fox, UWWC’s Chief Impact Officer at 203-883-0960 or bridget.fox@uwwesternct.org, or visit our website at https://www.uwwesternct.org.

The following is a list of programs funded in Northern Fairfield County / Greater Danbury:

Early Childhood Education Funding - Organization, program name/description
Northern Fairfield County / Greater Danbury $72,000

  • Regional Y, Regional Y Early Education Program
  • Little People Learning Center, Little People Learning Center
  • Salvation Army, The Right Place

After School Funding - Organization (areas served) program name/description
Northern Fairfield County / Greater Danbury $50,000

  • Danbury Family Learning Center, Extended Learning Program
  • Danbury Grassroots Academy
  • Danbury Youth Services, Target
  • Family and Children’s Aid, EXTEND
  • Regional Y, School Age Program

ALICE Enrichment Funding - City/Town - Partner Organization

  • Danbury - Danbury Youth Services, Inc
  • Newtown - Newtown Dept. of Social Services
  • Bethel - Bethel Dept. of Social Services
  • Brookfield - Brookfield Dept. of Social Services
  • New Fairfield - New Fairfield Dept. of Social Services
  • Ridgefield - Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield
  • Redding - Redding Dept. of Social Services

Financial Stability Funding - Organization (area served)

  • Catholic Charities (Greater Danbury)
  • TBICO (Greater Danbury/Southern Litchfield)

Food Programs Funding - Organization (areas served) program name/description

  • CT Food Bank (Mobile Pantries in Danbury, Stamford, and New Milford) Mobile pantries
  • CT Food Bank (Danbury) Weekend food packs

Total grant awards 2018/19: $498,000

About United Way of Western Connecticut
United Way of Western Connecticut (UWWC) improves the lives of hard-working, struggling households by mobilizing the resources of local communities to create lasting change. We help 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. 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 that United Way identifies as ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) in our communities. A United Way report published in October 2016 revealed that in Connecticut, more than 1 in 4 households has 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.

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Contact:

Bridget Fox
United Way of Western Connecticut
203-883-0960
bridget.fox@uwwesternct.org

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