Text to save on meds
Text the word “family” to 700700 to save up to 75 percent on the cost of your prescription medicine.
“It really is that easy,” said Cynthia Pritchard, executive director of United Way of Greater Augusta
When you get a free FamilyWize Prescription Discount Card sent to your cell phone by text, just show the text to your pharmacist, who will automatically apply the discount to the cost of your medicine. And you can help everyone you know by forwarding on the information. Read more
United Way offers prescription for immediate savings
The United Way and FamilyWize discount prescription card program has saved people living and working in the Greater Augusta area more than $1 million on prescription medicines.
“No one should be forced to choose between paying for food, rent or medicine because of the high cost of prescriptions. That’s why we’ve partnered with FamilyWize to distribute free prescription discount cards to everyone in Augusta County”, said Cynthia Pritchard, executive director of the United Way of Greater Augusta.
Distributed through United Ways, the FamilyWize card lowers the cost of medicine by an average of 30 percent or more for people without insurance or who take medications not covered by their plan. Read more
United Way to launch Volunteer Centers
The United Way of Greater Augusta will launch its Volunteer 2012 initiative at area Senior Centers on Friday. The Volunteer Center is an online center approved by the Virginia Office of Volunteerism and Community Service to serve our region.
Over the next 12 months, the UWGA Volunteer 2012 initiative is to Give 20 hours, Volunteer 20 times, and Impact 20 lives. The launch will be the first program associated with the initiative as the United Way of Greater Augusta partners with Senior Centers in hopes to engage active adults and retirees with opportunities in volunteerism. Read more
United Way of Greater Augusta’s Volunteer Center Launch at local Senior Centers
United Way of Greater Augusta will launch their Volunteer 2012 initiative at area Senior Centers on Friday, Jan. 20. The Volunteer Center is an online center approved by the Virginia Office of Volunteerism and Community Service to serve our region.
Over the next 12 months, the UWGA Volunteer 2012 initiative is to Give 20 Hours, Volunteer 20 Times, and Impact 20 Lives. The launch will be the first program associated with the initiative as the United Way of Greater Augusta partners with Senior Centers in hopes to engage active adults and retirees with opportunities in volunteerism. Read more
United Way awards additional $40K in grants
The Board of Directors of the United Way of Greater Augusta is very aware of the needs in the community. With the reduction of almost 70 percent in FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Funding to the region and the increased demand for housing and utility assistance, it was important for the United Way to respond.
The United Way of Greater Augusta exceeded its $600,000 campaign goal for 2010-2011 due to the outpouring of donations from the community, but the need to the community is also growing exponentially. One of the most vital needs is in basic necessities; such as shelter and heat for the upcoming winter. There are also those individuals from the Beverly Hotel still trying to obtain permanent housing.
The Board of Directors awarded the Staunton Salvation Army $25,250, a portion which is specifically earmarked for the displaced Beverly Hotel residents, and $15,250 to the Waynesboro Salvation Army. This money is for new clients that are for the first time struggling to keep a roof over the families heads this year.
Judy Burtner, chairman of the Board, stated, “If we are to be true to our mission, to serve as a catalyst to improve the lives of people in our community, then we must respond when the community needs us to.”
Lt John Blevins, Salvation Army Waynesboro, stated: “We can really use the additional funds and we can put it to good use for many families who will be in need this winter.”
Maj. Samuel Hearne, Salvation Army Staunton, stated: “”This will give us the resources to get those from the Beverly settled in long-term living situations.”
Cynthia Pritchard, executive director of the United Way, said: “The reduction in FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter program for our region hit our area hard and the United Way wanted to make sure that people could be taken care of this winter.”
The United Way of Greater Augusta is currently in the midst of its 2012-2013 campaign, and the trend is looking positive for them to achieve their $700,000 campaign goal. The United Way is grateful to donors in the community who can see the needs and donate to the programs and service the United Way supports.
Local organizations give back $1.8M in 2011
It began a little over a year ago at a lunch meeting, when the four largest grant makers in the community decided to create a common grant application. “Our community is a fairly small one,” explained Christiana Shields, director of nonprofit services for the Community Foundation. “Many of our local nonprofits apply for funding from more than agency. In the past, each of the four funders had separate requirements and guidelines. Applying for grant funding is already a challenging task, and we wanted to make the process easier.”
A few months and many collaborative edits later – the task was done. In 2011, for the first time, a common grant application was available for all nonprofit organizations that wanted to apply for funding from the Community Foundation, United Way, Augusta Health Foundation, and CAPSAW.
The group continued to meet and collaborate, and when the competitive community grant process was finished for the year, they were delighted to discover they had distributed almost $1 million dollars in funding.
Then, they realized an even larger truth. “If we include our internal programs, like the United Way’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Stuff the Bus, our numbers are even greater,” noted Cynthia Pritchard, Executive Director for the United Way of Greater Augusta.
The funders realized that when they took into account all their gift programs, in 2011:
- Augusta Health Foundation distributed $230,000
- CAPSAW contributed almost $200,000
- United Way gave close to $650,000
The Community Foundation, when including awards, scholarships, and designated funds, distributed about $800,000
“It’s a pretty amazing total,” Anna Leavitt, CAPSAW Coordinator observed, “$1.8 million can impact a lot of lives.”
The common grant application for 2012 is due to be released in the next few weeks, and the four foundations continue to work together. Enhanced collaboration is the focus of the future for funders and nonprofits alike.
“All of us want to impact lives, solve problems, and improve futures,” says Becky Kohler, CEO of the Community Foundation. “We are more determined than ever to bring our community partners together to find innovative and effective solutions to some of our most challenging issues.”
United Way to mark campaign kickoff on Sunday
The United Way of Greater Augusta will be holding its Corporate Cup and Campaign Kick Off in Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro on Sunday from 1-6:30 p.m.
The day’s events will include the 5k fun run/walk, free bingo with prizes, basketball shoot-out, corn hole throw, tennis, golf chipping contest, community partner fair and many more great activities.
The day will also be featuring a host of exciting and fun kids’ activities including a bouncy house, face painting, RC car exhibition, and many more.
The day will conclude with a Sept. 11th memorial tribute presented by the Stonewall Jackson Council Boy Scouts and the United Way campaign kick-off and awards ceremony.
Log on to www.unitedwayga.org/corporatecup for more information and to register for select events.
