United Way receives Rotary grant for library
United Way of Greater Augusta announces collaboration between United Way and the Rotary Club of Staunton for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library from the District Rotary #7570 in the amount of $3,000, which will be matched by the Staunton Rotary Foundation with an additional $3,000.
The funding will cover an addition of 200 children to the Imagination Library, a preschool literacy program targeting local families. The program seeks to ensure that each child entering school has an equal chance of becoming a successful student, by providing free books in the mail starting at the earliest age possible.
“In a recently completed Community Assessment through our Smart Beginnings coalition, a need to support early literacy with our youngest children was identified. One way of addressing that need is to increase families’ accessibility to high quality, child engaging literature. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library fills this need,” said Stacie Jackson of Infant & Toddler Connection of Staunton-Waynesboro. “It is a joy to visit a family after their first book has arrived and celebrate with them the thrill of owning their own book which for many, is the first time!”
The Anne E. Casey Foundation and Harvard University recently released reports stating that, to counter low literacy levels, children need to have high quality learning opportunities. This process needs to begin at birth and continue in school and during out-of-school time, including summers, in order to sustain learning gains and not lose ground.
United Way Stuff the Bus effort is success
The United Way of Greater Augusta $27,099.31 in school supplies from shoppers at the Staunton and Waynesboro Wal-Marts last weekend.
This is double from the year before and exceeded the goal of collecting $25,000 in school supplies this year.
United Way volunteers will be at the Augusta County Fair this week to try to add to this year’s totals.
United Way plans Stuff the Bus event
United Way of Greater Augusta will be holding its annual ‘Stuff the Bus’ at the Staunton and Waynesboro Wal-Marts’ during tax free weekend – August 5th, 6th and 7th.
Throughout the weekend, volunteers will be collecting donated school supplies and backpacks for students in Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta Co. schools. Donations can be dropped off all weekend long at Wal-Mart. In addition to donations, United Way of Greater Augusta is in need of volunteers to help us collect school supplies.
United Way of Greater Augusta has partnered with Wal-Mart, UPS, Q101, 105.1 BOB Rocks, 96.1 Lite FM, WHSV 3, and The Salvation Army to present Stuff the Bus and Tools for School.
Each year the United Way of Greater Augusta makes it their mission to collect as many school supplies as possible to supply to all the surrounding schools with. Stuff the Bus helps provide all children with the right tools they need to learn. This annual event is planned to give kids a jump-start on getting ready for school and will help level the playing field for even our most impoverished children and their families.
The United Way of Greater Augusta is also inviting the public and private sectors to join in by coordinating a back-to-school drive at your work place during the month of July. All school supplies collected must be delivered to the United Way of Greater Augusta office no later than August 4th.
The impact of working together to serve our children can touch a life and make a difference
For more information or to volunteer please contact United Way of Greater Augusta at 540-885-1229 or email shasta.dooms@unitedway.org.
United Way announces grant funding for 2011-2012
The United Way of Greater Augusta on Monday announced its grant funding to local programs and services for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
| Organization |
Program: Area of Focus
|
Funding Amount
|
|
American Red Cross
|
Disaster-Health
|
$ 10,000
|
|
Augusta Free Clinic
|
Dental-Health
|
$ 20,000
|
|
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
|
Mentoring-Education
|
$ 10,000
|
|
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
|
Backpack-Income
|
$ 10,000
|
|
Blue Ridge Legal Services
|
Legal-Income
|
$ 22,500
|
|
CASA
|
Advocating-Health
|
$ 5,000
|
|
Community Child Care Center
|
Scholarship-Education
|
$ 30,000
|
|
Crossroads Brain and Injury Resource
|
Case management-Health
|
$ 4,500
|
|
Daily Living Center
|
Scholarship-Health
|
$ 25, 000
|
|
Family Resource and Referral (Quality Child Care Intuitive)
|
Training-Education
|
$ 1,783
|
|
Family Resource and Referral (Project Star)
|
Home visits-Education
|
$ 4,200
|
|
LEARN
|
Tutoring-Education
|
$ 3, 549
|
|
Mental Health America Association
|
Awareness-Health
|
$ 5,000
|
|
Shenandoah Community on behalf of the Office on Youth
|
Parent Education-Education
|
$ 16,700
|
|
Shenandoah Community on behalf of the Office on Youth
|
Teen Pregnancy Prevention-Education
|
$ 18, 500
|
|
Rebuilding Together
|
Building Materials-Income
|
$ 12,000
|
|
Salvation Army
|
Financial Assistance-Income
|
$ 15, 000
|
|
Staunton Y-Summer Camp
|
Day Camp for Youth-Income
|
$ 12,000
|
|
Staunton Y-Teen Center
|
Teen Center-Education
|
$3,000
|
|
The Arc of Augusta
|
Scholarship-Health
|
$ 16,000
|
|
Valley Children’s
|
Reduce Trauma Abused Children-Health
|
$ 18,000
|
|
Valley Hope Counseling
|
Counseling-Health
|
$ 35,000
|
|
Vector
|
Transportation-Income
|
$ 28,000
|
|
WALT-Waynesboro Area Learning Tree
|
Training-Income
|
$ 5,000
|
|
Waynesboro Y water
|
Scholarship-Health
|
$ 7,500
|
|
Waynesboro Y land
|
Scholarship-Health
|
$ 7.500
|
United Way crosses campaign finish line
The United Way of Greater Augusta has met its 2010-2011 campaign goal of $600,000 – raising $603,000 for partner agencies in the coming fiscal year.
The campaign relies on the giving of both local corporations and individuals. Because of these generous donations, allocations and awards to various non-profits and charities are made possible. The non-profits go through a rigorous application and evaluation process in order to ensure that donors’ money is being awarded wisely.
The United Way staff and board are celebrating the end of this very successful campaign year with an awards ceremony on Thursday, April 7 at Barren Ridge Vineyards. The corporations and individuals who made up this year’s campaign will be recognized and then there will be a DJ and dancing. Food and drink are being provided and it’s looking to be a fun evening.
If you would like to make a donation or want further information, access the United Way online at www.unitedwayga.org.
Emergency food, shelter funds available
Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro will be awarded federal funds under the Phase 29 Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.
The selection was made by the National Board and is chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army and the United Way. The Local board is charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter program in high-need areas around the country.
The Local Board made up of American Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, Valley Mission and multiple Religious and community leaders will determine how funds awarded to Augusta, Staunton and Waynesboro are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by the local social service agencies in the area. The Local Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these fund and any additional funds under this phase of the program.
Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must:
- Be private voluntary non-profits or unties of government
- Be eligible to receive federal funds
- Have an accounting system
- Practice non discrimination
- Have demonstrated the capacity to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs
- If they are private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board.
Qualifying agencies are urged to apply. Augusta, Staunton, Augusta and Waynesboro has distributed funds previously with The Salvation Army and the Verona Food Pantry participating, These agencies were responsible for providing 2,685 meals and 117 nights of lodging.
Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program Funds must contact:
- Cynthia Pritchard
- United Way of Greater Augusts
- 1020 Jefferson Highway,
- Staunton, VA 24401
- phone: 540.885-1229, 540.943.1215
- e-mail: cynthiapritchard@unitedway.org
The deadline for applications to be received is Friday, March 25, by 4 p.m.
United Way issues call for volunteers
The United Way of Greater Augusta is looking for Citizens interested in volunteering to review funding applications.
Funds from United Way are used to build community capacity in supporting individuals and families with immediate needs and establishing a foundation for long-term change. Through these funds, United Way will invest in projects and programs that address the priority areas of education, income and health.
Citizen Investment Review Team members review funding applications received and participate in agency site visits. Citizen Investment Review Team members make funding recommendations to the United Way Board of Directors on the organizations they review and visit.
For more information, contact the local Unted Way office at 540.885.1229 or 540.943.1215 or visit the UWGA website at www.unitedwayga.org or the Greater Augusta Volunteer Center at www.uwgavoluntercenter.org.
