it starts with one.
it starts with you.
When
you give to United Way’s annual campaign you are supporting many local
organizations that help thousands of adults and children in need in our
community.
Your individual donation - combined with gifts from other donors-
funds many needs, such as food and shelter for the homeless; healthcare
for poor working families; mentoring and care programs for at-risk
children; and assistance for the elderly.
Please join our campaign.
Help build a community safety net so that no child
or adult is over-looked or forgotten...
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This
is the time of year when we ask the community to make a pledge to
United Way of Northwest Michigan. Our goal is to rebuild our Community
Fund so that we can continue to help people in need and at-risk
children in our community.
To help you decide
whether to give this year, here is information for the five county area
about some of the people that need your help and some of the programs
and organizations that United Way supports:
Some people need help because they are homeless.
In 2006 there were 619 documented homeless people in our community.
United Way helped by providing grant funding to the Goodwill Inn.
Some people need help because they are hungry.
In 2006 area food pantries provided an equivalent 3-day food supply to
117,000. United Way helped by providing grant funding to the Father
Fred Foundation and the Salvation Army (Petoskey) and held several food
drives to help area pantries.
Some children need help because they have no place to live.
In 2006 there were 236 teens and children that were homeless. United
Way helped by providing grant funding to Goodwill Inn Homeless
Outreach.
Some women and children need help because they are abused.
In 2006 2,703 families were investigated for child abuse and 1,100
cases of domestic violence were reported. United Way helped by
providing grant funding to the Women’s Resource Center and the
Tri-County Coalition
Some people need help because they are sick and can’t afford health care.
In 2006 there were 20,000 poor and working poor individuals without
insurance. United Way helped by providing funding that supports the
Community Health Clinic which provides free primary health care to
about 1,800 people.
Some people need help to get the skills and confidence to move out of poverty.
In 2006 there were over 13,000 people living in poverty in our area.
United Way helped by providing grant funding to the Poverty Reduction
Initiative for an innovative self-help program that enabled 210 people
in poverty to take their first steps out.
Some people need help because of drug addition, alcoholism, depression or life crisis.
In 2006 there were 10,357 counseling contacts to the Crisis hotline.
United Way helped by providing grant funding to Addiction Treatment
Services, Catholic Human Services (Family Services) and Third Level
Crisis Center.
Some kids need positive role models and mentoring relationships with adults to develop self-confidence and life skills.
In 2006 at-risk children were identified in virtually every public
school in the five county area. United Way helped by providing grant
funding to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan, Girl
Scouts of Crooked Tree and Scenic Trails Boy Scouts Council.
In
2007 United Way will have awarded more than $600,000 in grant support
(including annual and multi-year awards) from our Community Fund to 25
local organizations and programs. (We also raised more than $240,000 in
designated funds for a variety of non-profits.)
You can make a difference.
Give generously to this year’s campaign.
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