United Way of Washtenaw County launches new $200K fund for local nonprofits
United Way of Washtenaw County's offices at 2305 Platt Rd. ANN ARBOR โ United Way of Washtenaw County has announced it is accepting applications for its new Opportunity Fund for local nonprofit programs. The $200,000 fund will support organizations whose work serves residents with low incomes, people of color and systemically and/or historically marginalized people. To review eligibility guidelines and to apply for an FY21 Opportunity Fund grant, click here. The fund is for new and emerging programs and not for sustaining ongoing local organizations.
United Way of Washtenaw Countyโs annual Power of the Purse benefit goes virtual
ANN ARBOR โ United Way of Washtenaw Countyโs Power of the Purse benefit will be moving online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tickets are now available for the March 10 event that will honor UWWCโs 2021 Woman of the Year, Food Gatherersโ CEO and President, Eileen Spring. Spring was chosen by the Power of the Purse committee for her accomplishments in food system security, innovation and community leadership. To date, the Power of the Purse event has allowed the UWWC Womenโs Leadership Initiative to grant over $260,000 for womenโs programs in Washtenaw County. Spring has been at the helm of Food Gatherers for 27 years and helped develop the organizationโs Food Security Plan, which played an integral role when the coronavirus pandemic hit the area.
Song Foundation donates $100K to United Way of Washtenaw County for year-end match program
ANN ARBOR โ The Song Foundation has donated $100,000 to maximize impact in local COVID-19 relief efforts, announced United Way of Washtenaw County on Monday. The gift was made as a match program so that any year-end gift to UWWCโs Community Impact Fund will be matched. In March, the Song Foundation committed $1 million to the Office of Community and Economic Development of Washtenaw County to establish an emergency relief fund for small local businesses. Needs of the local community have surged since the pandemic began, putting pressure on nonprofit agencies. โWe encourage employees making Community Impact Fund gifts to see whether it qualifies under their companyโs matching gift program.โFor more information or to make a donation, visit www.uwwashtenaw.org.
Food Gatherersโ Eileen Spring named local United Wayโs Woman of the Year
ANN ARBOR โ Food Gatherers president and CEO, Eileen Spring, has been named United Way of Washtenaw Countyโs 2021 Woman of the Year. The award is given by UWWCโs Women United group to women who demonstrate leadership and commitment to the local community. Spring will be honored at UWWCโs annual โPower of the Purseโ event on March 10, 2021, which will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spring was central in developing a food security plan in response to the increased need due to the pandemic. From June 2019 to June 2020, Food Gatherers distributed 7.8 million pounds of food to those in need.
United Way of Washtenaw County invests additional $60K in local organizations during pandemic
ANN ARBOR โ United Way of Washtenaw County has announced a new grant round totaling $69,000 for local organizations meeting critical needs of community members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest rounds are in addition to the $90,000 that was previously granted through UWWCโs COVID-19 Recovery Fund. The total amount invested by UWWC is area relief and recovery efforts is $1.2 million. Its Recovery Fund was launched to help local organizations help those most in need during the pandemic -- particularly those who have lost income or employment as a result of the health crisis. UWWC recently received a $500,000 state grant from the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities to help disperse its COVID-19 Relief Funding.
Four Washtenaw County organizations receive state grants to address racial disparities
ANN ARBOR โ The Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities has awarded four local organizations Rapid Response Initiative Grants. United Way of Washtenaw County, Food Gatherers, Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels and the Washtenaw County Health Department received over $1,000,000 in funds to continue to respond to the needs of communities of color that have been impacted by COVID-19. โThe funding ultimately means reducing cases across our county and among our most vulnerable populations, ensuring our response to the pandemic centers equity. And at the state level and locally, that is and has always been the goal," Alize Asberry Payne, Washtenaw County Racial Equity Officer and a member of the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities Community Action Team, said in a statement. Hereโs how the funding breaks down:United Way of Washtenaw County: $500,000Washtenaw County Health Department: $248,000Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels: $144,600Food Gatherers: $150,000โ Like what youโre reading?
United Way of Washtenaw County awards over $192,000 in final round of funding
ANN ARBOR, Mich. United Way of Washtenaw County has awarded $192,545 to 13 nonprofit organizations and groups around Washtenaw County from its COVID-19 Community Relief Fund. The fifth and final round of funding brings the total grants investments from UWWC up to $1,050,000. Since April, it has given grant investments ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 to 64 organizations and agencies in Washtenaw County. In May, the 48197/98 zip codes had a high rate of COVID-19 inflections and were considered a prioritized area by the Washtenaw County Health Department. For a full list of organizations that have received funding by United Way of Washtenaw County, visit uwwashtenaw.org/covid-19-response-and-impact.