Continuum of Care Mid-Year Update

Logo for Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care

Partners Continue to Serve Unhoused Individuals & Families The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care works to administer federal and state funding, as well as increase and better coordinate the services available for houseless families and individuals. These services include outreach, emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing. The CoC’s goal is to increase data…

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Kilimanjaro is More Than a Mountain for UW Board Member

Sign at the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro

Ash Goel and family to raise money for education as they embark on epic climb During a 1923 speaking tour, British mountaineer George Mallory was asked why, after two failed attempts, he was determined to summit Mount Everest. “Because it’s there,” Mallory replied. For his upcoming ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, Dr. Ashutosh “Ash” Goel has…

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Application assistance available for KMEG Grants

Eligible entrepreneurs can now tap free, in-person assistance to apply for grants aimed at supporting Kalamazoo’s smallest businesses. The Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grants (KMEG) program provides Egrants of $5,000 to eligible microbusinesses within the city limits. The grants are a partnership between the City of Kalamazoo and United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region,…

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Summer Stock Up Launches June 1

United Ways across Michigan are teaming up with Kellogg Company and food pantries to make sure families stay fed through the summer and beyond. Summer Stock Up aims to fill the gap for families seeking food assistance during the summer months. Generous donations typically help food pantries stay well-stocked in the winter months, but can…

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Behind The Scenes: Why I Work for United Way – Shreya Naseri

Editor’s note: We asked our United Way BCKR team to share why they’re excited to work for United Way. Here are some thoughts from Shreya Naseri, Customer Relationship Management Administrator. As Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Administrator, my role is to ensure efficient fundraising through our online portal. I handle multiple campaigns including individual giving. Every…

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Behind The Scenes: Leading With Our Values

It’s said that if you don’t hold fast to your values, whether in good times or bad, then your “values” are really just hobbies. At United Way, our values are fundamental. They drive every aspect of our work—who we are, what we do, how we interact with each other, and how we engage with our…

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Felecia’s Story

Felecia Parker is looking forward to purchasing a new home this year, and planning to put in a garden with her children. She’s currently in the 21st year of her career as a medical assistant, overseeing remote learning for her 5- and 7-year-old, and actively searching for that new property with space for a garden.…

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Behind The Scenes: Committed to Equity

Over the past five years, United Way BCKR has been growing its efforts to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). The task ahead is to accelerate this evolution. “We firmly believe EDI is critical to our impact work and to our regional community,” said Chris Sargent, President & CEO. “That’s why every investment, every partnership,…

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Behind The Scenes: The Community Impact of Win-Win

A win for someone struggling to succeed—to get an education, access health care and achieve financial stability—does a lot more than benefit that person. It’s a win for the community, too. “Poverty imposes costs on the nation in terms of both programmatic outlays and productivity losses that can affect the economy as a whole,” states…

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STAR Awards Nominations Continue, Ceremony on Hold

United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region and Gryphon Place have decided to postpone the annual STAR Awards celebration for 2021 in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The STAR (Sharing Time and Resources) Celebration and Community Volunteer Awards have long been a time to recognize volunteers for their contributions of time, talent, and…

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