Learning Circles encourage growth, collaboration

More than 100 nonprofit leaders in the areas of health and education came together this month for two forums aimed at making connections, exploring resources, and learning from one another. The newly developed forums, called Learning Circles, will take place several times each year for funded partners of United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region.…

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Impact Tours Offer Look At How United Way Partnerships Change Lives

(Editor’s note: This first-person account is provided by Emily Adams, social media intern with UWBCKR.) There’s no better way to learn how United Way partnerships impact lives than to see it for yourself. On March 23, United Way team members and community guests boarded a bus in Battle Creek for an Impact Tour. The tour…

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Saying 'Yes' to the Future

Put a few folks from the nonprofit sector in a room, and they’ll soon start talking about their work, their progress and their fundraising. That’s important, but I prefer when the conversation turns to people. Take this local mom, for example. Her family’s finances are precarious — what we call ALICE, or Asset Limited, Income…

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Driving Impact Through Public Policy

United Way Worldwide recently released its Public Policy Agenda for the 115th Congress. It’s part of the organization’s comprehensive effort to stand up for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. UWW is committed to assisting national policy-makers in crafting the best possible governmental policies in these areas, while also…

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Collaborative Lifts Up Literacy During Reading Month And Beyond

Nearly 2,000 new children’s books towered wonderfully and precariously high on the tables of the boardroom at United Way’s Battle Creek location recently. The books, the result of a holiday drive organized by Barnes & Noble, were sorted and boxed by members of the Battle Creek Community Literacy Collaborative, but they won’t stay that way…

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Bolstering Learning With Breakfast

We hope you had a good breakfast this morning. Many children in America didn’t. But for every middle and elementary school student at Battle Creek Public Schools, breakfast is a guarantee—one that’s paying off in healthier students, better grades and fewer disciplinary issues. Breakfast in the Classroom is a unique community partnership created when Kellogg…

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Overall

Click here to view and download the 2018-19 Full Portfolio Dashboard.

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New Video Brings Equity Into Focus

“Equity isn’t just about being equal or giving everyone the same opportunity. It’s about really understanding difference.” — Matt Lynn, Director of Community Impact Building equity while reducing racial and economic disparities is fundamental to United Way’s vision. Telling that story is the role of a new video released today. United Way of the Battle…

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Grants Tackle Childhood Trauma, Infant Health

Equipping schools to help students who suffer trauma and helping vulnerable families promote better health for newborns are among five programs receiving a total of $196,736 in funding from United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region. UWBCKR announced a third set of grants under its new impact strategy. The new grants are one-year…

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Tax assistance program frees up funds for families

Tax season is upon us and can be a source of stress for many, but for taxpayers who earned less than $54,000 in 2016, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program can help. VITA offers free tax preparation through a team of trained volunteers, helping to maximize refunds for to those who qualify by income, have…

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