BC/Kzoo
Impact Week 2019: Impact Is What We Do
We’re striving for long-term impact—helping people deal with their needs today while developing lasting solutions for systemic change.
Read MoreCall to Advocate: Another SNAP Change Will Create More Hungry Families
While some may raise concerns about how SNAP is administered, kicking millions of people out of the program isn’t the answer. It will hurt struggling families, especially the older adults and children.
Read MoreJesse’s Story
Jesse has places to go. And now, he has a way to get there.
Read MoreNew Grant to Catalyze Giving in Communities of Color
The grant, part of WKKF’s Catalyzing Community Giving initiative, will allow UWBCKR to work with leaders from communities of color in Battle Creek to create philanthropic activities that impact their communities more effectively.
Read MoreVolunteers Unite to Tackle Hunger – 100,000 Times!
With bells, cheers and upbeat music, more than 300 volunteers put together 100,000 meals in two hours to feed hungry families. The volunteers at United Way BCKR’s third annual United Against Hunger event brought more energy than ever, according to Stephanie Slingerland, Director of Philanthropy/Social Impact at Kellogg Company. Kellogg was the presenting sponsor. “Our…
Read MoreMission Report #3: ‘Engage Diverse People, Ideas and Resources’
On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy gave a speech to Congress urging support for putting an American crew on the moon before decade’s end. At that date, the United States had put a human in space exactly once: a 15-minute, up-and-down flight three weeks before. It was an outrageous, even laughable goal. And…
Read MoreMission Report #2: ‘Leading Shared Efforts’ Underscores Partnership
You probably tried this when you were a kid: Take a stick as thick as your little finger and see how easily you can snap it in half; then take a dozen sticks of the same thickness and try to do the same thing. You’ll find that you can’t. The lesson is simple: When we…
Read MoreMission Report #1: ‘Drive Impact’ Directs Our Work
Drive impact by leading shared efforts that engage diverse people, ideas and resources. Powerful words. But what do they mean? Today we’re kicking off a three-part series that takes a close look at our mission statement and how it influences our community work. ‘Drive Impact’ Pro Football Hall of Famer (and Michigan native) Tony Dungy…
Read MoreWhy All This Talk About Trauma?
Editor’s note: Trauma shows up as a pervasive barrier to a person’s success in every one of United Way’s Impact areas – Health, Education, Financial Stability and Basic Needs. It’s an issue we have only begun to address over the past few years with events such as film screenings of “Resilience,” community conversations and most…
Read MoreUWBCKR Joins Call to Increase Earned Income Tax Credit
United Way joined organizations from across Kalamazoo County urging state legislators to support Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposal to double Michigan’s Earned Income Tax Credit, an important support for low-income families. The coalition called on lawmakers to show bipartisan support for the proposal to double the EITC from 6% to 12%, which according to a…
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