BC/Kzoo
2-1-1 Answers The Call During Pandemic
Mention “frontline workers,” and you probably think about doctors and nurses, first responders, grocery store workers, and delivery staff. Yet there’s another crucial role to keep in mind: the call center staff at Gryphon Place 2-1-1. Maricela Alcala, CEO of Gryphon Place, said the team has been fielding calls from home since Michigan’s stay-at-home order…
Read MoreGrant Program Launched to Support Microbusinesses
A $500,000 grant program launched today will bring crucial relief to Kalamazoo’s smallest businesses hit hard by the economic fallout of the pandemic. The Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grants (KMEG) provides grants 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…
Read MoreConsumers Energy Foundation Gift to Spark Small Business Microgrants
A $200,000 donation from the Consumers Energy Foundation will support the creation of a new microgrant program for small businesses in the City of Kalamazoo. The program, which will focus on women- and people-of-color-owned businesses impacted by COVID-19, will be a partnership between the City of Kalamazoo and the United Way of Battle Creek and…
Read MoreFund Lifts Small Businesses With $1.12 Million in Loans
From restaurants to retailers, Kalamazoo small businesses are tapping a financial lifeline to help them deal with the economic impact of COVID-19. Thus far, the Kalamazoo Small Business Loan Fund (KSBLF) has approved 63 low-interest loans totaling $1,120,600. The fund was created earlier this month through a partnership of the City of Kalamazoo and United…
Read MoreRelief Bill Includes $300 Tax Break for Charitable Gifts
Americans have access to a new tax incentive this year when making a donation to qualifying charities, including United Way of the Battle Creek Region and many of our local nonprofit partners. The federal relief stimulus under the CARES Act allows taxpayers to claim an additional $300 deduction on their taxes without itemizing. The universal…
Read MoreBattle Creek Generosity Bolsters Relief Fund
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Battle Creek area foundations and individual donors are stepping up in a big way. Recent donations from the Battle Creek Community Foundation, the Miller Foundation and the Binda Foundation strengthened United Way’s Disaster Relief Fund by $25,000. What’s more, those gifts will bring an additional $15,000 from DTE,…
Read MoreUW Partnership Addresses Drug Costs, Access During Pandemic
United Way’s partnership with FamilyWize is especially crucial in helping individuals and families get access to lower-cost medicines during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s essential for people to take their prescribed medicines as directed by their physicians, especially as the health care system is stressed by COVID-19. Community residents can call FamilyWize for free customer support…
Read MoreCOVID-19 and the Power of Taking It Personally
Taking it personally has never felt so personal. Over the past two weeks, I’ve spent far more time in my home than anywhere else. My meeting schedule hasn’t changed—still more blocks on my calendar than in a kid’s toy box—but I’m talking across an internet connection instead of a conference table. The content of those…
Read MoreDisaster Relief Dollars Feeding Families, Keeping People Housed
Our community – individuals, companies, foundations, governments – has been exceedingly generous during this time of uncertainty as United Way and our partners work to respond to emerging needs. Since mid-March, the United Way Disaster Relief Fund has raised more than $1,100,000 to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on people in our community – particularly…
Read MoreBe Sure You’re Giving Locally
A social media post about a United Way Economic Relief Fund that can help individuals pay bills has gone viral in the last 24 hours, offering a 1-800 contact number. Please know that this post references a fund available to residents in Indianapolis only. In Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, individuals looking for help related to…
Read More