BC/Kzoo
COVID-19 Update: Status on Offices, Events & Community Actions
UPDATE: Our office closure has been extended through April 13. United Way is taking steps to reduce the risk of infection among staff and the public as we continue to partner with local agencies on the community’s response to COVID-19. Following the State of Michigan’s guidance, we will close our offices to the public starting…
Read MoreKnowing ALICE: Jakaria’s Story
Building a better life isn’t easy. ALICE* households are reminded of this fact every day. But as Jakaria’s story reveals, having the right people and help available can forge a pathway to success. “I was in an apartment that I liked, and it was a good price and location, but it was infested with roaches,…
Read More10 Years & Counting!
United Way Earns Top Honor The last voyage of the Space Shuttle. Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot. The iPhone 4S debuts. That’s what was happening during the first year your United Way received Charity Navigator’s coveted 4-Star rating. This week, we made it an even decade. Charity Navigator rates nonprofits in two…
Read MorePeople Get Ready: Helping Prepare for Disaster
A community-wide disaster seems doubtful—until it isn’t. That’s why preparation before a disaster strikes, and a robust response after, makes all the difference. Adam Castle, the new Community Resilience Program Manager at Gryphon Place, leads a regional effort that’s making sure every community is ready to deal with any crisis. This role is made possible…
Read MoreCareer Life Expo Connects Jobseekers to Bright Future
Perched at the Kalamazoo Literacy Council table inside the Kalamazoo Expo Center, Cakneeshia Stegall smiled brightly at the dozens of jobseekers wandering past. She was eager to connect with them. After all, she knew what they were feeling. Stegall was once on the other side of the table, looking for work, at a past Career…
Read MoreALICE 2020 Needs You
We’ve all faced an inconvenient expense. Your car battery dies. One of your kids is sick and can’t go to school. You’ve got a cavity that needs fixing. Now imagine you’re living paycheck to paycheck, just barely keeping up with your bills. Suddenly, that inconvenience becomes a crisis. That’s the reality for 61,000 households in…
Read MoreFind Jobs, Support and Coaching at Career Life Expo
When it comes to the Career Life Expo, “more than a job fair” is more than just a catchy tagline.
Read MoreUW, FamilyWize Partnership Helps Region Save Big on Rx Costs
A powerful partnership involving United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region has saved local residents more than $1.8 million on prescription medications since 2007. FamilyWize, a community service organization, works with United Ways across the country to lower the cost of prescription medications for local individuals and families. The program provides discount cards…
Read MoreYear in Review: Advocacy Efforts
Give. Advocate. Volunteer. These are the core elements of what we do at United Way. We’ve put an especially strong focus on advocacy in 2019, as public policy continues to be an area in which we can work to eliminate barriers and improve systems that impact many in our community. Looking outward, we are turning…
Read More
Year in Review:
Pop Up Volunteering
In 2019, 21,101 individuals were impacted by Pop Up Volunteering events. Pop Up Volunteering (PUV) enables groups to complete projects wherever they may be – offices, corporate gatherings, churches or other locations. “Pop Up Volunteering allows us to help fill the immediate need within the community,” said Claire Michael, Engagement and Resource Development Associate at…
Read More