News and Updates
5 Days, 50,000 Diapers
As many as one in three families in our region struggles to get diapers for their babies. United Way is bringing together dozens of businesses, nonprofits and volunteers in a massive regional effort to collect 50,000 diapers in 5 days…
Cracking the Book on Leadership
United Way board members are inspiring kids to read — and gaining new insights in the process. During March and April, Interim CEO Chris Sargent offered children’s books to UWBCKR’s Board of Directors and encouraged them to read one with…
Pop-Up Giving: A New Way to Give Together
June 6 marks a new way to do good. Pop-Up Giving empowers individuals to join and become instant grant makers in a fun and social environment. “It introduces the concept of collaborative giving and provides another entry point to the…
Amanda's Story
Amanda’s story: ‘I feel like I have a chance’ Amanda Bennett has big plans ahead. She wants to take classes next year at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She’s looking forward to forming and strengthening bonds with her family and children.…
Students Power Volunteerism
Nearly 500 Calhoun County high school students deployed Friday morning from Full Blast in Battle Creek, buzzing with energy and ready to get to work for the ninth annual Youth Day of Caring 2017. They returned several hours later –…
Partnership Response to Shootings Earns Award
A positive, collective response to the 2016 mass shootings in Kalamazoo has earned kudos for communications that rallied the region. On May 4, the West Michigan chapter of the Public Relations Society of America recognized the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the…
United 4 Change Looks Ahead
Five years ago, a diverse group of people from regional businesses, school systems and nonprofits gathered at Eaton Corporation’s Galesburg facility to talk about education, volunteerism and the future workforce. The result was United 4 Change, a collective effort supporting…
Anna's Story: 'Then, There Was Hope'
Anna and her family were already dealing with the uncertainty of a major illness and subsequent job loss when the next blow came — potential eviction. As a result of her severe circumstances, Anna had fallen behind in rent and…
Road Show Delivers Personal ‘Thanks’ – And Cookies!
Armed with cookies, artwork and grateful hearts, United Way representatives fanned out across the region last week to deliver messages of appreciation to area businesses and organizations. A dozen teams, which included staff, corporate volunteers and community partners, deployed to…