United Way supports agencies and programs that help people become self-sufficient. We support education and enrichment programs that will allow people to better their own situations and create more stable situations for themselves and their families. We truly believe that giving people a hand up is a great way to help the entire community.
- United Way provided support, promotion and referral to the Earned Income Tax Credit Program. This program brought $224,508 back into our community to 932 low-income Berrien County households. With average gross household incomes of $11,429, imagine the impact of this credit for these families!
- Through a partnership with the Community Action Agency, we provide funding to the Individual Development Account program, helping families to save for a down payment on a home.
- Planning for the future, United Way awarded a Community Investment grant to fund a financial literacy program for children in the Coloma/Watervliet area.
- United Way took the lead in bringing Partnership for Prescription Assistance to our community. This program connects low-income families with low-cost or free prescription medication.
- United Way is a member of the 2-1-1 Operations Council, a statewide effort to bring 2-1-1 to Southwest Michigan and provide a more effective information and referral system to families and individuals.
- Partnering with Lake Michigan College, United Way financially supported a collaboration between LMC, Benton Harbor Street Ministries and Michigan Works! to deliver low-level literacy training and Pre-GED programming in the Benton Harbor area. Our funding leveraged additional program dollars from the Frederick S. Upton Foundation.
