United Way of the CSRA recently announced its decisions regarding the awarding of funds contributed during its 2016 campaign. 

Donations to the United Way campaign totaled $3,344,619. Following the conclusion of the campaigns, approximately seventy-five community volunteers took on the daunting task of determining how much each of the programs would receive. These volunteers reviewed the outcomes each program aims to achieve.  United Way’s Board of Directors reviewed and approved final recommendations at its meeting on June 13, 2017.

United Way seeks to direct community resources to areas of the greatest need while measuring accountability through outcomes. This year, United Way also invited new agencies to participate in the community investment process if they had programs that addressed unmet needs.

A total of 45 programs at 24 agencies were awarded funding. These programs address goals in three specific areas:

Education

Helping Children and Youth Succeed

Income

Promoting Financial Stability and Independence

Health

Promoting Community-wide Wellness and Wellbeing

The process began when partner agencies were asked to submit applications for programs to be funded by United Way.  Seven panels of volunteers visited each of the partner agencies, met with agency representatives and evaluated the funded programs. In addition, each program’s  outcomes were reviewed by the volunteers to determine the impact of the program on the community. These outcomes must show how United Way funds make a difference in the community beyond simply counting the number of people served. This thorough citizen-based review process assures United Way contributors that their donations are invested in programs that work efficiently to meet the needs of the community, avoid duplication of efforts, and provide a meaningful impact on local lives.

Partner agencies that had programs awarded funding were the America Red Cross of Augusta; Augusta Training Shop; Boys & Girls Clubs of the CSRA; Boy Scouts of America, Georgia-Carolina Council, Inc.; Child Enrichment, Inc.; Christ Community Health Services; Columbia County Community Connections; Communities in Schools of Burke County, Inc.;  Easter Seals of East Georgia; Family Counseling Center of the CSRA, Inc.; Family Promise of Augusta; The Family Y;  Fireside Ministries;  Friendship Community Center; Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia; GreenPath, Inc.; Hope House, Inc.; Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services; Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta; SafeHomes, Inc.; The Salvation Army; The Senior Citizens Council of Greater Augusta, and the CSRA, Georgia, Inc.; The Speech and Hearing Center; and St. Stephen’s Ministry of Augusta, Inc.  

"We commend these programs for the incredible work they do in the community” said Scott Peebles, United Way Board Chair. "Our volunteers did a wonderful job evaluating the effectiveness of the programs and investing contributors’ dollars wisely. We look forward to seeing the impact of these funds on the lives of individuals in the CSRA.”