United Way of Atlantic County Invests $850,000 in Making an Impact

United Way is determined to make an impact. This year, the organization will invest $850,000 to fund 62 programs that will touch the lives of thousands in our community. In addition, nearly $800,000 will be distributed in donor specified designations to area charities.

“Our focus remains on Community Impact,” said Brian K. Jackson, President of the Board of Directors for United Way of Atlantic County and Chief of Staff at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. “We research the needs that are present in our community and develop agendas that provide both short term assistance but more importantly, long term solutions. Our Board is committed to making our community stronger despite all of the challenges and obstacles we are facing.”

“The needs are there, they are real, but we need a plan, a strategy that includes collaborations and community partnerships; we are doing that,” said John Emge, Executive Director of United Way of Atlantic County.

United Way of Atlantic County has been at work here in the community for more than 70 years. Through a community agenda aimed at advancing the common good for all, the organization works closely with a variety of corporations, businesses, organizations and individuals to fund programs and services targeting four core priority areas of need in Atlantic County. They are:

Basic Needs and Independence
Mental Wellness and Reducing Substance Abuse
Safer Homes and Neighborhoods
Community Health

As a result of a sluggish economy and employment instability, the area of Basic Needs and Independence continues to reflect staggering increases in requests for service. Last year alone, United Way’s statewide 2-1-1 Help Line system, funded in part by United Way of Atlantic County (as detailed below), saw a 25% increase in calls from people seeking help in Atlantic County. Some 500 calls per month were from county residents seeking help for the very first time, and 44% of calls originating from our community were from individuals seeking help with temporary financial assistance. As a result, in the area Basic Needs and Independence, United Way will invest $282,887 into 23 programs focusing mainly on food, shelter and utility costs. A number of proactive services embracing a more long-term approach to stability for individuals and families will also be funded. These include job skills training and literacy education; programs and services for seniors and individuals with disabilities, legal services to prevent homelessness and financial assistance with childcare costs.

An additional $3,000 was designated to a new fund initiated through last year’s Sun National Bank Golf & Sporting Clays Invitational, which honored the Men & Women of the U.S. Military with the Thomas J. Kuhar Founder’s Award. This fund, called the Southern New Jersey Military Families Assistance Fund, will respond to the emerging needs of local military families when a family member has been deployed to active duty, or is returning from recent deployment. Working closely with the local military bases, United Way will supplement existing health and human service resources with this new fund and will focus on assistance with unexpected expenses that produce a hardship, such as car repairs or increased childcare costs. For more information about this fund or to make donate call United Way at 609-404-4483. 100% of donations made to this fund will go directly to families requesting assistance.

United Way will contribute $27,000 to fund 2-1-1, a non-emergency help-line that is available free of charge 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a collaboration with other United Ways in new Jersey and the state. This multilingual and TTY compatible service directs those in need of help to the appropriate resources. More information can be found at www.nj211.org.

Mental Wellness & Reducing Substance Abuse continues to be a critical area of need in our region as reported in our latest community needs assessment completed in 2009 and direct service providers. In 2011, UWAC will award $146,076 to support programs aimed at mental wellness in our community, and $152,282 focusing on reducing substance abuse. Programs funded in this priority respond to the need for increased education and awareness, early intervention and prevention, treatment and aftercare, but also more clinical personnel to provide service. As part of the long term strategy, several programs will be supported to create awareness and offer education about mental disorders; provide early intervention for individuals who witness or experience trauma and support training to improve service delivery.

More than $62,000, addressing Community Health in Atlantic County, will fund 6 vital programs. They include well-check ups for children, prescription assistance for individuals and people living with HIV/AIDS, assistance with medical and prescription for homeless youth and individuals who cannot afford their prescriptions, support, counseling and medical assistance for individuals newly diagnosed with diabetes and dental treatment for underinsured children.

Support for Safer Homes & Neighborhoods completes the funding distribution for this year with $176, 297 in grants for 15 programs and services targeting proactive approaches to keeping our neighborhoods safe. This priority connects our youth with programs that educate them to make positive choices and promote community action and leadership; deliver education and information about human trafficking in our community; link individuals and families with safe and affordable housing and offer transportation to organizations and individuals who lack options. In addition, in 2010, United Way joined forces with AtlantiCare, the cities and schools of Atlantic City and Pleasantville, several faith-based organizations and many others to host a two-day gun surrender program that netted 511 guns. The organizing group pledged to continue their efforts to curb the increasing violence in our urban areas and as a result, Stop the Violence in Atlantic County, a New Jersey nonprofit corporation, was created. Tax-exempt status is being sought for this truly grass-roots effort and our United Way is looking forward assisting with additional programming in the coming year.

As part of a new collaboration initiated to address the issues surrounding the increase in human trafficking our area, United Way will invest $15,000 in the collaborative effort of three local agencies to create awareness, outreach and support for victims. This investment builds on the work of the Anti-Trafficking Task Force of Atlantic County (ATTAC), comprised of representatives from several local governmental and non-profit agencies. Their focus has been to identify the areas of greatest need, supplement the fragmented programs that are currently available and investigate new opportunities for increasing service options. United Way has also applied for a $300,000 federal grant that will establish an awareness campaign targeting an overall community education on human trafficking. As of this date, the grant application is still under review.

Funding distribution is reviewed and decided by committees of volunteers that focus on individual priority areas. This process takes several months of discussion and review and is presented to the Board for final approval annually in June.

“Our work takes on an incredible importance during this time,” said Ann Arena, Vice President of Community Investments and Partnerships for United Way. “We are fully aware of the need and the dollars that a generous community has invested in itself. It’s keeping our goals in mind and the agendas that outline the future that makes this process successful. These programs and services touch thousands, but more importantly these are my neighbors, my co-workers, members of my community, and I know I’m making an impact.”

For a complete listing of programs and agencies funded in the 2011-12 United Way Core Priority Program Grant Funding distribution click here