United Way of Greater New Bedford has awarded 22 Community Impact Grants to non-profit organizations in the region – investing $450,000 for high-quality, local programming in the areas of health, education, financial stability, and basic needs.
Funded programs focus on addressing issues such as maintaining or improving health and well-being, improving student outcomes and engaging families in the education of their children, connecting individuals to opportunities that provided a pathway for economic mobility, and providing direct assistance to those in need of basic necessities.
“We are building a stronger community for all residents by funding impactful programs and services,” said Michelle N. Hantman, President & CEO. “As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, residents are facing new challenges and accessing more local programs than ever before.”
Grants are thoroughly reviewed by a Citizens Review Committee comprised of volunteers, who make investment decisions for United Way. Funds for Community Impact Grants are raised through the United Way’s annual campaign, thanks to the generosity of hundreds of donors and supporters.
“We always say during the campaign that ‘what is raised here stays here,’ and that’s demonstrated not only by programming we offer, but also through the programs we are funding through our grant processes. What most do not realize, is that it’s a diverse group of community members that are the ones making the actual decisions on how that money is invested.”
This year, the Review Committee awarded grants to many deserving organizations such as Steppingstone who is providing sober, supportive housing and case management services for women during recovery and with mental health disorders to achieve long term sobriety and transition to independent living and the Community Economic Development Center (CEDC) for their Volunteers in Tax Assistance (VITA) Program to support residents with free tax preparation services – last year they assisted 1,555 families which resulted in 3.5 million dollars in refunds for residents. Coaching4Change was awarded a grant to expand their work into the New Bedford Public Schools to provide an extra layer of support to high-need middle school students through a cross age mentoring model that recruits, trains, and places diverse college students to support school improvement initiatives. And Turning Point an organization based in Wareham was awarded a grant to support the basic needs of families on the SouthCoast by providing supportive services to individuals and families who are facing various life challenges and as a result are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
For a full list of Community Impact Grants awarded, visit unitedwayofgnb.org/community-impact-grants.