OUR 2009 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In the face of an economically challenging year for our community, both our volunteers and staff met this challenge with optimism and hard work.  We challenged our community to give more so that our partner agencies could better meet the growing needs of people in the Central Savannah River Area.  The accomplishments listed below are indicative of our community’s response to the challenge.

With your help during 2009, we:

• Secured resources of over $4.3 million through an annual (2008) campaign of $4.3 million (including $842,406 from the Combined Federal Campaign), various grants totaling $664,994, and partnerships and gifts-in-kind totaling $52,592.

• Provided funding through the Community Investment Process for over 40 local health and human service programs with a focus on helping youth succeed, promoting health and wellness, providing basic needs, and strengthening families and individuals.
 
• Successfully completed United Way of America’s 2009 Membership Standards Certification for accountability and transparency, supporting the findings of our auditor Elliott Davis, LLCwho reported a clean audit for the 2008 calendar year.

• Hosted the 8th Annual United Way Golf Classic at Belle Meade Country Club.  United Way was pleased to be able to bring back this event which was sponsored by The Knox Foundation.

• Hosted the 9th Annual Project Serve Day-of-Caring where over 150 volunteers from local businesses completed projects at area non-profit agencies.  The event was sponsored by Akima, CSRA Business Lending, and Hands On Georgia.

• NEW in 2009! - Participated for the first time in Georgia Theatre Company’s Film & Food for a Cause event, raising over $6,000 for the 2009 annual campaign

• Expanded community initiatives, including AmeriCorps VISTA and  United Way 2-1-1 to increase resources available to the community and a variety of non-profits and faith-based organizations.  

• NEW in 2009! - Launched expanded social media efforts by maintaining a Facebook page.

• NEW in 2009! - Conducted a Columbia County Needs Assessment to determine existing gaps and better identify resources to meet these needs.

• Expanded the Online Clearinghouse System for Christmas Assistance to include more organizations and served over 16,000 individuals in need during the holiday season. 

• Distributed Caring Club™ discount cards to almost 6,000 donors and increased the number of participating merchants to over 50. 

• Oversaw the distribution of over $218,000 through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) grant for nonprofit organizations to provide critical services in Richmond County.

• Distributed over $11,000 of  Born Learning early childhood development educational materials into 12 rural counties with the assistance of 153 volunteers and funding from The Change Foundation and Nicholson Revell, LLP.

• NEW in 2009! - Served as an intermediary for Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funds in Richmond County to support outreach program services and financial assistance to individuals and families to prevent utilities from being cut off.

• NEW in 2009! - Provided homeless supportive housing services to 893 persons (including 124 homeless veterans and 161 children); included “2-1-1 On the Go” outreach services which work to assist in putting homeless individuals into employment and housing.