2023 Community Investment Brochure

EVNI S TINGIN OUR COMM U YTIN 2023

THANKS TO GENEROUS UNITED WAY OF THE MIDLANDS TO INVEST IN

GENEROUS DONORS LIKE YO U , MIDLANDS RAISED MORE THAN

OUR COMMUNITY!

ince starting out as the Community Chest in 1923, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) has worked together with our local partners to raise funds that directly support immediate needs – creating long-term pathways to improve economic mobility.

While some things have changed, much has stayed the same. UWM remains a trusted steward and agent of change – removing barriers, strengthening the systems people rely on, expanding the network of organizations we support and filling gaps through direct services. And right now, even as poverty is decreasing in the metro, new challenges are emerging. Many families are struggling due to ongoing high inflation and a lack of living-wage jobs. Plus, data from the U.S. Census shows that the metro area has one of the highest percentages of working poor in the country. This means, our community has more working families living in poverty than almost anywhere else in the United States. But with the generosity and caring spirit of the Omaha-Council Blu s metro, UWM can use its community-wide perspective to address evolving community needs and continue strengthening the Circle of Support – ensuring assistance is available across the metro. We’re investing in more than 150 local nonprofit programs and direct services that address social and economic disparities and meet our neighbors’ essential needs.

LATACA Y ST FORCHANGEFOR 10 0 !SRAEY

YOUR PARTNER FOR LOCAL IMPACT

well as our direct services.

The more than 150 programs selected to receive funding from UWM are reviewed and vetted by a team of volunteers and subject matter experts who participate on our Community Investment Review Teams (CIRT). This dedicated and diverse group of more than 100 individuals use their critical thinking and expertise to make funding recommendations in three primary categories: basic needs, education and financial stability. In their due-diligence review, CIRT volunteers provide a unique understanding of community needs and use an equity lens to make investment decisions that remove barriers and create opportunities across the Omaha-Council Blu s metro. With this year’s investments, UWM will support and provide more than six million services that will address the areas of basic needs, education and financial stability throughout our community.

4 million meals by investing in food distribution, meal services, pantries, backpack programs and more.

250,000 health services by investing in high-quality physical, mental and social services for di erent ages.

250,000 shelter nights and other housing services by investing in safe shelter, transitional housing, rent and utility assistance, supportive referrals and case management.

1.5 million services to remove barriers and create opportunities by facilitating access to resources and training to support job placement, academic attainment, financial empowerment and other essential skills.

D I R E C T I N G Y O U R

DONATIONS WHERE THE Y’RE N E E D E D M O

S T

UWM DONORS CAN GIVE CONFIDENTLY KNOWING THAT THEIR DOLLARS ARE TRULY MAKING AN IMPACT.

LOCAL: Your donations are invested in the most impactful nonprofit programs right here in the Omaha-Council Blu s community. Together, they lift our neighbors up and build a stronger tomorrow for the metro area.

EFFICIENT: Your dollars go further when you donate to United Way. We meet the Better Business Bureau’s standard for nonprofit e ciency, meaning we keep our costs low and invest more of your dollar into programs that help those who need it most. UWM invests 95 cents* of every donated dollar back into our community.

IMPACT-DRIVEN: You can rest assured your donations are funding nonprofit partners who e ciently address our community’s most-pressing needs. A dedicated, diverse team of experts and community volunteers review and vet local nonprofit programs to recommend which ones receive UWM funding.

RESULTS-BASED: You’ll see your donations at work right here in our community. To hold ourselves and our partner agencies accountable, we collect program outcomes, measure impact and share the results with you.

*This calculation is based on fiscal year 2022-23

2023-24

African American Empowerment Network Inc.

American Red Cross - Omaha Council Bluffs Metro

Applied Information Management Institute

Bethlehem House

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands

Boy Scouts of America – Mid-America Council

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands

Bright Minds-Brighter Futures Early Learning

Center

Canopy South

Carole’s House of Hope

CASA for Douglas County

Catholic Charities Diocese of Des Moines & Council Bluffs

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Omaha

Center for Holistic Development

Charles Drew Health Center

Child Saving Institute

Children’s Square U.S.A.

Christ Child Society

City Sprouts

Code Black

Collective for Youth

College Possible

Community Alliance

Completely KIDS

CRCC

D2 Center

Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership

Family Housing Advisory Services

Family Inc.

Father Flanagan’s Boys Home

Financial Beginnings

Food Bank for the Heartland

Friends of Iowa CASA and ICFCRB

Generation Diamond

Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska

Girls Inc.

Goodwill Industries

Greater Omaha Attendance and Learning Services (GOALS)

Habitat for Humanity Council Bluffs

Healthy Housing Omaha

Heart Ministry Center

Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding

Academy (HETRA)

Heartland Family Service

Heartland Hope Mission

Heartland Workers Center

Hope Center for Kids

Housing Foundation for Sarpy County

I Be Black Girl

Immigrant Legal Center

InCommon

Intercultural Senior Center

International Council for Refugees and Immigrants

Iowa JAG Inc.

Iowa Legal Aid

Jewish Federation of Omaha

Kids Can Community Center

Kim Foundation

Latino Center of the Midlands

Legal Aid of Nebraska

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska

Mercy Housing Midwest

Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium

MICAH House

Midlands African Chamber Inc.

Midlands Latino Community

Development Corporation

Millard Public Schools

Nebraska Center for Workforce

Development and Education

Nebraska Children's Home Society

Nebraska Diaper Bank

Nebraska Enterprise Fund

Nebraska Urban Indian Health

Coalition

NeighborGood

New Life Family Alliance

New Visions

No More Empty Pots

OHB

Omaha 100

Omaha Community Broadcasting

OneWorld Community Health Centers

Partnership 4 Kids

Project Houseworks

Restoring Dignity

RISE

Room for Roots

Santa Monica House

Siena Francis House

Simple Foundation

Somali Community Service

Stephen Center

Teammates Mentoring Program

The Salvation Army-NE

The Yates Fund

Together Omaha

Urban League of Nebraska

Visiting Nurse Association

Whispering Roots

Women's Center for Advancement (WCA)

YMCA of Greater Omaha

Youth Emergency Services

YouTurn

UWM FUNDED AGENCIES AND PROGRAM LOCATIONS

ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY AND

Every hour of every day, someone in Nebraska and Iowa is faced with a challenge and needs assistance. To address these unseen and unmet needs, the 211 Helpline – housed at United Way of the Midlands – is a resource that connects people looking for assistance to local health and human services programs, community services, governmental programs and others that can help.

or fiscal year 2022-23, the 211 Helpline received more than 313,080* contacts – and the number of people needing assistance shows no signs of slowing down. To address the evolving needs of those reaching out for help, we partner in two social determinants of health systems (Help Me Grow and Unite Nebraska) – collaborating with Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute, CyncHealth, CHI Health, Unite Us and others.

The 211 Helpline is fully funded through the State of Nebraska, Iowa United Ways, grants and fee-for-service contracts. We are grateful for the work of the Nebraska Unicameral and Senator Mike McDonnell to help maintain the support for this growing public-private partnership.

TOP FIVE NEEDS 211 IS SEEING, SO FAR, IN 2023:

Housing Utilities

Income Support/Assistance

Transportation

Food/Meals

* Represents calls, emails, texts and app interactions through our Contact Center, as well as web touches for NE and IA from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.

JOBS FOR AMERICA’S GRADUATES NEBRASKA

mpowering students with the skills and support to succeed in education, employment and life – that’s the mission of JAG Nebraska. By utilizing the JAG Advantage, the program is dedicated to providing students with personal and professional development training and support to succeed in high school, further education and employment following graduation.

Created in 2019 through a partnership with the State of Nebraska’s Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services – JAG Nebraska started with three schools and has now grown to serve over 1,000 students at 34 middle and high schools across the state. With the current support of Governor Jim Pillen and Commissioner John Albin – we plan to grow JAG Nebraska by an additional 38 programs for the school year beginning in August 2024 – exponentially increasing capacity to serve all students that would benefit from JAG Nebraska.

A JAG Career Specialist in each school provides student-centered programs to help young people achieve their fullest potential. Students receive individual attention and support through a program that equips them for success through hands-on instruction and realistic learning experiences – where they master up to 87 core competencies identified by business and industry as essential to beginning successful careers.

“The JAG Nebraska program can help students see their potential and work to achieve their goals. It is a real asset for creating better opportunities for our younger generation and increasing our homegrown workforce in Nebraska.”

- Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FISCAL RECOVERY FUND

hrough its partnership with Mayor Stothert and the City of Omaha, UWM will complete its second year of administering $2.5 million in investments from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fiscal Recovery Fund. The 33 supported programs specifically focus on basic needs including access to food and shelter, services for persons experiencing homelessness, access to healthcare, behavioral and mental health services, health promotion and education, financial literacy and family support.

GOODFELLOWS

nited Way of the Midlands is proud to partner with the Omaha World-Herald to administer the Goodfellows program that provides help to those in our community who have fallen on hard times. This includes people between jobs, the elderly, those who have experienced abuse and those facing a personal crisis with nowhere else to turn. This year, more than $650,000 will be invested in emergency services, holiday food vouchers and many additional programs.

For the 2022 campaign, Goodfellows' donations came in from Nebraska and 19 other states.

CHAD

• ALS Association, Mid-American Chapter •

Alzheimer’s Association, Nebraska Chapter • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Nebraska

• American Lung Association in Nebraska • Arthritis Foundation Nebraska • Autism Action Partnership • Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska • Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Nebraska/Iowa Chapter

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Nebraska Chapter • Epilepsy Foundation Nebraska • Heart Heroes, Inc.

JDRF International, Nebraska-Iowa Chapter

• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Nebraska Chapter

• March of Dimes, Nebraska & Western Iowa Market

• National MS Society, Mid America Chapter

• Nebraska Aids Project

• Nebraska Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation

• Nebraska Community Blood Bank

• Nebraska Health Care Foundation

• Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association

• Nebraska Kidney Association

• Susan G. Komen Great Plains

• Team Jack Foundation

• United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska

hrough our partnership with the Combined Health Agencies Drive (CHAD), health charities receive funding to conduct innovative research, provide critical client services and o er education and prevention programs to members in our community. CHADNebraska.org

COURT REFERRAL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM

n collaboration with Douglas County and partners in the court system, UWM’s Court Referral Community Service Program serves 300+ justice-involved adults annually – referring them to agencies for completion of community service hours, verifying they complete their hours and delivering reports to probation o cers. This represents more than 2,500 service hours for our community – and CRCSP is currently on-track to serve the most clients since 2016.

The work of the CRCSP saves Douglas County taxpayers an estimated $450,000 annually.

UnitedWayMidlands.org/CRCSP

RAISE ME TO READ

aise Me to Read is part of the Omaha metro collective impact model to improve school readiness, out-of-school learning, school attendance, grade-level reading and to disrupt generational poverty. As a member of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, a community solutions action plan was completed and continues to guide their work. Raise Me to Read was named a 2022 All-America City Award finalist, based on our community’s work to support a ordable housing which, in turn, supports e orts to increase childhood literacy.

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA)

hrough its partnership with Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare, and thanks to the support of Women United, UWM is expanding access to Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training. This training gives individuals the tools and resources they need to help someone struggling with mental health challenges, while helping to reduce the stigma of and barriers to seeking help.

In its first year, more than 1,000 people received MHFA training – and UWM has a goal of increasing this number to 1,500 in 2024.

UnitedWayMidlands.org/MHFA

NEBRASKA CENTER FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION

uilt upon a mutual desire to create a better, stronger and more vibrant community, United Way of the Midlands has had a longstanding partnership with the Omaha Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO). Through this partnership, we host an annual Blue Collar Boxing event that benefits the Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and Education and UWM’s Community Care Fund. NCWDE is focused on increasing the qualified workforce in Nebraska by creating opportunities for Omaha’s young people to gain exposure to and pursue careers in the trades, while also developing the skills to support the infrastructure of Nebraska.

NebraskaWorkforce.org | UnitedWayMidlands.org/Blue-Collar-Boxing

SHINE BRIGHT

s part of its GOOD on the Go program, UWM partners with local school districts and raises funds for the purchase and assembly of Shine Bright kits for kindergarten, sixth- and ninth-grade students. The kits are then distributed to students in the Omaha, Council Blu s and Papillion La Vista school districts – as well as JAG Nebraska students across the state. Each Shine Bright kit contains the essential hygiene items kids need to feel confident so they can succeed in the classroom and in life. UnitedWayMidlands.org/ShineBright

82% of OPS sta say hygiene was a barrier for students in their school before Shine Bright, and the top three positive results among students receiving Shine Bright kits were*:

Improved student hygiene

Improved student self-confidence

90% 80%

Improved student health

30%

MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE METRO

Maurice came to Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership (ENCAP) seeking assistance with his past due rent. He was employed full time at the time of intake, but had missed hours at work due to a COVID diagnosis, needing to address his children’s mental health issues and an upcoming surgery that would put him out of work for many weeks. Through UWM’s City of Omaha ARPA funding, ENCAP was able to provide direct rental assistance. ENCAP’s Support Services Specialist also helped the family create a plan to obtain new employment, prioritize household expenses and access resources including mental health counseling, a ordable medication options, food, clothing, financial assistance and job placement assistance.

*A family of four living just above the current federal poverty line of $30,000 can hardly be considered financially secure. Based on the cost of living in the metro, it’s estimated that 1 in 3 families in our community struggle to make ends meet.

(American Community Survey 2021)

When individuals have what they need to thrive, it impacts our entire community. Here are some examples of who your donations are helping…

The Hassan family first requested food assistance when the father’s work hours became inconsistent and completely dependent upon the weather. With mounting bills and nowhere else to turn, they went to Heartland Hope Mission . The family was approved for crisis assistance including a week’s supply of groceries, clothing, hygiene items and diapers. When the family learned they could receive weekly pantries, the mother became teary eyed and said, “Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this will help my family.” They’ve also received utility and other supports to get back on their feet. This quick intervention and support kept the family from experiencing homelessness. They are now working toward self-su ciency and the father has accepted a full-time position as a driver for Heartland Hope Mission.

*The 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment indicates 19.7% of metro area residents worry about running out of food. This is up from 11.3% in 2018. Similarly, calls to the 211 Helpline for food and meal supports have continued to grow annually since 2020.

CHANGING LIVES THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

David , a Completely KIDS student at Field Club Elementary, was referred for an inpatient stay at Immanuel after expressing suicidal ideation. He struggled with depression, lack of hygiene, low motivation, poor attendance at school and no real friends. For the past year, David has participated in individual therapy with a counselor at Completely KIDS – focusing on his depressive symptoms and a safety plan for when suicidal ideation occurs. During the spring of 2022, David had suicidal ideation and almost attempted suicide. But he stopped himself and remembered the safety plan he’d worked on with his therapist. With medication, family engagement, increased therapy and coping skills, his symptoms have improved significantly. David was discharged from therapy and people see a remarkable di erence in his well-being.

* 1 in 3 people in the metro have experienced symptoms of chronic depression, and Nebraska ranks 33rd and Iowa 18th in terms of access to mental health care. (Community Health Needs Assessment)

Dorothy had been homeless on and o for five years due to her struggle with mental health issues. She had moved into an apartment, but was soon evicted for falling behind on rent. After going to a local shelter, she was referred to Together for the Horizons Program. Dorothy received intensive case management, referrals to mental and behavioral health, transportation to and from appointments, section 8 housing, SNAP and food from the Together pantry. Through this circle of support, she was able to move into and sustain an apartment.

* On any given night, approximately 1,400 people are homeless in the metro area

– 30% are chronically homeless and 43% suffer from mental illness.

(Point-in-Time Study by Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless)

REMOVING BARRIERS & STRENGTHENING THE SYSTEMS PEOPLE RELY ON

OneWorld’s Social Assistance Team is currently helping a group of four women who are all survivors of domestic violence and are all prenatal patients at OneWorld. They are providing them with services to meet their comprehensive needs at this di cult time. At least one patient is staying in a local shelter, and they are all in need of assistance with healthcare, safety, housing and food security – along with goal setting and long-term employment. They are also receiving assistance from OneWorld’s navigators and eligibility team to enroll in Medicaid, SNAP, WIC and other support programs. One key service OneWorld provides for the women is the Baby Boutique. There, young moms and prenatal patients can access critical supports for their babies including formula, books, clothing, learning toys, etc. The Baby Boutique has recently expanded its hours in response to the need, with 2022 seeing record numbers of items distributed – including triple the number of diapers.

*According to the National Diaper Bank Network, 1 in 3 families struggle to afford diapers and WIC, Medicaid and SNAP don’t cover this essential. The Nebraska Diaper Bank has already distributed more than 1.3 million diapers this year.

Marisol was continually detached from school due to physical and mental health issues. She failed multiple classes and was referred to juvenile probation due to truancy issues. In the fall of 2019, she earned one credit, then the pandemic hit and 2020-21 was essentially a lost school year due to her depression and anxiety. But Marisol’s youth attendance navigator at the D2 Center didn’t give up. As she approached age 21 without a diploma – her navigator created a plan toward graduation with programs that o er alternative ways to earn course credit and help to navigate the system. Marisol gained confidence, got a part-time job, finished all her credits and even spoke at graduation. While in summer school in July 2022, she participated in an internship through OPS for future teachers and worked as a para. She is now employed as a full-time para through OPS and plans to attend Metropolitan Community College and begin working on a degree.

• The number of disconnected youth in the metro has increased from 8,900 to approximately 12,000.

(Measure of America)

HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

DONATE

By making a gift of any amount, you’ll help create a Circle of Support to help our neighbors overcome di cult challenges and start building a brighter future – right here in the Omaha-Council Blu s metro. Through more than 150 programs and direct services, we’re addressing the social and economic disparities and meeting families’ essential needs such as healthy food, safe and stable housing, physical and mental health services, career preparation and job training.

YOU CAN

Give through your company or organization’s United Way campaign

Make a gift to the Forever United Fund and build your legacy of giving

Scan the QR code below to give online or go to UnitedWayMidlands.org/Donate

VOLUNTEER

Scan the code below or go to UnitedWayMidlands.org/Volunteer to see how you can participate in an existing volunteer project, organize a custom corporate volunteer project or assemble kits for people in need.

United Way Events & Opportunities

• Shine Bright

• Day of Caring – September 15, 2023

• GOOD on the Go Projects

• Custom Projects

• Holiday Helpers – November and December

This upcoming school year, UWM will assemble and distribute nearly 5,000 Shine Bright Kits for local students.

GET INVOLVED WITH UWM BY JOINING AN AFFINITY GROUP

TOCQUEVILLE SOCIETY

Established in 1987, the Tocqueville Society recognizes individuals and families making annual gifts of $10,000 or more. As leaders and advocates for UWM’s work across the metro, Tocqueville Society members strengthen our community and leave a legacy for generations to come. For this last fiscal year, UWM surpassed Mr. Warren Bu ett’s Tocqueville Membership Challenge – reaching 403 members and increasing his generous match of UWM’s campaign.

BRIDGEBUILDER SOCIETY

Established in 1989, the Bridgebuilder Society recognizes individuals and families making annual gifts of $1,000 to $9,999. Together, their generosity helps bridge the gap between the increasing needs in our community and the services available to meet them.

WOMEN UNITED

This diverse, vibrant group of women leaders is recognized for their annual gift of $1,500 or more and their desire to advocate, volunteer and give back to those who need it most. Currently, Women United is working to remove the stigma associated with mental health and asking for help by supporting our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) – United in Heart and Mind initiative.

EMERGING LEADERS

This dynamic group is all about making connections – with a purpose. Members are young professionals passionate about volunteerism, advocacy and philanthropy. They are recognized for their annual donations of $250 or more, and they participate in meetings, events and volunteer projects to create positive change in our community. Currently, the Emerging Leaders support the JAG Nebraska program.