When you choose United Way, you’re choosing community. You’re choosing to join thousands of individuals and organizations working to ensure we ALL live in a community where everyone belongs and everyone thrives. JOIN US!
Like tiny seeds with potent power to push through tough ground and become mighty trees, we hold innate reserves of unimaginable strength. We are resilient.
Catherine DeVrye, The Gift of Nature
We have been through a lot as individuals and as a community since the storm. And while we have a long road ahead to heal, one thing we know is that together, we can do anything.
Thank you for your commitment to our community and for choosing United Way.
Let's see what we're capable of accomplishing, together.
United Is The Way
VISION
A united and resilient community where everyone belongs and everyone thrives.
MISSION
We bring people, partners, and resources together to improve lives and tackle our community’s toughest challenges.
IMPACT AREAS
As an organization we rally volunteers, raise funds, and connect partners to tackle big issues under the banner of our two core impact areas:
YOUTH OPPORTUNITY
Every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential. United Way is committed to working with community partners to clear the path to success, from early childhood through college and career. We do this through:
• Community Schools - creating hubs of support at 9 area public schools to support youth and their families.
• United for Youth - a cross-sector, cradleto-career community partnership forged between our public schools, health, social service, higher education, and youth services community partners.
COMMUNITY
RESILIENCY
We’ve seen firsthand how critical it is to have an infrastructure in place that can be mobilized when disaster strikes. From raising funds to rallying volunteers, we are moving our community to action, from the moment a crisis strikes through long-term recovery.
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
YOUTH OPPORTUNITY
One way we support youth and families is by working with our public schools, community partners, parents, and youth, to create hubs of support at nine Asheville City and Buncombe County schools. This includes:
• Community Nights | Last year we hosted more than 112 Community Nights. These weekly events provide a free dinner for the whole family, academic support, and opportunities to connect with school staff and community resources. Last year alone, we served over 8,000 meals!
• School Based Health Centers | 1,131 students were seen at the school-based health centers we helped to establish and 94% of the students were able to return to class after their visit. This is a big win for families and the classroom!
Health and Wellness at a Community Night
MOBILIZING RESOURCES COMMUNITY RESILIENCY
When the storm hit, we were in uncharted territory AND we knew exactly what to do. For more than 100 years we’ve raised and distributed funds, mobilized volunteers on a large scale, and pulled people and partners together to tackle difficult situations. So while we’ve never experienced a disaster like this, our organization was ready to take action.
• Volunteers | Our Volunteer Center helped 37 organizations get the help they needed by recruiting more than 5,000 volunteers in the days and weeks after the storm. We also secured 16 AmeriCorps members to work full time to help local relief efforts -- especially in Swannanoa and Barnardsville.
• Fundraising | Directing relief funds to the hardest hit areas of our community continues to be one of our top priorities. Just one of many examples: GiveDirectly allowed us to send $1,000 relief payments directly to people who were living in our community’s hardest-hit areas - no applications, no waiting in lines.
HOW YOUR DONATIONS ARE USED
The funds we raise from our neighbors, local businesses, government, and foundations allow us to make crucial investments in our community and get us a step closer to achieving our vision of a united and resilient community where everyone belongs and everyone thrives.
These investments are from our most recent audit of Fiscal Year 2024 (pre-Helene).
Links to our audit, 990, Annual Report, and other financial information can be found on our website (unitedwayabc.org/fiscal-transparency).
Helene Volunteers In Swannanoa
