We Are Stronger United: A review of our impact in 2020

WE ARE STRONGER UNITED. How our strategic approach to investments and direct service are creating change where it’s needed most.

A NEW WAY, UNITED. O

ver the course of United Way’s nearly 100-year history in Greenville County, it’s safe to say few years, if any, have been quite like 2020. Yet, in spite of it all, we stand more strongly united with our community than ever before.

The arrival of COVID-19 in March compounded existing challenges and dramatically raised the level of need in Greenville County. People who never imagined they would need assistance are now reaching out to United Way for help covering rent and utilities, or a box of food to feed their families.

Through the uncertainty of quarantines, business shutdowns and school closures, one thing remained constant: This community’s incredible generosity and willingness to step up and help each other.

Since the launch of our COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, the combination of individual donors, foundations, corporations and our public CARES Act funding have contributed more than $2.6 million to help our neighbors. These dollars are being deployed to meet Greenville County’s most immediate relief and recovery needs, including additional support to local food pantries, emergency housing initiatives, and utility assistance through the “Keep the Lights On” fund. Though challenges and uncertainty remain around the pandemic, your tenacity and continued support keeps us moving, and for that we thank you.

In May our national community was tested again with the murder of George Floyd, re-igniting the undeniable need for systemic change in support of equitable and diverse communities in our country. Cities coast-to-coast came face-to-face with racism in their own communities by educating and re-educating themselves on historical oppressions that continue to affect lives every day.

To support an ongoing conversation around racial inequities in our community, United Way, the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and Urban League of the Upstate formed the Racial Equity and Economic Mobility Commission (REEM) to identify matters of social justice and disparities in education, health and income regarding the Black community of Greenville County. Through REEM, 36 community leaders are actively collaborating to develop systems-level change in Greenville County.

Simultaneously, 2020 brought a year of change for United Way as we completed a significant evolution of our work, one that will help us better meet the unique challenges we face, and help us realize our vision of a Greenville County where all people have access to the opportunities to achieve their full potential. As result, our strategic shift to improving economic mobility for individuals and families in Greenville County provides a clear focus on education, financial stability and vibrant and equitable community initiatives.

In October, we committed to a $3.75 million investment across 67 partner organizations working to improve lives and strengthen the community through education, financial stability, and vibrant and equitable community work. These investment decisions were informed by over a decade of community conversations, 18 months of focused research, data analysis, and a rigorous application process — all to ensure we are maximizing every dollar you donate in pursuit of our bold community goals.

Investments in partner organizations are only one way we work to make an impact. We are closely connected to the needs of Greenville County residents, allowing us to quickly expand initiatives and fill gaps like no other organization. We invest significantly in strategies like OnTrack Greenville and the Opportunity Center, which directly help people with the most need, in real time. In 2020 we have invested over $12.6 million into the community through our grants to partners and direct service programs. (See graph on back inside cover for a visual representation of the distribution.)

We believe these investments will help create change where it’s needed most. Working together with our partners, we must do all we can to increase economic mobility and educational opportunities for marginalized, disconnected communities. By reducing social and economic barriers for all who live in Greenville County, we’re creating opportunities for everyone to thrive.

If you have not had a chance to make your 2020 contribution in support of this critical work, we ask you to join us now at unitedwaygc.org/donate.

Whether you can give $5 or $5,000, we’re counting on your support.

It’s in times of adversity where true colors shine and we at United Way have been inspired by the generosity and tenacity of our community in 2020. Together, we can influence and impact lives — shaping a future where all are empowered to reach their full potential. Please join us in this continued mission as we collectively reach new heights, today and in the months, years and decades to come.

Together we are truly Stronger United.

Meghan Barp President and CEO United Way of Greenville County

$2.6M

17,000

3,752

1,500

1,661

6,939

raised for COVID-19 Community Relief Fund

United Way Greenville County Resource Line Calls Answered

“Emergency Housing Coalition” Housing Assistance Referrals

Families Helped through “Keep the Lights On”

Volunteers Engaged in COVID Relief

meals provided for Greenville Families

by Food Donations *numbers as of November 2020

A NEW WAY, UNITED. VISION:

MISSION:

A Greenville County where all people have access to the opportunities to achieve their full potential.

We mobilize people and resources to improve lives, strengthen the community, and advance equity for the benefit of all.

EDUCATION Grant Investments 16% Direct Service 10%

In 2020, United Way of Greenville County has invested

OVER $12.6 MILLION

FINANCIAL STABILITY Grant Investments 13% Direct Service 5%

into our partner agencies and direct service, strategic programming focused

VIBRANT & EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES Grant Investments 10% Direct Service 27%

in education, financial stability and vibrant and equitable community initiatives.

COVID-19 COMMUNITY RELIEF 19%

EDUCATION

FINANCIAL STABILITY

Education is one of the most powerful antipoverty tools. While employment may be essential to lifting an individual above the poverty line, education is the primary and most consistent driver of sustained upward mobility. Programming includes early learning, childcare, afterschool programs, tutoring, and post-high school skills and training.

ONTRACK GREENVILLE United Way’s innovative graduation initiative, OnTrack Greenville, reaches more than 4,000 Greenville County students at four middle schools and one high school. The Early Warning and Response System component, which identifies students at risk of dropping out of school based on attendance issues, behavior issues and poor course performance, has been scaled districtwide to 77,000 students in Greenville County.

MDC President John Simpkins addresses the REEM Commission.

United Way recognizes the significance of financial health as a predictor of financial mobility and stability. Programs include workforce development and job training, gaining and building assets (promoting savings and investment), and stable housing, and financial assistance.

OPPORTUNITY CENTER

VITA helped more than 10,000 Upstate taxpayers file for free in 2020.

United Way offered safe, impactful ways to serve the community through the pandemic.

Opening to the public in December, the Opportunity Center powered by United Way is a one-stop, holistic community approach to improve financial stability and economic mobility options for individuals and families in Greenville County. The new resource offers connections with premier partners including Bank of America, TD Bank and Wells Fargo, providing financial counseling and coaching, access two affordable loans, matched savings programs for asset building, income supports, and free income tax filing through United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

VIBRANT & EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES All communities must be safe, thriving, and equitable. Residents must feel valued and empowered. Our most vulnerable neighbors must have their basic needs met, community stakeholders must work collaboratively, and policy and advocacy efforts must be centered around significant systemic change to help move individuals and families out of poverty. Programs include basic needs services: food, shelter, health.

RACIAL EQUITY AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY COMMISSION Launched in September in partnership with Urban League of the Upstate and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the Greenville Racial Equity and Economic Mobility Commission grew from ongoing community conversations to identify and address systemic racial barriers in Greenville County by understanding the data revealing stark disparities. The group, which is comprised of a diverse roster of 36 community leaders, plans to collaboratively develop systems-level strategies, partnering with community institutions to implement significant change in the areas of racial inequities, social justice, and other key gaps identified as focus areas of the Black community.

Stronger United The arrival of COVID-19 and its effects have compounded existing challenges and dramatically raised the level of need in our community. People who never imagined they would need assistance are now reaching out to United Way for the first time. You can ensure families have a safe place to call home, access to vital utilities, a box of food, or education and training for a better future.

Now more than ever, your neighbors need you.

Invest in the future of our community with a gift to United Way.

unitedwaygc.org/donate

Project Joy Make the season bright for a special Greenville County family with Project Joy from United Way. Sign up to support students and their families by alleviating some of the holiday season burden and fulfilling a wish list of essential items. This is a wonderful way for individuals, families and companies to feel connected to their neighbors in need during a year where the essence of togetherness and feeling of joy are more important than ever.

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT U N I T E D W AY O F G R E E N V I L L E C O U N T Y

Sign up to make the season bright for a Greenville County family by fulfilling a wishlist of essentials.

unitedwaygc.org/project-joy

Keep the Lights On There are currently 8,000 Greenville County households facing a collective $4 million in unpaid utility bills. This impacts thousands of children relying on WiFi and electricity for virtual learning.

One hundred percent of donations made to United Way’s “Keep the Lights On Fund” will fund efforts to provide support to Greenville County families struggling to afford basic resources.

Help families at risk of losing basic utility service with a gift to “Keep the Lights On.”

unitedwaygc.org/lightson