Dear Friends, Thank you for sharing the journey of 2021 with us. In reflecting on the year, the first thought we have is what a journey it has been! We marked our 98th year of service to you, our community. We are proud of the work that has been accomplished, but we are also humbled by the responsibility to ensure the legacy of giving built by generations of supporters is on a solid foundation to continue for years to come. By providing grants to support systems in health, education, financial stability, and safety net services, we create positive impacts for current and future generations.
We shared a number of staggering facts about the challenges of many McLennan County families with the launch of our “Are The Children Well?” report in April of 2021. We highlighted that 29% of children under 5 are living in poverty, and prior to the impacts of the pandemic, 46% of our families were making less than the basic cost of living. The pandemic has intensified awareness for the health and economic disparities that communities of color have experienced for generations. Our process is to center community voice through data gathering by directly interviewing individuals living with these challenges, which has given us valuable insight into how to affect systemic changes. After we released the report we continued to utilize community voice at the center of our planning process to identify the areas where work should begin. This action plan will serve as a road map to improve the overall quality of life for our families.
United in our Mission,
As we look to the future, we will continue to act on our stated values of diversity, equity, and inclusion and set the standard for what Living United looks like. We will raise funds to help support the 43 partner agencies eligible to receive funding through our grants and designations programs. And, we will continue to recruit new members to our United Way network to join in our journey.
This work is the first of its kind for McLennan County, and we are pleased to share that United Way Worldwide has highlighted the effort in an Innovation Case Study which is available to the global United Way network as an example of best practice for innovative change. We are grateful for our staff, Board members, volunteers and residents who have invested in this effort, but we know there is still much to be done. For years, our work has been supported by our local workplace campaigns and our local foundations. Nothing could happen without the support of our local network. However, to help local dollars raised have more local impact, we also seek funding from outside entities to bring new resources to our area. This year, we brought an additional $125,000 to the area through grants received from Episcopal Health Foundation and The Texas Prenatal-to-Three Collaborative. We are grateful for their support and believe it further validates the need for the Child Well-being Movement.
2021 Community Report 2 Community Will We take pride in the vast network of people and organizations working within our network. Your United Way is committed to identifying local needs by encouraging community will in order to make local investments. We strive to truly be the community’s work. Board of Directors 2021 • Andrew Pick, Chair, Caterpillar Distribution Center • Tammy Richards, Chair-Elect, Extraco Banks • Orlando Rodriguez, Jr., Treasurer, First Central Credit Union • Mark Hobbs, Secretary/Governance, The Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation • Dan Ingham, Resource Development, The First National Bank of Central Texas • Betty Bauer, H & B Packing Co., Inc. • Deidra Emerson, City of Waco • Jamie Gipe, Texas Farm Bureau • Mitchell Horner, Independent Financial • Jessica Juarez, Unleashed Brands • Edward Love, Waco ISD • Tanner Moore, Alliance Bank Central Texas • Iliana Neumann, M.D., Waco Family Medicine • Dawn Rogers, Baylor University • John Taylor, Brazos Higher Education Service Corporation • Casey Turner, Turner Behringer Real Estate Campaign Cabinet • Dan Ingham, Chair, The First National Bank of Central Texas • Jessica Attas, Texas Association of Business • Jed Cole, Brazos River Capital • Gregg Glime, Coldwell Banker • Jessica Juarez, Unleashed Brands • Kaneisha Lloyd, Baylor University • Tanner Moore, Alliance Bank Central Texas • Andrew Pick, Caterpillar Distribution Center • Dawn Rogers, Baylor University • Loren Schwartz, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management • Alice Starr, Starr Strategies Co. • Casey Turner, Turner Behringer Real Estate This dedicated group of volunteer leaders represents a variety of donor segments and is tasked with developing and implementing strategies to grow the fundraising efforts of the Annual Campaign. Cabinet members are goodwill ambassadors and fundraisers for the Annual Campaign through acquisitions of new workplace campaigns, upgrading corporate giving within existing campaigns, identifying and securing gifts from individual donors, and serving as the bridge between the community at-large and United Way. Emergency Food and Shelter Program • Joe Sudderth, Chair, Retired • Susan Copeland, McLennan Community College • Harry Harelik, Retired • Mike Jones, City of Waco • Peter Kultgen, Retired • Gary Luft, Heart of Texas Council of Governments • Tom Newsom, Baylor University • Bill Pitts, PhD • RoseMary Mayes Rafuse, RMMayes LLC • Anjuli “AJ” Renold, American Red Cross • Nicole Wynter, Waco Foundation Your United Way has had the privilege of serving as the local distributor for federal dollars for emergency food and shelter needs since 1991. We oversee a local Board tasked with review of grant applications and the oversight of distributed dollars to local nonprofits making local impact. We have distributed over $2,800,000 in McLennan County throughout our tenure.
3 Greater Waco United Fund Foundation • Cheryl Gochis, Trustee President, Baylor University • Bill Clifton, The Clifton Group • Malcolm Duncan, Jr., Retired • Susan Feagin, John Brown Limited • Mark Hobbs, The Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation • Andrew Pick, Caterpillar Distribution Center • Tammy Richards, Extraco Banks • Orlando Rodriguez, First Central Credit Union • John Taylor, Brazos Higher Education Service Corporation • Wendy Ellis, CEO, United Way This Foundation was established in the 1970s to support the local impact efforts of United Way of Waco-McLennan County through our endowment. Gifts made to the fund provide long-term support by ensuring our work continues in perpetuity. A gift to this fund secures benefits for years to come. Staff Our staff have a combined 64 years working in the civic and nonprofit profession. We are Baylor Bears, apart from one Red Raider. Although we may serve on the funding side now, some of us have worked for a variety of McLennan County’s nonprofits. Our commitment to the success of these nonprofits runs deep. Wendy Ellis, Chief Executive Officer Karen Brown, Sr. Director of Finance and Administration Tiffani Johnson, Sr. Director of Impact and Engagement Haley O’Connell, Manager of Impact and Engagement Justin Rice, Manager of Grants and Impact Community Investment Councils We ensure that our volunteers making funding recommendations are diverse and reflective of the community’s population. This includes both career professionals and those with lived experience in seeking out direct support through area nonprofits, as well as diversity across various demographic categories.
12 HEALTH PROGRAMS PROGRAMSFINANCIAL5STABILITY SAFETY7 PROGRAMSNET EDUCATION9PROGRAMS 33 Programs Funded $800,000 in grants awarded in
Collectively, we strive to move the dial in a direction whereby funded programs are representative of the communities they serve.
2021 Community Report 4 Your Dollars At Work
Local giving. Local impact. We raise funds on behalf of high-impact nonprofit programs vetted by our Community Investment Councils. As a funder, United Way sets a standard for data collection and diversity, equity and inclusion practices in nonprofit programming and supports our Funded Partners with trainings to build their capacity in these areas. In 2021, despite the limitations of COVID-19, our Funded Partners continued to deliver high-quality programming that resulted in impactful outcomes for the individuals they serve.
As a United Way CIC member, I’ve had the opportunity to champion the way forward at increasing equity in grant-making.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion training provided to grant reviewers Capacity-building trainings provided to funded partners
Paula Solano, 2021 Community Investment Council member “ ” Equity in Practice
Grant writer assistance provided to lowerresourced organizations seeking our funding Options for varying response styles provided in grant application
A majority of funded programs demonstrated progress in their diversity, equity & inclusion CommunityeffortsInvestment Councils represented diversity across race, gender, age & lived experience 2020-2021
“In 2021, Family Abuse Center faced many challenges. The greatest was the damages sustained from the Winter Storm Uri. Family Abuse Center was extremely fortunate to receive financial support through United Way and their community partners. This relief allowed FAC to focus on how to their services to provide counseling, case management, legal advocacy and housing to victims of domestic violence, despite having to temporarily close their emergency shelter.”
Samantha Dietzler Director of Development Family Abuse Center
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Fulfilling Needs Wherever We Can During Texas Winter Storm Uri, Family Abuse Center suffered extensive damage to their shelter. We partnered with United Way of Texas, TEGNA, Inc., and KCEN TV to respond in real-time to provide funds to help cover the unexpected need for repair and recovery to our local shelter for domestic violence survivors. In times of crisis, we are there to ensure Waco’s most trusted nonprofits have financial resources available when they are needed most.
Texas Winter Storm
2021 Community Report 6 Health Impact 87% of clients served by programs in the Health pillar improved their health and ability to live healthy lives. $234,583 Funded • Healthy Beginnings – Prenatal Care • Healthy Living – Access to Healthy Foods • Healthy Living – Physical Activity • Healthy Living – Health Services & Education • Healthy Living – Mental Health Impact Areas Funded: Thank You Health Funded Partners...
7 Education Impact 79% of families and children served by programs in the Education pillar improved their knowledge and skills in order to be successful in school and life. $256,720 Funded • Childhood Success – Social-Emotional Success • Youth Success – Social-Emotional Success • Family Engagement – Parent/Caregiver Education • Family Engagement – School Connection Thank You Education Funded Partners... Impact Areas Funded:
2021 Community Report 8 Financial Stability Impact 91% of clients served by programs in the Financial Stability pillar improved their financial stability and economic status. $165,656 Funded • Financial Resiliency – Financial Literacy • Job/Workforce Development – Career/Workforce Development Thank You Financial Stability Funded Partners... Impact Areas Funded:
9 Safety Net Services Impact 71% of individuals and families served by programs in the Safety Net Services pillar were able to meet their essential needs in order to move out of crisis. $143,040 Funded • Food/Clothing/Housing • Trauma Care & Prevention • Legal Services Thank You Safety Net Services Funded Partners... Impact Areas Funded:
“That’s equitable; where no matter your race, gender or zip code… you’re able to thrive.”
“That is thinking ahead and giving sincere thought to what the community’s potential and immediate needs are.”
“Where all children would be valued and that they have all the tools necessary to succeed in this life.”
McLennan County Parents want a community…
Are The Children Well?
In 2021, United Way sought answers to this question through a research and engagement effort by exploring our community’s current condi tion and its aspirations for creating more equitable outcomes for McLennan County’s young children and their families. Doing so meant it was vital for United Way and other stakeholders to create a space for open communication and power sharing with the community that would yield honest feedback regarding what residents actually desire.
“ ”
Together, United Way staff and community partners formed the McLennan County Child Well-being Movement which sought to glean insights from residents’ experiences and local data to better understand how to respond more specifically to local issues. In May 2021, we shared the Are the Children Well? report. With input from over 600 county residents, the report revealed that our community aspires for change in the following seven focus areas:
EMBRACE AN APPROACH THAT VALUES THE WHOLE CHILD. ENSURE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. MEET THE BASIC NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. INCREASE ACCESS TO RESOURCES. ADDRESS THE RACIAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DIVIDE. CREATE MORE CONNECTEDNESS. TAKE ACTION.
Check out our website for more information
It takes a village. You can’t have a child who is doing well without looking at the entire community. One is supported by the other.
McLennan County service provider
2021 Community Report 10
“Where parents can be confident to dream dreams for their kids and know that it is attainable for them.”
In order to understand the health of a community all one must do is look at the health of its youngest residents and ask ‘Are the children well?’.
www.unitedwaywaco.org
Did you know?
• Be intentional about cross-sector community involvement
Kevin Thomas, Community Advisory Board Member ”
Moving forward, United Way of Waco-McLennan County will serve this community as a convener, collaborator, and funder of initiatives which align with community aspirations and evidence-based strategies that will positively impact children, families, and ultimately, our Compensationcommunity.& accommodations for participation provided to residents
In 2021, your United Way was recognized by United Way Worldwide for innovative practices in this community engagement effort. We are proud of the recognition that this collective movement of community residents and stakeholders is receiving on a global platform.
What’s Next?
• Elevate and engage our community members in matters affecting their families
“
• Emphasize a two-generational approach to support families
• Focus explicitly on equity and intersectionality
Meetings held outside of traditional work hours
As Community Advisory Board Member, Mary Bonner-Fisher, stated, “It is refreshing to be part of the solution as a parent and community leader. I am excited that other parents have the opportunity for their voices to be amplified and space is given for that voice to be heard.”
Responding to the report findings with an action plan is a priority; however, the report itself also outlined our call to action and commitment toward future work in support of McLennan County children and families. Together, United Way and its partners will:
Prioritized participation from residents of impacted communities
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Written materials & forums provided in both Spanish and English
Equity In Practice
The McLennan County Child Well-being Movement is continuing to partner with residents participating in this work through a Community Advisory Board. Together, these residents and partnering organizations are creating a Community Action Plan to respond to issues identified in the Are the Children Well? report and to be utilized by local decision-makers as they work toward positive change for county residents.
United Way provides me the opportunity to have a high-level impact on my community. I am more than thankful to have stepped into this work as the staff is committed to giving an equal playing field to each individual at bat. They truly embody, ‘where two or three may come together, anything can be done,’ in a way that is creating momentum with citizens who have felt helpless in their voices.
2021 Community Report 12 Community Investment The United Way Annual Campaign is the heart and soul of our work and empowers us to impact tens of thousands of local residents. As our community continues to navigate COVID-19, philanthropic dollars are needed more than ever. Thank you to the following organizations and companies who have supported United Way and our funded partner agencies through their annual giving at $500+. These corporate neighbors provide vital assistance to our neighbors. (Income as of March 3, 2022.) Community Founder $150,000 + Community Investor $50,000 - $149,999 Community Developer $25,000 - $49,999 Community Builder $10,000 - $24,999
13 Community Enhancer $5,000 - 9,9999 Community Patron $500 - 4,999 Bird-Kultgen, Inc. Brazos River Authority Brazos River Capital DuPuy Oxygen and Supply Co. M. Lipsitz and Company, Ltd. Midway ISD Oncor Electric Delivery TheQuikTripBernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation TYMCO, Inc. AG Real Estate Ahlers & AmericanAssociatesAmicable Life Insurance Co. of Texas Aqua American, Inc. BrazosBKDAT&TFoundationHigherEducation Service Corporation, Inc. Caritas of Waco EducationDillard’s Service Center Region 12 FedEx Corporation First Convenience Bank First Title Company Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce Heart of Texas Goodwill Industries Home Abstract & Title Company HOT Council of Governments IdealIBM JohnsonSelf-StorageHobbsSquires LLP Lochridge-Priest, Inc. Merck Asset Management Pattillo, Brown & Hill Sturdisteel Company Target Greatland The Arc of McLennan County Turner Behringer Real Estate United Parcel Service United Way of Waco-McLennan County Uzin Utz North America, Inc. Waco Glass & Mirror Waco ZacharyISDGroup
15 Community Investment The United Way Leadership donor is an individual or family who gives $500+ annually. We are pleased to recognize this group of contributors who are essential to our work by investing in programming to create a more sustainable, well-rounded community. Leadership donors are made up of Workplace Campaign contributors, retirees, small business owners, and many others. (Income as of March 3, 2022.) * Annual Campaign ^ Child Well-Being + Endowment Cleopatra Allen *Dr. Shamji Badhiwala *Wes Bailey *Paul & Suzanne Baldon *Josh Carlton Barrett, Jr. *Anne & Marc Barrett ^ Betty & Benjy Bauer ^Beth & Dr. Mark Beaird * Stephen & Christy Benson * Brian P. Bivona *Laura E. Breeland *David Brennan *Kristi Brewer *Cody Brown *Karen & Trent Brown *Kenneth Carriveau *Mark Chadwell *John Cleveland *The Clifton Foundation * + Jake Coleman *Heath & Kristina Collins *Erika Contreras *David Coody *Lety Coronado *Janna Crawson * Diana & Michael Crosby * Chris Daughtery *Thomas Davidson, Jr. *Erin & Bob Davis * Richard Deas *Diane & Kyle Deaver ^ Ray Deaver *Douglas E. Dixon *Scott Drew * Susan & Malcolm Duncan Jr. ^ LaRaine & Carr DuPuy ^ Virginia DuPuy ^ Dawn M. Eades * Jay Eisenbarth * Capri A. Elfrez *Rebecca Ellis *Daniel & Wendy Ellis *Deidra Emerson ^ Ms. Lori Evers *Autumn Fallahay *Joseph Falsone *Susan Feagin * ^Lori Fogleman *Bryan Fonville *Lisa Gain *Max Gerik *John Gill *Daphne Gillentine *William Girard * Mary Lou Glaesmann *Gregg Glime - Commercial Realtor * Gregg R. Goebel, MD * Steve & Tracy Gohring *Steven M. Green *Gayln J. Griffin * Brandon Guerra *Carolyn & Rusty Haferkamp *Loyd Hamilton *Don Hardwick *Robert Harp *Tammy Harralson *Charles Harris, Jr. *Jasmine Harris *Dana Hassell *Matt Helton *David Hicks *Leslie Hicks *Doug Hill *Fred & Barbara Hills *Mark Hobbs ^ Mary R. Holley * David & Lorraine Hoppenstein Fund *Milet T. Hopping *Dennis Horton *Kelly Huckabee *Monte R. Hulse * ^Emily Hunter *David Iler *Julie & Dan Ingham *Ashley Jackson *John & Sara Jakus *Mark W. Johnson *Melissa D. Johnson *Marlene Johnston *Tina Keel *Eunice Keener *Steven Kresta *Peter & Marjorie Kultgen *Shannon Lackmeyer *Carey Lape *Drs. Jeff & Lea Levin *Tanahia Lilley *Melvin Lipsitz * ^ + Linda Livingstone, PhD *William Lockhart *Domingo Lopez *John Low *Jessica N. Magee *Timothy Marusak *Eric J. Mateos *April Matos *Michael Mayo *Christopher McCloud *Robert & Carol L. Meyers *Christina L. Miller *Gary H. Miller *Brooke & Tanner Moore *Todd Moore *Kelly Morgan *Amanda & Joe Nesbitt *Dwana & Bill Nesbitt * ^Daniel Notman *Ann Owen * Mary K. Owen *Patricia Pack *William & Laura Page *Courtney Parker-Hudson *Michelle Parks *Ethan Pauly *Tom Pearson *Rachel Pechacek * Josh & Megan Pedelty *Taylor Peterson *Sarah & Andrew Pick * ^Maria Porreca *Matthew Porter, MD *Tom & Kathryn Proctor * Joycie Pustejovsky *LaTanya Rector *Betsy & Dr. Phil Reeder ^ Caitlyn Remson *Susan & Mark Reynolds *Brandon & Tammy Richards * ^Molly Rieger *Shad & Brooke Robinson *Dawn Rogers * ^Erin & Scott Rogers *Darrell Rollins *Eder Sanchez-Martinez *Sabrina Schrader *Stephen Schwartinsky *Eric Shero *David Smith *Matt Smith *Levell Spencer *Kathleen & Tom Stanton ^ Alice & Judge Ken Starr *John Stephens *Brandon Tate *Marilyn & Dr. Lynn Tatum *Brooke & Heyward Taylor ^ Lillie Taylor *Ricky Thompson *Bethie Timmons *Jazzmine Torres *Marissa Trailor *Dr. Chien Tsai *Jacob Turley *Andrea Turner *Jeremy A. Vickers, PhD *Edwina Viera *Michael Vieregg *Dr. Ken-Hsi Wang *Christopher Watkins *Casie & Clint Weaver ^ Matt Wheelis *Jana & Hal Whitaker *Bethany Williams *Diana Williford *Bob Woodard *
and safety net
Despite a 14% decrease in revenue due to impact
in health,
100% Clean Audit
our
Continued to receive a clean audit report from BKD, LLP.
The Texas Prenatal-to-Three Collaborative
Almost $700,000 was paid directly to 35 local agencies for high-impact programming education, financial stability services; of COVID-19, accomplished these objectives: Received $125,000 in grants from organizations outside of McLennan County to support Child Well-being Movement; $ 6,000 Secured over $6,000 in funding from United Ways of Texas to assist a local organization’s Winter Storm recovery; 108 local businesses contributed to annual workplace campaign;
108
we
$125,000
17 Thank You To Our Grant Partners Coalitions, Boards, and Volunteer Work By Our Staff • Healthy Women & Children Coalition • McLennan County Fatherhood Coalition • Waco Family Medicine Black Maternal Health Steering Committee • Baylor University Public Health Advisory Board • City of Waco Civil Service Commission • Waco Community Band • McLennan Community Orchestra • Girl Scouts of Central Texas • Waco NAACP • No Limitations • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. • Association of Fundraising Professionals • Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors • Families and Foster Care Coalition United Way By The Numbers $700,000
our
P.O Box 7634 Waco, Texas 76714 (254) 752-2753 Stay Connected facebook.com/UWWMCInstagram:@UWWMCCopyright©2022Allrightsreserved.
