2024-2025 United Way of the Piedmont Board of Directors
Mitch Kennedy, Board Chair
Chris Santoro, Chair Elect
Tony Acevedo
Earl Alexander
Laura Barbas-Rhoden
Denise Beers-Kiepper
Donda Bishop
Reed Brown
Nicole Caldwell
Jennifer Cash
Marquice Clark
Parkes Coggins
Kurt Dallas
Brian Earnest
Shaunté Evans
Dana Fall
Sky Foster
Joey Fowler
Julie Fowler
Greyson Furnas
Dana Gottman
Angela Halstead
Bennie Harris
Katie Henderson
Sarah Keim
Kate Konopasek
Beth Lancaster
Michael Langley
Andrea Moore
Gia Quiñones
Jim Shank
Josh Thompson
Timika Wilson
We are excited to join with other United Ways across the state of South Carolina to provide the ALICE framework to Spartanburg,Cherokee, and Union Counties.
ALICE–Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed–households are the essential, working, and strugglingfamilies in our community.
As the cost of living continues to rise, ALICE families are often being overlooked for assistance and support. They need our help.
The 2021 ALICE Report and data that you’ll learn more about in the next pages provides the UnitedWays of South Carolina, our nonprofit partners, and communityleaders with tools and resources toassist these households.
I hope you’ll join me in learning about who ALICE is in our community, what the realistic picture of need is for local families, and how we can step up and support ALICE households.
IN THIS ISSUE
Learn about United for ALICE tools and reports
See what actions you can take with new community data
Find out how to support ALICE families
Hannah Jarrett Vice President of Community & Collective Impact
Hannah
ALICE IN OUR COMMUNITY
New data tool sheds light on true levels of need
In 2021, 44,634 Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union County households fell into what United Way calls the ALICE® population. This number of households was nearly double the official poverty rate for these communities.
ALICE is an acronym that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than our community’s basic cost of living. ALICE households often earn too much to qualify for public assistance but are still unable to cover the costs of household essentials.
Combined, ALICE households and households living below the federal poverty level comprise the ALICE Threshold, which represents the minimum income level necessary for survival for a household. 43% percent of all households in the Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union County footprint fell within the ALICE Threshold.
“We all know ALICE,” says United Way of the Piedmont President & CEO, Paige Stephenson. “Many of us are ALICE or have been ALICE. ALICE is our friend, our family member, and our neighbor. ALICE is a recent college graduate unable to afford to live on their own, a young family strapped by childcare costs and a mid-career professional who is now underemployed. These folks are vital to our state’s future economic well-being, and they face barriers to financial stability that are beyond their control.”
The United for ALICE website with ALICE Reports and data tools provides a comprehensive look at state, county, and even legislative district-level data that help us identify the areas, populations, and household compositions in our community that struggle the most.
For instance, by breaking down the data for our tri-county footprint, we know that in Cherokee and Union Counties, 5 out of 10 households struggle to afford their basic needs compared to 4 out of 10 households in Spartanburg County.
Poverty Above ALICE
ALICE
Source: State & County Demographics, Cherokee County, ALICE Report, 2021
United For ALICE is a grassroots movement of United Ways, corporations, nonprofits and foundations in more than half the United States, all using the same methodology to document financial need. ALICE Reports provide county-by-county data and analysis of how many households are struggling, including the obstacles ALICE households face on the road to financial independence.
The ALICE Report for South Carolina is sponsored by Carolinas Credit Union Foundation in partnership with Trident United Way and the United Ways of South Carolina.
ADVOCACY FOR ALICE
While the Federal Poverty Level is the basis for many public programs, looking at poverty alone excludes the 36.3 million households in the U.S. who are ALICE. Connecting policymakers to local ALICE data is critical to help them understand the true levels of need.
The interactive ALICE Legislative District tool can be a powerful addition to advocates’ and advocacy partners’ communication with policymakers and community stakeholders to help these decision makers
Breaking down data by legislative district better understand how many households are actually struggling in their district and how policy may impact the families they represent.
Explore the ALICE Legislative District Tool and other data resources at www.unitedforalice.org.
UNITED FOR ALICE IN ACTION
How data can make an impact
ALICE households struggle to make ends meet and are often teetering on the edge of poverty. Dealing with decisions between child care or staying home, unexpected emergencies, or the overall rising costs of living can be stressful and sometimes detrimental. ALICE workers hold jobs that keep our communities running smoothly, making it vital to retain and value them for the well-being of all.
On February 14, 2024, our United Way hosted a Coffee & Conversations event focused on United for ALICE.
Nonprofit partners, local leaders, and other community members were present to learn about the ALICE Reports and how to access and put this data into action.
The Director of United for ALICE Katie Reams, based out of Trident United Way, opened the event on video and provided a background on ALICE and its uses.
What we hope to do is show what a true measure of financial stability looks like through this ALICE work...
“What we hope to do is show what a true measure of financial stability looks like through this ALICE work and help nonprofits, our government partners, and our business partners change and look at creative, thoughtful ways to support [ALICE] families,” Katie shared.
This event was just the first step for our community and partners to leverage ALICE data and support the ALICE population.
Below are key takeaways of how to put ALICE into action:
Raise awareness about United for ALICE among your network
Connect with your local and state representatives to share legislative district data and advocate for policy change
Apply for funding, using ALICE data, to serve these households
Find more ideas at www.unitedforalice.org/alicein-action
You can help ALICE families right here in our community.
Join us in creating a community where ALICE households can find stability, gain economic mobility, and ultimately thrive. Donate to our Community Impact Fund to make your impact now.
Scan the QR code or give now at bit.ly/donateuwp
Pictured: Coffee & Conversations attendees
UNITED WAY UPDATE
Ready to Connect, Engage, & Inspire?
Check out our upcoming events & opportunities
COFFEE & CONVERSATIONS
May 1
Learn more about how we’re supporting early learning and higher education.
COMMUNITY HEALTH AWARENESS DAY
June 1
Come out to this FREE community health fair with health screenings, activities for the family, food, entertainment, and more!
STUFF THE BUS SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
June - July
Get ready for our annual School Supply Drive! Give local students the tools they need to succeed Details to come
Find these and more on our website: www.uwpiedmont.org/events
EVENT SPONSOR
PRESENTING
PLATINUM
Contec
Spartanburg Regional
Healthcare System
GOLD
BMW Manufacturing
Duke Energy
Lockhart Power
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Publix
SILVER
Bank of America
Boulier, Thompson and Barnes
Brown Packing Company
BRONZE
330 Partners
Cedar Springs Family Dentistry
Clayton Construction
Coastal Carolina National Bank
Carolina Foothills Federal Credit Union
Cintas
Inman Mills
Keurig Dr. Pepper
Michelin
Nestlé
Piedmont Natural Gas
Spartanburg Water
The Timken Company
Toray Composite Materials America, Inc.
William Barnet & Son
Coldwell Banker Caine
Denny's
Harper Construction
Marsh McLennan Agency
McMillan Pazdan Smith
Mutual of America
Park National Bank
South State Bank
SwaimBrown
Synovus
Truist
United Community Bank
SPRING 2024
