ADVANCING THE COMMON GOOD 2013-14 REPOrt TO THE COMMUNITY GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County UnitedWayOxfordMS.org THANK YOU! 2013-2014 was a year of both change and growth for United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County—and none of it would have been possible without tremendous support from all sectors of our community. We appreciate every dollar donated, every hour volunteered, and every new and long-time partner. In 2013-2014, we raised a record-breaking $525,492 and mobilized more than 3,000 hours of volunteer service. But what was our Katherine Drinkwater Alice Ricks impact? We hope that this Report to the Community gives you Assistant Director Executive Director insight into the achievements of United Way funded programs, and that it inspires you to both learn more and do more.* OUR MISSION: For more than 40 years, the Lafayette-Oxford-University community has trusted United Way to invest wisely, partner effectively, and ultimately improve lives. By focusing on the building blocks of a good life—good health, quality education, and a stable income—we ensure that your donations make a meaningful difference. Ultimately, our shared goal is to make Lafayette County To Improve Lives a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Getting there will require a reliable safety net for emergencies, as well as accessible, effective supports for individuals and families. It will also require changing community conditions to prevent and Meet Community as many problems as we can and to actively promote positive experiences—starting with our very youngest children. It is challenging, rewarding work. Thank you for joining us. Needs by Uniting *In many – but not all – cases, UWOLC funding complements other programmatic funding in ways that do not allow disaggregation of achievements by funding source. Therefore, many of the achievements highlighted in this Annual Report reflect the impact of a program’s total budget, including but not limited to UWOLC’s 2013-2014 investment. Also, please note that specific funding People and Resources amounts for each program can be found on the UWOLC website. INVESTMENTS 2013–14: TOTAL $383,101 United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County advances the common Prevention & Wellness Financial Stability $34,734 – 9% good by mobilizing individuals, $38,950 – 10% organizations, and workplaces to Health & Mental Health Care HeaLTH TOTAL: $78,234 – 20% give, advocate, and volunteer. $43,500 – 11% We focus on the building blocks of EDUCATION TOTAL: $150,767 – 40% Early Childhood Education a good life: good health, quality Basic Needs $37,300 – 10% education, and financial stability. $115,150 – 30% INCOME TOTAL: $154,500 – 40% Character Development & We fund programs, convene Enrichment issue-driven coalitions, and serve $22,142 – 6% as a resource to individuals and Adult Literacy Reading at Grade Level organizations in our community. $6,925 – 2% $84,400 – 22% UNITED WAY’S CAMPAIGN HISTORY $600,000 $500,000 $400,000 $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 0 2013–14 Report to the Community | 1 IMPROVING OUR HEALTH What was our collective impact on health? Prevention and Wellness: 2013-2014 Highlights 2013-2014 Investment in Prevention and The LOU Excel by 5 Coalition taught children and families Wellness: and Investment in $34,734 about healthy early childhood development and nutrition at Health and Mental Health Care: $43,500 EVENTS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 600 PEOPLE. Stan the Bear, the educational mascot of the Exchange Club’s STop Abuse Now (STAN) program, taught 1,000 children how to recognize and respond to abuse. The 14 pregnant teenagers 140 CHILDREN participated in attending the Exchange Club’s Leap Frog’s after-school physical activity and mentoring programs, building healthy fitness TO LOVE A CHILD PROGRAM habits and fostering self-esteem. (TLC) were more likely to stay in school, attend doctor’s appoint- ments, and successfully engage 111 ADULTS with intellectual and the fathers of their babies in their developmental disabilities participated in the pregnancies. They were also less likely to have a second child as a SPECIAL OLYMPICS teenager and/or before marriage. program, allowing them to stay active and Special Olympics Area 4 be part of a team. FUNDED PARTNERS Health and Mental Health Care: 2013-2014 Highlights Prevention and Wellness Family Crisis Services served 61 victims of crime, providing a safe place for LOU Excel by 5 Coalition Health & Safety Focus Area them to receive counseling and other advocacy services to meet their needs. Exchange Club Family Center Stop Abuse Now Exchange Club Family Center To Love a Child Leap Frog Program After School Enrichment/Mentoring Special Olympics Area 4 119 PEOPLE NEEDING DIALYSIS SERVICES WERE Health and Mental Health Care HELPED BY NORTH MISSISSIPPI KIDNEY FOUNDATION. Family Crisis Services Victim Services All 29 patients who received funding for access surgery had successful experiences and North MS Kidney Foundation Patient Assistance are now able to receive dialysis treatment effectively. Respite Day Services Memory Makers Respite Day Program 2 | United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County 2012-13 Report to the Community | 3 EDUCATION ACHIEVING OUR POTENTIAL What was our collective impact on education? 2013-2014 Investments in Early Childhood: Early Childhood Education: 2013-2014 Highlights $37,300, Character Development and The Family Resource Center, co-sponsored by the LOU Excel by 5 Coalition, offered a FREE LENDING LIBRARY OF TOYS, as well as guidance on promoting Enrichment: $22,142, Reading at Grade Level: positive child development (672 visits in 13-14). The Coalition hosted two EXCELebra- tions with free, fun, family events for children under five, which reached over 300 people. $84,400, and Adult Education: $6,925 796 children received a FREE BOOK EVERY MONTH, thanks to the Lafayette County Literacy Council’s partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Character Development and Enrichment: 2013-2014 Highlights 600 YOUNG PEOPLE MORE THAN 85% of the 52 court- participated in 4-H pro- involved youth participating in the Exchange grams, building a wide vari- Club’s Correcting Our Past & Establishing Skills ety of skills, including logical (COPES) program tested drug-free after 10 weeks. reasoning, public speaking, Horizons at the University of Mississippi ULTIMATELY 100% ACHIEVED THIS GOAL and self-confidence. AND COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. FUNDED PARTNERS Early Childhood Education The almost 600 young people who participated in BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL SCOUTS built leadership skills, prob- Lafayette County Literacy Council Dolly Parton Imagination Library lem-solving skills, and healthy relationship skills, all of which contribute to positive character development over the long term. LOU Excel by 5 Coalition Character Development and Enrichment Reading at Grade Level: 2013-2014 Highlights Lafayette County 4-H 4-H Programs Boy Scouts of America Yocona Area Council Traditional Scouting Exchange Club Family Center Correcting our Past & Establishing Skills ALL 115 parTicipanTS in the ALL 31 STRUGGLING READERS Girl Scouts Heart of the South Girl Scout Leadership Experience Boys & Girls Club’s Power Hour who attended the Lafayette County Literacy program will be promoted to the Council’s Reading Rockets program significantly Reading at Grade Level next grade level, and at mid-year improved their reading skills, while further devel- Boys & Girls Club of North Mississippi Power Hour had an average GPA of 3.17. oping their love of learning. Lafayette County Literacy Council Reading Rockets Leap Frog Program Tutoring LOU Reads Coalition HORIZONS at the University of Mississippi 81% OF THE 140 CHILDREN participating in Leap Frog’s tutoring program University of Mississippi Horizons eliminated “summer learning loss” for its 29 were promoted to the next grade, with Adult Education kindergarteners and first graders, who also Interfaith Compassion Ministry GED and Basic Education Program built life-saving swimming skills. 78% OF THEM READING AT GRADE LEVEL. Lafayette County Literacy Council Adult Basic Literacy Education 4 | United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County 2012-13 Report to the Community | 3 MEETING NEEDS & PROMOTING STABILITY INCOME What was our collective impact on financial stability? Basic Needs: 2013–2014 Highlights 2013-2014 Investments in Basic Needs: $116,130 and Investments in American Red Cross helped 24 people RECOVER FROM FIRES and severe storms. Financial Stability: $38,950 301 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED ALMOST 1,500 PEOPLE RECEIVED ASSISTANCE TEMPORARY HOUSING AND FOOD in paying their utility bills, through the efforts from Interfaith Compassion Ministry (ICM). ICM also of both Interfaith Compassion Ministry and assisted 708 people with rent/mortgage payments, Salvation Army. preventing evictions, foreclosures, and homelessness. Three Rivers’ Meals on Wheels delivered 30,000 MEALS to almost 200 seniors. United Way chaired the Local Board for the Emergency Food & Shelter Program, which BROUGHT $18,494 IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO LafaYETTE COUNTY RESIDENTS. Promoting Stability: 2013–2014 Highlights Pro Bono Initiative at University of Mississippi School of Law VITA Center FUNDED PARTNERS American Red Cross trained 3 HOMELESS faMILIES have successfully transitioned out of Doors of Hope Transition Ministries’ Self-Sufficiency 85 LOCAL VOLUNTEERS Basic Needs Empowerment Program and 3 more families are currently to respond to disasters. sheltered and working towards this goal. American Red Cross NW Mississippi Chapter Disaster