Our local communities are unique. They also share similar challenges and dynamics. By joining our United Ways regionally while keeping a local focus, we can deliver far more impact than ever before.
The 2023/24 Volunteer of the Year Awards
LANSING – April brought National Volunteer Month, and United Way of South Central Michigan, in partnership with Fox 47 News and WLNS TV6 celebrated with the 2023 Capital Area Volunteer of the Year Awards. Nominees, nominators, and community members gathered April 24 at the Marshall Street Armory in Lansing to watch a previously recorded video…
Read MoreDriving Economic Success For Workers & Businesses
JACKSON – United Way of South Central Michigan is proud to serve the companies and employees of the Jackson region with JobSTAR (Support Talent and Retention). JobSTAR is a resource for employers to help employees overcome obstacles that may impede their ability to work. In this program, a Success Coach connects workers to services and…
Read MoreKellanova Volunteers Feed Battle Creek Kids, Community Spirit
BATTLE CREEK – When it comes to community caring, Kellanova employees lead by example. About 20 Kellanova employees from Battle Creek volunteered at the South Michigan Food Bank on April 4, packing more than 1,300 food packages in less than two hours. The packages will be shared with students at Battle Creek Public Schools who…
Read MoreKalamazoo and Jackson Expungement Fairs
Use the links below to register for the upcoming Expungement Fairs in Kalamazoo and Jackson, hosted by Nation Wide. Jackson: https://bit.ly/3vALcAE Kalamazoo: https://bit.ly/3vqcud7
Read MoreRFPs Released for Kalamazoo County
KALAMAZOO – United Way of South Central Michigan has released two Requests for Proposals for American Rescue Plan grant funding in two areas: Violence Intervention and Community Health Worker Training. Eligible organizations may apply now online. The deadline for both grant applications is May 3 at noon. Learn more about eligibility criteria, activities and timeline…
Read MoreResponding for ALICE: Mini-Grants Presented
United Way of South Central Michigan has awarded 21 mini-grants to organizations in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo that are striving to increase the number of households living above the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold. “The opportunity to receive any funds of any kind is a blessing,” said Rhonda Ethridge of Life Cycles Bike4Life.…
Read MoreJackson Nonprofits Join JobSTAR Cohorts
JACKSON – Federal funds have made it possible for eight Jackson-area nonprofits to join JobSTAR, the business resource network led by UWSCMI. Launched in 2018, JobSTAR (Support, Talent And Retention) embeds Success Coaches Scott Walker and Kristy Warner at participating organizations, connecting employees to services and support programs so they can get beyond barriers to…
Read MoreALICE Threshold: A New Standard for Policy
NEW ORLEANS – A trip to the “Birthplace of Jazz” brought together more than 575 individuals from across the country earlier this month to discuss one centralized topic that has been a pillar of United Way work for years: ALICE. ALICE is an acronym that stands for “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.” These are hard-working…
Read MoreAlyssa Stewart Reflects On UW Career
After a decade as a driving force in United Way’s work, Alyssa Stewart is moving on to a new challenge – but she is still a United Way champion. Stewart, who has been UWSCMI’s Executive Impact Officer, is joining the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, where she will direct impact activities, grantmaking and scholarships. It’s a role…
Read MoreData for Difference: The 2024 Kalamazoo Point-in-Time Count
KALAMAZOO- More than 20 volunteers fanned out across Kalamazoo County to participate in the unsheltered portion of the 2024 Kalamazoo Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. The PIT Count, organized by United Way of South Central Michigan’s Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care program, is a literal count of all the people experiencing homelessness in our community on a…
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