United Way of Greater Greensboro Opening its Second Family Success Center with Lead Partner, The Salvation Army

Greensboro, NC (August 20, 2018) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is pleased to announce it is expanding its Integrated Service Delivery approach to ending local poverty by partnering with The Salvation Army of Greensboro to open a second Family Success Center (FSC).

The second FSC will operate at The Salvation Army Center of Hope at 1311 South Eugene Street and is expected to open before the end of the year.

The FSC model addresses the needs of families living on low incomes by offering services that are bundled and tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals and families in one accessible location. Services focus on employment, education, financial capability, health and wellness and basic needs and are provided through collaboration.

The Salvation Army was selected as the lead partner through a competitive application process led entirely by a Volunteer Review Committee.

The Volunteer Review committee selected Salvation Army based on:

  • Capacity to implement the FSC model
  • Expertise and experience in addressing poverty
  • Ability to serve whole families
  • Long-term case management
  • Outcomes measurement
  • Quality of planning
  • Community partnerships
  • Removal of participation barriers

Additional FSC at Center of Hope Highlights:

  • Members will have access to high-quality after-school and summer childcare at The Salvation Army’s Boys and Girls Club at 1001 Freeman Mill Road. Transportation between the two locations will be provided.
  • Infant and toddler care will be provided on-site at the Center of Hope
  • The second FSC will feature expanded hours (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
  • Members will have access to on-site professional mental health services

“Taking on the huge task of generational poverty is something we can’t do alone. It’s not about what the Salvation Army will be doing – it’s about what we will be doing together as a community. We look forward to working with our partners to meet human needs without discrimination so that families can be successful,” says Captain Matt Hedgren, Corps Officer, The Salvation Army of Greensboro.

“We are elated to expand our integrated service delivery strategy by opening a second Family Success Center in our community. This service delivery approach has proven to be very successful and has established Greensboro as a city dedicated to innovative solutions to ending poverty,” says Frank McCain, Vice President Community Investment and Impact, UWGG.

UWGG’s FSC model has proven to be effective and has been recognized locally and internationally as a best practice for empowering families to become self-sufficient.

United Way’s first FSC was established in 2015 with lead partner, Guilford Child Development, and will continue to be supported by over 30 community-based partners. To-date, the first FSC has helped over 200 families, representing almost 600 adults and children on their journeys toward self-sufficiency.

Since launching, FSC members have achieved significant milestones:

  • 278 adults completed job readiness classes
  • 98 achieved employment
  • 31 earned a GED (41 currently working to earn a GED)
  • 14 enrolled in college
  • 111 completed financial capability classes
  • 173 opened new child savings accounts

United Way Partners with The Culture Pushers for 96th Community Celebration and Campaign Kick-Off

Performances will include Shelby J who performed with Prince, and Sybil who has a US Gold Record, among others!

(Greensboro, NC, August 17, 2018)The community is invited to join United Way of Greater Greensboro and The Culture Pushers on August 30, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Revolution Mill in Greensboro for United Way’s 96th Campaign Kickoff and Community Celebration.

United Way of Greater Greensboro is partnering with Greensboro native and Grammy Award winning record producer, Andreao “Fanatic” Heard, of The Culture Pushers make this year’s celebration one to remember.

Among the local musicians who will perform at the event are Shelby J, who recorded and performed with Prince for over a decade, Sybil, R&B singer who worked with Salt-n-Pepa and has a US Gold Certified record, and Triangle Afrobeat Orchestra, an inclusive collective of musicians united to build solidarity and collaboration across boundaries. Many other talented musicians from The Culture Pushers collective will also perform live during the event.

A special announcement will be made at the event regarding “Artists United To End Poverty” – A benefit album with contributions from local recording artists, poets and prominent figures in the community. Proceeds from album sales will go to the United Way of Greater Greensboro to help support partnerships that END local poverty! Sybil, Shelby J and Triangle Afrobeat Orchestra are all featured on the album.

Fanatic, who has produced records for Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Notorious B.I.G., Anthony Hamilton and more is bringing together local recording artists from the Culture Pushers Collective and more to produce an epic multi music genre album that will help change Greensboro forever!

Additionally, during the celebration, results from this year’s Pacesetter Campaign, which began in July, will be announced. The Pacesetter Campaign includes 18 companies that decided to conduct their United Way campaigns early to set the pace for a successful community-wide campaign.

2018 Pacesetter Campaigns:

  • American National Bank & Trust Company
  • BB&T Triad Corporate Center (TCC)
  • Carruthers & Roth, P.A.
  • Center for Creative Leadership
  • City of Greensboro
  • Greensboro Housing Authority
  • Guilford County
  • Sharrard, McGee & Co., P.A.
  • Target Department Store #1078 (Bridford)
  • UPS
  • Volunteer Center of Greensboro

United Way CEO Named Community Game Changer

The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro named United Way of Greater Greensboro President and CEO Michelle Gethers-Clark a Community Game Changer.

The Community Foundation partners with the Greensboro Grasshoppers annually to recognize local residents who are making a big difference to our community. Recipients are individuals who have worked hard to make Greensboro an even greater place to live and work through meaningful contributions to the city.

“I am honored and humbled to be called a game changer.  However, ending poverty is a team sport and takes a community of people who are willing to change the game in Greensboro and ensure every child and family have the opportunity to thrive,” says Michelle.

Michelle was recognized with the award at the August 10th Grasshoppers game. Please join us in sending Michelle a big congratulations!

MeaningFULL Meals Collects 4,500+ Pounds of Food

If you visited the United Way office in July, you may have seen boxes overflowing with food items for our annual MeaningFULL Meals collection.

Over 4,500 pounds of food were collected throughout Greensboro thanks especially to Morrisette and BB&T Triad Corporate Center who went above and beyond to support the cause.

Five years ago, United Way and The Volunteer Center started MeaningFULL Meals, a nutrition project that seeks food donations to help feed school children in need while school is out for summer.

More than 65% of Guilford County School’s students qualify for free or reduced lunch. In the summer months, many of these children do not have the same access to a nutritious meal and go hungry.

For the third year in a row, BackPack Beginnings joined the partnership by managing the food pantry, preparing bags of food for pick up and being a drop off location for food donations.

Morrisette Paper Company donated a car full of food items to MeaningFULL Meals. Pictured here (left to right) is Morgan, Morrisette’s Marketing Director, with United Way staff Erin, Michael, Kevin and Carl.

 

An impressive collection in the United Way lobby!

 

BB&T included inspiration messages in their collection.

 

Just a fraction of the 54,000 items BB&T collected!

 

Big thanks to ALL who collected items to help free students this summer!