Category: Impact

Published June 2, 2020-

Hello United Way Team, Board of Directors, Volunteers, Donors, Partners and Friends,

United Way of Greater Greensboro seeks to reflect with you and frame a vision for action linked to our humanity. While we are grateful for our blessings, we also share a common dream for our children to live a life of joy, good health and prosperity. Let’s assume we want the dream for ourselves, our children and our neighbors – call it “shared well-being”. Generally “sharing” is positive, generous, kind and filled with hope. The well-being of communities is not equal. The video of #GeorgeFloyd dying on the street in Minneapolis, Minnesota is tragic and inhumane by any standard.  

What are we going to do from here? 

A knee pressed against the neck of a man who is saying “I can’t breathe” is symbolic of the persistent knee on the neck of many communities. Our communities are telling us they are suffering, dying young and dying at higher rates because of insufficient housing, no full-service grocery stores, limited public transportation, dilapidated schools, no jobs, poor childcare, excessive incarceration, lead in the water, discrimination, limited access to good healthcare, over policing, and poverty.

The status quo, not listening, and our silence are inhumane. As a community, let’s create an action plan for shared well-being. This is the moment to act to ensure every person regardless of the color of their skin is viewed as worthy of joy, good health and prosperity as the path to shared well-being.

Here are some items to consider as we strive for equity, justice, and economic mobility in our communities:

• Easy and equitable access to medical care and wellness services.
• Internet access and WIFI service in communities with low income.
• Ban-the-box on employment applications.
• Universal pre-school for all children along with higher wages for pre-school teachers.
• Increase available and stable housing stock for families with low and moderate incomes.
• Eliminate the food deserts in Guilford County with full-service grocery stores.
• Jobs, jobs, jobs and more jobs linked to training and advancement for higher wages.
• Vote to demand investments in public education – instruction, equity, teacher pay and physical buildings.
• Equitable financial services, funding and contracts for minority owned businesses.

Please examine the list, add to it and identify areas of interest. Will you join us as we convene for action on Friday, June 5, 2020 at noon on Zoom (bring your lunch)? If so, please click here to attend and be a part of the solution.

With love and a personal commitment to take action,

Michelle Gethers-Clark
President & CEO 
United Way of Greater Greensboro

Over the past nine weeks, the Greensboro Virus Relief Taskforce has granted a total of $2,173,849 to 97 local nonprofits helping thousands of individuals and families impacted by COVID-19.

One of those 97 nonprofits is CODA Connections, Inc., a local nonprofit that services families impacted by deafness. CODA Connections was granted Virus Relief Fund dollars to rapidly respond to the needs of its clients under the food insecurity priority area.

In the video below, CODA Connections clients sign messages of love and gratitude.

“The pandemic presents challenges for everyone, however deaf individuals already have struggles that they face day to day. This time of uncertainty adds additional hardships making it more strenuous for them to overcome. CODA Connections, Inc. exist to serve with compassion and be the voice for the overlooked deaf community and we reflect a commitment to accessibility and inclusion. We are dedicated to fulfilling our mission especially during this critical time and our pursuits would not be possible without the generous support from the COVID-19 relief fund. CODA Connections, Inc. is forever grateful to be one of the recipients of this grant. Thank you for enabling us to help meet needs, create change and a lasting impact in the deaf community,” said Tabitha Allen-Draft, President and Founder CODA Connections, Inc.

Thanks to your support, local families impacted by deafness are getting the assistance they need. To make a donation to the Greensboro Virus Relief Fund, click here or text the word “Virus” to 40403.

To-Date, Over $2 Million Granted to 97 Local Nonprofits, GSO Virus Relief Taskforce Wants to Raise an Additional $1 Million to Support Relief Efforts

Greensboro, NC (May 21, 2020) – In its eighth round of funding, the Greensboro Virus Relief Taskforce granted $37,669 to 5 local nonprofits providing services to people impacted by the Coronavirus. Over the past eight weeks, the Taskforce has granted a total of $2,173,849 to 97 local nonprofits helping thousands of individuals and families.

The funds were allocated from the Greensboro Virus Relief Fund which was established by United Way of Greater Greensboro, City of Greensboro, and Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.

One hundred percent of donations are immediately being used to support local nonprofit response efforts.

“The pandemic presents challenges for everyone, however deaf individuals already have struggles that they face day to day. This time of uncertainty adds additional hardships making it more strenuous for them to overcome. CODA Connections, Inc. exist to serve with compassion and be the voice for the overlooked deaf community and we reflect a commitment to accessibility and inclusion. We are dedicated to fulfilling our mission especially during this critical time and our pursuits would not be possible without the generous support from the COVID-19 relief fund. CODA Connections, Inc. is forever grateful to be one of the recipients of this grant. Thank you for enabling us to help meet needs, create change and a lasting impact in the deaf community,” said Tabitha Allen-Draft, President and Founder CODA Connections, Inc.

The Taskforce is co-chaired by Larry Davis, Assistant City Manager, and Frank McCain, Vice President, Community Impact and Investment, United Way and comprised of leaders from Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Guilford County and leaders representing six priority areas.

The Taskforce would like to raise an additional $1 million to continue rapidly supporting community members during the pandemic. Members of the Taskforce are urging the community to continue to give. To make a donation to the Greensboro Virus Relief Fund, click here or text the word “Virus” to 40403.

Additionally, the Taskforce is accepting funding requests from 501 (c)(3) organizations helping people impacted by the Coronavirus. For more on funding requirements and how to apply, visit www.UnitedWayGSO.org. To quickly respond to community needs, volunteer Taskforce members are reviewing dozens of applications from local nonprofits each week.

The latest round of funding was granted to the following nonprofits addressing the following priority areas:

Business Disruptions

• SHIELD Mentor Program: $8,780

Food Insecurities

• Islamic Center of The Triad Refugee and Immigration Community Service: $8,000
• Touching Lives Foundation as fiscal sponsor for St. James Presbyterian Church: $6,783
• Rosa Foundation: $2,550
• Truly Making A Difference: $11,556

Weekly Donor Thank You

The Taskforce is grateful for gifts of all sizes and every donor is contacted personally to acknowledge their support. Additionally, the Taskforce would like to acknowledge the following organizations for their extremely generous support this week.

• Hillsdale Fund: $48,000
• Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro: $22,000

Three-Part Series Features Speakers Michelle Gethers-Clark, Kim Gatling and Marcus Thomas

Greensboro, NC (May 21, 2020) – The public is invited to attend United Way of Greater Greensboro’s End Poverty: The Lunch and Learn Series hosted by Young Leaders. The three-part virtual series will begin on June 4, and will take place 12 to 1 p.m.

Featured speakers include:

June 4: Michelle Gethers-Clark, United Way of Greater Greensboro President and CEO, with her talk titled “What’s Poverty in Greensboro? Myths, Facts and Action”

June 11: Kim Gatling, United Way of Greater Greensboro Board Chair and partner at Fox Rothschild LLP, with her talk “Incorporating Board Service into Your Journey”

June 18: Marcus Thomas, United Way of Greater Greensboro Young Leaders Vice Chair and Dream Team Director at Mount Zion Baptist Church, with his talk “Volunteerism for Mutual Gain”

“United Way Young Leaders seek to empower and inspire young professionals to lead community-wide change that ends poverty, and this all-star lineup of speakers will definitely educate and inspire attendees to take action,” said Lauren Forbis, Marketing and Communications Manager at United Way of Greater Greensboro.

End Poverty: The Lunch and Learn Series will be hosted on Zoom and is open to 100 attendees per session. To register, visit www.unitedwaygso.org/learn.

The series is sponsored by The P&G Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, KONTOOR’s Emerging Leaders Group, Cone Health, Lincoln Financial Group and one anonymous donor.

Taskforce Urges Individuals and Corporations to Continue Supporting Relief Efforts

Greensboro, NC (May 15, 2020) – Over the past seven weeks, The Greensboro Virus Relief Taskforce has granted $2,136,180 to 92 local nonprofits helping thousands of individuals and families impacted by the Coronavirus.

The Taskforce exceeded the monumental $2 million mark when it granted $187,604 to nine local nonprofits in its latest weekly allocation. Taskforce members are urging individuals and corporations to continue supporting relief efforts and would like to raise at least an additional $1 million to continue rapidly supporting community members during the pandemic. 

The funds were allocated from the Greensboro Virus Relief Fund which was established by United Way of Greater Greensboro, City of Greensboro and Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.

“Our local community is full of extremely generous and caring people and we are thankful for the support we’ve received over the past seven weeks. There is no doubt that thanks to that generous support, thousands of men, women, children, and families have been provided resources to help them during the pandemic. Our work is not yet complete, and we continue to ask anyone who can make a donation to please support the Greensboro Virus Relief Fund so that we can continue to help our local neighbors,” said Frank McCain, Vice President, Community Impact & Investment, United Way of Greater Greensboro and Co-Chair of the Virus Relief Taskforce.

The Taskforce is co-chaired by Larry Davis, Assistant City Manager, and Frank McCain, Vice President, Community Impact and Investment, United Way and comprised of leaders from Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Guilford County and leaders representing six priority areas.

One hundred percent of donations are immediately being used to support local nonprofit response efforts.

“LGBTQ people of all ages face discrimination and are often isolated from everyday support networks. This makes LGBTQ people more vulnerable to coronavirus. Virus relief funds are allowing Guilford Green Foundation & LGBTQ Center to continue to provide services like job fairs, peer support and referrals so that LGBTQ people survive this pandemic,” said Jennifer Ruppe, Executive Director, Guilford Green Foundation & LGBTQ Center, a recent recipient of Virus Relief grant funding.

The Taskforce would like to raise an additional $1 million to continue rapidly supporting community members during the pandemic. Members of the Taskforce are urging the community to continue to give. To make a donation to the Greensboro Virus Relief Fund click here or text the word “Virus” to 40403.

Additionally, the Taskforce is accepting funding requests from 501 (c)(3) organizations helping people impacted by the Coronavirus. For more on funding requirements and how to apply, visit www.UnitedWayGSO.org/virus. To quickly respond to community needs, volunteer Taskforce members are reviewing dozens of applications from local nonprofits each week.

The latest round of funding was granted to the following nonprofits addressing the following priority areas:

Business Disruptions

• Create Me: $4,500
• Court Watch of North Carolina: $3,750
• Downtown Greensboro Foundation: $24,000
• Family Service of the Piedmont: $18,311
• Family Support Network of Central Carolina: $4,816
• Greensboro Farmers Market: $21,727

Food Insecurities

• CODA Connections: $30,000

Housing Vulnerabilities

• Turning Point One Eighty: $8,500
• The Salvation Army of Greensboro: $72,000

Weekly Donor Thank You

The Taskforce is grateful for gifts of all sizes and every donor is contacted personally to acknowledge their support. Additionally, the Taskforce would like to acknowledge the following organizations and individuals for their extremely generous support this week.

• Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro: $101,000
• The Coach and Kate Spade Foundations NY Tapestry: $8,000
• Mr. Michael A. Berkelhammer: $5,000

Before Mariah enrolled at United Way’s Family Success Center, her goal of earning her GED seemed insurmountable. Now with her GED and CNA, she’s helping her community as a Nurse Tech at Cone Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When I was just trying to survive with me and my son, I never would have thought that one day we would be thriving and I would be helping the community during something like this,” said Mariah. “I’m so proud of how far I’ve come thanks to the Family Success Center.”

Mariah tried many times to go back to school, but without a car and child care for her son, classes were next to impossible to attend. After learning about United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Family Success Center, Mariah enrolled in GED classes and received the transportation and child care assistance she needed.

Thanks to the Family Success Center, Mariah graduated with her GED, earned a CNA certification and is employed by Cone Health as a Nurse Tech +3. She is now enrolled in school to obtain her nursing degree. 

“Right now, I’m balancing working 5 or 6 twelve-hour shifts per week plus doing my online schoolwork. I am so grateful for the Family Success Center staff and my coach. It’s a feeling of relief when you have people in your corner,” said Mariah. “I know we’ll all get through this.”

When asked if she could tell Greensboro residents one thing about COVID-19, Mariah said, “Don’t take this lightly. This virus is serious and we all need to take all proper precautions to stay safe. Make sure you wash your hands and stay at home.”

United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Family Success Centers bundle services in one location and remove barriers by offering childcare and transportation. The nationally recognized model serves the entire family and is empowering people to become financially stable. For more information, visit unitedwaygso.org/family-success-center.