The United Way of Franklin County is Charting a Course for Change by Advancing Education, Income and Health through Collective Impact:

EDUCATION:

Here in Franklin County we're working to ensure that every child has a quality education and we're helping children and youth achieve their potential. Our programs are focused on achieving readiness to achieve in school for every child. By working to ensure that every child enters school developmentally on track in terms of literacy and social, emotional and intellectual skills, children are better prepared to achieve in their later grades and are more likely to graduate high school. Productive and engaged youth are prepared to make the transition from education into the work field.

INCOME:

Here in Franklin County we're funding programs that promote financial stability and independence for families and individuals. Many families have one or more people holding down two or three jobs and yet, families are having a tougher time getting by and have no ability to save for college, a home, or retirement. By helping families achieve greater financial stability, working families can increase their income, provide savings for emergencies, and gain and sustain assets such as home ownership.

HEALTH:

Here in Franklin County we're funding programs that focus on improving people's health; programs that focus particularly on maternal health and infant well-being. We know that healthy mothers help ensure that babies are born at lower risk for preventable health problems. We also know that health is linked to education and income. Good health allows children to function better in school and allows adults to be more productive in the workplace. Our funding helps programs provide basic health care coverage and prevention for children and youth. We know that healthy youth and adults are more likely to avoid risky behaviors and are more likely to become engaged in community development activities.

The United Way of Franklin County is a a nonprofit organization committed to Advancing theCommon Good and we are on a mission to make our community a wonderful place for children and families to live. We need your support to achieve our goals.

How is the United Way of Franklin County connected to the United Way Worldwide?

United Way Worldwide supports more than 1,300 independent community-based United Way organizations (including United Way of Franklin County) in the U.S. and in 45 countries and territories worldwide through marketing and public relations, advertising, and government advocacy. It also provides support services, including staff training and research.

Why should I give to United Way of Franklin County rather than a single agency?

By donating to United Way, you support a network of services provided by our 24 local partner agencies that together serve entire families and communities. For instance, a homeless family often needs services beyond finding shelter - they may need food, job training, counseling, child support programs, and more. By giving to the United Way , you support not just one, but many of the services that children, families, and individuals need to make it on their own.

We also provide rigorous financial oversight of the programs we fund - and because of this, human services agencies often receive substancial funding from other sources due to their partnership with us. Giving through United Way reduces costly, time-consuming fundraising efforts for these agencies so that more of their time can be spent providing direct services and changing lives.