CINCINNATI (April 10, 2023) —

Dear United Way friends,

I am very grateful for your support of United Way. Your generosity makes our work possible as we support families on their chosen path to success.

The work is multifaceted. It gives voice to people who face obstacles and know what solutions work best. It involves meeting the immediate, urgent needs of the community while addressing complex, long-term challenges and rebuilding systems that prevent families from achieving economic well-being.

Together, we are making a difference. Here is a sampling of successes achieved and actions taken in 2022.

INVESTMENTS

• Introduced six systems-change portfolios and invested $11.4 million in 86 partners working toward true community change.

• Invested $1.3 million into 60 Black-led projects and programs promoting economic prosperity and systemic change as part of the third cycle of Black Empowerment Works.

DIRECT SUPPORT

• Answered nearly 51,000 calls for assistance to 211, the United Way Helpline, and referred callers to community resources.
• 211 Care Coordinators supported 3,060 individuals and handled 826 applications for emergency mortgage, rent and utility assistance, which led to $2.96 million in financial assistance. 
• Collected 12,055 basic needs items and distributed them to families and individuals through 27 agency and community partners.
• Supported 104 kinship care families with gifts through our holiday Adopt-A-Family effort.

EDUCATION

• Partnered with Junior Achievement to bring 80 volunteers into Cincinnati Public Schools seventh-grade classrooms and teach the basics of personal finance to 2,000 students.
• Collected more than 2,000 full backpacks and distributed them to local students along with 4,650 items received through our virtual product drive. 
• Increased participation in our Regional Success By 6 Community Roundtable partnerships by 40% in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati.

FINANCIAL STABILITY

• Assisted 1,815 families in building a stronger financial foundation through Project Lift.
• Saved Free Tax Prep participants nearly $1.8 million in tax filing fees while helping them obtain more than $10.7 million in refunds.
• Organized and trained more than 350 Free Tax Prep volunteers who completed 6,591 tax returns.

ADVOCACY & NEW PARTNERSHIPS

• Prioritized advocacy efforts by hiring a Public Policy and Advocacy Director, establishing a public policy committee of the UWGC Board of Directors and creating a collaborative policy agenda based on our six priority systems-change portfolios.
• Announced new partnerships with Recovery Friendly Hamilton County and The Renew Collaborative to promote recovery from substance abuse and to assist tenants facing eviction, respectively. 

I am proud of this work, and I hope you are, too. It is by no means a comprehensive list of all we accomplished last year. But it offers a snapshot of what is possible when caring, committed people like you join us in a catalytic movement to ensure all families thrive, now and in the future.

We do this work knowing transformative change is possible. We also know we cannot do it alone. We look forward to your continued support of our mission, whether as a financial supporter, a volunteer or an advocate. Thank you for helping everyone in our community reach their full potential.

Sincerely,

Moira Weir
President/CEO
United Way of Greater Cincinnati