Making an Impact: United Way NSV Announces 2016-2017 Impact Grant Awards

 

Making an Impact: United Way NSV Announces 2016-2017 Impact Grant Awards

 

Winchester, VA, May 20, 2016 – Last year, United Way funding was responsible for reaching over 148,000 local residents of Winchester, Frederick, Clarke and Shenandoah Counties. Focusing on the areas of education, income, and health, the intent of the impact grant program is to respond to local priority needs as established through the United Way Community Needs process.

The United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley has completed its review of 2016-2017 Impact Grants, a process which determines the distribution of donor funds that were specifically designated to the impact grant program.

This year $462,923 of funding was available from donors for Impact Grants ($67,844 more than last year) with the United Way NSV receiving program funding requests totaling more than $692,504 from area non-profit agencies. The review process involved a record 57 community volunteers, who were split up into six panels. Volunteers reviewed funding applications, undertook site visits and recommended grant funding to focus on priority human care needs as defined in a community study performed by United Way, Valley Health and Lord Fairfax Community College. Darlene Kent, United Way’s Volunteer of the Year (along with her husband Dick Kent) participated in the impact grant process as a volunteer on a panel, saying, “It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve on the fund distribution panels. Through the process I was able to learn about the many wonderful agencies we have that support our community in the areas of health, education and income. It is an opportunity to Live United!”

Thirty-five agencies applied for and received funding in 2016. There was an increase in programs seeking funding to address mental health concerns as well as access to basic health care in our community. These are all important programs to the fabric of our community, with health related grants making up 14 of the 35 grants awarded this year.

The Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition was one of the agencies that applied for funding for the first time in 2016. They were awarded $25,000 to support the drug court program launching in 2016, aiming to rehabilitate and treat drug addicts in lieu of traditional incarceration. “At United Way we have seen a rising concern with the heroin epidemic occurring in our community as well as other drug related challenges and have been looking for a way to respond and break the cycle of drug use.  We are happy to be able to support the Coalition launch this new court drug treatment program and be involved in the forefront of change in our local community, ” said Nadine Pottinga, CEO of the United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley.

In addition to health needs, there was an increase in program funding requests to help assist the homeless population as well as increase access to affordable housing. Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter and Habitat for Humanity both received grants as new programs applicants in 2016. These two grant programs included funding for a Winchester north-end revitalization project called Rock the Block with Habitat for Humanity, as well as funding for a Centralized Housing Intake Coordinator position to serve Clarke County, Frederick County, Shenandoah County and the City of Winchester completing assessments for the homeless and near homeless population and work to place them in homes.

Six agencies based out Shenandoah County received funding for healthcare and access to human care services. United Way also supported several other agencies that serve Shenandoah County but are based in Winchester. According to Kurt Beyreis, chair of the Fund Distribution Committee, “There is some incredible work happening in Shenandoah County as well as a very high level of need. We are very proud to be able to support the work being done in Shenandoah from providing books to children, healthcare to uninsured adults and housing for those looking for shelter.”

In addition to donor designated grant funds, United Way NSV will distribute $229,278 in United Way and Combined Federal Campaign donor specified funds to various agencies both local and outside the area, as designated by each donor. Specific agency designated gifts made by donors are distributed separately and in addition to impact grant funds. Distribution of 2016-2017 Impact Grants will begin July 1. For more information or to see the full list of impact grant recipients, please visit this page.