United Way of Greater Greensboro hosts Conversations with Community Leaders, Featuring Panel Discussion on Health Disparities and the Impact on Our Community

United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is excited to invite you to attend Conversations with Community Leaders featuring a panel discussion on Health Disparities and the Impact on Our Community on December 12, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Dana Auditorium, located at Guilford College. Make plans to attend UWGG’s last event of the year – which includes free lunch.

Registration is required, RSVP by December 5 here: UnitedWayGSO.org/Calendar

This free event is being hosted by UWGG’s African American Leadership and will feature a panel of community leaders addressing Health Disparities and the Impact on Our Community.

Featured speakers include: 

  • Dr. Olu Jegede, Vice President of the Center for Health Equity, Cone Health
  • Dr. John Jenkins, Executive Medical Director School Based Healthcare, Cone Health
  • Deb Harris Richardson, President and CEO, YWCA Greensboro
  • Hugh Holston, CEO, Greensboro Housing Coalition

Doors open at 10:45 a.m. and the program begins promptly at 11 a.m. A complimentary boxed lunch will be served to guests immediately following the program.

The panel discussion with be led by Niketa Green, United Way Board Member and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Cone Health. AAL Chair, Rashanda Harris, Vice President MoneyGuard Underwriting & New Business at Lincoln Financial Group will serve as emcee.

Special thanks to the event sponsors: 

Presenting Sponsor:            VF Corporation
Signature Sponsors:            Guilford College
                                            Lincoln Financial Group
Gold Sponsor:                      Cone Health
Silver Sponsors:                   Cone Health Foundation
                                             Greensboro Housing Authority
Bronze Sponsor:                  Triad Business Bank

For more details, contact April Laughlin at april.laughlin@unitedwaygso.org   

END LOCAL POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. Nearly 52,000 children, adults, and families are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. Our strategy builds pathways out of poverty by: Helping youth transition from cradle to career, Helping adults land jobs and increase income, Providing access to basic needs and healthcare, and Bundling services that eliminate barriers at our nationally recognized Family Success Centers and innovative Guilford Success Network. With the community’s support, we will achieve our BOLD GOAL: As a community united in equity and lasting solutions, 3,000 households will leave generational poverty by 2030. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $30,000 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards many four-member households need to earn around $66,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.org 

###

United Way Hosts Annual Trunk-or-Treat Event on October 29

Thousands of Children and Families Are Expected to Attend United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Annual Trunk-or-Treat Hosted by Young Leaders

Greensboro, NC (October 19, 2023) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) and Young Leaders (YL) will host its annual Trunk-or-Treat on October 29, 2 – 4 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. 

Trunk-or-Treat is a safe alternative to traditional door to door trick-or-treating that brings the community together. Local volunteers, families, businesses, and student organizations are invited to decorate trunks in a festive, fall fashion and hand out treats for children in the community.

UWGG’s single focus on ending local poverty makes it’s Trunk-or-Treat event a joyful experience to staff and volunteers as many of the children and families that attend this event may not get the chance to celebrate and enjoy this occasion the way other kids get to.

This year’s event will feature fall and Halloween themed games, the presence of a police car and fire truck, and a station with free books and school supplies.

UWGG is asking organizations, neighborhoods, schools and more to host candy drives as that is its biggest need. If you would like to host a candy drive, contact UWGG’s Holly Beck by phone at 336-378-5022 or email: holly.beck@unitedwaygso.org

YL is an affinity group of United Way of Greater Greensboro, who are emerging community leaders committed to empowering and inspiring young professionals to lead community-wide change that ends poverty. To learn more, visit UnitedWayGSO.org/YL

END LOCAL POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. Nearly 52,000 children, adults, and families are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. Our strategy builds pathways out of poverty by: Helping youth transition from cradle to career, Helping adults land jobs and increase income, Providing access to basic needs and healthcare, and Bundling services that eliminate barriers at our nationally recognized Family Success Centers and innovative Guilford Success Network. With the community’s support, we will achieve our BOLD GOAL: As a community united in equity and lasting solutions, 3,000 households will leave generational poverty by 2030. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $30,000 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards many four-member households need to earn around $66,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.org 

###

United Way Announces New Campaign Chair, and Invites Public to Campaign Kickoff on September 8

United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is delighted to introduce Steve Swetoha, President of the Greensboro Swarm, as its new Campaign Chair of its Board of Directors. The public is invited to meet Swetoha and new President and CEO Frank McCain Jr. at UWGG’s 2023 Campaign Kickoff on September 8 from 7:30 – 9 a.m. at The Terrace at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.

Swetoha is starting his eighth season as President of the Greensboro Swarm, the NBA G League affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets, where he is responsible for all aspects of the team’s business operations.

An active member of the Triad community, Swetoha sits on several leadership boards, including the YMCA of Greensboro Metropolitan Board, the Member Engagement Advisory Board of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, the Greensboro Sports Foundation, and the Greensboro Sports Council. He is the past Chair of Junior Achievement of the Triad.

“I’m honored to serve as Campaign Chair for United Way of Greater Greensboro and play a role in advancing the organization’s efforts to address and focus on the challenging task of trying to end local poverty,” said Swetoha. “I am hopeful we can inspire more individuals, businesses and organizations to participate by educating them on how poverty impacts our neighbors and our community.”

Prior to his arrival in Greensboro, Swetoha was the President, General Manager and Chief Revenue Officer of the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock for six years. He oversaw both basketball and business operations, where he was responsible for selling one of the largest jersey patch deals in the WNBA and led the team to its first winning season and playoff appearance in 2015. In addition, Swetoha has previous experience in the NFL, NBA, NHL and ACC in various business operations and sales roles. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Sport Management from Robert Morris University, where he was elected to the Robert Morris Sport Management Hall of Fame in 2010, and his Master’s degree in Sports Leadership at Duquesne University.

Swetoha is married to Susan Shepherd. They have a daughter, Sophia, and a son, Matthew.

UWGG and Swetoha would like to invite the public to attend UWGG’s 2023 Campaign Kickoff and Breakfast on September 8, 7:30 – 9 a.m. to enjoy a free breakfast, mingle with diverse leaders, and learn how to join or continue supporting UWGG’s efforts to end local poverty.

RSVP to the Campaign Kickoff at: UnitedWayGSO.org/CampaignKickoff

###

END LOCAL POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. Nearly 52,000 children, adults, and families are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. Our strategy builds pathways out of poverty by: Helping youth transition from cradle to career, Helping adults land jobs and increase income, Providing access to basic needs and healthcare, and Bundling services that eliminate barriers at our nationally recognized Family Success Centers and innovative Guilford Success Network. With the community’s support, we will achieve our BOLD GOAL: As a community united in equity and lasting solutions, 3,000 households will leave generational poverty by 2030. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $30,000 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards many four-member households need to earn around $66,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.org 

United Way Announces New President and CEO

Frank McCain Jr. Selected by Board of Directors to Lead United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Poverty Efforts

United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) announced today that Frank McCain Jr. has been named President and CEO and will begin leading the organization’s strategy to end local poverty on August 21.

The public is invited to meet McCain during a virtual lunch and learn, September 14, noon to 1 p.m. by registering at www.UnitedWayGSO.org/CEO

Earlier in his career with United Way, McCain served for more than 10 years as Vice President of Community Investment and Impact. In this role, McCain was responsible for administering UWGG’s community investments on an annual basis to address human service needs facing the Greensboro community. Before starting his non-profit career, McCain held several positions in banking and financial services.

The process of searching for a new President and CEO started in April when UWGG formed a diverse search committee comprised of current and past board members. At the same time, UWGG announced it was working with Developmental Associates of Durham to conduct a national search for this role.

Developmental Associates helped the selection committee review applicants through a robust selection process that included written, phone and in-person interviews, as well as skills demonstration exercises led by Developmental Associates involving an evaluation by a team of trained community-based assessors.

McCain was selected and approved as President and CEO by the UWGG board of directors.

Michele Deuterman, Chair, UWGG Board of Directors, who served on the search committee said, “We are thrilled to have Frank rejoin the United Way team and look forward to the organization’s continued impact in our local community under his leadership.”

“I’m delighted to be chosen as the President and CEO of United Way of Greater Greensboro. United Way is uniquely suited to play a critical role in the advancement of our community. I look forward to continuing our partnerships and strengthening our collaborations with individuals and organizations that share our vision of reducing poverty in Greensboro. Our United Way will continue to use data to inform our decisions and we will look for innovative solutions that will yield our community the best return on the investment of their dollars. Together, we can truly Live United and in the process, build a lasting legacy for those that will come behind us,” said McCain.

McCain earned a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina A&T State University. He also has experience in the financial services industry where he managed assets of high net-worth individuals and corporate clients. His impressive experience also includes board memberships on the Greensboro Police Foundation, North Carolina A&T Aggie Athletic Foundation, Weatherspoon Art Museum, Better Business Bureau Education Foundation, International Civil Rights Center & Museum, YMCA of Greensboro, Reading Connections, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Greensboro Center City Corporation, and Greensboro Housing Authority.

Additionally, McCain is an Elder and member of the Presbyterian Church of the Cross, C. W. Lawrence Masonic Lodge, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

McCain resides in Greensboro with his wife, Reverend Vicki Hinton McCain. They have two adult children, Taylor, and Mac McCain. Taylor, a 2016 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is the current COO for a privately owned snack food company in Miami, Florida, and Mac, a 2020 graduate of NC A&T State University, is a professional football player in the NFL.

McCain is the son of Franklin McCain Sr., an American civil rights activist and member of the Greensboro Four. The Greensboro Four are known for staging the lunch counter sit-in at the Woolworth store, now the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.

END LOCAL POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. Nearly 52,000 children, adults, and families are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. Our strategy builds pathways out of poverty by: Helping youth transition from cradle to career, Helping adults land jobs and increase income, Providing access to basic needs and healthcare, and Bundling services that eliminate barriers at our nationally recognized Family Success Centers and innovative Guilford Success Network. With the community’s support, we will achieve our BOLD GOAL: As a community united in equity and lasting solutions, 3,000 households will leave generational poverty by 2030. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $30,000 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards many four-member households need to earn around $66,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.org 

About Developmental Associates, LLC: Developmental Associates uses diverse teams in partnership with our mission-driven clients to identify and develop leaders nationally.  Rather than relying on the traditional interview-driven approach to assess executive candidates, the DA team also designs skill-based exercises tailored to the actual challenges and situations facing the position, such as making presentations, writing plans, coaching staff, and running meetings. DA provides clients with the best information to make their crucial executive decisions by recruiting and training peer assessors on providing objective behavioral feedback and correlating those results with Emotional Intelligence.

Blanche Cheeley – This is my story

My name is Blanche Cheeley.

I decided to share my story because of the help my mother and my family received from United Way when I was growing up.

If you’ve not viewed my story, please take a few minutes now.

Because of the support we received from United Way and other community resources, I was able to break the cycle of generational poverty. I was able to have a successful career.

I wanted to give back to United Way to help others be able to rewrite their stories- to be able to move from poverty to possibility – like I was.

After hearing my story, many folks have asked, how can I get involved? How can I make a gift?  How can I join the movement to end local poverty?

So, thank YOU for your interest in supporting United Way of Greater Greensboro. Your gift will help local children, families and adults get the supports they need to leave poverty behind. 

How can you get involved?

  1. If you wish to make a donation to United Way of Greater Greensboro, click here to make your gift
  2. If you prefer to mail a check, please make it payable to United Way of Greater Greensboro and mail it to United Way, 1500 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro, NC 27405
  3. You can also join an affinity or engagement group with an annual gift.

United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Affinity & Engagement Groups:

Young Leaders (YL)
Membership is comprised of caring young professionals under 40 who contribute $120 or more annually to United Way of Greater Greensboro. Click here to learn more.

African American Leadership (AAL)
AAL is comprised of caring citizens who contribute $500 or more annually to United Way of Greater Greensboro. Click here to learn more.

Women United (WU)
WU is comprised of caring citizens who contribute $1,000 or more annually to United Way of Greater Greensboro. Click here to learn more.

To learn more about the affinity groups or volunteer opportunities, please contact Holly Beck at Holly.Beck@UnitedWayGSO.org or by phone at 336-378-5022.

Leadership Circles
Membership is comprised of caring citizens who contribute $1,000 or more annually to United Way of Greater Greensboro. Click here to learn more.

Tocqueville Society
Members contribute $10,000 or more annually to advance the work of United Way. Click here to learn more.

Thank YOU for your kindness and compassion to help rewrite our neighbors’ stories so they can leave poverty behind!  So they can have a brighter future.

With so much gratitude,

Blanche Cheeley

Community Support of MeaningFULL Meals Food Drive Especially Needed This Year

Greensboro, NC (July 10, 2023) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is mobilizing the community throughout July with its annual MeaningFULL Meals program in partnership with The Volunteer Center (TVC) of the Triad and BackPack Beginnings (BPB).

Ten years ago, UWGG and TVC started MeaningFULL Meals as nutrition project that seeks food donations to help feed school children in need during summer break – and this year, the need is greater than ever before. 

With the increase of food prices during the past year there has been a decline in donations. Local food pantries also report serving more guests due to these rising prices and the cut in SNAP benefits, making this year’s MeaningFULL Meals drive especially needed.

BackPack Beginnings joined the partnership seven years ago and serves as the recipient of all food donations, dispersing them to children and families in the community.

Everyone in the community is invited to participate throughout the month of July.

Visit www.UnitedWayGSO.org/Volunteer to learn more and choose from two easy options:

  1. Simply host a drive in July and drop off your donations at BackPack Beginnings by August 4.
  2. Bring your own food donations to The United Way of Greater Greensboro or BackPack Beginnings. Drops should be made Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

“”BackPack Beginnings is thrilled to partner with The United Way of Greensboro again this summer for MeaningFULL meals. Summer is a difficult time for children who rely on school meals for most of their nutritional needs. With food prices up, donations down and SNAP cuts, the need for MeaningFULL meals is more important than ever. We are excited to get this food into the hands of children at Jackson, Wiley and Smith this summer.”said Parker White, Founder/Executive Director, BPB.

###

END LOCAL POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. Nearly 52,000 children, adults, and families are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. Our strategy builds pathways out of poverty by: Helping youth transition from cradle to career, Helping adults land jobs and increase income, Providing access to basic needs and healthcare, and Bundling services that eliminate barriers at our nationally recognized Family Success Centers and innovative Guilford Success Network. With the community’s support, we will achieve our BOLD GOAL: As a community united in equity and lasting solutions, 3,000 households will leave generational poverty by 2030. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $30,000 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards many four-member households need to earn around $66,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.org 

United Way Announces New Board Members, Strategic Partnerships

At its recent Annual Meeting, United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) appointed 15 board members, including officers. UWGG is also pleased to announce nearly $6 million in investments supporting 56 Strategic Partnerships, Initiatives, including two Family Success Centers and the Guilford Success Network Pilot.

Board Member Highlights

During the meeting, 15 board members were appointed to serve new and/or renewed terms, bringing the organization’s total board membership to 34 diverse community representatives. New/renewed board members include:

  • Renee Hutlin, Chief Commercial Impact Officer, Center for Creative Leadership
  • Wanda Lea, Greensboro Supply Network Operations Director, Proctor & Gamble
  • Justin Outling, Partner and Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Brooks Pierce
  • Wai-Fung Thompson, People Officer, ITG Brands
  • Debra Bingham, Assistant Professor of Business Law, Elon University
  • Steve Swetoha, President, Greensboro Swarm
  • Scott Baker, President, TowneBank Triad
  • Claudia Cannady, Summit Rotarian, Retired Rotary International Volunteer
  • Tracie Catlett, Head of School, Greensboro Day School
  • Tom Glaser, Retired Chief Operations Officer, Tapestry, Inc.
  • Niketa Green, Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Cone Health
  • Jose Sandoval, Vice President/Financial Sales Manager, First Citizens Bank
  • Jamiah Waterman, Director of Human Resources, City of Greensboro
  • Jill White, Senior Council, Womble Bond Dickenson
  • Michele Deuterman, Senior Vice President of People and Culture, ITG Brands

Board officers were also announced and include:

  • Michele Deuterman, Senior Vice President of People and Culture, ITG Brands, Chair
  • Scott Baker, President at TowneBank, Vice Chair
  • Bryan Starrett, Partner at Brooks Pierce, Secretary & Legal Counsel
  • Jose Sandoval, Vice President/Financial Sales Manager, First Citizens Bank, Treasurer
  • Steve Swetoha, President of Greensboro Swarm, Campaign Chair

What Does United Way of Greater Greensboro Do?

  • United Way creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty.
  • Our strategy builds pathways out of poverty by:
  • Helping youth transition from cradle-to-career
  • Helping adults land jobs and increase income
  • Providing access to basic needs and healthcare
  • Our nationally recognized Family Success Centers and innovative Guilford Success Network bundle services and eliminate barriers.

United Way’s Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives

  • Every year, local nonprofits apply to join our holistic strategy. And every year, our local volunteers select the best of the best partners to receive grant funding.
  • We issue “Poverty Relieving” and “Poverty Ending” Grants.
  • Poverty Relieving Grants are open to programs or collaboratives providing services that help people find and stay on pathways out of poverty through cradle-to-career supports and services for basic needs, access to healthcare, and financial stability.
  • Poverty Ending Grants are open to programs or collaboratives providing services that offer clear ways for people to leave poverty by increasing and maintaining their annual household income above the federal poverty threshold. 
  • We require these strategic partners to track and produce outcomes that help people on their journeys out of poverty.
  • Additionally, we lead and fund successful community-wide Initiatives including:
  • Thriving at 3 – focuses on preparing kids to be successful when they enter school
  • Raising a Reader – focuses on helping youth develop reading skills, while incorporating parents and care givers as supporters
  • Mentoring Matters – focuses on pairing a caring adult with a youth to provide coaching and support
  • African American Male Initiative – focuses on creating mentor/mentee relationships for local African American and Hispanic/Latino youth. This program serves and follows youth at Wiley Elementary, Jackson Middle, and Smith High Schools.

Strategic Partnership Highlights

Strategic Partner investments are led by volunteers who select partners and programs that equip and empower people to leave poverty. This year’s investments can be found on UWGG’s website at www.UnitedWayGSO.org/Investments and include six new program investments, and a total of four new Strategic Partners.

New Programs Receiving Poverty Relieving Grants

  • Disability Assistance Program, offered by The Servant Center
  • School Food Program, offered by BackPack Beginnings (lead) and A Simple Gesture
  • Operation Xcel at Swann Middle School, offered by Operation Xcel
  • Pathways to Homeownership, offered by Housing Consultants Group (lead) and Greensboro Urban Ministry

New Programs Receiving Poverty Ending Grants

  • Careers on the Outside, offered by Goodwill Industries on Central NC
  • Ending Poverty Through Workforce Development and Educational Opportunities, offered by Tiny House Community Development

New Strategic Partners

  • BackPack Beginnings
  • Goodwill Industries
  • Housing Consultants Group
  • Tiny House Community Development

###

END LOCAL POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. Nearly 52,000 children, adults, and families are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. Our strategy builds pathways out of poverty by: Helping youth transition from cradle to career, Helping adults land jobs and increase income, Providing access to basic needs and healthcare, and Bundling services that eliminate barriers at our nationally recognized Family Success Centers and innovative Guilford Success Network. With the community’s support, we will achieve our BOLD GOAL: As a community united in equity and lasting solutions, 3,000 households will leave generational poverty by 2030. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $30,000 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards many four-member households need to earn around $66,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.org

VOLUNTEERS UNITED – Meet Jose and Yubi Sandoval

Volunteers are the heart of United Way, and are an important component in our mission to end local poverty. 

United Way is excited to highlight Jose and Yubi Sandoval, who are both on United Way’s marketing committee and have volunteered a combined 5 years in different capacities. Jose is also on our board of directors.

“We believe in United Way’s mission and the impact it is making in our community. We also appreciate the intentionality of working with other organizations to help one another accomplish their goals. We are both immigrants and have witnessed firsthand the power of community and feel that UWGG is great at bringing people and organizations together,” said Jose and Yubi.

Jose and Yubi say they volunteer with United Way because “UWGG’s mission of ending poverty seeks the root cause of why someone is living in poverty, and then works with them to break the cycle.”

They plan to continue spreading the word about United Way’s work and they strive to get more community members involved in the movement to end local poverty.  

Jose and Yubi hope to see all community members thriving, and to have resources readily available. “Growing up in rural NC, Greensboro really won our heart by welcoming us and being open and welcoming to the immigrant community,” says Jose. 

If you would like to learn more about United Way’s single focus mission to end local poverty, visit https://www.UnitedWayGSO.org/About-us/Our-Focus

United Way Selects YWCA as New Lead Partner for Second Family Success Center

Greensboro, NC (May 26, 2023) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is pleased to announce it has selected YWCA of Greensboro as the new lead partner to operate its second Family Success Center (FSC) which will now be located at the Shirley T. Frye YWCA Greensboro building at 1807 East Wendover Avenue.

“We are thrilled to serve as the new lead partner and location of United Way’s second Family Success Center. The YWCA will work tirelessly to continue the transformative work that the center has provided to local people who are living in poverty. We are grateful to the United Way and look forward to helping local families through this new partnership for many years to come,” said Deb Harris Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer, YWCA of Greensboro.

FSCs are a critical component of UWGG’s strategic approach to ending local poverty. FSCs serve people living on low incomes through an Integrated Service Delivery model which offers multiple supports and services in one location. Services focus on employment, education, financial capability, health and wellness and basic needs. FSCs also offer transportation and childcare support to eliminate accessibility barriers for its members.

UWGG currently operates two FSCs. The first FSC was established in 2015 with lead partner, Guilford Child Development, now Children and Families First, at 1200 Arlington Street which is still supporting members.

UWGG’s second FSC location originally opened in 2018 at Salvation Army of Greensboro’s Center of Hope, at 1311 South Eugene Street. This location successfully operated onsite until newly discovered environmental issues forced the building’s closure in June 2022. After the building’s closure, Salvation Army continued FSC operations virtually and temporarily onsite at Salvation Army’s Reynolds Unit on Freeman Mill Road, home of the Boys and Girls Club.

In September 2022, UWGG was notified that the Center of Hope’s initial issues were symptomatic of greater structural concerns that would require extensive, long-term repair. In January, UWGG and Salvation Army mutually agreed that the temporary location at the Reynolds Unit would not meet long-term FSC member needs.

In February, UWGG began seeking new partners, ultimately selecting YWCA of Greensboro through a competitive volunteer-led application and review process.

The volunteer review committee selected YWCA of Greensboro based on its capacity to implement the FSC model at its location, as well as its expertise and experience in addressing poverty, serving whole families, providing long-term case management, and removing participation barriers.

The directors and coaches from the initial second FSC location will continue to lead the program at the YWCA.

“Like United Way, the YWCA of Greensboro has been deeply committed to this community for over a century. We are honored to partner with the talented and caring staff at YWCA and there is no doubt that Family Success Center members will continue to receive transformational supports and services,” said Traci McLemore, Chief Community Impact Officer, UWGG.

To-date, both FSC locations together have helped over 696 families, representing 988 adults and 1,178 children on their journeys toward self-sufficiency. 

Since launching, FSC members have achieved significant milestones:

  • 444 un- or underemployed adults completed job readiness classes
  • 461 new jobs have been obtained
  • 50 adults earned a GED (133 working to earn a GED)
  • 52 enrolled in college or vocational training
  • 2 earned a bachelor’s degree
  • 284 completed financial capability classes
  • 125 opened new bank accounts. 

###

END LOCAL POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. Nearly 52,000 children, adults, and families are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. Our strategy builds pathways out of poverty by: Helping youth transition from cradle to career, Helping adults land jobs and increase income, Providing access to basic needs and healthcare, and Bundling services that eliminate barriers at our nationally recognized Family Success Centers and innovative Guilford Success Network. With the community’s support, we will achieve our BOLD GOAL: As a community united in equity and lasting solutions, 3,000 households will leave generational poverty by 2030. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $30,000 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards many four-member households need to earn around $66,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.org 

United Way Seeking Volunteers to Promote and Participate in its Mentoring Matters Initiative During Juneteenth Greensboro Celebration and on Worldwide Day of Action

Greensboro, NC (June 17, 2023) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is honored to sponsor Greensboro Juneteenth’s Celebration and is seeking volunteers to help promote its Mentoring Matters initiative during the Celebration’s Black Truck Food Festival on June 17, 5 – 11 p.m. at LeBauer Park, located at 208 Davie St, Greensboro, NC 27401.

UWGG is looking for volunteers to distribute mentoring information during the Black Truck Food Festival that will offer ways attendees can sign up to become mentors. 

Later in the week, UWGG will continue seeking mentors during United Way Worldwide’s annual Day of Action which takes place on or around June 21 across the world. Day of Action challenges people to improve their communities through volunteering. 

“We are excited to leverage two exciting upcoming events to promote the importance and impact of mentoring through our Mentoring Matters initiative. Mentoring helps children in our community succeed in school and life is a foundational way to end local poverty,” says Holly Beck, Director of Volunteering and Advocacy, UWGG.   

To sign up to volunteering during the Juneteenth Celebration, visit www.UnitedWayGSO.org/Volunteer or email Holly Beck at holly.beck@unitedwaygso.org. To learn more about Mentoring Matters visit www.UnitedWayGSO.org/Mentor.

To learn more about the Greensboro Juneteenth Festival, which runs from June 15 – 18, visit: www.juneteenthgso.com

###

END LOCAL POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. Nearly 52,000 children, adults, and families are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. Our strategy builds pathways out of poverty by: Helping youth transition from cradle to career, Helping adults land jobs and increase income, Providing access to basic needs and healthcare, and Bundling services that eliminate barriers at our nationally recognized Family Success Centers and innovative Guilford Success Network. With the community’s support, we will achieve our BOLD GOAL: As a community united in equity and lasting solutions, 3,000 households will leave generational poverty by 2030. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $30,000 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards many four-member households need to earn around $66,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.org