Pictured above: United Way of Abilene staff and volunteers take a break from washing windshields and filling up gas tanks during their community thank you day.
“United Way has become synonymous with caring and helping children, families and individuals. We have a long tradition of helping people with basic needs – food, clothing, shelter and safety – and changing lives through strong, well-managed programs. United Way is also engaging the community to get to the heart of problems.”
- from United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County
United Ways are in a unique position to positively impact the lives of individuals and communities. Thanks to their strong relationships with volunteers and donors, they can leverage the caring power of people to help address community needs, and as a result, can help improve the education, financial stability and health opportunities for Texas communities.
Every day, United Way volunteers, donors and advocates positively impact peoples’ lives in many different ways. From helping a child learn to read, to donating money to ensure people have access to quality healthcare, to providing training and access to in-demand jobs, and more. United Ways focus on both immediate needs as well as long-term solutions to a community’s most pressing problems.
Over 70 United Ways throughout Texas engage individuals, businesses, school districts, private foundations, and the public sector, to strategically invest resources – both financial and volunteer time – to help change their communities for the better. Each United Way is local, focused on and accountable to people and their unique needs in their own community.
When you add up the collective impact of these individual United Ways, the results are amazing:
In 2015 alone, Texas United Ways raised nearly $300 million of the total $3.140 billion received by United Ways across the U.S. Over 490,000 individual Texas donors helped make up a large percentage of the money raised in Texas, contributing an average gift of $575.32.
These statistics spotlight one of United Way’s unique strengths: its ability to mobilize local communities and bring together the resources needed to meet local challenges, while at the same time being part of a global network bringing about lasting change through our network of United Ways across the state and country.
See below how two Texas United Ways talk about these investments in their communities - and connect with your local United Way to learn more about their work where you live.
United Way of the Brazos Valley, "Design Your Own Good"
United Way of Comal County, "Just a little does a lot"