United Way announces $5.9 million investment to boost Martin County safety net

Grant Event

Despite the pandemic’s sobering impact, there was much to applaud at this year’s United Way of Martin County grant announcement where the organization celebrated the investment of over $5.9 million in the local community. 

As part of that investment, United Way officials presented 42 Community Impact Grants to 31 local nonprofit agencies totaling $928,417. 

The total investment includes $4.081 million in CARES Act Funds and United Way COVID-19 Relief Funds that were distributed to help residents and social service agencies respond, recover and rebuild during the pandemic. 
United Way distributed an additional $933,515 to community agencies as directed by donors, as well as funding for its internal programs including its volunteer center, CHARACTER COUNTS!, the United Way Holiday Project, Tools for Success and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA).

"It was an incredibly disruptive year, but thanks to our generous donors and dedicated community partners it didn’t derail our efforts to care for our community,” United Way of Martin County President/CEO Carol G. Houwaart-Diez said. “The challenges we faced spurred creative thinking and collaboration to ensure children and families were supported throughout the pandemic.”
Grant recipients align with United Way’s focus on improving health, education and financial stability, and are working to elevate people from poverty.

Among them: ARC of Martin County,  Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, Gertrude Walden Childcare Center, House of Hope, Helping People Succeed, Alzheimer’s Community Care, The Martin County School District, and dozens more. A full list is available online at www.UnitedWayMartin.org/fundedprograms.

United Way’s Community Impact Grants are determined by a competitive, volunteer-led grantmaking process. More than 60 community volunteers helped make funding decisions during a rigorous evaluation process to ensure grants are distributed objectively and aligned with United Way’s goals.

As one of Martin County’s largest non-government funders of health and human services, United Way’s funding strategy includes three key elements:

In education, United Way is investing in programs that increase the quality of preschools as well as focus on achieving grade-level reading, and provide the support necessary to see students through high school graduation and beyond.

For financial stability, United Way is investing in programs helping individuals and families achieve and maintain financial stability with a focus on workforce development through education, job placement and retention. The goal is to help our community earn it, keep it and save it. United Way is also supporting food and housing assistance programs.

And in the focus area of health, United Way is investing in programs that help our community members prevent trauma, make healthy choices, manage chronic disease and increase access to health care.

Those wishing to get involved by donating their time, money or voice to make Martin County a better place can do so by visiting www.unitedwaymartin.org.

About United Way of Martin County
United Way of Martin County’s mission is to lift the community and change lives together through the collective power of advancing the common good. Since 1972, the United Way has been working to create long-term social change and provide support to Martin County residents by investing in programs that strive to: enhance healthy living, improve education, and support financial stability.