2008 Community Investments

Local volunteers on Community Councils use their knowledge and experience to target funds where the needs are greatest. To make the best use of contributor dollars, United Way holds agencies accountable for their programs, Grants are typically awarded for a period of three years, with continued funding dependent on satisfactory outcome reports. For more information on the tables, please scroll to the bottom of the page.

Mentoring - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia, Inc.

Council 
Year 
Amount 
Report 1 
Report 2 
Report 3 
Report 4 
EJLS
2008
$50,000
-
-
-
- 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia (BBBSGC) will help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships. This grant allows the agency to hire a Program Director to supervise all elements of the mentoring programs.  The goal of the mentoring program is to serve 365 children through one-to-one mentoring in 2008, to increase the quality of the matches through more sophisticated orientation and training, and to add to the safety elements already in place.  BBBSGC serves children age 6-17 in Richland and Lexington counties.

Youth Development - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands

Council 
Year 
Amount 
Report 1 
Report 2 
Report 3 
Report 4 
EJLS
2008
$125,000
-
-
-
- 
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands will provide quality extended care services at affordable prices based upon the participant's household income to a minimum of 300 youth at three targeted elementary schools. The services provided will include over 50 youth development programs offered per week in the areas of Education and Career Development, Character and Leadership Development, Sports Fitness and Recreation, Health and Life Skills, and the Arts. A special emphasis will be placed on parental involvement and support through a new initiative called Family Plus.

Youth Tutoring - City Year Columbia

Council 
Year 
Amount 
Report 1 
Report 2 
Report 3 
Report 4 
EJLS
2008
$75,000
-
-
-
- 
City Year Columbia's Whole School Whole Child (WSWC) Service Initiative addresses the pressing needs faced by schools in Columbia for academic support and for safe, enriching after-school programs. The City Year teams will deliver one-on-one and group literacy tutoring, truancy support, service learning activities, parental engagement, and after school support.  This program will include management of the Midlands Reading Consortium, which works to ensure that students read at grade level by third grade. City Year's WSWC service model works to not only improve academic performance in the schools it serves, but to promote a positive school climate and environment in which students want to engage in learning.

Project Success - Communities in Schools of the Midlands

Council 
Year 
Amount 
Report 1 
Report 2 
Report 3 
Report 4 
EJLS
2008
$125,000
-
-
-
- 
Project Success will address the problem of low high school graduation rates by providing students and their families the preparation and support they need to ensure a successful transition from elementary to middle school and even through middle school. It is anticipated that three main outcomes will result from this project in year one: 1) Students improve their academic performance in math, English and language arts and reduce negative behaviors; 2) Students and their families report and exhibit a connection to their Middle School; 3) Students are promoted on time to the next grade level. Project Success will address the needs of the whole school population at Dent and E.L. Wright Middle schools, and will target 60 fifth graders at each of two elementary schools: Joseph Keels and Windsor, identified as being at risk of dropping out.

Adult & Family Literacy - Newberry County Literacy Council

Council 
Year 
Amount 
Report 1 
Report 2 
Report 3 
Report 4 
EJLS
2008
$50,000
-
-
-
- 
The Newberry County Literacy Council will increase the functional literacy of Newberry County residents so that they can improve the quality of their lives through better employment and increased basic living skills. Approximately one-third of the population is at an English reading level below eighth grade. This program provides small groups, one-on-one tutoring and computer classes to residents who need to improve their reading, writing, or work related skills.

Turning Pages - Volunteers of America of the Carolinas

Council 
Year 
Amount 
Report 1 
Report 2 
Report 3 
Report 4 
EJLS
2008 
$50,000
 ME
-
-
- 
Turning Pages provides individually tailored literacy instruction to adults whose reading and writing skills prevent them from reaching their full potential in society. The program offers individual and small group instruction, combined with access to a supervised computer learning center, to teach adults to read and write. Turning Pages expects to serve 200 adult residents of Richland and Lexington Counties with this program over the next year.

Reaching for the STARS - Vital Connections of the Midlands

Council 
Year 
Amount 
Report 1 
Report 2 
Report 3 
Report 4 
SB6
2008 
$133,331
-
-
-
- 
Reaching for the Stars is targets young children, ages six weeks to five years, of families with socially and economically high-risk factors linked to school failure, such as homelessness and low income.  The program will provides scholarships for at-risk children to be at NAEYC accredited non-profit child care centers: Two of Vital Connections of the Midlands run centers, Arthurtown and Tender Years, will offer scholarships. Each center provides high quality services with a strong literacy component and includes  parent meetings and training.. Reaching for the Start will help break the cycle of poverty for families by providing comprehensive child care services that will help at-risk children become ready for school.

Reaching for the STARS - Volunteers of America of the Carolinas

Council 
Year 
Amount 
Report 1 
Report 2 
Report 3 
Report 4 
SB6
2008 
$66,667
-
-
-
- 
Reaching for the Stars targets young children, ages six weeks to five years, of families with socially and economically high-risk factors linked to school failure, such as homelessness and low income. The program will provides scholarships for at-risk children at NAEYC accredited non-profit centers: Children's Garden, run by Volunteers of America of the Carolinas will offer scholarships.  The center provides high quality services with a strong literacy component and includes  parent meetings and training. Reaching for the Start will help break the cycle of poverty for families by providing comprehensive child care services that will help at-risk children become ready for school.

 
Community Councils: The Community Council responsible for issuing a request for proposals (RFP)
EJLS - Education, Job & Life Skills Council
SB6 - Success By 6 (Formerly the Families, Individuals & Children Council)
H&R - Health & Recovery Council
FSST - Food, Shelter, Safety & Transportation Council

Year: The year refers to the first year in which the agency receives funding for that particular program. Grants are typically awarded for a three-year period. Very successful programs may be extended beyond three years and programs that do not meet expectations can be ended before the three year grant cycle is complete.

Amount: The amount refers to the funding the agency receives per fiscal year for the term of the grant.

Reports: Reports refer to the outcome reports agencies file with United Way.  Trained volunteers review the reports for progress. Continued funding for programs depends on satisfactory outcome reports. EE - Exceeds Expectations, ME - Meets Expectations, NI - Needs Improvement, DN - Does Not Meet Expectations