Archive: Around Town

Ithaca, NY - United Way of Tompkins County’s (UWTC) Board of Directors recently approved a total of $953,241 in  funding requests to support local health and human services and programs.  Community Care Fund (CCF) Awards totaled $930,500 and Spring ’13 Hunger & Food Security Awards totaled $22,741. The recommendations were presented by Elaine Quaroni, UWTC Board Member and Chair of the Community Investment Committee.

The informed investment of community dollars is one of the most important task United Way volunteers and staff tackles. Using the UWTC online data manager, Community Investment volunteers have been able to more effectively analyze service capacity and needs data with greater depth and effectiveness. Elaine and her team have done an outstanding job on behalf of donors, consumers, and the entire community.

For the third year, the CCF supports programs and services in seven, identified issue areas that help to address Tompkins County’s most pressing needs and improves people’s live through Education, Income, and Health. To view all seven CCF Issue Area program complete descriptions, awards, and a list of their respective outcomes, please visit Community Grants at www.uwtc.org. 

UWTC President James Brown said, “The informed investment of community dollars is one of the most important task United Way volunteers and staff tackle. Using the UWTC online data manager, Community Investment volunteers have been able to more effectively analyze service capacity and needs data with greater depth and effectiveness. Elaine and her team have done an outstanding job on behalf of donors, consumers, and the entire community.”

Basic Needs - Community Investment of $44,485 supports the following outcomes:

1. Children will have access to fresh fruits and vegetables and daily meals
2. Families, seniors and adults will have access to an adequate quantity of quality food

• Brooktondale Community Center
• Caroline Food Pantry at the Brooktondale Community Center
• Foodnet
• Foodnet Meals on Wheels
• Freeville Community Council
• Freeville Food Pantry
• Groton Community Council
• Groton Food Providers
• Groton Women’s Community Fund
• Southside Community Center, Inc.
• Hot Food Program
• Food Pantry
• The Salvation Army
• DAP - Direct Assistance Program
• Ulysses Community Council
• Trumansburg Food Pantry
• Varna Community Association
• Community Dinners – Stove Replacement

Child Care/Early Learning - Community Investment of $182,900 supports the following outcomes:

1. Children in Tompkins County will receive affordable, quality childcare services
2. Children will be socially and emotionally ready to learn when they reach kindergarten
3. Parents, caretakers and guardians will more effectively support children’s development

• Brooktondale Community Center
• Brooktondale Summer Camp
• Child Development Council
• Child Care Resource Referral Program
• Family Support Services
• Downtown Ithaca Children’s Center (formerly Drop-In Children's Center)
• Tuition Assistance Childcare Program
• Dryden Community Council
• Village of Dryden Summer Recreation
• DCS Kindergarten Reading
• Traveling Books of Dryden
• Enfield Community Council
• Enfield Summer Day Camp
• ESAP (Enfield School Age Program) Scholarships
• Franziska Racker Centers
• Evaluations
• Freeville Community Council
• Freeville Summer Recreation Program
• Greater Ithaca Activities Center
• Youth Division
• Ithaca Community Childcare Center
• Afterschool Program Improvement
• McLean Community Council
• Family Reading Nights
• Newfield Community Council
• Summer Day Camp
• Before & Afterschool Program
• Ulysses Community Council
• Nursery School

Crisis Services - Community Investment of $138,750 supports the following outcomes:

1. People in imminent danger will receive help
2. Households experiencing crisis will not fall into episodic “situational” poverty
3. Individuals, families and couples who have a conflict will attempt a cooperative resolution
4. Members of the community will receive free and confidential crisis counseling
5. American Red Cross-Tompkins County Chapter
6. Homeless Services Program
7. Emergency and Disaster Services

• Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga
• Samaritan Center Emergency Services Program
• Community Dispute Resolution Center
• Mediation Services
• Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.
• Tompkins/Tioga Neighborhood Legal Services
• The Mental Health Association in Tompkins County
• Education, Health, and Wellness (Crisis supports to individuals and crisis training for professionals)
• Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service
• Crisisline

Financial Stability/Building Self-Sufficiency - Community investment of $179,615 supports the following outcomes:

1. Home repairs will be made for seniors  with low-income and individuals with a disability to support self-sufficiency
2. Immigrants increase their knowledge of services, benefits, civic processes or educational opportunities
3. Unemployed and underemployed adults will gain skills to advance in their employment to attain economic self-sufficiency
4. The adult student can read, write, or speak English at a measurably higher level
5. Adults will increase their ability to manage their finances
6. Homeless and transient young people will increase their understanding and skills involved in finding and maintaining a stable home

• Better Housing for Tompkins County
• Tompkins County Home Repair Program
• Brooktondale Community Center
• Old Mill Newsletter
• Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga
• Immigrant Services Program (ISP)
• Challenge Workforce Solutions
• Contract Production Facility
• Job Club - Transition Employment
• Danby Community Council
• Newsletter
• Enfield Community Council
• Community Newsletter
• Finger Lakes Independence Center
• Education Outreach
• Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County, Inc.
• Human Service Planning
• 2-1-1- Information and Referral Services Program
• Lifelong
• Tax Counseling for Senior Citizens
• McLean Community Council
• McLean Community Hall
• Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources (OAR) of Tompkins County
• Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources
• The Learning Web
• Youth Outreach
• Tompkins Learning Partners
• Adult Literacy
• Women’s Opportunity Center
• Women’s Opportunity Center Scholarship Program
• YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County
• Financial Assistance/Subsidy

Health/Environment: Community investment of $217,500 supports the following outcomes:

1. Caregivers have information about their child's needs to help determine goals for their child.
2. Individuals will have transportation and access to medical services
3. Individuals will report that their concerns are understood by their mental health provider
4. Outreach materials will be provided through a variety of educational approaches related to health needs and accessibility of services
5. Youth had a safe place for fun and healthy recreational activities to enhance their development

• Alcohol & Drug Council
• Outpatient Clinic Program
• Education & Prevention Program
• Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes
• Individualized Information and Support for Those Affected by Cancer
• Danby Community Council
• Family Programs
• Enfield Community Council
• Community Enrichment
• Family & Children’s Service
• Children’s Mental Health
• Family Mental Health
• Respite and Caregiver Counseling
• Franziska Racker Centers, Inc.
• Evaluations
• Gadabout Transportation Services, Inc.
• Gadabout Transportation Services for the Elderly and Disabled Residents of Tompkins County
• Greater Ithaca Activities Center, Inc.
• Recreation Program
• Lansing Community Council
• Lansing Department of Parks and Recreation
• The Mental Health Association in Tompkins County
• Education, Health and Wellness Program

Seniors: Community investment of $12,350 supports the following outcomes:

1. Seniors will increase their participation in activities and their investment in their community
2. Seniors will develop better supportive relationships, friendships and sense of community
3. Seniors will experience improved health and have access to cultural activities

• Danby Community Council
• Danby Seniors
• Dryden Community Council
• Southworth Library Large Print Books and CDs
• Greater Ithaca Activities Center
• Adult/ Senior Program
• Groton Community Council
• Groton Art Group
• Lifelong
• Lifelong Activities
• RSVP – Retired Senior Volunteer Program
• McLean Community Council
• McLean Mysteries  - Community gatherings sharing the history of the hamlet

Youth: Community investment of $154,900 supports the following outcomes:

1. Youth in Tompkins County will learn new skills, secure resources and access information to support their development
2. Youth will have a safe place for fun and healthy recreational activities to enhance their development
3. Youth will have access to counseling services
4. Youth will increase their knowledge of career exploration and employment preparation services
5. Teen parents will avoid foster care placement of their children
6. Families will have information about community resources that can address the needs of their children

• The Advocacy Center of Tompkins County
• Youth Services
• Education Department
• Child Development Council
• Teen Pregnancy/ Parenting Program
• Danby Community Council
• Youth Services
• Scholarships
• Dryden Community Council
• Southworth Library Summer Reading Program
• Southworth Library Teen Program
• Enfield Community Council
• Enfield Teen Program
• Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca
• Rural Outreach Services
• Girl Scouts NYPENN Pathways
• Girl Scout Leadership Experience
• Greater Ithaca Activities Center
• Teen Program
• Groton Community Council
• Groton Recreation Committee
• Youth Commission
• Groton Public Library
• Lansing Community Council
• Lansing Youth Services
• McLean Community Council
• Summer Recreation
• Newfield Community Council
• Summer Reading
• Southside Community Center
• Afterschool Program
• Computer Lab
• General/Cultural Programs
• Recycle Ithaca’s Bikes (RIBS)
• Unity Studio
• Suicide Prevention & Crisis Services
• Online Counseling Service for Youth
• The Learning Web
• Community & Career Exploration & Apprenticeship Program
• Ulysses Community Council
• Afterschool Program
• Library Program
• Youth Services
• Summer Recreation

In addition to the CCF Awards, the UWTC Board of Directors approved grants totaling $22,741 for the first of two 2013 Hunger & Food Security Awards.  The second 2013 Hunger and Food Security program cycle will open on UWTC’s September 20th Day of Caring.

For the first 2013 cycle, eleven programs were awarded funding for the following programs and services.

• H&F Security - Community Investment of $22,741 supports the following outcomes:
• Children will have supplemental food for weekends and when school is out of session
• Children will have access to fresh fruits and vegetables and daily meals
• Individuals, including seniors will have access to an adequate quantity of quality food and weekly meals
• Challenge Workforce Solutions
• Job Club – Transition to Employment Snack Program
• Child Development Council
• Family Services Program – Food Security
• Community Dinners at Dryden United Methodist Church
• Community Dinners
• Dryden Community Council
• Weekend Backpack Program
• Freeville Community Council
• Freeville Food Pantry
• Friendship Donations Network, Inc.
• New Space for Friendship Donations Network
• Loaves and Fishes
• Free Meal Program
• The Learning Web
• Youth Outreach H&FS
• Newfield Community Council
• Newfield Kitchen Cupboard
• The Mental Health Association in Tompkins County
• Starlight Peer Advocacy Recovery (Drop-in & Recovery) Center
• Village at Ithaca
• Ithaca Community Harvest

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