Page 18 - BusinessWest/Healthcare News 2021 Giving Guide
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 UNITED
WAY OF
PIONEER
VALLEY
1441 Main St., Suite 147 Springfield, MA 01103 (413) 737-2691 www.uwpv.org President and CEO: Paul Mina
YEAR ESTABLISHED
1921
MISSION STATEMENT
United Way of Pioneer Valley mobilizes people and resources to strengthen our communities.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2021
• Day of Caring (fall)
• Over the Edge fundraising event (fall)
• Stuff the Bus (fall)
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
The United Way of Pioneer Valley fights to lift Hampden County, Granby, and South Hadley out of poverty. For 100 years, we’ve created local, innovative solutions for our community’s toughest problems.
In fiscal year 2019, this is what we accomplished:
• In the realm of basic needs, 324,295 meals and 155,145 bags
of food were provided, while 833 families were kept warm, and 103 women and children were provided emergency shelter through local domestic-violence programs.
• In youth development, we partnered with 12 organizations to offer programs in literacy proficiency, financial wellness, healthy lifestyles, career readiness, and tutoring in STEM-related subjects. Meanwhile, 939 K-8 youth participated in an after-school program we funded, and 1,350 hours per student of academic and personal enrichment was provided by these programs.
• In the area of financial wellness, 2,549 low- to moderate-income taxpayers received free tax assistance from 46 IRS-trained volunteers because we brought two local
  agencies together to coordinate efforts for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Meanwhile, $2,001,643 in earned-income tax credits were returned to the community, along with $793,054 in child tax credits. Finally, 151 clients met with a Thrive coach monthly to review credit reports, create household budgets, reduce debt, and reach their financial goals; 34% of our clients have reached their goals.
RESPONDING TO COVID
When the Commonwealth of Massachusetts issued its first stay-at-home order in April, United Way of Pioneer Valley was already preparing the COVID-19 Recovery & Relief Fund of Western Massachusetts in collaboration with the United Ways of Hampshire and Franklin counties. We also released restrictions on program grant
funds to be used for nonprofits’ operations, so organizations could keep their doors open in the wake of increased costs and a much more difficult fundraising climate.
Before the shutdown was ordered, on March 31, we donated 5,000 frozen meals to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to bolster its stockpile, and we have organized several food donations
as well. Since then, we provided grant funding
to 21 local nonprofits and municipal government agencies, and PPE — including hand-sanitizer bottles and stations, disposable masks, cleaning wipes, and sneeze guards — to 16 agencies. Most recently, in the wake of Springfield not being able to safely allow traditional trick-or-treating, we
organized the Boo Bash drive-thru trick-or-treating event.
In the wake of the challenges of COVID-19, United Way of Pioneer Valley has stood strong and continues to develop innovative solutions
to the problems facing our communities. Giving to United Way helps strengthen and expand the interconnected network of programs, groups, and organizations.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
United Way of Pioneer Valley manages a state- of-the-art volunteer portal, easier than ever to use for nonprofits, corporate partners, and volunteers alike. Partners who sign up through our account receive $900 per year in premium features for free. Volunteers can sign up for an event at volunteer. uwpv.org. Partners can sign up for a nonprofit or corporate account at volunteer.uwpv.org/register/ organization. Call our Volunteer Hotline at (833) 386-5687 for more information.
IN THE NEWS
As of Jan. 10, 2021, we will officially reach our 100th anniversary of improving lives in Western Mass. Since the start of our campaign on Jan. 10, 1921, we have helped hundreds of thousands
of people get out of poverty — and stay out — through food and utility assistance, financial coaching, youth programs, and assisting with disaster relief.
  THE TEAM
Alice Buckner, Resource Development Manager
Alisha Santiago, Administration & Finance
Assistant
Emmanuel Reyes, Thrive Financial Coach
Jennifer Fernandes, Thrive Financial Coach
Jennifer Kinsman, Director of Community Impact &
Engagement
Lee Drewitz, Americorps VISTA
Megan Moynihan, Senior Director of
Finance & Operations
Moe Edwards, Chief Financial Officer
Noah Koski, Marketing & Creative Services Specialist
Paul Mina, President and CEO
Paulina Wysocka, Resource Development Associate
Shalana Ali, Executive Assistant to the President
Steve Wolf, IT Manager
Terrence Smith, Americorps VISTA
Gregory Schmidt Brian Smith Moyah Smith Daniel Warwick Michael Weekes Lora Wondolowski
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
George Arwady Julie Dialessi-Lafley Daniel Finnegan Denis Gagnon Jr. David Griffin Scott Grodsky Van Johnson
Steven Lowell Matt Maguire Ben Markens Jason Newmark Susan O’Connor Kathleen Plante Christina Royal
52 DECEMBER 2020 GIVING GUIDE
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