Blog
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
The United Way of Collier and the Keys (UWCK) recently announced their 2022-23 Community Investment Grant recipients. Over $1 million dollars will be funded to organizations who are aiming to tackle issues such as financial security, housing, childcare & education, and food insecurity. These grants are available through a rigorous application and review process for Collier and Monroe County social service nonprofit organizations.
“We are proud of the community impact and partnerships that our grant program enables,” said UWCK President and CEO Steven Sanderson. “Being able to support and increase awareness of the vital work these agencies do in our communities is critical to the mission of the United Way of Collier and the Keys.”
UWCK is awarding grants to 19 agencies in Monroe County and 23 in Collier County. Applications were...
Monday, April 11, 2022
Enrollment is now open for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) to any Keys baby or toddler! Thanks to generous grants and donations, any child aged 4 ½ or younger is eligible to enroll and will receive a free book monthly until their 5th birthday. Parents can visit the Imagination Library website to enroll their child(ren).
This program helps improve early childhood literacy, especially in our most vulnerable populations. While any Monroe County child is eligible to enroll, we target our enrollment efforts at families who are likely to have the fewest books and reap the most benefits.
According to our pre‐enrollment survey, 21% of families had NO children’s books in their home and an additional 48% had 5 or fewer books. This is staggering, compared to the average, middle‐ or upper‐income family. Beginning to Read, written by...
Monday, April 11, 2022
UWCK recently awarded $209,087 to Reef Renewal USA (RRUSA) to begin reef restoration work on Looe Key, located in the Lower Keys. RRUSA will use innovative techniques to outplant more than 10,000 corals and utilize 5,000 volunteer hours throughout this 4-year grant.
In February, the United Way of Collier and the Keys (UWCK) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated two years of partnership in revitalizing the iconic coral reefs that run throughout the Florida Keys. This project, which also includes diverse educational and stewardship programs, began with a $3.5 million gift from the UAE in February 2020.
Grant efforts will prioritize restoration progress towards Mission: Iconic Reefs, financial impacts to Monroe County families living paycheck to paycheck, volunteerism, and engagement with students studying marine science. UWCK’s...
Monday, April 11, 2022
April is National Volunteer Month and we have the best VITA volunteers! Now in its sixth year, our VITA program has 24 volunteers plus 3 staff members who have worked hard to provide free, accurate tax preparation for qualified Monroe and Collier county residents.
These volunteers came together with a common goal to help as many lower-income taxpayers as possible. The VITA volunteers meet by Zoom occasionally to get acquainted, ask questions and bounce ideas off each other. This has been a good way to keep our volunteers connected; they share emails and phone numbers and often reach out to each other for a second opinion on tax issues. The volunteers are passionate about the program and work together to solve client’s tax problems and share insights.
In 2020, the UWCK program expanded to include remote preparation due to COVID. When...
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
UWCK Board Member Richard Tamborrino was recently named one of the 2022 Florida Keys Unsung Heroes by the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys. Richard has served on the UWCK Board for the past 7 years, and was instrumental in the merger of the Collier and Monroe County United Way organizations. His work with UWCK through Hurricane Irma and the COVID-19 pandemic shows the tireless effort that Richard puts into the Keys community. We want to congratulate Richard for this outstanding achievement.
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
A Few of the Services Provided
Music lessons for underprivileged school children
Daytime or after school childcare
Emergency housing or financial assistance
Meals, bed, showers for employed homeless men
Case management services
Food/groceries, on-site meals, hot meal delivery, weekend food for school children
Snapshot of a Few Results
# of meals provided ............................................................... 252564
# of grocery bags provided ...................................................... 13950
# of clients receiving grocery bags. ........................................... 4098
# of families that maintained housing ....................................... 2409*
# of early childhood children served. .......................................... 449*
# of hours of support provided to early childhood children.........4391...
Thursday, November 4, 2021
The United Way of Collier and the Keys (UWCK) is pleased to announce the release of a ‘Reef Revitalization’ Request for Proposal (RFP) to further support local coral restoration efforts. This grant opportunity is part of UWCK’s larger initiative -- ‘Revitalizing the Florida Keys through Reef Restoration and Beyond,’ with support from the United Arab Emirates.
Up to $377,718 will be available to coral restoration practitioners expanding Mission: Iconic Reefs restoration efforts at Looe Key during the next 4 years. The application for funding will be open through the UWCK grant management portal until December 3, 2021. Applicants will be required to provide a 1:1 private sector match on awarded funds, culminating in approximately $755,000 towards restoration. Grant priorities will focus on Phase 1A of Mission: Iconic Reefs, financial...
Monday, November 1, 2021
United Way of Collier and the Keys – Community GEMS
UWCK was presented with a GEMS (Great Educational Moments for Students) Community Partner award from Monroe County School District at their regular Board Meeting on October 26, 2021. Amber Acevedo shared the following at the presentation.
"United Way of Collier and the Keys has been a partner with the Monroe County School District for many years and their support has come in a variety of ways. The Stuff the Bus Campaign, an annual event spearheaded by the United Way, brought in a record breaking $45,000 in donations this year, providing gift cards to schools to buy needed supplies for students and staff.
"Their work with the United Arab Emirates has resulted in grants to our schools in the area of marine science education, funding field trips and resources including an online...
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
United Way of Collier and the Keys (UWCK) focused its grantmaking for 2021-22 on helping working families recover from recession and build more secure financial futures for themselves.
With the United States still rebounding from the pandemic recession, local seasonal employment at its typical summer low, and school out of session, working families in Collier and Monroe Counties face significant challenges. As they try to keep their children safe, seek out new employment, and work to rebuild their household economies, families need help to obtain enough food, remain in their homes, access medical care, and secure affordable childcare so they may return to work. United Way of Collier and the Keys has targeted its 2021 grants to trusted local organizations that provide these vital supports.
Nearly $370,000 will be invested in 16...
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Monroe County School District’s United Way Workplace Campaign
Leah Stockton, Keys Area President, discusses the impact of the Monroe County School District's workplace giving campaign. Learn how your donations serve our community and how school district employees sign up to participate in the workplace giving campaign.
With offices in Key West and Naples, the United Way of Collier and the Keys serves the needs of local communities. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we provide direct programs and fund local nonprofits supporting the health, education, and financial stability of hard-working individuals and families.
In the Florida Keys, we support food pantries, homelessness prevention services, afterschool and preschool programs, and health services with the funding they need to serve our communities’ most at-risk people. In...
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