Gifts stay in Monroe Co.
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Below you will find inspirational stories of giving where community-based donations to the Florida keys made a real difference in peoples lives.
If you have a United Way story of giving you would like to share with the public please email us.
12/20/06
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Culver,
On behalf of the fifth grade team of teachers and students, I wish to thank you so much for providing the perfect setting for our annual Fifth Grade Coffee House. The program was a complete success due to your support and the participation of our students. Because of your assistance, we were able to provide this unique opportunity to our students. Your kindness and generosity are greatly appreciated. Thanks again for everything that you do on a daily basis for our kids and our community.
Sincerely
Roxanne M. Skaggs.
To whom it may concern:
The United Way of Monroe County contributions to the Marathon Recreation Center have helped us transform many young lives. The support of United Way has helped to provide a safe positive enviroment for all youth ages 8 - 18 years old, giving working parents peace of mind knowing their kids are in a safe place.
Our programs consist of various recreational activities, after-school homework assistance, arts and crafts, dance and cheer teams that help to promote community service, academic achievement and encourage well rounded children who will eventually become leaders of our society.
Anthony Culver
Last year's United Way funding was used for breastfeeding promotion at Lower Keys Medical Center. All new mothers are presented with a gift bag to encourage and support them in breastfeeding their babies. The bags, made of recycled fibers, are filled with educational materials on breastfeeding, local resources for breastfeeding assistance, and other items to welcome the new baby. The response from new moms and hospital staff has been terrific. The hospital's new loctation consultant says that the bags help reinforce the message that breastfeeding is best for mom and baby and gives them extra support once they leave the hospital.
The photos are of high school volunteers help the Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition assemble new mom gift bags.
Our website is www.keyshealthystart.org
We had a referral from the school district for after school/summer care for a homeless family of four (mom and three children). Since the mother was homelss and unemployed, she was not eligible to receive subsidized child care.
We allowed her three children to attend the club on a full scholarship. This allowed the mother to secure employment and once employed she was eligible for subsidized child care.
We used some of our United Way funding to pay for childcare for these three children for 4 months. This gave the mother the opportunity to secure employment and housing for her and her children.
We also use our United Way Funding for scholarships for kids. Many parents have lost hteir jobs or in between jobs and need some short term emergency finanical assistance. Our United Way funding has provided financial assitance to approx. 24 families and 36 children last year. Without this they would be unable to attend our Clubs.
This year the request for financial assistance from last year is up approximately 15%.