At the end of the second week of the community campaign, United Way continues to gain momentum. Pledges totaled $1,886,193, representing 40% of the overall campaign goal of $4.7 million.

The United Way partner agencies create change every day through their impactful programs and services. They also run impressive internal campaigns, seeing firsthand the impact of their community’s investments.

Many partner agencies are finding creative ways to support the campaign this year. Home to Stay is offering a jean week, comfy clothes day, a bake sale, trivia and even a Halloween-themed potluck. The ROCK Center for Youth Development students created custom buttons that are being sold at Populace Coffee to benefit the campaign.

West Midland Family Center, Greater Midland Community Center, North Midland Family Center, Coleman Family Center, Shelterhouse, Ten16 and Midland County ESA all kicked off their campaigns earlier this week and look forward to engaging their teams in fun ways to support the community.

The Arnold Center is offering a wide variety of fun activities for their team including a fun competition called “Kiss a Pig”, along with hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner and having VIP parking spots up for grabs.

“It’s so inspiring to see our nonprofits be so engaged and having fun to support their United Way campaigns,” shared United Way staffer, Jesse Fletcher, Senior Relationship Manager. “They do such incredible work in our community and have so much passion around helping our neighbors in need.”

Ieuter Insurance Group wrapped up their campaign this week raising an impressive $14,000 in support of the community. Other local businesses kicked off their campaigns this week including Sym Financial, Yeo & Yeo, Benjamin F. Edwards and Arbury Insurance.

In United Way’s campaign video series, “We Asked the Community…” they asked about the importance of reading at grade level and how we as individuals can support the kids in our community. Many video participants shared that they too struggled with reading as a kid, and had they not received support from a caring adult or teacher, they may not have found the success they have now. To watch this inspiring video, you can visit unitedwaymidland.org/reading.

“Being a proficient reader by third grade is important to long-term success,” shared Miller. “We honor and walk alongside the amazing work being done by our schools and educators. The investments being made complement the work in the classroom and provide meaningful ways to both build reading skills along with relationships with caring adults.”

United Way shared that the most recent Kids Count report indicated that 47.5% of third graders are not currently proficient at reading in third grade. Through nonprofit programs supported by the funds raised during the campaign, over 1,800 kids received free monthly books and over 175 were paired with a tutor or mentor last year.

But there are other kids who still need our support and you can be a part of changing that statistic by supporting the United Way campaign or lending your time as a volunteer.

There are many ways you can volunteer. The need for volunteer tutors and mentors is in very high demand and can be found on United Way’s volunteer website at volunteerglbr.org.

They are also spotlighting a unique virtual opportunity in partnership with Bullock Creek Public Schools and CricketTogether. Done completely online with great flexibility, mentors will not only support kids with reading and writing but also with building social and emotional skills! To learn more or sign up to volunteer visit unitedwaymidland.org/ementoring.

United Way invests in nonprofits in a visible and measurable way. The dollars raised go directly into community programs to ensure all people can thrive in the areas of Youth Success, Health and Household stability. Support of the campaign provides resources for 57 programs delivered by 27 nonprofit agencies.

To learn more about community needs, how dollars are invested for change, read an impact story, or find help visit unitedwaymidland.org/2022campaign.

The 2022 United Way campaign will continue until October 30 and everyone is invited to be a part of it.