United Way of Stamford Announces $1.6 Million Investment in Community

PRESS RELEASE

STAMFORD, CT (June 25, 2007) – United Way of Stamford (UWS) is pleased to announce that it will distribute $1.5 million to local programs that address health and human service needs in our community.  This represents an 8% increase in program funding from last year.

United Way of Stamford will invest in 56 local programs over the next year.  Additionally, $100,000 will be set aside to support new initiatives that will address unmet needs in the community.  The funds will be used in partnership with service providers to help solve the most challenging issues. “We are thrilled that the community’s response to our annual fundraising campaign last fall has made it possible for United Way to invest more dollars in our community this year,” said Michelle James, President and CEO.  “We would like to thank all of our donors for making this commitment possible.”

Many volunteers, including members of the UWS Board of Directors and other Stamford residents and professionals, worked over 1,000 hours during the fund distribution process to allocate the monies raised during the campaign.  The volunteers thoroughly reviewed the applicants and awarded funding to meet Stamford’s high priority needs, which include affordable housing, childcare, education and mental health.

United Way of Stamford funding will support the following programs at these local agencies:

            Child Guidance Center of Southern CT –

            Ongoing Treatment & Care Coordination                                   $103,100

            Crisis Division Programs                                                    $  50,000

Childcare Learning Centers –

            Early Childhood & Education Program                           $173,400

Connecticut Legal Services – Legal Aid, Civil                           $  19,000

CTE – Employment and Entrepreneurship                                $  10,800

Domestic Violence Crisis Center –

            Counseling                                                                           $  31,900

            Community Education & Outreach                                  $  26,100

Domus –

            Stamford Academy Family Advocates                             $  46,700

            Chester Addison Employment Specialist                                   $  18,000

            Stamford Public Schools Family Advocates                  $  39,500

Family & Children’s Agency – Elderly Services                                    $    5,400

Family Centers –

            Mental Health & Counseling                                             $  65,000

            Young Parents Program                                                    $  10,900

            Vocational/Self Sufficiency Services                               $    5,400

Family ReEntry – Stamford Programs                                         $    5,400

Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County – Food Program                        $  14,100

Girl Scout Council of SW CT –

            OutReach Program                                                             $    2,700

            Campership for Stamford Girls                                         $    2,700

HealthCare Connection

            Stamford Cares                                                                    $  35,000

            School Based Health Centers                                           $  49,600

International Institute of CT – Aiding People in Crisis              $  12,000

Jewish Community Center

            Senior Program                                                                    $  10,900

            JumpStart                                                                              $  21,800

Jewish Family Service                                                                   

            Employment Readiness Education Center                    $  10,900

Counseling                                                                           $  16,300

            Case Management                                                              $    8,700

Kids In Crisis – Adolescent Emergency Services                      $  49,300

Liberation Programs

            Family/Youth Options                                                         $  16,300

            Outpatient                                                                             $  17,400

            Liberation House Men’s Residential                                $  29,800

Literacy Volunteers – Stamford/Greenwich - ESOL & Basic Literacy                                   

$  43,600

Mutual Housing Association of SW CT– Stamford Affordable

                        Housing Programs                                                  $  28,800

New Covenant House of Hospitality – Soup Kitchen &

                        Food Pantry                                                              $  23,700

New Neighborhoods

            New Housing Development                                              $  16,000

            Housing Preservation                                                         $  10,500

            Supportive Housing Development                                               $    5,500

Person-to-Person – Emergency Assistance                               $  31,400

Sexual Assault Crisis & Education Center

            Education                                                                              $  13,100

            Advocacy                                                                               $  16,300

Shelter for the Homeless

            Night Program                                                                      $  39,100

            Day Program                                                                                    $  27,200

            Transitional House                                                              $    9,300

Urban League of Southern CT

            Career Choice                                                                      $  17,300

            Homebuyer Education & Counseling                             $  15,200

            Financial Literacy for Youth                                              $    5,400

Volunteer Center of SW FC                                                          

            Volunteer Development                                                     $    7,600                               

            Nonprofit Resource Center Training                                $    3,300

Yerwood Center

            Yerwood Scholars                                                               $  19,500

            YES Camp                                                                            $  15,200

            Community Outreach & Educational Program              $ 19,600

YMCA of Stamford

            LEAD Academy                                                                   $  16,300

            LEAD                                                                                     $  16,300

Additionally, United Way of Stamford will provide $25,205 in funding to 2-1-1, the statewide information and referral service connecting Stamford citizens with the resources and help they need. 

United Way of Stamford is also providing $15,000 to the Fairfield County Collaborative Fund for Affordable Housing to help address the growing need for affordable housing in our community.

“We are so excited to invest $1.6 million in Stamford this year,” said Reyno Giallongo, United Way of Stamford Board Chairman.  “This commitment is a great boost to meeting the needs of our neighbors.  We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our donors and to the volunteers who have worked so hard to make sure the money is utilized in programs meeting our community’s needs.”

On July 1 United Way of Stamford will be merging with two other United Ways to become United Way of Western Connecticut. While adding a regional perspective on issues, dollars raised locally will be spent to address the needs important to the Stamford community. The current board chair of Stamford, Reyno Giallongo, will become the chairperson for the new organization’s regional governance board.

Contact:

Michelle James, President

United Way of Stamford

(203) 348-7711  X212