BLOG

United Way is pleased to announce the availability of Kindergarten Readiness Toolkits for organizations and groups located in Erie County who serve families with children under 5.

The Toolkits include Alphabet Cards, Number Cards, Wooden Blocks, Crayons, Activity Pad, Kindergarten, Here I Come! Book, Building Blocks for Babies and a variety of resources. They are free of charge to those interested and available upon request while supplies last.

A completed form emailed to Stephanie King, Director of Education is required. If you need additional information please contact Stephanie at (814) 456-2937 ext. 231.

Download and complete Toolkit Request Form

THEN.

For more than 100 years, United Way of Erie County operated in what is often referred to as a “transaction” based model. That is, we raised monies from the community and allocated it to a relatively small number of programs run by partner organizations.

United Way of Erie County has transitioned from the isolated impact approach to the collective impact framework to address the complex challenge of breaking the cycle of poverty in our community.

United Way of Erie County understands that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. That’s why we focus on student success, from birth, providing the resources and supports so all local children have the opportunity to succeed in school… and in life.

Family stability is vital to children’s success in school. A child is affected not only by their school environment, but also by what happens out of school, especially at home. Here’s how United Way of Erie County provides resources to help families become and stay stable.

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program began in 1983 with a $50 million federal appropriation. The program was created by Congress to help meet the needs of hungry and homeless people throughout the United States and its territories by allocating federal funds for the provision of food and shelter.

Chronic Absenteeism is missing 10% or more of the school year – including both excused and unexcused absences. This equates to 18 days per school year, or just 2 days per month.

Thanks to the nearly 200 volunteers who helped United Way pack 1,500 backpacks with supplies during the 2019 School Supply Pack-A-Thon! Thanks to the generosity of those who participated in the event, more students in Erie County will have the tools they need to succeed this school year! That's LIVING UNITED!

The Community Impact Coordinator is an organized, detail-oriented individual. They work with the Vice President, Community Impact; Manager, Community Impact and Director of Education to coordinate all aspects of United Way’s community impact work.

United Way of Erie County has announced that Gwendolyn White is the 2019 Tocqueville Award recipient. The award will bepresented during the organization’s Leadership Recognition Reception at the Warner Theatre on Thursday, June 20 made possible by Northwest Bank and through a grant from the William M.

United Way unveiled a pair of recycled newspaper boxes as their Little Free Library during at Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on May 21. United Way is SO happy to bring another location where children and their families can get FREE books to read in our neighborhood.

United Way and Erie’s Public Schools announce Harding and Perry Elementary as newest community schools; name corporate partner

Officials from United Way of Erie County in partnership with Erie’s Public Schools have announced Harding Elementary and Perry Elementary will be transformed into community schools, bringing the total number of schools included in the partnership to ten countywide....

United Way of Erie County announced the winners of the 2018 Campaign Incentive Prizes.

NEW BOOKS ONLY, PLEASE! 

Achievement Center
4950 W 23rd St. Erie, PA 16506
M-F 8 am-5 pm
Allstate Insurance - Matt Barczyk Agency
3309 Liberty St. Erie, PA 16508
M-F 9 am-5 pm
Ambridge Rose Spa and Salon
3344 W 26th St.

Do you still need to file your 2018 tax returns? Erie FREE Taxes has a limited number of free tax prep sites available that can help you meet the April 15, 2019 tax filing deadline. Locations:

Horan Garden Apartments, 730 Tacoma Rd. , Erie

GECAC, 18 W. 9 St.

Do you want to help crush poverty in Erie County? Do you want to play an integral role in United Way of Erie County’s Community Schools and Raising Readers initiatives?

 If so, apply for our Lake Effect Leaders AmeriCorps VISTA project! Program benefits include: Relocation Allowance, Education award upon successful completion of service, Training, Childcare assistance if...

UNITED WAY AND ERIE’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANNOUNCE LEAD PARTNER AT DIEHL ELEMENTARY 
WITH PLANS TO HIRE SCHOOL DIRECTOROfficials from United Way of Erie County in partnership with Erie’s Public Schools are moving ahead with the transformational student success initiative known as community schools at Diehl Elementary, the organization’s eighth school countywide....

United Way of Erie County continues to facilitate the implementation of a $250,000 Erie Community Foundation Shaping Tomorrow grant focused on increasing school attendance at Community Schools in the City of Erie.

Monday, February 11 is PA 2-1-1 Day. This is a day to celebrate all of the life-changing ways United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline services the residents of Northwest Pennsylvania, and to encourage more to utilize the service available to them.

A recently published research study titled “'Dream More, Care More, Learn More, and Be More’: The Imagination Library Influencing Storybook Reading and Early Literacy,” in Reading Psychology confirms the positive impact the Imagination Library program has on kindergarten literacy.

United Way's 2-1-1 is committed to helping those in the Northwest PA region impacted by the federal government shutdown. Furloughed federal employees and government contractors in need of social services and individuals with questions about availability of public benefits can call 2-1-1 or visit PA211NW. org to get help.

Once again, United Way Erie FREE Taxes will kick-off the tax filing season with free tax preparations at three different locations in the City of Erie.

United Way of Erie County and Erie’s Public Schools officials announced the corporate partners for Diehl Elementary School at a press conference on Friday, November 9, 2018 at 10:00 AM.

Harrisburg, PA – United Way of Pennsylvania presented its highest annual award, the Keystone Spirit of United Way award, to Erie County resident Thomas B. Hagen at a celebration hosted by Erie Insurance on September 12, 2018.

Would you like to help fellow tax filers keep more of their hard-earned money at tax time? Would you like to give them a chance to save money for an emergency fund or their children’s education, or to buy a home? Become an IRS-certified VITA volunteer tax preparer.

Temporary, part time, VITA site supervisor positions available in Erie and Union City, PA. Two days per week, up to five hours per day, January, 2019 through mid-April, 2019. $13 per hour.

 

We are excited to share with you PA 2-1-1 Northwest’s first Annual Report. Before 2-1-1 was available, many people in our local communities struggled to find the resources they needed. Many folks just didn’t know where to even start.

RELEASE July 31, 2018 — For far too long, the barriers to learning for children living in poverty have been ignored or addressed with a “Band-Aid” or isolated impact approach. This is unacceptable. We as a community cannot be reactive anymore.

A NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME, 18 EVENTS SUPPORTED BY UNITED WAY PLANNED THROUGHOUT ERIE COUNTY

Nearly 6,500 neighbors throughout Erie County will spend a little quality time with each other on Tuesday, August 7 thanks to United Way of Erie County.

Officials from United Way in partnership with Girard and Iroquois School Districts are moving ahead with the transformational student success initiative known as community schools at two additional elementary schools in Erie County. Community schools are places where resources from the community are used to improve student success.

On Wednesday, June 20th, Women Driving Philanthropy will announce the 2018 benefiting cause. A press conference will be held at Erie Arts & Culture, 23 West 10th Street, at 10 a. m.

On Thursday, May 31 at 10 a. m. , Erie's Public Schools seventh grade students from Woodrow Wilson, Strong Vincent and East Middle Schools will participate in the Ice House Showcase Event at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst University.

As a lead convener, United Way of Erie County is announcing the following funding opportunity for eligible Erie County agencies on behalf of the Erie County Emergency Food & Shelter Board. The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) is soliciting proposals for Phase 35 Funding.

United Way of Erie County announced the winners of the 2017 Campaign Incentive Prizes.  
The winners were notified in May when United Way officials and the prize sponsors surprised individuals at work.

On behalf of the Girard Community School Partnership, United Way of Erie County invites interested community-based organizations to respond to a Community School Lead Partner Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Responses to this RFQ should be emailed to Emily Francis (emily@unitedwayerie.

United Way of Erie County has announced that James E. Martin is the 2018 Tocqueville Award recipient. The award will be presented to him during a reception ceremony at the Warner Theatre on Tuesday, June 19, 2018.

GIVE IT UP FOR GOOD! Share your treasures and find some of your own at Penn State Behrend’s 7th Annual Trash to Treasure Sale! This rummage sale allows students, faculty and community members to purchase a variety of affordable priced, gently used items.

Got children's books? Help kids beat the summer slide. Studies show that access to books during the summer prevents a drastic loss in reading skills - especially for kids in need. All books will be dispersed to United Way’s partner elementary and middle schools throughout Erie County.

I THINK I CAN, I THINK CAN 

The Erie Playhouse Youtheatre PLAYtime project, in partnership with United Way of Erie County’s Imagination Library is happy to present FREE family-friendly performances of The Little Engine that Could.

United Way of Erie County's 2017 Impact Report is now available.  Download a copy

 

For far too long, the barriers to learning for Erie County children living in poverty have been ignored or addressed through a “band-aid” approach. This is unacceptable. We, as a community, cannot be simply reactive anymore.

In December 2017, United Way's Board of Directors approved a restructured impact strategy as part of United Way’s 2015-2018 strategic plan. This plan is focused on reducing poverty by changing community conditions so many more people become and remain self-sufficient.

  Three locations providing free tax preparationIRS-certified volunteer tax preparers will complete tax returns for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax filers at United Way’s Super Saturday EITC Awareness Kick-Off event on January 20, 2018.