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United Way of Erie County, in partnership with The City of Erie and Erie’s Public Schools have announced the launch of the Safe Routes to School initiative.

United Way began facilitation of 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 in 2018. Strategies include the following: conducting a comprehensive education and awareness campaign; identifying, improving, and promoting the safest walking routes to each school; and piloting “walking school buses” along the safe routes.

The goal of the Safe Routes initiative is to improve the safety of Erie’s Public Schools students, so they can get to school regularly and on-time.

Thanks to the support of Tungsten Creative Group, “Walking Route To” signage was designed and produced. Vivx Display Solutions also worked on the project, providing in-kind support for sign production.

The installation and launch of the Safe Routes initiative follows United Way’s collaborative work with Gannon University to conduct walkability assessments identifying the safest routes for students to use when they walk to school.

As part of the project, Gannon University faculty and student interns observed how Erie’s Public Schools students go to and from school, the physical conditions of those school routes, and any potential safety concerns.

This information was analyzed and mapped to identify the safest routes. Partners then worked to determine any potential physical improvements to those safe routes. The City of Erie also plans to leverage a portion of its Pennsylvania Department of Transportation grant to provide added or improved signage, pavement markings, traffic control devices and sidewalk improvements to enhance the safety of students walking the routes.

Additional Safe Routes to School “Walking Route” signage is expected to be installed this Summer for students and families at four additional United Way community schools including East Middle School, Edison Elementary School, Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School and Strong Vincent Middle School.

Officials from United Way of Erie County in partnership with the Iroquois School District announced TechnipFMC as an additional confirmed corporate partner in the community schools initiative.

Erie County Single Point in Time Count

January 24, 2020

We need your help to make sure our most vulnerable are not forgotten. Volunteer for the Unsheltered Street Count, January 24th, 9 pm through 3 am.

2 shifts available: 9 pm—12:30 am and 12:30 am to 3 am
Assemble at the VA Medical Center, Building #8 at 9pm for street count overview.

For more information or to volunteer, contact George Fickenworth, Mercyhurst Civic Institute, at gfickenworth@mercyhurst.edu, or
Mike Wehrer, VA Medical Center, at Michael.Wehrer@va.gov

United Way currently seeks qualified candidates for the positions of Community Impact Manager and Community Impact Coordinator. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 4:00PM EST. Learn more

Officials from United Way of Erie County in partnership with Erie’s Public Schools have announced the community school directors at Harding Elementary and Perry Elementary, United Way’s newest community schools. The announcement of these two schools coming on board as community schools was made earlier this year, bringing the total number of schools included in United Way’s community schools partnership to ten countywide.

Community Schools model advances with hiring of two additional directors

United Way of Erie County is excited to share with you PA 2-1-1 Northwest’s 2018-2019 Annual Report. Download the report

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 be presented 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.