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United Way Celebrates Work of AmeriCorps VISTA Damali Donovan

Monday Mar 9th, 2020

AmeriCorps Week, March 8-14, 2020, is a celebration of all things AmeriCorps – from the programs and organizations that make this national service initiative possible in communities across the country, to the members who have pledged to “Get Things Done” since the program’s inception in 1994.Damali Donovan has been with United Way of Erie County as an AmeriCorps Vista through Lake Effect Leaders since August 2019. Damali is providing capacity building support to United Way’s community schools and  Raising Readers, our local Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.

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United Way Awarded $12,687 for new books at community schools

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Monday Mar 2nd, 2020

Grant received from nonprofit First Book in partnership with United Way of PA to be celebrated during Read Across America Week, March 2-6

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Safe Routes to School Initiative Launched

Tuesday Jan 28th, 2020

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 Schoolinitiative.

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.

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TechnipFMC joins Community Schools Partnership as Corporate Partner at Iroquois Elementary

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Tuesday Jan 21st, 2020

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.

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City of Erie includes Community Schools

Friday Jan 10th, 2020

City of Erie Vision Plan - Community Schools Focus Read more on page 10 and 11 of the Vision Plan Support Community Schools

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2020 Single Point in Time Count

Thursday Jan 9th, 2020

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

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JOB POSTING: Community Impact Manager and Community Impact Coordinator

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Monday Dec 16th, 2019

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

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United Way Names Two Additional Community School Directors

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Friday Dec 6th, 2019

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.

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PA 211 Northwest Annual Report Released

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Monday Sep 23rd, 2019

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

 

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Kindergarten Readiness Toolkits Now Available

Joelyn Bush

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Friday Sep 6th, 2019

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

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Annual Report - Family stability

Wednesday Sep 4th, 2019

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.

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Annual Report - Student Success

Wednesday Sep 4th, 2019

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.

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Annual Report - Working Differently

Wednesday Sep 4th, 2019

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.

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United Way of Erie - Then & Now

Wednesday Sep 4th, 2019

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.

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Erie County’s local Emergency Food and Shelter Board recently met to review applications for Phase 36 Funding.

Tuesday Sep 3rd, 2019

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.

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Good Attendance - A Habit We Should Build as Soon as Children Start School.

Monday Aug 26th, 2019

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.

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Helping Students Succeed This School Year

Wednesday Aug 7th, 2019

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!