2022-23 In Review: Seven Highlights from Helping Kids Thrive
From new racial justice grants and new funded partners, to a revamp of our early childhood work and increased access to child care, 2022-2023 was a year packed with progress toward our vision of kids’ success. Read on to learn about some of the highlights that made this year one to remember! You can also these and more highlights in our full 2022-23 Annual Report.
Escudo Latino, one of the Racial Justice grantees, celebrating their new mural in Springfield. Photo: Ofelia Guzman
1. Investing in Racial Justice Efforts
On April 1 of this year, 10 initiatives led by or serving people of color received $5,000 grants to advance racial justice in Lane County. These were the first grants made from United Way’s new Racial Justice Fund. Over 200 individuals and organizations donated to make these grants possible, enabling United Way to distribute $50,000 this year. Funded programs include BLACKS, a new culturally specific organization that works to mentor and empower Black youth, and King Silky’s Blessing Boxes, which distributes free, culturally-specific food boxes to local families.
2. Addressing the Local Child Care Crisis
In partnership with local organizations, United Way secured funding for a new Child Care Strategist position at Onward Eugene, to increase access to affordable child care in Lane County. Since last fall, this position has launched a statewide Marketing & Media Campaign around child care and the role of Child Care Resource & Referral agencies, helped launch a Child Care Business Accelerator, and supported Florence-area businesses in building capacity for child care in west Lane County.
Students at Dorena Elementary School selecting books during BookFest 2023.
3. Almost 36,000 Books Gifted to Local Students
Thanks to local donors, United Way distributed over 22,000 books to children in rural areas of Lane County through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 2022-23. During BookFest in May and June of 2023, United Way and Connected Lane County distributed 13,500 books to elementary students at 19 Lane County schools. Not only do these programs encourage a love of reading, but studies show that the number of books in a child’s home library is directly linked to their reading scores.
4. Strengthening the Early Learning Sector and Parent Support
In November 2022, we unveiled the Early Childhood Hub of Lane County – the merger of LaneKids and the Lane Early Learning Alliance. Since 2013, United Way of Lane County has served as the backbone of this collective impact initiative, with the mission of ensuring all parents in Lane County have the knowledge, tools, and support to nurture their child’s optimal development for success in school and life, and that the early childhood system is coordinated and aligned.
“LETRS will be a game changer in our district... The thought of a huge cadre of teachers becoming reading experts will allow them to provide literacy instruction the likes we’ve not seen in 4J. We will be changing student lives. Thank you!”
5. Improving Literacy Education for Teachers
Thanks to funding from United Way, Meyer Memorial Trust, and the Miller Foundation, the Eugene 4J School District is now offering the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) course to educators. Based on the Science of Reading, it provides teachers with key knowledge on how students acquire literacy skills, as well as training on how to use it to effectively teach a range of learners. Almost 200 local educators have now taken the course, with many more eager to participate.
A woman harvests vegetables in Florence Food Share’s onsite garden.
6. Meeting Community Needs: Community Support Grants
This July, United Way announced our newest funded partners, including 24 Community Support grants. These grants help organizations increase day-to-day stability for children and families, and range from $5,000-20,000 annually, over two years. Recipient organizations include Florence Food Share, whose on-site garden helps to stock their food pantry, and H.O.N.E.Y. Inc, whose Culture Club will provide a safe, fun space for Black and ethnic people to find a sense of belonging and connection.
“I want to acknowledge the innovation and commitment of United Way to invest in collective impact... This is going to have huge impacts on our communities for years to come.”
7. Investing in Systems-Level Change: Community Transformation Grants
In addition to our Community Support grants, United Way also selected four coalitions to receive Community Transformation grants. These grants support collaborative partnerships creating solutions to complex challenges face by kids in Lane County, and range from $60,000-$70,000 annually, over three years. Coalitions include the School Food Security Coalition, Lane County Violence Prevention Coalition, Upriver Siuslaw Vision Team, and Greatness Rediscovered in our Time.
Thank you.