United Way of Lane County’s

2022-23 Annual Report

I am excited to share with you our 2022-23 annual report. This past fiscal year, we witnessed deep commitments from the community members who guide our work – our Board and specifically our Community Investment Steering Committee. Countless volunteer hours were dedicated to defining grant priorities and embedding equity and inclusion in all of their decisions. This is both challenging and rewarding as we work together to build a more equitable future for children and their families.

In Lane County, many children and their families do not have the same opportunities and outcomes as their peers due to systemic barriers. These disparities exist within education, income, and health, and disproportionately impact people of color, those experiencing poverty, people living in rural locales, LGBTQ+ communities, and those marginalized due to other aspects of their identities. Together, we can help change these realities for all kids and families.

We are so grateful to all who have been a part of this impact. We look forward to the year ahead as we strive to ensure that all children are successful in school and life. Thank you for making this possible! - Noreen J. Dunnells

United Way’s mission is to create opportunities for a better life for all. We know that when our children thrive, so does our entire community. This is why we envision a community where all kids succeed in school and life.

funded 20 organizations providing parenting education, family preservation, and local family resource centers

“We have a grandmother who is raising two young grandsons... She reached out to us about wanting to get her school-aged grandson into the after-school program but lacked financial means to do so. We let her know we would be able to provide a full scholarship for her grandson so that he would have a safe and positive place to go after school. She was beyond grateful. He is now in his third year with us and will be entering the teen program this fall. He has gotten to experience activities in arts & crafts, science, culinary, sports, technology, engineering, and so much more and he is thriving. I can’t wait to see what this remarkable young man has to offer the world as he continues to grow.

As you know a non-profit faces extra challenges with sustainable funding to continue to serve their mission. With the support and confidence of your staff, board, and donors, we were able to ensure that no child was turned away due to the inability to pay for high quality after-school, summer, and sports programs. Thank you, United Way for helping us to make a difference in the lives of the young children we serve.”

Boys & Girls Club of Western Lane County, whose 2021-23 United Way Support Grant funded high-quality after-school care for over 300 children, including scholarships for 75 families

As Lane County’s volunteerism hub, United Way mobilized over 853 volunteers to support local nonprofits and guide United Way’s work during 2022-23. Of those volunteers, 696 participated in United Way’s annual Days of Caring event, providing a total of 2,600 service hours across three days, a value of over $78,000.

Last year, we were thrilled to debut The Early Childhood Hub of Lane County – a merger of our early childhood efforts previously known as LaneKids and The Early Learning Alliance. The new identity integrates the parent support of LaneKids and the provider support of the Early Learning Alliance into one cohesive brand supporting parents and providers alike. The mission remains the same: to ensure all parents in Lane County have the knowledge, tools, and support to nurture their child’s optimal development for success in school and life. Find parenting resources, educational programs, a calendar of free/low-cost family events, and more at www.earlychildhoodlane.org. Since 2013, United Way of Lane County has served as the backbone for this collective impact initiative.

Even with Bachelor’s and Master’s level education, many teachers do not enter the field with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively teach students how to read. 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.

To address the lack of accessible, affordable child care in Lane County, United Way helped launch a new county-wide role of Child Care Sector Strategist. The position, part of the larger Sector Strategy Team at Onward Eugene, was formed after conversations between United Way, Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, Lane Workforce Partnership, Lane Community College, and others, exploring how to create quality, affordable child care across the county. United Way secured funding to make this role possible. Since last fall, this position has launched a statewide Marketing and Media Campaign around child care and the role of Child Care Resource & Referral agencies, assisted with the launch of Child Care Business Accelerator, and supported the Florence-area businesses in building capacity for child care in west Lane County.

his past year, United Way is thrilled to have created a new Rural Engagement Coordinator position on our team to be more present to and support rural communities in Lane County. In July, Florence community member and educator Anika Miller was hired for the role. Anika is eager to continue building relationships throughout the western, eastern, and southern parts of Lane County, and would love to connect with you! You can reach her at amiller@unitedwaylane.org.

Thank you to our 2023-24 sponsors: