Program areas at United Way Blackhawk Region
Financial stability: United Way Blackhawk Region, Inc. (uwbr) is focused on ensuring individuals and families have their basic needs met and achieve and sustain self-sufficiency. In 2023, uwbr allocated $761,898 to 13 organizations which connect people with critical resources for emergency or basic needs; assist in identifying and overcoming obstacles/barriers to self-sufficiency; increase access to skills training, education and other support systems that enable people to achieve self-sufficiency.
Health: uwbr supports programs to help residents of rock county, wi and northern winnebago county, il to enjoy healthy lives. In 2023, uwbr allocated $181,731 to 4 organizations which increase awareness and access to healthcare resources and promote healthy lives through education and activities.
Education: uwbr envisions a Region where all children and youth will have supportive learning and development opportunities to grow and become responsible adults. In 2023, uwbr allocated $549,994 to 8 organizations which support children and youth through early learning and care services; before and after school programs; character and leadership development and recreational experiences; emphasize academic success for children of all ages; expand opportunities for children and youth to bond with peers, mentors, and positive role models.
Other programs: uwbr serves as a convener to bring together the community to identify underlying causes of problems in our community and develop strategies and partnerships to address those issues. As such, uwbr leads and/or serves on approximately a dozen local task forces aligned with health, education, and/or financial stability. Annually, uwbr hosts its day of caring, a day of service whereas hundreds of volunteers complete community service projects at nonprofit agencies across the Region. Uwbr funds 211, an anonymous 24/7 helpline that connects callers with local programs and resources. In partnership with United Way of Wisconsin and United ways across the state, uwbr publishes the alice report - alice, an acronym for asset limited, income constrained, employed, is a new Way of defining and understanding the struggles of households that earn above the federal poverty level, but not enough to afford a bare-bones household budget. Uwbr is the financial sponsor for dolly parton's imagination library in three communities of the Blackhawk Region. Enrolled children are gifted a free, age-appropriate book in the mail each month until their 5th birthday. Uwbr is installing born learning trails across the Region. Born learning trails are a series of 10 interactive signs that offer fun, active learning activities for young children and their families.