United Way of Forsyth County

Community investment and community impact highlights United Way of forsythcounty actively nurtures and models social behaviors that encourage and promotes an inclusive, diverse, and equitable community. We improve lives by serving people without regard to race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, identity, ability, or familial status. Our ongoing commitment to an inclusive, diverse, and equitable community and expectation to improve lives is reflected in all aspects of work from United Way's staff, volunteers, and partners. In 2022, United Way of Forsyth County invested 1,262,773 in approximately 60 health and human service agencies and programs. The dollars given reach all areas of our community. From the young to the old, the sick to the healthy, the employed to the unemployed and underemployed, those with homes to those without, United Way dollars are giving hope. With the help of partners in the community, the organization is working hard to make a difference each day in our community our vision is to be a community where all people have the opportunity to engage, thrive and achieve a better quality of life. Areas of focus are: education (36%) health (33%) financial stability (24%) basic needs (7%) over 1,500 english helplists and 500 spanish helplists were distributed throughout the community in 2022. The helplist is a companion to our comprehensive on-line community resource guide which was established in 2019 with the help of a vista volunteer and is available online at www.unitedwayforsyth.com. United Way facilitated a collection of school supplies for distribution through our annual stuff the bus program. Over 3,000 items were donated from local businesses, civic organizations, and individuals to benefit students and classrooms during the 2022-23 school year. We continued support junior achievement biztown and financial park, a simulated town that allows middle school students to explore industries and careers through immersive simulations and acquire foundational knowledge for real world experiences. The ja discovery center is located inside the alliance academy for innovation. The philanthropy store, inside the ja discovery center, is operated by United Way of Forsyth County and the north Georgia community foundation. In collaboration with Forsyth County schools, United Way of Forsyth County is invested in our students' overall health by providing funding for on- site therapeutic services to students when costs were more than the family could afford. In 2022, United Way paid out 38,786 to this program which equates to approximately 650 therapeutic sessions. With the help of community volunteers and stakeholders, we developed a mental health website which provides relevant information regarding mental wellness, mental illness, and resources to support improving mental health in Forsyth County. In early 2021, the mental health website was launched and can be found at www. Mhfocoga.com. In 2022, approximately 500 mental health helplists were distributed throughout the community. Since 2015, United Way of Forsyth County has partnered with aarp foundation tax-aide to provide free tax preparation for low and moderate income taxpayers (those earning 54,000 or less) and those individuals 60 and older. In 2022, 347 tax returns were prepared. Taxpayers received federal refunds totaling 390,460, state refunds totaling 71,734, and saved approximately 61,250 in filing fees. A total of 8 aarp volunteers logged over 800 volunteer hours during 20 tax preparation sessions. In partnership with Forsyth County schools, United Way assists with tuition for recovery credits for failed classes, transportation for before and after school programs or tutoring, graduation fees and high school graduation test review sessions as well as other services to help keep students engaged and on track to graduate. These services are offered to students who are identified as economically disadvantaged, special needs, or ell students to remove any and all barriers they may experience getting in the Way of graduation. In 2022, United Way funded 63,116 to credit recovery programs which served approximately 16,000 students. Since 2008, United Way has funded 825,510 to credit recovery programs. Additionally, the graduation rate in Forsyth County has increased from 85.8% in 2008 to 96.4% in 2022. This is an increase of 10.6%. Putting our community's children on the path to fulfilling their potential requires us to work together toward a single, shared agenda. We've needed a collective vision, unified measures of achievement, strategies for how to attain success and a Way to evaluate progress. Through data collected by United Way for the child well-being index, we are able to measure how children are faring in Forsyth County and can better determine the services needed to support them and their families. In 2022, three regional meetings were held with key community stakeholders to help determine the needs in our community. From these regional meetings, three sub-committees were formed; education, health, and adequate & affordable housing. United Way partnered with rotary club of north forsyth-400 to support the morning tutoring program at little mill middle school where approximately 200 students were served through this program during the 2022-23 school year. United Way also continued to support the Forsyth County collaborative on charity tracker for data and resource sharing between nonprofits. Since United Way established the collaborative in 2016, more than 23,293 individuals, 150,823 "acts of kindness" (assistance) and 9,924,244 in financial assistance has been logged. In 2022 alone, 2,308 households representing 7,672 individuals were served through 4,042 acts of kindness and 497,325 in financial assistance was provided. There are currently 40 member agencies and 36 agents in the collaborative. Since 2015, United Way of Forsyth County has acted as the fiscal agent for the Forsyth County drug awareness council. Their mission is to educate, advocate and empower the community to prevent substance abuse across the lifespan in Forsyth County, Georgia. They accomplish this by holding monthly collaborative meetings, advocating on the state level and holding community drug awareness summits for residents. In 2022, the Forsyth County drug awareness council hired their new program director, rachel kayden. In july of 2022, United Way of Forsyth County has acted as fiscal agent for the behavioral health reform & innovation commission. We received a grant to fund the liaison coordinator for the state commission. In 2022, women United for Forsyth County hosted three informational and social events attended by more than 122 diverse and inspiring women dedicated to working together to enact positive lasting change in Forsyth County. The 2022 women United online auction, held the from november 7th to november 17th, raised 8,568. Through United Way's 21st annual day of caring, 130,000 oatmeal and rice & vegetable soup meals were packaged; 2,000 family snack packs were packaged; 1,000 school supply kits were assembled; and 250 literacy kits were assembled by approximately 549 volunteers at the Forsyth conference center. Meals packaged through the event were distributed to 4 local food pantries/programs to give to clients through their food distribution programs. 2022 volunteer opportunities were provided through events such as mlk week of service, day of caring, women United on-line auction, stuff the bus, and aarp foundation tax aide free tax preparation. Throughout the year, the employees at gaf assembled 300 bean soup pouches that were distributed to local food pantries, 100 hygiene kits that were delivered to the Forsyth County school system, and over 200 school supply pouches to be used in our literacy kits. Also in 2022, verizon employees assembled 60 of our little red hen literacy kits for the Forsyth headstart program. These kits enhance reading comprehension and make learning fun. Resource development/community image highlights 2023 campaign results (raised in fall of 2022 and distributed in 2023)- 1,049,471 was pledged. The dawson County campaign alone raised 72,561 in pledges. Publix super markets was the largest campaign, followed by Forsyth County schools, northside hospital, solvay, and the United Way invitational golf tournament. United Way hosted the 5th annual United Way invitational golf tournament at hawks ridge golf club. Approximately 112 individuals participated in this event, allowing us to make sure our children and youth have the opportunity to achieve their full potential through the many children's programs and organizations we support. Internal operations highlights in 2022, approximately 3,500 people have walked through the United Way office to attend local nonprofit meetings and events held by 26 different nonprofit groups. The board development committee continues to oversee the new board member orientation process, organizes board socia