United We Stand: United Way Looks for $1 per Week

The United Way of Buffalo & Erie County has set a campaign goal of $14,200,052 for their 2009 campaign and Doolittle truly believes that is an achievable goal, especially if people who don't normally give because they don't think their contributions will make an impact, realize that every dollar counts.

"By sacrificing purchasing a small coffee once a week or similarly priced items, you can invest that dollar in your community and see real and tangible results," insists Doolittle. "A dollar a week can buy two children 10 books or provide a senior breakfast for a year, helping to inspire our future generations and keep our seniors well and connected."

United Way inspires new partnerships, delivers financial resources, and ensures a return on your investment so that people benefit and the community thrives. Contributions are invested in local programs to ensure that children and youth reach their potential through education; families attain financial stability and independence; and children and adults achieve and maintain good health. 

"By investing as little as a dollar a week, that's $52 a year, in your local United Way you are buying stock in your community and you are helping to build a better community for every person in Erie County," Doolittle says.

WELLNESS:

The Family Justice Center of Erie County provides comprehensive, one-stop services to victims of family violence.  Services include police prosecutors, counselors, medical professionals and chaplains.  Since it opened in 2006, the Center has served nearly 2,000 women and over 400 children. 

AGENCIES:

Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers - Moot Senior Center

Child & Adolescent Treatment Services - Child Advocacy Center

Child & Adolescent Treatment Services- Intensive Case Management (ICM)

Compeer - Compeer for Seniors

Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled - Project S.A.F.E.
Crisis Services - The Advocate Program

EPIC- Every Person Influences Children - At-Risk Parent Education Programs
Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted, M.D. Center for the Visually Impaired - Senior Vision Services
Family Justice Center - FJC Services

Gateway-Longview- Kinship Care Giver Support Program
Hearts and Hands- Hearts and Hands: Faith in Action
Hispanics United Of Buffalo - Domestic Violence Services
Hopevale, Inc. - PACT-Parents & Abused Children in Treatment
Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County - Elder Wrap Around Program
Joan A. Male Family Support Center - Preventive Services and Core Services 
Meals on Wheels of Buffalo & Erie County - Sunshine Nutrition 
Northwest Buffalo Community Center, Inc. - Elderly Program
Rural Transit - Movin' Seniors
Valley Community Association - Valley Senior Citizens

EDUCATION:

Success By 6 works with child care providers to help them deliver the best possible early learning experience to the children in their care.

Closing the Gap in Student Performance integrates health, human, and social services in 6 Buffalo Public Schools so that students can concentrate on learning.

AGENCIES:

African American Cultural Center Inc.- Educational Cultural Enrichment
Back To Basics Outreach Ministries - Youth Strengthening Program
Be A Friend - Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program
Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo - Bridging the Gap
Boys and Girls Club of East Aurora - Project Learn
Boys and Girls Club of the Northtowns of WNY - Youth Assessment Development Program
Catholic Charities - Closing the Gap in Student Performance
Child & Family Services of Erie County - Anger Management Program; Cheektowaga First Offender & Troubled Youth; Family Mental Health
Child Care Resource Network - Child Development Associate
Compeer - Youth Mentoring in High-Needs Neighborhoods; Youth Mentoring in Lackawanna; Secong Step
Concerned Ecumenical Ministries - Brain Builders
Cradle Beach Camp Inc. - Summer Learning Program
Every Person Influences Children (EPIC) - Ready, Set, Parent!

Girl Scouts - Enriched Scouting in Underserved Areas
Hispanics United Of Buffalo - Youth Court Advocacy

Jericho Road Ministries - Westside Read and Play
Joan A. Male Family Support Center - Closing the Gap
Kaleida - Early Childhood Directions Center
King Urban Life Center- Parent-Child Home Program
Leadership Buffalo- Youth Leadership in Erie County
Life Transitions Center - Childrens Support (Storm Clouds & Rainbows); School Based Grief and Loss Project
Literacy Volunteers - Simply Excellent Students; Lit-Tech Collaborative
Matt Urban Center - Youth Asset Development

Mental Health Association - Inner 1 - Basic Emotional Skills Training
New Directions Youth and Family Services - Individualized School Resource Plan

Northwest Buffalo Community Center - Academic Improvement Program
Reach Out and Read - Reach Out and Read Program
Valley Community Association - "Striving for Excellence" Youth Program; Early Childhood Child Care Program
WNY United Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse Inc. - Leaders in Training
YWCA - Courts Drop-in Child Care Program

INCOME

Creating Assets, Savings and Hope (C A S H), a United Way initiative, helps increase the financial stability of hardworking families through free tax preparation, improving financial literacy, and providing opportunities for affordable housing and other asset development.  Over the past 3 years, nearly 39,000 families have accessed almost $40 million in tax refunds and credits through the Free Tax Preparation program.

Agencies:

Belmont Shelter Corporation- IDA Program/Financial Education

Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers- Free Tax Preparation Network
Buffalo Urban League Inc. - Employment Transition Services; Housing Services
Child & Family Services of Erie County - Ways to Work Loan Program 

Compass House - Compass House Emergency Shelter; Compass House Resource Center

Deaf Adult Services- Employment Services for the Deaf
Goodwill Industries of WNY Inc. - Goodwill Training and Employment Program
Heritage Centers Inc. - Legal and Advocacy Services
International Institute of Buffalo Inc. - Refugee Self Sufficiency Services
Jericho Road Ministries- Financially Fit

Lt. Col. Matt Urban Center- Homeless Outreach
Native American Community Services- Native Economic Self- Sufficiency Training Project 
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc. - Public Benefits Advocacy
The Salvation Army -  Emergency Family Assistance; Emergency Shelter; Erie County Service Units ;Employment Services Program
West Side Neighborhood Housing Services- Homebuyer Education & Financial Fitness