A new report from United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region (UWBCKR) shows progress on long-term community goals, while new, three-year strategic grants totaling $6,567,096 will build momentum toward reaching those goals.

Chris Sargent, President and CEO of UWBCKR, said this is the organization’s first-ever report focused specifically on United Way investments, partnerships and engagement strategies.

“This is the first time we’ve been able study the effect of specific strategies—dollars invested, programs supported, volunteers deployed—against measurable goals,” Sargent explained. “Now our supporters can know how their gifts, whether financial or volunteer, change the story.”

In 2016, UWBCKR announced specific regional goals in key areas of need:

  • In education, improve the regional graduation rate to 83 percent by 2030 and reduce racial and economic disparities in graduation rates.
  • In income/financial stability, transition 8,500 households to economic stability by 2025.
  • In health, improve infant mortality rates in families of color and low-income families to 6.0 per 1,000 live births by 2025.
  • In basic needs, ensure a safety net of basic services for people in crisis.

Matt Lynn, Vice President of Community Impact, said all UWBCKR grants, programs and collaborations now form around those goals. Partners report outcomes based on those measures. Through its partnership with AGS Data Analytics and Consulting, LLC, United Way can track progress at the regional, local and eventually neighborhood levels.

To see specifically what programs benefit from United Way and how the money is being distributed, visit the United Way site. 

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