Impact Report 2020 – United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region
Chris Sargent,
President & CEO
Transforming our community is like a journey to the moon: The goal is clear and bright, but getting there is a complex and ever-changing task. When we began our journey toward 10- and 15-year goals in Education, Income/ Financial Stability, Health, and Basic Needs, we knew we’d learn and adapt along the way. Our past impact reports, like this one, prove it. Racial and economic disparities, unique community dynamics, childhood trauma, rising living costs—these and many other factors influence our headway. Our progress and learnings have helped us better understand those factors and where we can deliver the greatest impact. As you read this report and learn about our path forward, I hope you’re excited! And I hope you’ll join us on this epic journey.
James Liggins, Jr., Board Chair
Data represent demographics served in 2018 – 2019.
Learning Resilience Expand
The United Way supported CLIMB (Concrete Lessons in Mindful Behavior), a partnership with Starr Global Learning Network, helping hundreds of Battle Creek Public Schools students address trauma, build resilience, and get on track toward graduation.
American Indian or Alaskan Native
.45%
Asian
3.87%
Black or African American
35.52%
Multiple Races
12.54%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
.19%
Other
1.59%
Unknown
2.68%
White
43.17%
Saving Big for Better Health Expand
Keeping families healthy is expensive. No one should have to choose between filling their prescription or fixing their car, or paying the rent. United Way’s partnership with FamilyWize, which offers an accessible prescription savings card, saved families in our region nearly $258,000 on the cost of medicines. Since 2007, the savings exceed $1.8 million.
American Indian or Alaskan Native
.51%
Asian
2.87%
Black or African American
23.37%
Multiple Races
3.52%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
.09%
Other
1.21%
Unknown
33.65%
White
34.78%
Building a Better Life Expand
United Way partnerships and programs through Housing Resources Inc. and Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan helped Jakaria avoid eviction while she struggled to balance parenthood, school and work. Now she has a full-time job in health care and can provide for her family. This included enrollment in the Family Stability for Educational Success program, funded by the Siemer Institute for Family Stability and United Way BCKR to enhance family success, stabilize a housing or income crisis, connect families to community resources, and drive financial stability and school support.
American Indian or Alaskan Native
2%
Asian
3%
Black or African American
34%
Multiple Races
1%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0%
Other
4%
Unknown
22%
White
33%
Feeding Hungry Families Expand
More than 300 volunteers, including 200 Kellogg employees, assembled 100,000 meals in two hours to feed hungry families at UWBCKR’s third annual United Against Hunger event in Battle Creek. An estimated 1 in 7 households do not know where their next meal is coming from.
American Indian or Alaskan Native
.59%
Asian
.74%
Black or African American
40%
Multiple Races
4.73%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0.08%
Other
1.26%
Unknown
8.35%
White
44.24%
regional engagement events
29
community resource agencies
73
employers
364
jobseekers
100,000 prepared meals distributed
to local food pantries
19,514
community kits, diapers, and books collected or assembled
252
volunteers
events
193
attendees
$13,880
raised for local nonprofits
events
21,101
community supply kits assembled by volunteers
Inspiring STAR (Sharing Time and Resources) Award nominees
Impact Bus Tours
81
passengers
Investing in programs that center on specific needs among ALICE and BIPOC neighborhoods and households.
Creating innovative approaches and partnerships that address financial instability and racial disparities, such as small business loans/grants.
Realigning organizational tools, technology, staff capacity, and processes to connect better with partners, donors, grantmakers, influencers, and the region at large.
Engaging policymakers, key stakeholders, volunteers and others through advocacy, issue education, volunteerism
Expanding our leadership role in key initiatives – Catalyzing Community Giving (BIPOC philanthropy), Continuum of Care (homelessness), Disaster Relief (basic needs in crisis).
Individual donors, foundations, community organizations and corporate partners quickly stepped up, allowing United Way to raise and deploy more than $1.725 million to more than 50 different local agencies addressing food, housing, childcare, and financial assistance.
KALAMAZOO SMALL BUSINESS LOAN FUND
United Way and the City of Kalamazoo, with $2 million in funds from the Foundation for Excellence, partnered to launch the Small Business Loan Fund. More than 75 businesses in Kalamazoo accepted a low-interest loan to support them and their employees through the downturn.
KALAMAZOO MICRO-ENTERPRISE GRANTS
KMEG awarded $5,000 grants to 100 of Kalamazoo’s smallest businesses, prioritizing those owned by Black, Indigenous, all People of Color, plus Shared Prosperity neighborhoods. The City of Kalamazoo and United Way partnered with support from Consumers Energy Foundation and the Foundation For Excellence.
Dollars raised and deployed for Disaster Relief Small businesses approved for loan or grant dollars Local agencies funded for relief work* Dollars raised for investments in small business loans and grants