United Way Inc.

Filing Period

Jul 1, 2010 to Jun 30, 2011

Signed

Mar 5, 2012

Return Version

2010v3.4

Gross Receipts

$11,970,638

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

Education: education is the cornerstone of individual and community success. It is essential to getting and keeping a job with a livable wage and health benefits. It is also fundamental to a community's economic prosperity: a well-educated workforce attracts world-class jobs. United way funds 29 programs at 8 partner agencies that focus on education, helping us advance our education goals in the community. From addressing youth self-esteem to funding accredited child care centers, united way is helping children, youth and families reach their potential.just as the strength of the foundation determines the stability of the home, all future learning, behavior and health is based on one's early experiences. Our vision is that young people will grow up healthy and ready for the future; that they are prepared for kindergarten; that teenagers build self-esteem and have safe places to go after school; and that parents and guardians have support and education about child development. Our westbrook children's project is an example of how we are working to fulfill our vision. Focusing initially on children k - 2, two of the goals of the project are to reduce absenteeism and decrease out of classroom referrals, two building blocks to academic success. In its second year (school year 09/10), the project saw success in both areas: student absenteeism decreased by 51% and 55% (two schools) (number of students who were absent 8 or more times) and out of classroom referrals for behavioral issues decreased by 19% (one school). School year 10/11 data has not yet been reported. Additional work includes: helping create and launch westbrook's new summer lunch program in partnership with many organizations. In its first year, the program served 5,200 lunches on weekdays from june 21 to august 20, 2010. Programming to help children and their families is presented at the lunches.forming the westbrook children's cabinet in fall 2009, consisting of community leaders including the mayor, business leaders, a pediatrician, the superintendent of schools, school committee members, the city council chair, the police chief, and parents. The cabinet completed a community assessment, including primary and secondary data, and has adopted the communities that care model for implementation in westbrook, a research-based prevention model that has been used effectively elsewhere to reduce risky behaviors by children and youth and increase school engagement. The cabinet has conducted fundraising, hired staff and this fall will implement the model.

Activity 3

Income: many people in greater portland do not have a stable income that allows them to provide the basics - food, rent and utilities. United way has always taken a strategic approach to addressing critical issues and financial stability is no exception. Financial stability comes from providing families with the resources and opportunities they need to meet their basic needs. United way funds 18 programs at 10 partner agencies that focus on income and securing the basics, helping us advance our financial stability goals in the community. From addressing the needs of refugees and immigrants to transportation and legal services programs, united way is linking community members to tools that will help them get on, or continue down, the path to financial stability.another united way initiative, ca$h (creating assets, savings and hope) greater portland is a partnership of community leaders and industry experts encouraging families and individuals in cumberland county to increase income, reduce debt, save for the future and achieve financial stability. Ca$h greater portland is a year-round resource for the community, offering free income tax preparation to qualified filers during tax season, helping employers bring financial education tools to their employees, and educating hard-working residents about how they can make the most of their money. Ca$h connects the community to local programs and services, and utilizes its website, www.cashgp.org, as a financial education clearinghouse. In 2011, ca$h free tax sites returned $1,500,563 in federal and state income tax refunds to the community, increasing individual refunds by 17%, and applied for $427,363 in earned income tax credits, an increase of 21% per household over 2010.

Filer

EIN

01-0241767