Story last updated at 6/30/2010 - 7:15 pm
JUNEAU - The United Way of Southeast Alaska recently announced Community Impact Grant awards totaling $24,000 to six partner agencies. The projects were selected by a volunteer committee of the board of directors chaired by Katherine Eldemar, from a pool of proposals. The Community Impact Grants were divided into two groups this year. One focused on early literacy and the second set was focused on matching grant funds to help on any issue of need.
United Way of Southeast Alaska mobilized this year around early literacy, investing $16,000 into it. Literacy has been shown through research and experience to be a critical skill for lifelong success. Children who find it difficult to read at grade level by the end of third grade struggle in school, often dropping out before they complete high school. Some states project the number of jail cells that will be needed based on the third grade literacy rate. By placing emphasis on reading success, United Way of Southeast Alaska expects to see graduation rates increase, drop out rates decrease and less substance abuse. These rates are tracked annually in Juneau by United Way's Community Indicator Project. Every dollar invested in early childhood success saves society an estimated $15-20 in government expenditures down the road. Treatment, enforcement, income assistance, medical costs, and low employment can all add up to cost society much more through additional taxes to pay for these kinds of assistance programs.
"It is better to prevent these outcomes than to try to deal with them later," says Michelle Prebula, Chair of Board of Directors United Way of Southeast Alaska. "It is not only the right thing to do, it saves every taxpayer money."
The grant money is based on funds designated by donors in 2009 to the United Way of Southeast Alaska's Community Impact General Fund, to a particular town in Southeast Alaska or to one of the areas of need: income stability, education or health.
"United Way of Southeast Alaska is committed to helping our partner agencies deliver on their missions and this is just one way we can help," Prebula says. "At the same time, this give United Way of Southeast Alaska an opportunity to address some of the most challenging needs."
The recipients and their projects are as follows:
• Association for the Education of Young Children received $10,500 to inform parents about early learning programs through direct mail of United Way Born Learning Bulletins and invitations to local library and local community supports for young children and families in Juneau, Haines, Skagway, Hoonah, Yakutat, Kake, Angoon, Craig, Klawock and Wrangell. They will also continue to promote the Dolly Parton Imagination Library throughout the region.
• SAGA received $5,500 to implement Ready to Read that will teach students the "Concepts of Print" in combination with kinesiology exercises to improve capacities for literacy in third grade. A team of trainers will travel to schools in Southeast Alaska to deliver the 3-5 days of instruction and provide materials needed for the program.
• Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) receive $3,000 to match other funding to go towards their Rural Outreach Project that will deliver independent living services to Kake, Angoon, Hoonah, Metlakatla, Kake, Petersburg, Wrangell and Prince of Wales this year.
• Juneau Family Health and Birth Center received $2,000 to provide supplies for their Strength in Families parenting programs that builds parenting skills so they may parent effectively, even under stress, thereby reducing the incidence of child abuse and neglect.
• Brave Heart Volunteers received $1,500 to help fund a portion of an AmeriCorps volunteer to help deliver hospice services to a rapidly increasing clientele in Sitka.
• WISH received $1,500 in matching funds to support their weekly support group and parenting seminars in Ketchikan.
United Way of Southeast Alaska is a volunteer-driven organization that brings people and resources together to address community-wide issues. For 30 years, United Way of Southeast Alaska has focused on issues concerning health, income and education in Southeastern Alaska communities. UWSEAK is a member of the United Way Worldwise system that includes nearly 1,400 community-based United Way organizations. Each is independent, separately incorporated, and governed by local volunteers.
