United Way Of The Mid-South

THE MISSION OF UNITED WAY IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MID- SOUTHERNERS BY MOBILIZING AND ALIGNING COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO ADDRESS PRIORITY ISSUES. FOR OVER 95 YEARS, UNITED WAY OF THE MID-SOUTH HAS BROUGHT THE TIME, TALENTS, AND TREASURES OF OUR CITIZENS TOGETHER SO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED CAN ENJOY A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, MAKING THE MID-SOUTH AN EVEN BETTER PLACE FOR ALL. WE DO THIS BY BEING THE LEADING CATALYST IN STIMULATING SUPPORT AND SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AS THEY PROGRESS FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY. WE STRIVE TO ADVANCE PEOPLE FROM WHERE THEY ARE TO WHERE THEY DREAM TO BE BY ADDRESSING THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR SUCCESS--EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY AND HEALTH. UNITED WAY OFFERS PARTNERS, DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS THE ABILITY TO FULFILL THEIR DREAMS OF HOW THEY CAN SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR COMMITMENT OF TIME AND TALENT.

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FUNDING TO OVER 500 NON-PROFIT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES THROUGH DONOR DESIGNATED FUNDS. IN ADDITION UNITED WAY PROVIDES GRANT FUNDING TO APPROXIMATELY 100 AGENCIES WITHIN THE 8 COUNTY SERVICE AREA. GRANTS ARE TARGETED TO PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND HEALTH AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO REDUCE MID-SOUTH POVERTY.

UNITED WAY COORDINATES THE WORK OF MULTIPLE AGENCIES TO IMPLEMENT THE FREE TAX PREP/VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE IN CRITTENDEN, DESOTO, FAYETTE, LAUDERDALE, SHELBY, TATE, TIPTON AND TUNICA COUNTIES. THIS PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES FREE TAX PREPARATION TO MAXIMIZE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ELIGIBLE TAX CREDITS FOR LOW TO MODERATE TAX FILERS. THE FREE TAX PREP/VITA PROGRAM WAS FUNDED THROUGH MULTIPLE SOURCES: INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, TN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WELLS FARGO, MASS MUTUAL FOUNDATION PROSPERITY AND UNITED WAY OF THE MID-SOUTH INVESTMENTS. FUNDS WERE USED TO SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF SUPER VITA SITES, MOBILE TAX PREPARATION, 2-1-1 INFORMATION SYSTEM, A MARKETING CAMPAIGN, AND VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION. IN FISCAL YEAR ENDED 6/30/20, OVER 10,000 TAX RETURNS WERE PREPARED, RETURNING OVER 14 MILLION TO MID-SOUTH FAMILIES.

DRIVING THE DREAM (DTD) IS AN UWMS INITIATIVE THAT WORKS TO ENSURE ALL PEOPLE HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE NECESSARY RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS. DTD PROVIDES PARTNER AGENCIES WITH THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND TRAINING TO HELP MOVE THEIR CLIENTS FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY. DTD PARTNERSHIPS ENGAGE THROUGH CARE COORDINATION HUBS, REFERRAL NETWORK PARTNERS, AND OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PARTNERS.