United Way Suncoast Inc

TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP THAT IMPROVES LIVES AND CREATES LASTING COMMUNITY CHANGE

EARLY LEARNING: WITH 90 PERCENT OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OCCURRING BETWEEN THE AGES OF 0 AND 5, WE RECOGNIZE THAT A DECIDED FOCUS ON THOSE CRITICAL FORMATIVE YEARS CAN YIELD MORE SUCCESSFUL ADULTS AND FAMILIES. UNITED WAY SUNCOAST HAS NOW EXTENDED ITS UNITED WE LEARN INITIATIVE WITH A $2.8 MILLION ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN 43 EARLY LEARNING PARTNERS FOCUSING ON IMPROVING KINDERGARTEN READINESS, READING ON GRADE LEVEL BY THIRD AND REMOVING BARRIERS LIKE FOOD INSECURITY AND VISION IMPAIRMENT. IT INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT FOR CHILDCARE CENTERS, READING ROOM INSTRUCTION IN MANATEE COUNTY, AND LEARN AND PLAY INSTRUCTION FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN AS PART OF OUR CAMPBELL PARK NETWORK FOR EARLY LEARNING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)WE ALSO DISTRIBUTED UNITED4LITERACY KITS ACROSS THE REGION. RESEARCH SUPPORTS THIS EARLY LEARNING APPROACH, WITH MULTIPLE STUDIES INDICATING THAT STUDENTS WHO ARRIVE AT KINDERGARTEN READY TO LEARN ARE MORE LIKELY TO THRIVE IN A K-12 ENVIRONMENT, MORE LIKELY TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, MORE LIKELY TO ENJOY POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS AND MORE LIKELY TO AVOID A HOST OF SOCIETAL PITFALLS, INCLUDING INCARCERATION AND DRUG ADDICTION. HOWEVER, THE COVID-19 HAS EXACERBATED THE CHALLENGES REVOLVING AROUND THE UNITED WE LEARN EFFORT. THE PANDEMIC HEIGHTENED THE NATION'S EARLY LEARNING CRISIS, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF EARLY LEARNING EDUCATORS ACROSS THE NATION BY 100,000, WHILE ADVERSELY IMPACTING ACCESS AND INCREASING COSTS. IN OUR FIVE-COUNTY REGION, THE ANNUAL AVERAGE COST FOR A YEAR OF CHILDCARE FOR A NON-INFANT IS HIGHER THAN A YEAR OF TUITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. THE CRISIS PROPELLED UNITED WAY SUNCOAST INTO ITS LEADERSHIP ROLE, AND WE PRODUCED AN EARLY LEARNING DASHBOARD THAT CRYSTALIZES THE ISSUES AND PROVIDES STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE REGION WITH A VIABLE SOURCE AS THEY CHART ACTION. THE LEARNING LOSSES CREATED BY VIRTUAL LEARNING ALSO IMPACTED THIRD GRADE READING, ANOTHER KEY FOCUS FOR THIS INITIATIVE. UNITED WAY SUNCOAST MET THE CHALLENGE, FUNDING THE PLACEMENT OF PARAPROFESSIONALS IN FOUR OF OUR FIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND EXPANDING ITS ELEMENTARY SUPPORT TO 36 SCHOOLS OF FOCUS. IN ADDITION, UNITED WAY SUNCOAST CONTINUED ITS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SUMMER CARE PROGRAM, REDUCING LITERACY REGRESSION FOR MORE THAN 500 STUDENTS. MYON: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER AREA LEADERS IN LITERACY, UWS COORDINATES THE USE OF THE MYON DIGITAL PLATFORM IN HILLSBOROUGH AND PINELLAS COUNTIES AND PROVIDES A TOTAL OF $150,000 IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT. FROM JULY 1, 2021 - JUNE 30, 2022, OVER 50,000 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STUDENTS LOGGED IN, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 28,000 IN PINELLAS COUNTY. IN BOTH COUNTIES, STUDENTS ACCESSED OVER 6.9 MILLION BOOKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.READING ROOMS: IN MANATEE COUNTY, TWO READING ROOMS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO BRING EARLY EDUCATION RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS TO WHERE THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIVE: COMMUNITY SUPPORTED HOUSING NEIGHBORHOODS. THE INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE THE BARRIERS TO QUALITY EDUCATION, WHILE PROVIDING A PLATFORM TO FINANCIAL STABILITY RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES.CAMPAIGN FOR GRADE-LEVEL READING: UNITED WAY IS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE SUNCOAST CAMPAIGN FOR GRADE-LEVEL READING IN DESOTO AND MANATEE COUNTIES, WHERE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS, COUNTY GOVERNMENT, EARLY LEARNING COALITIONS AND OTHER STRATEGIC COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO IMPROVE READING RATES. THE BIG PLAN IN MANATEE COUNTY CONTINUED ITS FOCUS ON 10 NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS WITH A GOAL OF DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF THIRD GRADERS READING ON LEVEL BY 2026. WE ALSO LEAD THE CAMPAIGN FOR GRADE-LEVEL READING IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

FINANCIAL STABILITY: OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY PROGRAMS STRIVE TO ENSURE ALICE FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AS WELL AS CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THAT LEAD TO A SUSTAINING WAGE AND PUT THEM ON A PATH TO PROSPERITY. THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON FINANCIAL HEALTH AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WHICH INCLUDE THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE, A FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICE FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, BANK ON SUNCOAST, A GRASSROOTS COALITION THAT AIMS TO IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNBANKED OR UNDERBANKED, FINANCIAL COACHING, AND INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS. IN ADDITION, UNITED WAY SUNCOAST WORKS TO ADDRESS EMERGING ISSUES SUCH AS THE ONGOING HOUSING CRISIS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)TO ADDRESS THIS, WE LAUNCHED A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT IN 2022 THAT HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES STAY IN THEIR HOMES OR FIND NEW, STABLE HOUSING. FREE INCOME TAX PREPARATION/VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE: UNITED WAY SUNCOAST BELIEVES THAT NO LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS SHOULD PAY SOMEONE TO FILE THEIR TAXES. EACH YEAR, WE HELP RESIDENTS WITH A HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF $74,000 OR LESS KEEP THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY BY OFFERING FREE INCOME TAX PREPARATION THROUGH THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. DURING THE 2022 TAX SEASON, 7,145 TAX RETURNS WERE PREPARED BY TRAINED VITA VOLUNTEERS, RETURNING NEARLY $11 MILLION TO OUR FIVE-COUNTY REGION. THIS INCLUDES NEARLY $5 MILLION IN EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS AND CHILD TAX CREDITS ALONE. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, VITA HAS RETURNED MORE THAN $20 MILLION IN TAX REFUNDS TO OUR REGION.BANK ON SUNCOAST: BANK ON IS A LOCAL GRASSROOTS COALITION THAT WORKS WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT HAVE ANY BANK ACCOUNTS OR USE ALTERNATIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LIKE CHECK CASHING SERVICES AND PAYDAY LOANS. BANK ON'S GOAL IS TO ENSURE THE UNBANKED AND THE UNDERBANKED GAIN ACCESS TO SAFE AND AFFORDABLE BANKING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. DURING FISCAL 2022, BANK ON WORKED TO ESTABLISH 24 BANK ON CERTIFIED ACCOUNTS AT LOCAL BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS AND THROUGH THESE ACCOUNTS, NEARLY 50,000 BANK ON ACCOUNTS ARE OPEN IN OUR FIVE-COUNTY AREA.FINANCIAL COACHING: THE UNITED WAY SUNCOAST FINANCIAL COACHING PROGRAM TRAINS AND PARTNERS VOLUNTEERS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE READY TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION. IN THE 2022 FISCAL YEAR, UWS SERVED 97 PEOPLE WITH 88% OF THOSE PEOPLE MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS.INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS: UNITED WAY SUNCOAST'S INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT (IDA) IS A MATCHED SAVINGS ACCOUNT PROGRAM THAT HELPS LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS OF BUYING A HOME, ATTENDING SCHOOL OR OPENING A BUSINESS. ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO SAVE MONEY WHILE ALSO ACQUIRING CRITICAL FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND LONG-TERM MONEY MANAGEMENT SKILLS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2022, 18 PEOPLE SAVED UP ENOUGH FUNDS TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE. EVICTION MITIGATION: DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF FISCAL 2021, UNITED WAY SUNCOAST DEVOTED $3 MILLION TOWARDS ADDRESSING THE EVICTION CRISIS IN OUR FIVE-COUNTY REGION. THE EVICTION DEFENSE PLAN FOCUSES ON SIX MAIN AREAS ACROSS ALL FIVE COUNTIES, INCLUDING FUNDING RENTAL NAVIGATOR POSITIONS THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERS. IN THE FINAL SIX MONTHS IN FY2022, WE SUPPORTED 2,153 INDIVIDUALS WITH HOUSING SERVICES, KEEPING 1,925 INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR HOME OR ACHIEVING NEW OR STABLE HOUSING (89% SUCCESS RATE). IN ADDITION, UNITED WAY SUNCOAST ALSO CREATED A HOUSING CRISIS DASHBOARD THAT AMPLIFIED THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS AND SPURRED MEDIA COVERAGE ABOUT THE CRISIS AND OUR CRITICAL SUPPORT ROLE. AND, AS ONE OF THE REGION'S LEADING CONVENERS, WE'VE BROUGHT TOGETHER LOCAL ERA PROGRAM MANAGERS TO INCREASE CROSS-COUNTY COLLABORATION, AND WE'VE TAKEN THE LEAD ON PROVIDING INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO THOSE WHO NEED HELP OR WANT TO HELP.

STRATEGIC VISION: PHILANTHROPIST MACKENZIE SCOTT GAVE MORE THAN A TRANSFORMATIONAL GIFT TO UNITED WAY SUNCOAST IN DECEMBER 2020. SHE ISSUED A CLARION CALL TO UNITED WAY SUNCOAST AND THE OTHER NONPROFIT RECIPIENTS BENEFITING FROM HER PHILANTHROPY. THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR: EXTEND YOUR MISSION WORK, HELP MORE PEOPLE, ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC AND THE NATION'S SOCIAL JUSTICE REAWAKENING. THAT'S WHY WE CREATED OUR RISE (REACH, INVEST, SUPPORT AND EMPOWER) INITIATIVES WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR TEAM, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE INITIATIVES IDENTIFIED ALIGNED WITH OUR 2021, FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN AND MAINTAIN A FOCUS ON OUR KEY IMPACT AREAS: EARLY LEARNING, YOUTH SUCCESS AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)OUR EFFORTS SUPPORTED IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY NEEDS ADDRESSING THE IMPACTS OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND DEEPENED OUR LASTING IMPACT IN EARLY LEARNING. WE ALSO BEGAN WORK IN OUR BIG & BOLD INITIATIVES BY INVESTING IN THE CAPACITY AND IMPACT DATA SUPPORT OF OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS AS WELL AS LAUNCHING NEW COMMUNITY DATA TOOLS INCLUDING OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND EARLY LEARNING DASHBOARDS. WE ALSO INVESTED IN STRENGTHENING UWS' ABILITY TO THRIVE LONG-TERM BY ADDRESSING OUR TECHNOLOGY NEEDS.