United Way distributes more than $44K to local service agencies

Jul 30, 2008 (Statesville Record & Landmark - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- CSCRA | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Jul. 30--Local nonprofit agencies devoted to helping teens, families, consumers and low-income homeowners received a boost from the United Way of Iredell County this week.

Through its Emerging Needs grant program, the United Way distributed more than $44,000 to Appropriate Placement Options, Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont, Consumer Credit Counseling Service, Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County, Information and Referral Service and Exchange/ SCAN Center.

APO Executive Director Pam Navey said the $7,500 her organization received will be used for its Youth Incentive program, gang awareness and prevention and increasing parental involvement. This year that program lost partial federal funding, so the United Way grant was vital in helping the program stay afloat.

"In order to continue those services this money is critical," she said.

Last year, APO targeted about 60 children for services, but the nonprofit was flooded with more than 100 referrals. With such a demand, it is clear the program is necessary, Navey said.

Boys & Girls Club will use its $10,000 allocation to fund its Project Learn mentoring program; Consumer Credit Counseling Service received $5,000 to start a local service; Information and Referral Service will use the $12,000 for grant writing; and Exchange/SCAN will use $4,500 for Family Connections, a supervised visitation program.

The United Way invested $100,000 in the Emerging Needs program this year, up from $55,000 last year. If the community campaign goal is met this year, officials plan to increase allocations to $200,000 next year.

Grants are awarded twice a year with July 1 and Dec. 1 deadlines.

United Way Executive Director Pat Stewart said as the community grows and the economy fluctuates, the organization sees an increase in the demand for services from its member agencies and other nonprofits.

Stewart said the Emerging Needs program allows the United Way and local agencies to respond to needs quicker.

"When we help one person, we really do improve the conditions for all of us," Stewart said.

Ann Trent, assistant executive director for Habitat, said Habitat's fairly new program, Brush with Kindness, will benefit from the grant.

Through the program, Habitat helps qualified people fix their homes. The $5,000 grant will be used to purchase materials for upcoming projects, she said.

"This will help us do at least five more homes," Trent said.

In addition to grant money, the program is partially funded through an Iredell County Community Foundation Grant.

"We're honored," she said of the Emerging Needs grant. "There's such a great need."

To see more of the Statesville Record & Landmark or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.statesville.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Statesville Record & Landmark, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index