A few weeks ago I was asked if I would join other nonprofit organizations and sign the following letter on behalf of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. The letter, crafted by Lael Gray of the Asheville Jewish Community Center, spoke beautifully to our collective resolve against divisiveness and offered a message of light and love in troubling times.
A new inspirational docu-series, The Hero Effect, is airing on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) with an episode highlighting a United Way-supported restaurant and culinary training facility that provides a positive environment for teens recently released from juvenile detention.
"It was really fun to see the girls’ faces as they rounded the last corner to the finish line and realized they were seconds away from accomplishing what they had been working towards for weeks"
We were so excited to take part in the Girls on the Run of Western North Carolina 5K race at the Asheville Outlets this weekend.
We are proud to announce that our newest community project, Homework Diners, will be supported through a People In Need Grant from The Community Foundation of WNC. Their investment will go a long way to ensure that we will be able to provide a free, fresh and healthy, weekly meal at three local middle schools in the coming year.
“I was tremendously moved by the combination of history, places, connections, present day successes and struggles infused with performance poetry and vibrant art murals."
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"We Care! Experiences aim to connect the dots between volunteer activities and the community need behind each package created."
Wouldn't it be great if there was one place to call when you needed help? United Way thinks so. That’s why we run the NC 2-1-1 Asheville Call Center. When you need help or information for yourself, your family or someone you know all you need to do is dial 2-1-1 or visit NC211.org to get connected. Dial 2-1-1, it’s FREE, 24/7, and available in all languages.
Did you know that in Asheville and Buncombe County, children who live in poverty graduate from high school at a rate of 78% while their classmates graduate at a rate of more than 95%? While every student faces challenges, those who live in poverty must navigate significantly more obstacles in order to make it to graduation. And graduation is critical; every student that doesn’t faces a life filled with greater obstacles - impacting their long-term health and income and often determining whether or not they live in poverty the rest of their life.
"This is the first time I have felt real hope for my child at school. I was able to meet with his teachers and it wasn't some huge deal. We just spoke and I feel like I was actually heard. THIS diner is a good thing." - parent attending the first Homework Diner at Enka Middle
People who give of their personal time to care for others are among some of the best people in the world. Here at United Way, we get to meet a lot of those folks and we try to shine a spotlight on them - in thanks for what they do but also to inspire others.
