What We Do

Image
100 Acts of Service

Creating a United Community...

Since its founding in 1921, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County (UWABC) has been known as a convener — bringing together the necessary people and resources needed to tackle crucial community issues and connect people to the support they need. Traditionally, we have done this in three central areas:

  1. Community Investments (grants and contracts)
  2. NC 211 (information and referral)
  3. Hands On Asheville-Buncombe Volunteer Center (volunteer mobilization)

As UWABC has evolved, we have taken a more hands-on approach to working in and with the community, specifically with the inclusion of the community school strategy. In recent years, we’ve expanded this strategy, adopting it as our central organizing framework, recognizing that education and equity are inseparable and key to our vision of a united and resilient community where everyone belongs and everyone thrives. This includes lifting up, listening to, and learning from partners who are actively engaged in this strategy.

We recognize the many ways inequity, particularly racial inequity, takes form both historically and today and are working to name the structures that uphold injustice and eliminate these barriers to inclusion and equity in our work and in the community.  

A Collaborative Approach...

In order to create lasting systemic change that improves the opportunities for future generations, we're committed to working with community partners to do what no one organization can do alone. 

Community
Schools

Community Schools create hubs of opportunity to support students, their families, and the extended community. This critical support is provided in collaboration with the school, the community, and our valued partners as a joint effort to provide every community member the opportunity to live free from poverty and injustice.

The community school strategy is the framework we employ to achieve our mission and is our value add to the growing United for Youth Network and Bold Community Goal.

Community Partnerships

We believe it is critical that we invest community dollars into organizations and programs that provide support for the education, financial stability, and health of everyone in our community. See the full list of programs you helped fund for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

 

NC 211 
Asheville Center

By dialing 211, anyone in our community can speak to a real person and find the help they need - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are proud to be the caring voice on the other end of the line for our neighbors in 16 western N.C. counties and to be a part of United Way of NC’s efforts to serve all 100 N.C. counties. Find help today: Dial 2-1-1 or visit nc211.org

Hands On Asheville-Buncombe

We believe in the power of volunteerism. It is an experience that can change how we interact with the world and allows us each to show up united in community. Find a volunteer opportunity today.