Six local nonprofits were recently granted $123,000 by United Way of Dutchess County to assist them in serving individuals and families in need of help.
United Way of Dutchess County grants support partnership programs that fulfill community priorities in the areas of education, income and health, helping to build a stronger, healthier community.
Wrap-around fund grants totaling $57,000 were awarded to five partners. Dutchess Outreach, Catholic Charities Community Services and Dutchess County Community Action Partnership were each awarded $15,000. The North East Community Center in Millerton and Community Resource & Services Center in Pawling were each awarded $6,000.
These monies, earmarked as wrap-around funds, allow nonprofit case managers to fulfill the important needs of families and individuals that other programs cannot meet.
Wrap-around funds are used in cases where an individual or family doesn’t qualify for assistance given through a particular program, or an agency is faced with an individual’s very specific needs that aren’t covered by any program. Examples of agency use of these funds include rent payment assistance; heating and utility payments during winter months; and, transportation to doctors or job-seeking appointments when a client has no other way to get there.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County received $40,000 to develop a financial literacy program as part of its Family and Consumer Education Program offerings. Ten to 12 modules will be designed as part of a preapproved curriculum. Caseworkers from local nonprofit agencies will select from a menu those modules that best meet their individual clients’ needs. Cornell will also train agency case managers in the use of the modules.
The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley and its food program members in Dutchess County were granted $26,000.The money will supply food and basic household items to the 27 programs supported by United Way that assist those in need.
In the 2010-2011 fiscal year, United Way of Dutchess County has granted more than $1,000,000 to its nonprofit partners.
For more information on United Way of Dutchess County and its funded partnerships with nonprofits and programs, visit www.unitedwaydutchess.org.
