United Way of Greater Portland (UWGP) announced the investment of $3.74M in 74 programs and initiatives with 48 funded community partners, including $256,500 of investments in its Brick & Beam Society and Women Unitedaffinity groups.
In addition, UWGP is one of more than 210 organizations that has embraced Thrive2027, our community’s 10-year effort to achieve measurable progress in the areas of education, financial stability, and health. While serving as the backbone support, UWGP also is playing its part in ensuring the success of Thrive2027 by utilizing strategies such as public policy, community engagement, and financial support, including this $3.74M investment toward direct services and other community initiatives.
The community investment process kicked off with an open request for proposals in January with a focus on community programs, initiatives, and collaborations that have a measurable impact on the Thrive2027 Goals. UWGP also committed that each currently funded partner would receive a minimum of 70% of their total funding from the prior year.
“We recognize that significant change takes a willingness to do things differently,” said Liz Cotter Schlax, President & CEO, United Way of Greater Portland. “After three years of careful planning and collaboration with our community partners, we opened our community investment pool for the first time, resulting in an extremely competitive application process. We believe this new approach will help better the odds for children, families, and communities.”
More than 30 new organizations applied for funding, resulting in the funding of 8 new funded partners in addition to the ongoing funding of 40 long-standing United Way partners.
Over 47 community volunteers helped make funding decisions, spending 650 hours evaluating requests and ensuring grants were distributed objectively and aligned to make the greatest impact on the Thrive2027 Goals.
“Thanks to the generosity of our community and the hard work of our volunteers, we are able to take a significant step forward in our effort to advance Thrive2027,” said Dan Coyne, Senior Vice President of Community Impact, United Way of Greater Portland. “Investments are laser-focused on proven strategies to give more kids a strong start, empower more of our neighbors to thrive – not just survive, and help us all live longer, better lives.”
In 2017, United Way announced its first strategic investments in Thrive2027 allocating $250,000 in three community initiatives: the Children’s Initiative at Maine Behavioral Healthcare; Maine Medical Center – Preble Street Learning Collaborative at Preble Street; and Smile Partners previously at the Cutler Institute for Health & Social Policy at the University of Southern Maine Muskie School.
“United Way of Greater Portland is being both thoughtful and strategic with the direction we are taking to address the health and well-being of our region,” said Anne Dalton, Chief Officer for Strategic Initiatives, The Association of Junior Leagues International, and United Way of Greater Portland Board Chair.
Those wishing to get involved by donating their time, money, or voice to help Greater Portland thrive should visit www.unitedwaygp.org.
UWGP Fiscal Year 2019 Investments (Alpha order by Organization):
Organization |
Program |
Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 211 Maine | 211 Maine | 2 |
| A Company of Girls | Afterschool and Outreach Arts Based Resiliency Empowerment Program | 2 |
| American Red Cross | Emergency Services | 2 |
| Amistad | Peer Support and Recovery Center | 3 |
| Avesta Housing | Promoting housing stabilization for high-risk, formerly homeless residents in affordable housing | 2 |
| Avesta Housing | Promoting responsible home ownership | 2 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine | Youth Mentoring | 2 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine | BGCSM On Track Initiative | 2 |
| Catherine Morrill Day Nursery | CMDN Quality Early Learning Program | 1 |
| Catholic Charities Maine | Career Development Program | 2 |
| Catholic Charities Maine | Independent Support Services | 2 |
| Catholic Charities Maine | Integrated Behavioral Health | 3 |
| Catholic Charities Maine | St. Elizabeth’s Child Development Center | 1 |
| City of Portland, Public Health Division | NEAT (Nutrition Education Access & Training) – A public health approach to food insecurity | 1 |
| Community Dental | Cumberland County Denture Program | 2 |
| Community Dental | Integrating Care Initiative: Portland Dental Health Center | 2 |
| Day One | Adolescent Community Treatment Services | 3 |
| Day One | Residential and Transition Services | 3 |
| Day One | Street Youth Outreach | 3 |
| Educate Maine | Count ME In | 1 |
| Frannie Peabody Center | Client Services | 3 |
| Freeport Community Services | Meeting Critical Needs of Families and Individuals in Freeport and Pownal | 2 |
| Goodwill Industries of Northern New England | Greater Portland CA$H Coalition | 2 |
| Goodwill Industries of Northern New England | Job Connection Portland | 2 |
| Greater Portland Health | Increasing Behavioral & Mental Health Services in Portland’s School-based Health Centers | 3 |
| Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project | Immigration Legal Aid and Systemic Advocacy | 2 |
| Kids First Center | Kids First for Kids – Children’s Education and Support Groups | 3 |
| Legal Services for the Elderly | Cumberland County Senior Helpline | 2 |
| Legal Services for the Elderly | Elder Abuse Law Project | 2 |
| Legal Services for the Elderly | Keeping Seniors Home Project | 2 |
| Maine Behavioral Healthcare | Outpatient Services | 3 |
| Maine Behavioral Healthcare | The Children’s Initiative | 1 |
| MaineHealth | Project BRACEs: Building Resilience for Adverse Childhood Experiences | 3 |
| MaineHealth Care at Home | Home Health Care | 3 |
| Milestone Recovery | HOME Team | 3 |
| Morrison Center | Morrison Center Preschool | 1 |
| Morrison Center | Morrison Center School-Age Educational Program | 2 |
| My Place Teen Center | My Place Teen Center | 2 |
| Northeast Hearing and Speech | Speech and Hearing Services | 1 |
| Peaks Island Children’s Workshop | Peaks Island Children’s Workshop | 1 |
| Pine Tree Legal Assistance | Safe and Stable Families Thrive | 3 |
| Portland Adult Education | High School Diploma and Equivalency Programming: Enhancing Opportunities for students in Cumberland County | 2 |
| Portland ConnectED | Starting Strong: Too Small To Fail | 1 |
| Portland Housing Authority | EmPOWERme | 2 |
| Portland Public Library | In Her Presence @ PPL | 1 |
| Preble Street | Maine Medical Center-Preble Street Learning Collaborative | 3 |
| Preble Street | Preble Street Advocacy | 2 |
| Preble Street | Preble Street Critical Needs Programs | 2 |
| Regional Transportation Program | Transportation | 2 |
| Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine | Support and Advocacy Services | 3 |
| Shalom House | Consumer Educators | 3 |
| Shalom House | Hoarding Program | 3 |
| The Center for Grieving Children | Bereavement Peer Support Program | 3 |
| The Iris Network | Visually Impaired People (VIP) – Cumberland | 2 |
| The Opportunity Alliance | Bridge to Career | 2 |
| The Opportunity Alliance | CDA Development Center | 1 |
| The Opportunity Alliance | Early Childhood Initiative | 1 |
| The Opportunity Alliance | Foster Grandparent Program | 1 |
| The Opportunity Alliance | Maine Families | 1 |
| The Opportunity Alliance | Resident-Led Community Building | 2 |
| The Opportunity Alliance | Senior Companion Program | 2 |
| The Opportunity Alliance | The Parent Program at 22 Park Avenue | 3 |
| Through These Doors | Advocacy and Victim Services | 3 |
| Through These Doors | Shelter Program | 2 |
| Through These Doors | Young Adult Abuse Prevention Program | 3 |
| Tri-County Mental Health Services | In-home Follow-up for Opioid Overdose | 3 |
| United Way of Greater Portland, Brick & Beam Society | Awarded through an open grant-application process to programs that support the Brick & Beam Society’s mission | 1 |
| United Way of Greater Portland, Greater Portland Workforce Initiative | Greater Portland Workforce Initiative | 2 |
| United Way of Greater Portland, Women United | Awarded through an open grant-application process to programs that support Women United’s mission | 2 |
| University of Southern Maine, Cutler Institute | Gateway to Opportunity Program Expansion | 2 |
| Wayside Food Programs | Community Meals | 1 |
| Westbrook School Department | Westbrook Children’s Project: Westbrook Communities That Care | 3 |
| YMCA of Southern Maine | Early Learning Readiness | 1 |
| Youth and Family Outreach | Early Care and Education | 1 |
