UNITED WAY CONTINUES LONG STANDING TRADITION OF INVESTING IN EFFECTIVE NONPROFITS

United Way of Yellowstone County awarded $300,000 in grants to local organizations on June 27, increasing support by $75,000 compared to last year. These partner agencies are integral to combating poverty, improving access to education and resources, and providing mental health support – topics that are crucial for Yellowstone County amid continued inflation and wealth disparities.

Money will go to programs operated by 14 different local organizations. Each grant application was vetted by a section of UWYC’s Community Impact Committee, totaling 30 local community members, then approved by UWYC’s Board of Directors. 

Our community partners help us achieve goals that address our four pillars -- school readiness, school success, crisis stabilization and senior independence, especially for high-risk and vulnerable populations in Yellowstone County. Our grants also help strengthen the work of non-profits in our community. Grants were awarded to organizations with a track record of success and responsibility, and UWYC performs ongoing monitoring and review of grantees. 

Head Start, Inc: $38,196

• Literacy, language & lifelong success/conscious discipline implementation: Funds will be split between two projects; the purchase of two "Inchy the Bookworm" book vending machines and preschool appropriate books to stock the machines, and training staff to support Head Start's efforts in full implementation of Conscious Discipline in classrooms and in all facets of parent education.

Billings Family YMCA: $19,306

• Educational components create school readiness preschool students: Funds will be used to provide critical education components, financial assistance, and healthy snacks to enable children ages 3 to 5 years old to start them down the path of academic success from kindergarten until they graduate.

Tumbleweed: $10,000

• Fostering enduring transformations that pave the way for brighter futures: The School Readiness Program is a comprehensive initiative designed to empower children and youth from low-income families with the tools and resources they need to excel academically and succeed in their educational journey.

Young Families Early Head Start: $20,000

• Curriculum aids: Funds will be used to directly enhance our curriculum and to aide in additional training of the teachers as well as help us with overall operating costs.

Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools: $18,915

• Mobile food program: Funds will be used to support a newly developed Mobile Food program to serve food insecure children over the summer. The program will serve as a "pantry on wheels", bringing nutritional support and providing a wellness check to highly vulnerable children.

Friends of the Children – Eastern Montana: $10,000

• Investing in Billings’ Youth: violent crime and gang prevention through relationship-based mentoring: Using a relationship-based, professional mentoring program to prevent youth violent crime and gang activity. Our comprehensive model supports youth educational goals and breaks intergenerational cycles of poverty.

Special Olympics: $10,000

• Revitalization and engagement of Special Olympics Montana school age teams: Special Olympics will provide a summit for volunteer leaders, educating and preparing them to support new school age teams and re-engage existing-but-inactive school age teams. Start-up costs will be provided for two new school age teams in Yellowstone County.

YWCA Billings: $31,792

• Crisis Stabilization for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking: Funds will be used to support operations of YWCA Billings and its programs.

Veterans Navigation Network: $20,000

• Resource Counseling, Case Management & Timely Intervention to Prevent Crisis: Funds will help support staff trained in assessment of veteran family needs, resource counseling to ensure responsive action, case management and individual follow-up to ensure that needs are met.

Family Service: $20,000

• Feed, Furnish, Fortify: Funds will be used to provide an umbrella over the four main programs offered to our Yellowstone County neighbors. These programs provide assistance in order to create a bridge from crisis to stability.

District 7 HRDC: $25,000

• Wheels for Work/Homeless prevention program: Funds will be split between two projects; helping working individuals/families with car repairs and individuals/families looking for work with bus passes and gas cards, and emergency housing assistance and homeless prevention activities to keep low-income people housed.

CASA of Yellowstone County: $10,000

• Volunteer court-appointed special advocates for youth in foster care: Funds will be used to recruit, train, and support CASA volunteers to serve additional children in foster care.

Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools: $10,000

• Family Resource Center: Funds will benefit the BPS Family Resource Center to support students experiencing homelessness to connect to emergency basic needs and community resources so students have the tools and support they need to attend and achieve in school.

Adult Resource Alliance: $31,792

• Senior Community Health Program: Funds will be used to expand the Senior Community Health Program in evaluating Yellowstone County seniors, assisting them in accessing community services which will help them continue to live safely and independently.

Veterans Navigation Network: $15,000

• Helping our senior veterans and their families to thrive: Funds will be used to help at least 100 of our older veterans to understand and receive help navigating and engaging both community and/or VA resources available, so they might age with dignity and feel valued as community residents.

Check out this report from Non-Stop Local News to learn more and hear from one of our grant partners.