Trident United Way Announces $8.4 Million
in Community Investments

Focus on Collaborations Advancing
School Success and Economic Stability

More than 200 volunteers contributing 4,000 hours have determined Trident United Way’s (TUW) community investments for the 2008-09 fiscal year beginning July 1. Nearly 90 programs addressing the most critical needs in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties will receive $8.4 million.

Since 1944, TUW has raised and invested more than half-a-billion dollars (in 2008 dollars) in efforts to help people in need and build a stronger community.

Backed by a 10th straight record fundraising campaign, TUW was able to increase its investments in programs that align best with United Way initiatives in school success and financial stability. Following is an example of each:

Lowcountry Food Bank’s Backpack Buddies program provides nutritional, non-perishable food for school children over the weekends during the school year. Many children from low-income families were coming to school on Mondays hungry, tired and distracted from going without food over the weekend. By providing backpacks full of food for the children and their siblings, the program has dramatically reduced Monday nurse’s visits and improved academic performance. Trident United Way is investing $24,700 in the program for the first time.

Family Services’ Financial Literacy Program connects to TUW’s efforts to help families build assets and become self-sufficient. The program teaches families to create budgets, pay down debt, improve credit scores and save money. Its ultimate goal is to help each family buy a house or preserve the one they own. TUW more than doubled its investment this year to $25,000.

United Way invests $8.4 million in programs and services, including more than $2 million directed to specific organizations by contributors. Volunteers reviewed applications for investments and made all the investment decisions.

Click Here for a list of Trident United Way’s 2008-2009 Community Investments.

Our Focus Areas

Success by 6

Vision: “All children are ready to succeed in school.”
Community Outcomes:
     Children in the Trident area enter first grade ready to be successful
     Children in the Trident area are physically healthy

Nurturing Youth

Vision: “All youth have opportunities to develop their full potential through healthy environments that promote learning.”
Community Outcomes:
     Children and youth in the Trident area achieve academic and life success
     Children in the Trident area are emotionally healthy

Creating Economic Stability

Vision: “All individuals/families have the opportunity to earn an adequate income and experience secure, healthy and supportive relationships in safe and affordable homes.”
Community Outcomes:
     Adults and families in the Trident Area will increase their discretionary income
     Adults and families in the Trident Area will gain and sustain assets

Responding To Basic Needs

Vision: "The Trident area community will be prepared and able to respond in a timely, coordinated and compassionate way to basic needs created by personal emergencies."
Community Outcome:
     All residents of the Trident Area will have adequate food, clothing and shelter.

Promoting Health & Wellness

Vision: “The tri-county region will be recognized as a “high performance health and wellness community” characterized by steady and measurable improvement in the health and wellness of its citizens and their access to quality medical care."
Community Outcomes:
     Residents in the Trident Area will make healthy lifestyle choices that reduce their risk for chronic disease (focus on obesity related diseases)
     Residents in the Trident area will have a medical home and access to at least the minimum level of health information, medical, and preventive care necessary to maintain reasonably good health

Achieving Successful Aging

Vision: “All older people enjoy economic, physical, and social well being at levels enabling them to remain secure, active, and contributing members of our community.”
Community Outcomes:
     Seniors in the Trident Area will be fully engaged in life as characterized by productivity, paid and volunteer, and social connectedness
     Seniors in the Trident Area will experience high mental and physical function
     Seniors in the Trident Area will be at low risk for chronic disease and related disability, or having a chronic disease/disability will effectively manage the attendant symptoms and limitations

Click Here for a list of Trident United Way’s 2008-2009 Community Investments.