United Way of Kosciusko County recently invested $1,690,700 in 51 local programs and several community initiatives which will help the residents of our county improve their lives. The investments will be available to the programs from July 2013 through June 2014. Additionally, at the request of the several donors, $176,865 was sent to other United Ways for program support.

United Way Vision Councils, comprised of professionals and citizens with a vested interest in our community, assess outcomes of the programs in the focus areas of education, income and health. This system of review assures donors’ gifts are being used effectively and efficiently in Kosciusko County. After the Vision Council process, the Community Impact Committee reviewed all of the proposals and made their final recommendations to the Board of Directors. The united way of Kosciusko Board of Directors approved the proposals on May 17. 

The Education Vision Council consisted of representatives from three school corporations (Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw and Wawasee), Indiana Tech, IVY Tech, Symmetry Medical, a local attorney and a retired professional from RR Donnelley. This committee invested $422,100 in 12 education programs aimed at early interventions to increase the high school graduation rate in Kosciusko County. 

Programs include:

• After School Program (Baker Youth Club)
• Claypool Early Learning Program (Warsaw Community Schools)
• Community Based Mentoring (Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana)
• Head Start (Cardinal Services, Inc.)
• Homework Help (Tippecanoe Valley Schools)
• Kindergarten Readiness (Lakeland Learning Center, New Beginnings Preschool & Daycare, North Webster Daycare)
• Parents as Teachers (Early Childhood Alliance)
• Read to Grow (Kosciusko Literacy Services)
• School Buddies (Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana)
• Teens-N-Tots (Heartline Pregnancy Center)

The Income Vision Council was comprised of representatives from Biomet, Bowen Center, DePuy Synthes, Lake City Radio, Maple Leaf Farms, Tower Bank and retired professionals from Mutual Bank, Warsaw Police Department and Zimmer Inc. This committee invested $614,000 in 18 economic self-sufficiency and family stabilization programs. 

These programs include:

• Beaman Home (Kosciusko County Shelter for Abuse)
• Disaster Services (American Red Cross)
• Emergency Home Repairs, Home Energy IMpact, Mobile Home Repairs & Owner Occupied Renovations (Housing Opportunities) 
• Family Development (Community Action of NE Indiana)
• Food Pantry (Mary & Jerry’s Helping Hands)
• Graduation Coaches (Kosciusko County Educational Development)
• Jail G.E.D. Program & One-to-One Tutors (Kosciusko Literacy Services)
• Moving Forward (Bowen Center)
• Rental Assistance (Salvation Army)
• Stewardship Shelter (Fellowship Missions)
• Teen Services (Teen Parents Succeeding)
• Utility Assistance, Hand Up & Project Independence (Combined Community Services)

The Health Vision Council contained representatives from Bowen Center, Kosciusko Community Hospital, K21 Health Foundation, Maple Leaf Farms, Meridian Title, Zimmer, and retired professional from RR Donnelley. The committee invested $449,040 in 18 health programs. 

These programs include:

• Activity Center, Emergency/Weekend Meals, Home Delivered Meals, In-Home Services & Transportation (Kosciusko Community Senior Services)
• B.A.B.E. & Earn While You Learn (Heartline Pregnancy Center)
• Connecting Families (Norther Indiana Hispanic Health  Coalition)
• Domestic Violence Education “DoVE” (Kosciusko County Shelter for Abuse) 
• Food Delivery Program & Mobile Pantry (Food Bank of Northern Indiana)
• Healthy Families (Cardinal Services, Inc.)
• REAL Services (Kosciusko Homecare & Hospice)
• Sports Program (Lakeland Youth Center)
• Summer CATCH (Kosciusko Community YMCA)
• Summer Program (Baker Youth Club)
• Well Baby Clinic (Kosciusko County Health Department)
• Women’s Recovery Home (Rose Home North)

Additionally, Community Initiative Funds (in the amount $171,000) will also be used for the following: 2-1-1 Information and Referral Service, the Day of Carin, Volunteer Kosciusko, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), Kindergarten Countdown, the Kosciusko County Drug Court and three programs with which UWKC has long standing relationships including the Anthony Wayne Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Kosciusko County and Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana – Michiana. In addition, UWKC in partnership with the K21 Health Foundation and the Kosciusko Community Foundation will fund AmeriCorps VISTA staff at the Fellowship Mission. 

The ultimate goal of United Way of Kosciusko County is to always create a positive community impact. The Vision Councils consider many factors when making difficult funding decisions. These factors include, but are not limited to, new program funding requests, current challenges within the community and new issues facing the programs within each focus area. The United Way is pleased to inform the public of these program investments. The continued community support reflects the strong commitment in our county to “Live United.”