Partner Agency Highlight: People Who Care
People Who Care is an amazing United Way partner agency in Prescott, Arizona that provides transportation services for individuals over the age of 18 who require assistance getting to essential medical appointments, grocery shopping, and other critical tasks. This non-profit organization has been helping the local community for over 30 years, and its mission is to enhance the quality of life for older adults and adults with disabilities in [...]
Partner Agency Highlight: Prescott Area Shelter Services (PASS)
The Prescott Area Shelter Services (PASS) is a non-profit organization based in Prescott, Arizona, that provides shelter, food, and other essential services to homeless individuals and families in the community. Since its inception, PASS has been committed to serving those in need and has made a significant impact on the lives of many. One of the primary services provided by PASS is emergency shelter. The organization operates a shelter [...]
How United Way is Helping Non-Profits do More Good in Yavapai County
United Way of Yavapai County is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of residents throughout the county. They achieve this goal by supporting local non-profit organizations so they can make bigger impacts in the community. One of the ways United Way of Yavapai County supports local non-profits is through funding. They provide grants and resources to non-profit organizations that align with their mission of improving the lives [...]
Yavapai County Non-Profits are Making a Real Difference
In Yavapai County, and across the country, it can be hard for many families to make ends meet. With rising costs of living and limited government assistance, many people in the county find themselves in difficult financial situations. Fortunately, there are a number of non-profit organizations dedicated to helping those in need. United Way is one such organization. United Way works with local partners to support programs that build [...]
Strengthening Community Partnerships
How the United Way of Yavapai County and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona are Working Together to Support Youth in Prescott & Prescott Valley, AZ. In this article we will be looking at the impact that the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan for Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona (BGCCAZ) and United Way of Yavapai County (UWYC) Grant Program have on the youth in Prescott and Prescott Valley, [...]
Help Keep Yavapai County Warm This Season
As the holiday season quickly approaches, it is important to remember those in need. Donating coats, hats, gloves, and warm weather clothing through Yavapai County United Way's Share The Warmth event is one small but impactful way to make a difference this season. The wintertime can be especially difficult for those facing poverty or the unhoused. Winter brings with it cold temperatures that can be dangerous for vulnerable populations [...]
How Local Programs are Helping to Combat Food Insecurity in Yavapai County
Food insecurity is becoming an increasingly severe problem in America, and its effects are strongly felt in Yavapai County. Roughly 1 in 7 households in our county struggle with food security daily, making it difficult for families to put healthy meals on the table or access nutritional resources. The causes of food insecurity are complex and multifaceted. Still, they include low-wage jobs that do not pay enough to support [...]
Rebuilding & Boosting Childhood Education
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on childhood education. Schools across the country were forced to close their doors, leaving millions of children without access to formal education. This had a knock-on effect for parents, who had to home-school their children or find alternative childcare arrangements. Numerous efforts have been made by schools and organizations like the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club to curb the learning loss that [...]
How to Donate to Organizations that Need it Most
When you want to donate to a nonprofit organization, it's important to choose one that will put your donation to good use. There are many ways to find a reputable charity and many factors to consider when making your decision. Here are some tips on how to donate to the nonprofit that needs your donations the most: 1. Do your research. Not all charities are created equal, and it's [...]
5 Ways to Find the Right Volunteer Opportunity For You
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community and make a difference in the lives of others. It can also be a very rewarding experience for the volunteer, providing opportunities for new friendships, experiences, and skills. There are many different types of volunteer opportunities available, so it is important to find one that is a good fit for the individual volunteer. Here are five tips for [...]
Prescott Community Cupboard Celebrates Almost 50 Years of Fighting Food Insecurity
The past year has been a banner one for Prescott Community Cupboard Food Bank (PCCFB). After working out of two rented offices, the organization tripled its size by relocating to its own 3,000-square-foot building on West Hillside Avenue last May. Moving meant PCCFB, founded in 1973 by seven churches as a food supplement program, could reach even more people in need. United Way of Yavapai County is a proud [...]
We will miss Chris Graff
United Way of Yavapai County was honored to have Chris Graff serve on the UWYC Board of Directors before his untimely passing this July. Many of you probably know Chris from his years as Board President of the Prescott Frontier Days, which puts on the annual rodeo here in Yavapai County, where he served alongside UWYC Board President Mary Ann Suttles, and fellow Board Member Irene Winter. Chris [...]
The Endless Ripples of Giving Back
Several years ago, the Dalai Lama took to Twitter to send out the following message: “Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” UWYC Board member Meredith Dunlap-Sterrett knows exactly what he means. She’s seen it in action as a volunteer leader with United Way of Yavapai County. A donation dropped into a pool [...]
Partner Spotlight: Bagdad PTO
Valentine’s Day is going to be extra sweet on the campus of Bagdad Middle and High School this year. The school’s Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL) program has asked teachers and staff to write down one thing about each of their students and colleagues that makes that person special. On Feb. 14, PAL members will deliver those hand-written messages with a card that says “Bee My PAL” along with [...]
Partner Spotlight: Friends of the Paulden Library
Many public libraries across the country rely on a nonprofit "friends" group that helps with fundraising and covers the cost of programs or services not addressed in a library's official municipal budget. For the Friends of the Paulden Public Library, much of that additional funding comes from selling second-hand books. But what happens if you have no place to warehouse your volumes of Tom Clancy, Sue Grafton or Stephen [...]
Partner Spotlight: The Launch Pad Teen Center
January is going to be an exciting time at The Launch Pad. In early 2022, the all-inclusive teen space in Prescott will open the doors of its new facility, a 6,000-square-foot warehouse on 6th Street. The new location will be a "one-stop-shop" for youth, with a coffee café, computer lab, classrooms, dance floor, stage, music production studio, art studio, workshop area, and lots of outdoor space [...]
Partner Spotlight: Old Town Mission
Old Town Mission, a Christian faith-in-action outreach charity that has served the Verde Valley for more than 30 years, recently reopened after a four-month remodel that included new bathrooms, flooring and paint. Located in a historic building built in the early 1900s, the Old Town Mission works with community members and partners to provide a food pantry, homemade meals, a homeless resource center complete with showers, [...]
Partner Spotlight: Boys and Girls Club of Central Arizona
"I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. " -Whitney Houston Throughout Whitney Houston's hit song, Greatest Love of All, she reminds us how important children are to the success of a community and the future of humanity. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona programs convey valuable life skills that are enriching, educational, entertaining, and interactive while ensuring that [...]
Partner Spotlight: Prescott Area Shelter Services
Homeless women and children are the most vulnerable in a community. Prescott Area Shelter Services (PASS) provides temporary emergency shelter to women in a facility including a 19-bed dormitory and two additional rooms to serve moms with children (including sons over the age of 12). The shelter contains a community room, a kitchen, four bathrooms, and a conference room equipped with computers. On average, PASS serves between 15 and [...]
Partner Spotlight: People Who Care
After a challenging 2020, People Who Care completed its 29th year on a very high note.The United Way of Yavapai County partner - which provides non-medical assistance to adults who are no longer able to drive due to age-related or physical limitations - purchased a building for their new headquarters. Thanks to an incredibly generous legacy gift, PWC will move from their Grove Avenue office to their new location in [...]
Introducing Board Member Scott Lewis
A nonprofit's strength is the community that supports it. Donors, advocates and volunteers are its beating heart. At the United Way of Yavapai County (UWYC), we are grateful to everyone who Shows Up United, including our amazing Board of Directors. One of our most recent additions to the board is Scott Lewis, a senior lecturer and administrator with the Strategic Leadership Program at Northern Arizona University. This program, offered [...]
Manzanita Outreach Expands Programs
The nonprofit has always followed the numbers, and the data has led to its latest initiatives, MO Packs for Kids and MO Packs for Teachers. Manzanita Outreach is all about the logistics. When it comes to food insecurity, the organization's leadership believes there isn't so much a food problem as a distribution problem that requires distribution solutions. Since 2017, the organization has been led by Mike Newcomb, whose background [...]
We are excited to join the Sedona Chamber of Commerce
As we Unite the communities of Yavapai County we are excited to include our neighbors in Sedona.
Announcing a New Veterans Scholarship Fund!
Updated: Sep 29, 2020 In December 2019, United Way of Yavapai County was very fortunate to have received a gene The UWYC Board of Directors has created a long-term vision that allows us to weather any financial climate. This will help to ensure our ability to respond to the community’s needs for many years. As always, we will continue to provide many opportunities for our service providers to create programs [...]
Thank You to Radio KYCA for Hosting Patty Demers on Your Morning Talk Show!
Our sincere thanks to Radio KYCA, our host, Mary Ann Suttles and the amazing staff at the station for inviting our new Executive Director, Patty Bell-Demers to the show. She enjoyed sharing the vital mission of United Way of Yavapai County, and the exciting events we have plannned throughout the county in the coming months. Our heartfelt thanks to all!
Update from the Verde Valley!
Recently, the staff from United Way of Yavapai had the honor of visiting one of our COVID-19 grant recipients, the Verde Valley Homeless Coalition. The Verde Valley Homeless Coalition, located just a couple minutes away from Old Town Cottonwood, is a notable organization whose mission is to "provide solutions to the needs of the homeless on Verde Valley working with the support of the entire community." Through the [...]