UWGLV will invest $13.5 million dollars into education, food access, healthy aging and emergency services
Allentown, PA, June 7, 2018 – United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s Board of Directors has approved the 2018-19 Investment Portfolio for Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties. At $13.5 million, this represents the largest and most significant community investment in the organization’s 100-year history.
“Thanks to generous donors and dedicated partners, this is the strongest plan we’ve ever released. It is laser-focused on proven strategies to get more students reading on grade level, reduce hunger and ensure more seniors may stay safe and healthy in their homes,” said David Lewis, President, UWGLV.
The 2018-19 Investment Portfolio provides funding for 89 health and human service agencies in UWGLV’s three-county service area. It outlines a four-year commitment to achieve three bold goals by 2022:
- Increase the number of third-grade students reading on grade level by 50 percent
- Decrease the number of food-insecure residents by 50 percent
- And increase the number of seniors whose basic-care needs are met at home by 50 percent.
“These strategies are working,” remarked Pete Ruggiero, Chair of the UWGLV Board of Directors. “Since we began intentionally focusing on these three goals in 2014, third-grade reading rates have improved, 17,000 more people have access to nutritious food and we’ve achieved our healthy aging goal five years ahead of schedule.”
The portfolio reflects increased investments in United Way’s four impact areas: education, healthy aging, food access and emergency services in Lehigh and Northampton counties. It also includes an increase in funding for Carbon County-based health and human services. A detailed list of investments is available in the 2018-19 Investment Portfolio.
“Our most significant increases are in education. We’re strengthening summer learning opportunities across the Greater Lehigh Valley and investing in behavioral health
services to provide the best learning environments possible to students who have experienced trauma,” said Marc Rittle, Vice President, Impact, UWGLV. “This plan also emphasizes nutrition education to combat hunger and prevention services for seniors.”
The 2018-22 Investment Plan and 2018-19 Investment Portfolio are the result of a 12-15 month, community-driven and volunteer-led process that began in early 2017.
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Mission of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
The mission of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is to provide the leadership, convene the partnerships, and develop the resources and solutions that improve our community. We remain committed to these goals and sincerely appreciate the continued support of partners, program providers and donors throughout the Lehigh Valley. www.UnitedWayGLV.org
Information provided to TVL by:
Laura McHugh
Director, Communications and Media Relations
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
Celebrating 100 years of service to the Lehigh Valley.
1110 American Parkway NE Suite F-120 Allentown, PA 18109
www.unitedwayglv.org
