Join us for our 2025 IMMIES Awards!
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 // Angel’s Envy Club at L&N Stadium
There’s nothing more important than ensuring our community’s children have what they need to thrive. LEARN MORE
- On March 18, the Youth Success team, alongside In With Out, hosted a gathering to collect valuable feedback on their mental health initiative. Over 30 passionate individuals from 17 youth-focused and mental health organizations joined forces to discuss insights from interviews with young people and other partners. Their thoughtful contributions will help shape the team’s proposals, sparking exciting visions for the future of the initiative. It was a truly inspiring day full of collaboration and enthusiasm for enhancing youth mental health!
- The Ready for K Alliance continues to support our community partners that engage with multilingual families. In March, Americana hosted an early childhood engagement event to support the needs to these families around the importance of early childhood education and kindergarten readiness.
- Our Ages & Stages Developmental Screening “Hub” attended a Resource Tuesday event at La Casita Center where families received a workshop on developmental screening and kindergarten readiness. Families were encouraged to enroll in the Hub, and we have had a number of new enrollments from this event already. Our Ages & Stages Developmental Screening “Hub” also attended the Louisville Free Public Library’s literacy event, providing books and Hub materials to over 200 children.
- Our Ages & Stages Developmental Screening “Hub” continues to make connections with families and change lives in our community. For example,
- Recently a mom reached out to our Ages & Stages Developmental Screening “Hub” because she did not have a bed for her 4-year-old. A referral was made and accepted through United Community and her child will now have a place to sleep.
- A child with different physical abilities was referred to our Ages & Stages Developmental Screening “Hub”. His mother shared that he was unable to move around their home due to mobility challenges and needed a wheelchair. The Hub connected them with Frazier Rehab, where they were able to receive a wheelchair equipped with a table for his toys and meals. Now, he can navigate his home independently.
When families have what they need, they can break cycles of poverty and work toward a better tomorrow for future generations and our entire community. LEARN MORE
- In the month of February, our 2-1-1 help referral line fielded 896 calls from members of our community. The top request categories were housing and shelter, followed by help with utilities.
- In the month of February, United Community:
- Served 276 total clients
- Sent/Received 97 referrals
- 90% of those cases closed/resolved
- To learn more about upcoming United Community events and to register, please visit https://metrounitedway.org/united-community-events
- On February 25th, Metro United Way hosted a Toqueville Society Panel Discussion titled “Building Solutions Over Breakfast: Tackling Kentuckiana’s Challenges in Transportation, Housing, and Education.” The panel featured Dr. Marty Pollio (JCPS Superintendent), Natalie Harris (Executive Director of the Coalition for the Homeless), as well as Ozzy Gibson (Executive Director at TARC). View media coverage of the event here: WAVE3 | WHAS | WLKY
- The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program continues through the tax filing deadline of April 15 at 15 sites across our community. Please take advantage of this valuable program offered through our partner, the Louisville Asset Building Coalition. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please click here.
- We are delighted to bring on a new partner in our Siemer Institute partnership efforts, Goodwill Industries of Kentucky to bolster our efforts to stabilize families so their children can focus on academic achievement. We look forward to providing data on our early success in 2025 in the coming months.
- Our workforce financial coaching initiative is continuing to demonstrate positive impact. Through February, 402 clients have been served of whom:
- 301 have had more than one session
- 219 (73%) have shown progress towards financial goals in one or more areas related to income, savings, credit, and debt. Specifically,
- 53 have increased income by a median of $9,100 annually
- 159 have increased savings by a median of $832
- 77 have increased credit by a median of 24 points
- 113 have decreased debt by a median of $1,391
- In partnership with Kentuckiana Works, Blueprint 502, and Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, Metro United Way is pleased to continue its engagement with the Generation Work initiative. This effort, in partnership with area employers, strives to advance equitable workforce outcomes for young adults of color. This year, we will focus on the development and provision of a training program for employers that addresses trauma-informed practices, emotional intelligence, motivational interviewing, and mental health support as key strategies for creating inviting and inclusive workplaces.
- On March 17, we hosted a wonderful group of students from the University of Iowa Hawkeye Service Breaks. They helped us sort books for our Little Free Libraries, get impact kits ready for distribution to 43 nonprofits, and helped put together 60 diaper bundle kits.
We envision the Greater Louisville region as a place where zip code doesn’t determine destiny and everyone has the opportunity to grow into their full potential. LEARN MORE
- On February 20, all 22 Black L.O.V.E. Philanthropic Partnership cohort organizations gathered for Building Cohort Success, a highly engaging and successful session. Participants reviewed their first six months, reflected on progress, and provided valuable insights to help shape Year 2.
- Metro United Way hosted two consecutive public Racial Wealth Gap Simulation sessions for Black History Month, both of which reached capacity and were highly interactive. Demand for future sessions remains strong, with continued requests from community partners.
- Our United Neighborhoods program planning continues for community investments informed by ongoing engagement with the Parkland and California neighborhoods. Additionally, a food insecurity survey was launched in the Claysburg neighborhood of Southern Indiana to assess local needs.
- Metro United Way recently participated in an after-school program at Eisenhower Elementary, engaging 3rd to 5th graders in a book reading and discussion on cultural differences. MUW led a discussion with the University of Louisville’s Black Faculty and Staff Association, fostering dialogue around equity and systemic change.
- Young Men United program participants recently took a field trip to Yum! Brands headquarters in Louisville, gaining insights into career pathways and leadership.