FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 25, 2009
News Release
Contact: Lindsey Brown
(252) 758-1604 x209
lbrown@uwpcnc.org

Pitt County, NC – On March 25th, the Board of Trustees for United Way of Pitt County voted to invest $834,922 in community programs designed to create lasting community change. These program investments mark a critical turning point in United Way of Pitt County’s transition from a traditional funding model to a community action model. This transition began in 2005 when United Way of Pitt County commissioned ECU to conduct a community needs assessment. The result of that work was reported in Pitt County Voices, a document that outlined issues our community identified as critical. The needs assessment and the UWPC 2006-2009 Strategic Plan detailed a blueprint that has been used in the transformation process.

United Way of Pitt County received 38 proposals requesting over $2 million from community programs, while the amount available to invest was a little less than $900,000. Approximately 40 community volunteers participated in the review process and evaluated proposals based on the following:

• Collaboration: Agencies were expected to coordinate their programs with other agencies so that resources are maximized and duplications are minimized
• Lasting Community Impact: Programs must demonstrate their ability to create lasting community change to community conditions as outlined in the Community Action Plan.
• Data Driven: Agencies must produce measurable outcomes that indicate their progress in addressing community conditions.

Based on these criteria, the Board of Trustees approved the following investment recommendation, for the funding period beginning on April 1, 2009 (numbers reflect only the investments for the first year of the funding cycle):

• Building a Safe and Healthy Community
  • New Directions Safe House ~ Family Violence Program: $64,250
  • The Family Center ~ Family Violence Program: $78,500
  • Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling ~ REAL Crisis: $10,000
• Caring for Neighbors in Crisis
  • Emergency Assistance ~ Salvation Army: $37,000
  • Home Delivered Meals Program ~ Council on Aging: $93,000
  • Pitt Resource Connection ~ REAL Crisis: $2,949
  • Crisis Counseling ~ REAL Crisis: $80,000
  • Disaster and Armed Forces Services ~ American Red Cross: $35,000
  • Emergency Shelter ~ Greenville Community Shelters: $40,000
• Fostering Financial Stability Leading to Independence
  • Project Working Recover ~ East Carolina University: $25,000
  • 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness ~ Pitt County Government: $20,000
  • Transitional Housing ~ Greenville Community Shelters: $39,223
  • STRIVE ~ Life of NC/STRIVE: $35,000
• Preparing Children and Youth for Life Success
  • Summer Significance Academy: $101,000
  • Partnership for Progress: $42,000
  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Pitt County: $122,000
  • Building Peace in Schools ~ Mediation Centers of Eastern NC: $10,000

These programs will be funded for two years. The 2nd year investments will be based on program effectiveness, organizational capacity, collaboration, ability to meet United Way’s recommendations and reporting requirements and the amount of funding available for the Community Action Plan through the annual campaign.

United Way of Pitt County is excited about supporting programs that demonstrate their ability to create lasting community change through collaboration. At the same time, UWPC was forced to make tough decisions to reduce or eliminate funding for some programs that offer vital community services. Some of the programs that have been traditionally funded were not recommended for funding for the 2009-2011 funding cycle.

• Ayden Christian Care Center
• Boy Scouts – East Carolina Council
• Camp Sunshine
• Creative Living Center
• Family Support Network
• Farmville Child Development Center (did not apply for funding)
• Flynn Christian Fellowship Home
• Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines
• Literacy Volunteers of Pitt County
• Operation Sunshine
• PiCASO

While these programs will not be receiving funding for the 2009-2011 funding cycle, UWPC is committed to providing support to these programs and other non-profits in the community.
Additionally, the next opportunity for program funding requests is May 2009 when Breakthrough funding requests will be awarded. The purpose of Breakthrough Funding is to support innovations, emerging needs, capacity building, and other unique one-time innovative opportunities that involve community collaborations in alignment with the Community Action Plan goals and strategies as related to one of the four focus areas. A minimum of $100,000 will be available for Breakthrough proposals for 2009 and proposals are due by the last working day in May or October. For more information about the Community Action Plan or Breakthrough Funding, please visit www.uwpcnc.org.

All funding decisions are dependent upon the success of United Way of Pitt County fundraising efforts. All of us working together to strengthen UWPC will support efforts to achieve lasting change and make Pitt County a better place for all of us.