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PROVIDING WHAT'S NEEDED, WHERE IT'S NEEDED.
United Way of Central Maryland Community
Impact Report
October - December 2023
This quarter, we wrapped up 2023 with our ongoing dedication to
equity, opportunity, and access in Central Maryland.
United Way of Central Maryland team members travelled to Annapolis, MD.
families
Our Impact
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uwcm.org
October - December 2023
United Way of
Central Maryland Community Impact Report
PROVIDING WHAT'S NEEDED, WHERE IT'S NEEDED.
PROVIDING WHAT'S NEEDED, WHERE IT'S NEEDED.
400
fellows graduated
from the inaugural
19
given to
families during Thanksgiving week
150+
Highlights
Our promise has always been to meet the needs of people across Central Maryland. Here’s are some ways we delivered on that promise.
211, our free and confidential helpline, is available 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It exemplifies our promise to connect our neighbors to the services and resources they need. This NPR piece features 211’s role in providing free legal assistance
for those at risk of eviction.
STEPing up for our Neighbors
holiday toiletry,
S.T.E.M., and
stress relief
1,400
shopped three
holiday markets
We’re committed to increasing access and opportunity for those living
as ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed). In this
Baltimore Sun op-ed, Franklyn Baker, our President and CEO, articulates the reality of those living as ALICE: they are essential to our everyday lives, but struggle to afford the essentials.
Childcare is one example – and often the most expensive example – of the basics that many parents living as ALICE can’t afford. Read about how, in partnership with the Maryland Family Network, we are helping to increase access to affordable, accessible childcare in this
Maryland Matters commentary piece.
We introduced Beat Boxes in our Poppleton and Brooklyn Neighborhood Zones that include the Baltimore Beat’s biweekly newspaper and have a built-in space for items for those in need. Built by Open Works, the boxes hold a variety of “take what you need, leave what you can” resources for our neighbors. If you see a Beat Box, feel free to add to it!
In our work with community members, we witness our neighbors’ strengths, assets, and innate abilities. Here’s some of that potential that shined through.
Ten student-parents in our Baltimore Family Centers graduated this year:
six from Benjamin Franklin High School in our Brooklyn Neighborhood Zone and four from Excel Academy in our Poppleton Neighborhood Zone. These Family Centers provide free childcare on site at the schools so that student parents don’t have to decide between earning their diplomas or caring for their children.
We couldn’t do what we do without our partners. This quarter:
You may wonder why some people just can’t get ahead—but it has nothing to do with how hard they work or their potential. To raise awareness of just how much it costs to make ends meet in Maryland, we debuted our new interactive “The Price Isn't Right” game at the annual Maryland Association of Counties conference.
Maxim Healthcare and Cushman & Wakefield collected donations for our Veterans Treatment Court participants who are moving into supportive housing.
Constellation packed more than 100 backpacks for Baltimore City students.
Wellpoint packed more than 100 care kits.
Stratosphere Eldersburg collected and distributed backpacks and school supplies for On Track 4 Success students.
(In Partnerships)
This quarter, we released a new episode of our podcast, Barrier Breakers, entitled “Feeding the Solution to End Hunger.” This episode features two of our key partners, the Anne Arundel County Food Bank and Hungry Harvest. United, we are helping to close food gaps in Central Maryland. Listen here.
Impact Story
United Way Housing Resource Coordinator said, “When Callie and I completed her Intake Assessment, she said, ‘My words are powerful, and I believe I will recover from this.’ We began our housing search and Callie applied for and was approved for a unit that she found on her own. We were both so excited and then the landlord said, ‘Until the money is in my bank account, I can’t release the keys.’ This meant we would have to wait about six days before she could relocate.
“The next day she called me crying and said her child’s father had a new work schedule and she had to get the baby. All the shelters were full, so we had to think outside the box. She doesn’t know her biological family, so I suggested that she call the baby’s paternal grandmother. Without hesitation, the grandmother told her that she could stay until she received the keys to her new place!”
Pictured: Wellpoint volunteers
This quarter, we united in our beliefs in promise, potential, and power. Read to see how our commitment to serving Central Maryland strengthened neighbors and neighborhoods in Central Maryland.
meals
supported through
rent and utility assistance
households
833
Workforce Leadership
Academy
kits assembled
We supported 833 households with $4.6 million in rental arrears, utilities arrears, and forward rental assistance through our STEP program in the final quarter of 2023. Of the 1,943 individuals served, more than 800 were children, and, from the STEP program’s inception in January 2021, we’ve distributed $97.5 million to 13,952 households.
The Future of Childcare
Elected officials, community members, and partners gathered for our Future of Childcare event to discuss barriers to equity, access, and opportunity in childcare and early education that impact children, parents, providers, and our local economy.
A panel of local leaders highlighted the need for diverse solutions to the systematic challenges facing the early childcare education system. This was one of many steps we plan on taking to further coordinate and support efforts to drive positive change in this arena. Learn more about our United for Childcare initiative here.
Giving the Gift of Warmth
In partnership with Constellation Home, United Way of Frederick County, and the Baltimore Ravens, families nominated by fellow community members received new high-efficiency heating systems. One special family from Pikesville received an extra special gift from Baltimore Ravens player Geno Stone, and their mascot, Poe. Watch the video here.
Putting a Bow on It
This holiday season, 400 families shopped across our three Holiday Pop Up Markets in Columbia, Poppleton, and Brooklyn/Curtis Bay. Volunteers colored and played games with kids as parents carefully picked out the perfect gifts for their families. 500 gifts were purchased from our toy registry, helping make these events possible.
Coordinating Change in the Community
Community School Coordinators in our Brooklyn Neighborhood Zone facilitated five mobile immunization clinics, immunizing 50 students. The clinics were made possible by a United Way Worldwide Health Equity grant in partnership with LifeBridge Health.
In other partner school news, Herelys Parks, a Community School Coordinator at Bay Brook Elementary/Middle School, was honored by the school’s Parents That Care organization. In her role, Herelys closely collaborated with the school and nonprofits to support students and their families.
Doubling the Impact
Emerging Leaders United (ELU) launched their first Peer-to-Peer campaign to support a parenting student’s transition to her own apartment. She started in our program at Excel Academy in our Poppleton Neighborhood Zone. After restarting a few times, she was ready to meet her goal of being a proud graduate and mother.
ELU recognized this student’s leadership and met her needs as she transitioned to independence after graduating. With an initial goal of $1,000, ELU quickly surpassed that amount, doubling the impact to provide household items for the apartment.
Building Stronger Neighborhoods
After granting $50,000 each to new Neighbors United communities in Aberdeen (Harford County), Columbia (Howard County), and Mondawmin (Baltimore City), we continued to provide technical assistance and coaching. We also hosted a convening of Neighbors United and Neighborhood Zone members to make connections and foster community. See more about Neighbors United here.
Your Voice Counts
Hardworking people across Maryland are far too familiar with what it takes to just get by. This quarter, 189 people participated in our VoterVoice quizzes to learn the cost of life’s necessities. Think you can guess costs? Take our three-question quiz here.
Rewarding Perfect Attendance
We celebrated Bay Brook Elementary/Middle School students in our On Track 4 Success program for their perfect attendance. Check out the coverage:
WMAR2
Fox Baltimore
CBS
WJZ
Trading Pumpkins for Footballs
Coming off a win against the Detroit Lions during the season, Baltimore Ravens players Malik Hamm, Kevon Seymour, and Laquon Treadwell visited third-grade classes at James McHenry to decorate pumpkins. Pumpkins were generously donated from United Way partner, First Fruits Farm.
Nineteen-year-old Callie, who grew up in the foster care system, was behind on her rent and got what she thought was an eviction notice. In a panic, she packed all her belongings that would fit in her car and couch surfed with friends – until she ran out of places to stay. Her only option was to sleep in her car, but she refused to put her three-month-old baby through that, so she asked the father to care for the baby until she could find a place to stay. When she reached out to a city agency for help, she was referred to United Way.
In our work with community members, we witness our neighbors’ strengths, assets, and innate abilities. Here’s some of that potential that shined through.
Ten student-parents in our Baltimore Family Centers graduated this year:
six from Benjamin Franklin High School in our Brooklyn Neighborhood Zone and four from Excel Academy in our Poppleton Neighborhood Zone. These Family Centers provide free childcare on site at the schools so that student parents don’t have to decide between earning their diplomas or caring for their children.
You may wonder why some people just can’t get ahead—but it has nothing to do with how hard they work or their potential. To raise awareness of just how much it costs to make ends meet in Maryland, we debuted our new interactive “The Price Isn't Right” game at the annual Maryland Association of Counties conference.
(In Partnerships)
We couldn’t do what we do without our partners. This quarter:
This quarter, we released a new episode of our podcast, Barrier Breakers, entitled “Feeding the Solution to End Hunger.” This episode features two of our key partners, the Anne Arundel County Food Bank and Hungry Harvest. United, we are helping to close food gaps in Central Maryland. Listen here.
Maxim Healthcare and Cushman & Wakefield collected donations for our Veterans Treatment Court participants who are moving into supportive housing.
Constellation packed more than 100 backpacks for Baltimore City students.
Wellpoint packed more than 100 care kits.
Stratosphere Eldersburg collected and distributed backpacks and school supplies for On Track 4 Success students.
Pictured: Wellpoint volunteers
STEPing up for our Neighbors
Highlights
