community
Impact Report
To receive more frequent impact updates, check our emails and follow us on social media. As always, thank you for your gifts, which allow us to create meaningful, impactful change.
At United Way, we’re committed to strengthening the lives of our neighbors in Central Maryland. From unlocking the potential of students to ensuring equitable access to housing, we kickstarted the year by making a meaningful, lasting impact in Greater Baltimore.
neighbors supported with
past-due rent and utilities through our STEP program
79,000
residents eligible for
child tax credit
(based on UWCM research)
UWCM Research Finds 79,000 families in Maryland Eligible for Child Tax Credit
media highlights
uwcm.org
United Again for an Inspirational Evening
Our most recent In Their Own Words event, sponsored by DLA Piper, highlighted the countless achievements and words of wisdom from Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III. We are indebted to Freeman’s leadership and service to our region as President of University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) for three decades. He brought a special guest: UMBC’s incoming President, Dr. Valerie Sheares Ashby, who will serve as UMBC's first female president!
Freeman and Jackie Hrabowski have partnered with United Way for 25 years to create measurable change in Greater Baltimore. We thank Freeman for being an MVP of transforming lives and an inspiration to us all.
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I finished strong due to the Family Center support. My relationship [with my child] and parenting is so amazing because the staff always helped me overcome any hardship! They gave me advice on how to be a great mother in any situation.
Always keep that energy, love, care, patience, etc. with the babies and mommies because that makes us feel amazing. To me, when I saw how y’all treat [my child] and myself, I felt so loved, supported, and motivated!
Local online, broadcast, and print media understand the value of our work and the importance of sharing it with the communities they serve. News about our work was included in more than 125 features and stories this quarter. View all coverage on our news page.
January-March 2022
You Are What You Listen To (And You Should Listen to Us!)
We launched our Barrier Breakers podcast to share stories about the people we help, the United Way team, and our work to strengthen our neighbors and the neighborhoods they call home. In the most recent episode, which marks our one-year podcast anniversary, we share some of our “best of” moments to date—and hear what made our team even more passionate about working for United Way. Have a podcast idea or guest? Let us know!
Outreach
Mayor Scott visits partner school
James McHenry Elementary/Middle School
University of Maryland Baltimore County President
Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III at In Their Own Words
Stepping Up to Take a Step Forward
Our STEP (Strategic Targeted Eviction Prevention) Program now serves 68 ZIP codes in five counties across Central Maryland. STEP provides rental assistance to at-risk households in vulnerable communities by using data to identify priority ZIP codes or hot spots with high rates of COVID, evictions, and structural and/or racialized poverty. Ninety-nine percent of applications have been approved with, on average, $8,873 in rent and utility assistance provided.
WMAR2 News
Fox45 News
4,976
664
new volunteers
in 2022
1
new TikTok
account!
“This made everything—EVERYTHING—better. I don’t have to break my back and arms and legs working 80 hours a week to pay the back rent.” – STEP recipient
Yes, That’s our CEO on a List with Lamar Jackson
United Way of Central Maryland President and CEO Franklyn Baker was honored as one of 25 Black Marylanders
to Watch by the Baltimore Sun. This recognition comes on the heels of several awards and recognitions that Franklyn received in 2021. It even puts him on the same list as Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson!
Franklyn was also appointed to United Way Worldwide’s (UWW) Network Advisory Council by his peers. The new advisory body engages UWW leadership to ensure that local and state United Way voices inform global decisions.
Shaping Little Minds
Our United Way Neighborhood Zone in Poppleton Family Center is officially open for student-parents and their little ones. The Family Center at Excel Academy provides full-day care for infants and toddlers so that students can stay in school and graduate.
Our next Family Center in Columbia is slated to open this fall, and both centers are seeking childcare professionals. If you know of someone who wants to join this incredible group of individuals, please direct them to our Careers page!
The Wheels on the (New) Bus Go Round & Round
The United Way of Central Maryland Neighborhood Zone in Brooklyn Family Center provides safe, free transportation for 18 student-parents and their children in Baltimore City. Before the bus, some students traveled more than two hours on public transportation with their child and school supplies.
The bus has racked up a lot of mileage and wear and tear over the years, so we launched a fundraiser to ensure they had reliable transportation to school and childcare. Leading the way towards our $35,000 goal was our Women United members.
Hear from a student and a bus driver (and grab some tissues).
A Neighbor to All
Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott paid a visit to James McHenry Elementary/Middle School, one of our partner schools in Baltimore City. (We serve as the lead agency at this community school.) Mayor Scott spoke to students about his experiences growing up in Baltimore and the importance of recognizing and unlocking their potential. A TikTok on our new account takes you behind the scenes!
Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
Did you catch United Way of Central Maryland's On Track 4 Success program on the front page of
The Baltimore Sun? United Way staff, volunteers, and On Track 4 Success students at Curtis Bay Elementary School worked together to make March Madness STEM projects at our first volunteer event back in schools since the start of the pandemic. Students grades 3-5 were excited to make mini basketball games with
school supplies! Watch here.
United Way of Central Maryland and Partners Offer Apprenticeship
Training Opportunity
Patch
Laura Johnson Joins UWCM to Oversee New Initiative
AFRO
Technical.ly
The Baltimore Sun
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball tours
UWCM Family Center in Columbia
Volunteers from Amazon at
Curtis Bay Elementary School