Photo: Getty Images
United Way for Southeastern Michigan officially launched its community volunteer and giving campaign in late Friday to help community members most in need.
United Way and their partners work to provide essential support and services for families across Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties. The campaign co-chairs led last year’s successful effort, surpassing the $40 million fundraising goal and enlisting more than 37,000 hours of volunteer impact.
This partnership represents both the corporate and community-based sectors which are vital to the success of the campaign and the work done to help families throughout the year. This leadership structure enhances United Way’s unique ability to bring community members, businesses, and service organizations together to address unmet needs. Together, the chairs will work to elevate the mission and impact of United Way for Southeastern Michigan, encourage donations, and promote volunteer engagement across the region.
For the 2022-23 campaign, the volunteer and fundraising goals will once again be 40,000 hours of volunteer time and $40 million in donations raised through individual, corporate, and philanthropic community contributions.
The campaign runs through October 2023. To participate by giving or advocating, visit UnitedWaySEM.org. To make an impact by volunteering, sign up via United Way’s volunteer portal at www.UnitedWaySEM.org/volunteer.
United Way for Southeastern Michigan, a member of the United Way Worldwide network and an independently governed 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, works to help households become stable and ensure children have the support they need to thrive.
To give, advocate, volunteer or learn more, visit UnitedWaySEM.org.
2021-22 Campaign Highlights:
Reached our $40 million campaign goal.
Closed out another successful 21-Day Equity Challenge with more than 8,000 participants from across the region.
Launched our first-ever Volunteer Honor Roll to recognize the important contributions volunteers make to non-profit organizations, schools, faith-based organizations and the community at-large.
Distributed mini grants to 13 nonprofit and community organizations to fund volunteer project supplies in conjunction with the 2022 MLK Day of Service, 2022 National Volunteer Week and the June 2022 United Way Day of Action.
Logged nearly 40,000 volunteer hours.
244,507 contacts were made to 2-1-1 via call, chat, and web, and 302,122 referrals were made to services like food, housing, COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, and utility assistance
Issued more than $6.5 million in direct utility assistance to 9,010 households through our MEAP (Michigan Energy Assistance Program) since Oct. 1, 2021
Hundreds of families served through winter relief funds, addressing critical needs such as car repairs, winter gear, and food assistance.
Year one of the first Community School cohort has implemented staff and programming to support 2005 students and 911 families across five schools.
More than 60,000 books went home with children through our My Home Library program.
Partnered with Macomb Community Action (MCA) to review 10,611 Covid Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) applications. Those efforts have recently allowed us to extend assistance through a new partnership with Homeless Action Network of Detroit (HAND).
Launched the Financial Well-Being Innovation Challenge in February 2022 with an aim to invest more than $1 million into design and implementation of bold innovative solutions to the barriers standing in Detroiters’ way of reaching financial stability.
Hosted our sixth annual Women of Influence Summit in March 2022, presented by DTE Energy. All told, the summit has raised nearly $1 million to support early childhood education initiatives in our region.
Established our Crisis and Recovery Fund and invested nearly $500,000 in emergency grants to organizations providing families with resources, legal support, and flood remediation in the wake of historic flooding in June 2021.
Launched the Racial Equity Fund, granting more than $1 million to BIPOC-led organizations, as well as providing training and support.
Expanded Connect4Care Kids to all of Wayne County, serving 1,065 families.