Impact By County
United Way remains committed to keeping donor dollars close to home and working to uplift the lives of our neighbors so that they can fulfill their potential on a daily basis and overcome challenges and crises that may stand in their way. The guidance of local community leaders, and staff and community partners based in each county we serve ensures that United Way can make the greatest impact.
We use two data sets to track how people are faring: ALICE–which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed–dataset to monitor the cost of living in each county. More than 350,000 households — roughly 41% — in our region are unable to afford housing, child care, food, transportation, health care and basic technology. Our PA 211 Southwest Contact Center connects people to human services and provides real-time data about needs in each county, ZIP code and legislative district.
Last updated October 24, 2024
Overview
Top 211 Requests in Allegheny County
(July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024)
ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)
In Allegheny County, 41% of households to do not earn enough, despite working, sometimes two or more jobs, to make ends meet. The cost of essential items is more than three times the federal poverty level.
Additional Community Impact
- Free Tax Prep: Led by the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Free Tax Prep Coalition provides free tax preparation services at more than 20 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites and ensures that as many people as possible are keep what they earn through programs such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credits. Scheduling is run through the PA 211 Southwest call center and connects taxpayers to other relevant resources and services. Free Tax Prep creates real financial benefit for families in our region working hard for low wages. Since 2009, our 3,545 Free Tax Prep volunteers and our self-serve MyFreeTaxes.org website have completed 120,500 tax returns at no cost to taxpayers. From 2009 to 2024, Free Tax Prep has generated approximately in $198.6 million in refunds and saving $26.9 million in tax prep fees regionally.
- Welcome Back Summer: All young people deserve the chance to have a positive start toward adulthood, to learn and succeed, and to reach their full potential in life. Over the past five years, with the support of numerous funders and our donors, United Way has invested almost $4.7 million to support community-based summer programs across our five-county footprint. The program serves students’ social, developmental and nutritional needs during the critical summer months and gives working parents peace of mind that, while they are at work, their children are safe and developing a love of learning. Welcome Back Summer also supported good jobs for nearly 500 youth who are camp counselors.
- Community Food Solutions: United Way convenes Community Change Collaboratives to bring public, private, nonprofit, foundation and education experts together to collaborate and problem-solve. Our Community Food Solutions collaborative was formed to ensure that all residents have sustainable, equitable and adequate access to nutritious, culturally acceptable food. Since its inception in 2023, a steering committee of local experts has awarded nearly 45 grants of up to $5,000 each to programs such as community gardens, hot meals and after-school snacks. Last year, Community Food Solutions served 6,188 people.
Our Agency Partners in Allegheny County
In 2023–24, United Way invested a total of $5.5 million in 68 partner agencies serving Allegheny County. We make three-year investments so that partner agencies have budgetary stability and know they can continue to cunt on United Way for funding. These dollars are awarded through a competitive request for proposal process to agencies that alight with our investment priorities of:
Many agencies engage in work that addresses two or more of these areas, and serve people across the spectrum of age, race and ability. A complete list of agencies funded through our RFP process is available here.
Overview
Top 211 Requests in Armstrong County
(July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024)
ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)
In Armstrong County, 43% of households don’t earn enough, despite working, sometimes two or more jobs, to make ends meet. The cost of surviving is nearly three times the federal poverty level.
Additional Community Impact
- Distributed 500 free books to school districts, libraries, community groups and early childhood education providers throughout Armstrong County to help build a love for reading and encourage access to early literacy for more children.
- Provided one-time emergency financial assistance to families participating in Head Start and Pre-K Counts programs through Early Learning Connections. This support was in the form of rental assistance, utility payments and car repairs to ensure that parents and children are able to consistently work and attend programming.
- Procured resources and coordinated volunteers to assemble and distribute bikes, with helmets and locks to local children in need through the Royal Family Kids Camp and Keystone Family Alliance.
- Supported Armstrong Center for Community Learning to increase internet access for rural communities by providing additional hours at their location in Ford City to access workforce development resources outside of traditional business hours.
Current Impact Partners in Armstrong County
- American Red Cross, Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter.
- Armstrong Center for Community Learning.
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg.
- Ford City Public Library.
- Helping All Victims in Need HAVIN.
- Lifesteps.
We make three-year investments so that partner agencies have budgetary stability and know they can continue to cunt on United Way for funding. These dollars are awarded through a competitive request for proposal process to agencies that align with our investment priorities of:
Many agencies engage in work that addresses two or more of these areas, and serve people across the spectrum of age, race and ability. A complete list of agencies funded through our funding process is available here.
Overview
Top 211 Requests in Butler County
(July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024)
ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)
In Butler County, 37% of households don’t earn enough, despite working, sometimes two or more jobs, to make ends meet. The cost of surviving is nearly three times the federal poverty level.
Additional Community Impact
- Provided support to seven school district partners who hosted more than 25 kindergarten transition activities for new kindergarteners and their families. In all, more than 1,000 young learners and their families received resources, toured their new schools, rode a bus for the first time and participated in health and academic screening activities all before the first day of school. Each year, United Way works closely with these districts to share best practices and plan for the next successful transition.
- Provided one-time emergency financial assistance to families participating in Head Start and Pre-K Counts programs through Early Learning Connections. This support was in the form of rental assistance, utility payments and car repairs, ensuring parents and children are able to consistently work and attend programming.
- Supported the South Butler Community Library to increase access to early literacy by expanding story time events to include nontraditional hours to serve working families. Also supported efforts by Robin’s Home to increase internet access for veterans by creating a lending library and establishing additional connectivity within their facilities.
- Procured resources and coordinated more than 80 volunteers to assemble and distribute 189 bikes with helmets and locks to children served by Butler Area School District and six community agencies serving children in need.
Current Impact Partners in Butler County
- American Cancer Society.
- American Red Cross, Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter.
- Catholic Charities.
- Center for Community Resources.
- Community Care Connections.
- Early Learning Connections.
- Glade Run Lutheran Services.
- Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center of Butler.
- Lifesteps.
- Neighborhood Legal Services.
- Robin’s Home.
- Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania.
- The Arc of Butler County.
- The Lighthouse Foundation.
- Vision to Learn.
- WQED.
- YWCA of Butler County.
We make three-year investments so that partner agencies have budgetary stability and know they can continue to cunt on United Way for funding. These dollars are awarded through a competitive request for proposal process to agencies that align with our investment priorities of:
Many agencies engage in work that addresses two or more of these areas, and serve people across the spectrum of age, race and ability. A complete list of agencies funded through our funding process is available here.
Overview
Top 211 Requests in Fayette County
(July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024)
ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)
In Fayette County, 50% of households don’t earn enough, despite working, sometimes two or more jobs, to make ends meet. The cost of surviving is nearly three times the federal poverty level.
Additional Community Impact
- Distributed 2,000 high-quality learning kits to assist children receiving early intervention services through the Intermediate Unit 1 and children attending Head Start classrooms through Private Industry Council or community-based Pre-K providers. These kits are designed to help parents educate their child in the home and assist providers with impactful family engagement opportunities.
- Provided one-time emergency financial assistance to families participating in Head Start and Pre-K Counts programs through Private Industry Council. This support was in the form of rental assistance, utility payments and car repairs, ensuring parents and children are able to consistently work and attend programming.
- Distributed 10,044 free books to school districts, libraries, community groups and early childhood education providers throughout Fayette County to help build a love for reading and encourage access to early literacy for more children.
- Procured resources and coordinated more than 80 volunteers to assemble and distribute 96 bikes with helmets and locks to children served by Laurel Highlands School District and four community agencies serving children in need.
Current Impact Partners in Fayette County
- American Red Cross, Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region.
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg.
- Center for Hearing & Deaf Services, Inc.
- Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA.
- East End United Community Center.
- Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc.
- Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Fayette Inc.
- Life’sWork of Western PA.
- STAT Inc. – Ligonier Therapeutic Center.
- The Learning Lamp.
- Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank.
We make three-year investments so that partner agencies have budgetary stability and know they can continue to cunt on United Way for funding. These dollars are awarded through a competitive request for proposal process to agencies that align with our investment priorities of:
Many agencies engage in work that addresses two or more of these areas, and serve people across the spectrum of age, race and ability. A complete list of agencies funded through our funding process is available here.
Overview
Top 211 Requests in Westmoreland County
(July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024)
ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)
In Westmoreland County, 38% of households don’t earn enough, despite working, sometimes two or more jobs, to make ends meet. The cost of surviving is nearly three times the federal poverty level.
Additional Community Impact
- Processed rapid response grants to support emerging needs impacting the community. Greensburg YMCA received a grant to provide transportation for children participating in their summer program. Westmoreland Community Action and the Human Services Preparedness Coalition received an emergency assistance grant to help community members following a disaster.
- Distributed 18,929 free books to school districts, libraries, community groups and early childhood education providers throughout Westmoreland County to help build a love for reading and encourage access to early literacy for more children.
- Provided one-time emergency financial assistance to families participating in Head Start and Pre-K Counts programs through Seton Hill Child Services and Westmoreland Community Action. This support was in the form of rental assistance, utility payments and car repairs to ensure that parents and children are able to consistently work and attend programming.
- Procured resources and coordinated more than 80 volunteers to assemble and distribute 104 bikes with helmets and locks to children served by four school districts and seven community agencies serving children in need.
Current Impact Partners in Westmoreland County
- American Cancer Society.
- American Red Cross, Southwestern Pennsylvania.
- Bethany Christian Services of Western Pennsylvania.
- Beverly’s Birthdays.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region.
- Blackburn Center.
- CASA of Westmoreland, Inc.
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg.
- Center for Hearing & Deaf Services, Inc.
- Greensburg Hempfield Area Library.
- Knead Community Café.
- Laurel Area Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers.
- Life’sWork of Western PA.
- Mosaic Community Development Center.
- New Century Careers, Inc.
- Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania.
- Sonward Youth Programs.
- SPHS Connect Inc.
- STAT Inc. – Ligonier Therapeutic Center.
- The Union Mission.
- Tri-City Life Center, Inc. (DBA TryLife Center).
- Valley Points Family YMCA.
- Vision to Learn.
- Waypoint Youth & Community Center Inc.
- Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank.
- Westmoreland Community Action
- Westmoreland County Food Bank.
- WQED.
- YWCA Westmoreland County.
We make three-year investments so that partner agencies have budgetary stability and know they can continue to cunt on United Way for funding. These dollars are awarded through a competitive request for proposal process to agencies that align with our investment priorities of:
Many agencies engage in work that addresses two or more of these areas, and serve people across the spectrum of age, race and ability. A complete list of agencies funded through our funding process is available here.