United Way of Washtenaw County has granted $50,000 to five local organizations that help women and families maintain financial stability.

United Way of Washtenaw County is releasing $16,000 in grants to three local nonprofits to supplement recent food shortage efforts.

Trained program volunteers assist those who qualify with tax preparation at the United Way of Washtenaw County (UWWC) office at 2305 Platt Rd.

The Power of the Purse event is back in-person this year at WCC's Morris Lawrence Building.

The owner of Argus Farm Stop is honored for helping support local farmers, her volunteering and philanthropic efforts.

Fourteen organizations were recipients of recent grants from United Way of Washtenaw County's Opportunity Fund.

66% of this year’s funds went to organizations in Ypsilanti and eastern Washtenaw County.

United Way of Washtenaw County and Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation are partnering with a national nonprofit to help families overcome their financial struggles.

The virtual event showcases influential women in Washtenaw County and has named a woman of the year every year since 2009.

Community members can speak one-on-one with a coach to create personalized plans for free.

Two separate United Way grants have gone to Jewish Family Services and Samaritas.

United Way of Washtenaw County has named Washtenaw County Health Department Health Officer Jimena Loveluck as its 2022 Woman of the Year.

United Way of Washtenaw County will soon launch a brand-new series of community talks on racial inequity.

United Ways of Washtenaw County and Southeast Michigan grant $20,000 for technology for homeless youth.

Grant recipients are helping to create a safety net of health and human services for community members, UWWC said.

Registration for the self-guided challenge is now open.

United Way of Washtenaw County's offices at 2305 Platt Rd. ANN ARBOR – United Way of Washtenaw County has announced it is accepting applications for its new Opportunity Fund for local nonprofit programs. The $200,000 fund will support organizations whose work serves residents with low incomes, people of color and systemically and/or historically marginalized people. To review eligibility guidelines and to apply for an FY21 Opportunity Fund grant, click here. The fund is for new and emerging programs and not for sustaining ongoing local organizations.

ANN ARBOR – United Way of Washtenaw County’s Power of the Purse benefit will be moving online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tickets are now available for the March 10 event that will honor UWWC’s 2021 Woman of the Year, Food Gatherers’ CEO and President, Eileen Spring. Spring was chosen by the Power of the Purse committee for her accomplishments in food system security, innovation and community leadership. To date, the Power of the Purse event has allowed the UWWC Women’s Leadership Initiative to grant over $260,000 for women’s programs in Washtenaw County. Spring has been at the helm of Food Gatherers for 27 years and helped develop the organization’s Food Security Plan, which played an integral role when the coronavirus pandemic hit the area.

ANN ARBOR – The Song Foundation has donated $100,000 to maximize impact in local COVID-19 relief efforts, announced United Way of Washtenaw County on Monday. The gift was made as a match program so that any year-end gift to UWWC’s Community Impact Fund will be matched. In March, the Song Foundation committed $1 million to the Office of Community and Economic Development of Washtenaw County to establish an emergency relief fund for small local businesses. Needs of the local community have surged since the pandemic began, putting pressure on nonprofit agencies. “We encourage employees making Community Impact Fund gifts to see whether it qualifies under their company’s matching gift program.”For more information or to make a donation, visit www.uwwashtenaw.org.

ANN ARBOR – Food Gatherers president and CEO, Eileen Spring, has been named United Way of Washtenaw County’s 2021 Woman of the Year. The award is given by UWWC’s Women United group to women who demonstrate leadership and commitment to the local community. Spring will be honored at UWWC’s annual “Power of the Purse” event on March 10, 2021, which will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spring was central in developing a food security plan in response to the increased need due to the pandemic. From June 2019 to June 2020, Food Gatherers distributed 7.8 million pounds of food to those in need.

ANN ARBOR – United Way of Washtenaw County has announced a new grant round totaling $69,000 for local organizations meeting critical needs of community members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest rounds are in addition to the $90,000 that was previously granted through UWWC’s COVID-19 Recovery Fund. The total amount invested by UWWC is area relief and recovery efforts is $1.2 million. Its Recovery Fund was launched to help local organizations help those most in need during the pandemic -- particularly those who have lost income or employment as a result of the health crisis. UWWC recently received a $500,000 state grant from the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities to help disperse its COVID-19 Relief Funding.

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities has awarded four local organizations Rapid Response Initiative Grants. United Way of Washtenaw County, Food Gatherers, Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels and the Washtenaw County Health Department received over $1,000,000 in funds to continue to respond to the needs of communities of color that have been impacted by COVID-19. “The funding ultimately means reducing cases across our county and among our most vulnerable populations, ensuring our response to the pandemic centers equity. And at the state level and locally, that is and has always been the goal," Alize Asberry Payne, Washtenaw County Racial Equity Officer and a member of the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities Community Action Team, said in a statement. Here’s how the funding breaks down:United Way of Washtenaw County: $500,000Washtenaw County Health Department: $248,000Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels: $144,600Food Gatherers: $150,000✉ Like what you’re reading?

ANN ARBOR, Mich. United Way of Washtenaw County has awarded $192,545 to 13 nonprofit organizations and groups around Washtenaw County from its COVID-19 Community Relief Fund. The fifth and final round of funding brings the total grants investments from UWWC up to $1,050,000. Since April, it has given grant investments ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 to 64 organizations and agencies in Washtenaw County. In May, the 48197/98 zip codes had a high rate of COVID-19 inflections and were considered a prioritized area by the Washtenaw County Health Department. For a full list of organizations that have received funding by United Way of Washtenaw County, visit uwwashtenaw.org/covid-19-response-and-impact.