New Bedford —United Way of Greater New Bedford (UWGNB) has awarded a total of $400,000 in Community Impact Grants to 24 social service agencies and community organizations serving New Bedford, Wareham, and surrounding towns.
The grants of up to $25,000 will support efforts to provide education and opportunities to young people including the LGBTQ+ community, deliver addiction services, secure housing, and support immigrants.
“We are honored to support this year’s Community Impact Grants recipients,” said Michelle N. Hantman, President and CEO of UWGNB. “Every one of these recipients is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families, and lifting communities in the region we serve.
“These grants are another way that United Way of Greater New Bedford serves as a catalyst for change,” she said. “Community Impact Grants help support and sustain vital organizations that provide crucial services.”
Grants are reviewed by a Citizens Review Committee comprising volunteers, who make investment decisions for United Way. Funds for Community Impact Grants are raised through the United Way’s annual campaign, thanks to the generosity of hundreds of donors and supporters.
New recipients this year include Caritas Communities, Centro de Ayuda y Esperanza Latina, Coastline Elderly Services, NeighborWorks Housing Solutions, and Youth Opportunities Unlimited.
Centro de Ayuda y Esperanza Latina will use its grant to pilot an addiction recovery program targeted mainly at Hispanic and Latina women. The program will include a range of services, including life and parenting skills training and access to housing, clothing, education, and employment.
NeighborWorks Housing Solutions received a grant to continue its homebuyer education, foreclosure prevention, and financial education and coaching in New Bedford.
“We are grateful to the United Way of New Bedford for their incredible and generous support,” said Robert Corley, CEO, NeighborWorks Housing Solutions “A stable and affordable home allows people to sink roots into a community, connecting them to schools, religious congregations, and civic organizations. It provides the conditions for forming friendships and bonding with neighbors—threads that become the social fabric of a healthy community, where people experience good quality of life, regardless of their incomes.”
For more information about the Community Impact Grants and the full list of recipients, please visit United Way https://unitedwayofgnb.org/community-impact-grants. Or contact Victoria Grasela at 508-994-9625, ext. 210 or vgrasela@unitedwayofgnb.org.
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United Way of Greater New Bedford fights for the health, education, financial stability, and basic needs of every person in the nine communities it serves. United Way is committed to making an impact by providing important services to the community through the Family Resource & Development Center, Hunger Commission, and New Bedford Community Connections Coalition. Additionally, United Way provides funding to local organizations to provide support to residents through an array programming and services. It also matches volunteers with local opportunities through Volunteer SouthCoast.