School Readiness, Affordable Housing Groups Awarded Funds

The Middlesex United Way Board of Directors has approved $24,950 to six programs working in the areas of school readiness or affordable housing. United Way volunteers and staff seek to support programs focusing on prevention.

In United Way’s focus area of Housing, two programs were selected to receive funding and help United Way increase the ability of individuals and families to attain affordable housing, one of the organization’s Five Year Goals for the Common Good.

• Middlesex County Coalition on Housing and Homelessness: $5,428 for their Homeless Prevention Fund to provide immediate assistance to those at risk of losing their housing. This critical support is part of an overall plan to end homelessness as it helps with the short term needs of families while long term community based solutions are implemented.
• Middlesex Habitat for Humanity: $5,427 for their “Brush with Kindness” program that helps to preserve local homeownership by partnering with homeowners struggling to restore and maintain a safe and decent place to live.

In United Way’s focus area of education, four programs were selected to receive funding and help United Way increase children’s readiness to learn by school entry, one of the organization’s Five Year Goals for the Common Good. They are:

• Middlesex Hospital to support the implementation of Child FIRST: A one-time award of $10,000 to be used as part of the required $25,000 matching funds received by primary funder, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Child FIRST is a nationally recognized program providing prevention and early intervention services for very high risk children and families to decrease incidences of abuse and neglect, and emotional, behavioral, developmental, and learning problems.
• Best Beginning in Clinton: $1,500 to improve technological capacity of their Early Childhood Council by purchasing a computer and printer, and with any remaining funds to implement a back-up system for their database.
• Cromwell Board of Education: $1,100 for the implementation of a Math Readiness Program for preschool children, their families, and their caregivers.
• East Haddam Board of Education: $1,495 for outreach to low-income, hard-to-reach families in East Haddam to ensure they receive valuable information, resources, and materials through their Early Childhood Council.

Programs receiving United Way funding undergo a review by volunteers to ensure the support will be used wisely and efficiently. After approval by United Way’s team of volunteers on the Community Impact Council, the recommendations are brought to the organization’s full Board of Directors.

Middlesex United Way is advancing the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Our focus is on education, income, health and housing — the building blocks for a good quality of life. United Way recruits people and organizations that bring the passion, expertise, and resources needed to get things done. You are invited to be part of the change by giving, advocating and volunteering. That’s what it means to Live United.

Middlesex United Way serves Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook.