Hundreds of volunteers gathered to evaluate our community's challenges. Our findings were startling:


Education

• Approximately 7 out of 10 children in high-need schools are not ready for kindergarten
• Three in 5 Lehigh Valley third graders aren't reading on grade level. Students are four times more likely to drop out of school because they can't understand the reading material--13 times more likely if they are in poverty. Reading at grade level is a big indicator to track high school graduation rates.

Community Stability:

• One out of every 10 people in the Lehigh Valley face food insecurity-- that's approximately 75,000 people.
• Approximately 122,000 Lehigh Valley households face financial instability.

Healthy Aging:

• 25,000 people in the Lehigh Valley are living with Alzheimer's and dementia. This number is expected to tripble by 2050.

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is in the next stage of our journey to positively impact the people in our community.

In 2021, more than 20,000 generous donors and 400 partners united and raised $19,741,940 to support children, families and seniors in the Lehigh Valley. Laurie Gostley Hackett, Air Products Director of Community Relations and Philanthropy, was the 2021 UW Campaign Chair who said, “Many in our community are still struggling with the devastating effects of the pandemic. More than ever, our families, our kids and our older adults need help to meet some very basic needs like healthy food, a safe and warm place to live and economic security. We came together like the true community that we are."

Today, the full and staggering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are just becoming known: the dramatic learning losses impacting our children, the long-term effects of food instability, increasing risks of eviction or foreclosure and a mental health crisis shaking our families, our children and our older adults.

Addressing these challenges will take bold action and UNITED solutions. With a continued emphasis on  stabilizing the community, we have a solid plan and clear, BOLD GOALS to ensure that more students are  successful in school; more older adults can access the resources they need to stay healthy, and every person in the Greater Lehigh Valley has a solid foundation of food, housing and mental health services.

 

United Way is the largest non-profit in the world and we know how important measured results are. Yes, we fund programs but more importantly, we make sure those programs are being successful.

What Gets Measured Gets Done.

Your United Way takes those words very seriously.

Three little letters with big outcomes – R.B.A. – Results based Accountability. One area that differentiates United Way is our commitment to accountability and validation of our partner agencies through a rigorous vetting process. R.B.A. changes the model from funding non-profits that do great work to measuring results of programs and services. Knowledgeable, well-trained volunteers and experts from across our community carefully screen and select the programs funded by your United Way contribution. The recommendations for funding are then reviewed and approved by our volunteer Board of Directors. This citizen-review process is United Way’s assurance that contributions are being responsibly managed and monitored.

United Way connects hundreds of human service agencies, government, education partners, and dedicated volunteers around a common vision to solve the greatest needs of our community.

 

Mobilization Creates Better Outcomes, Faster

Coalitions are the perfect vehicle for implementing community-level environmental strategies specifically because their implementation requires a wide range of people taking on many tasks.

Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley
Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley envisions a community where everyone in the Lehigh Valley will have the opportunity to age successfully. 

Age-friendly communities treat all residents and visitors with respect, regardless of age, income or physical ability. They are accessible, equitable, inclusive, safe, secure and supportive. They keep individuals socially connected and engaged in community life and they enhance opportunities to be healthy and active.

United Way Community Schools
Community Schools are a prime example of a community coming together to focus on a common issue–to raise graduation rates in the Lehigh Valley.

The model of the Community School consists of a corporate partner, lead agency, community volunteers, educational partners, and programs and services from local non-profits focusing on students in the Lehigh Valley with the greatest need.

The Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council
United Way was critical in the formation of, and seed funding for, the Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council. This collective impact effort pledges to reduce food insecurity locally by focusing on key economic issues and barriers to successful food access for all. The Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council is a collaboration of 17 founding partners.

United Way brings together hundreds of partners to invest in solutions that advance education, healthy aging and community stability that make life better for well over 100,000 people in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties.