News

Children from 4 Elementary Schools in the Region Receive Books on Read Across America Day

March 09, 2021
elementary school children with Lehigh Valley Reads mascot, Corey

Elementary school students were surprised with a visit from Corey the apple on March 2, 2021 to kick off Read Across America Day. Corey arrived with the teams from Lehigh Valley Reads and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to celebrate the day by safely delivering books and other educational supplies to the students. Corey and the teams visited Five Points in Bangor, SS Palmer in Palmerton, Sheckler in Catasauqua and Cetronia in Parkland.

March also marks the start of the largest Lehigh Valley-wide reading challenge, the Million Minute Challenge. Lehigh Valley Reads is building a community of readers to make the Lehigh Valley a place of opportunity for all. Individuals, families, schools, and organizations can accept the challenge by visiting LehighValleyReads.org/Million to register. The challenge is free, easy, and open to all ages.

News

Veronica Gonzalez of Valley Health Partners Joins United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Board of Directors

March 02, 2021
Veronica Gonzales 2023

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s Board of Directors is proud to announce the appointment of Veronica Gonzalez, Executive Director of Valley Health Partners Community Health Center to a two-year term, effective immediately.

“We are grateful that Ms. Gonzalez has joined United Way in fighting for the health, safety and education of every person in the Greater Lehigh Valley. She is a champion for the health of our community, and her support will be instrumental in advancing our work,” said Board Chair Joanne Raphael, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of PPL Corp.

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley raises funds and invests in lasting solutions in the areas of education, healthy aging, food access and emergency services.

“We’re focused on stabilizing our children, our families and our seniors as we help the community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re fortunate to benefit from the health-care expertise that Ms. Gonzalez brings to our Board of Directors,” remarked David Lewis, President, UWGLV.

Veronica Gonzalez, MBA, is the Executive Director of Valley Health Partners Community Health Center (VHP). She has over 12 years of healthcare administration experience with expertise in process improvement, leadership, fiscal responsibility and community-based program management. Gonzalez began her healthcare career at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) in 2005, first working as a secretary and later as a trained medical interpreter. Always an advocate for the underserved, she held leadership positions overseeing the Interpreter Services Department of LVHN, the Centro de Salud– Latino Health Initiative, the Center for Women’s Medicine and served as the Administrator of the Community Practices that transitioned to VHP at LVHN 17th Street Campus where the community receives culturally-sensitive quality healthcare services. In her current role as Executive Director, Gonzalez closely collaborates with the VHP Board of Directors to establish long-term strategic goals to effectively deliver high-quality healthcare to Valley Health Partners’ patient population.

Gonzalez has received several community service awards including the Hispanic Research Organization Award, the LVHN Service Star Award, the United Way Volunteer Leadership Award and most recently the Distinguished Alumni Honoree Award from Northampton Community College.

Gonzalez holds an associate’s degree in healthcare administration from Northampton Community College, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from The Wescoe School of Muhlenberg College and a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in health care management systems from DeSales University. Gonzalez also serves as a board member of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation where she participates in their Community Relations Committee and Investment Committee.

News

See the Impact: Raub Middle School families receive $37,000 gift card donation from Faith Church of Allentown this winter

February 18, 2021
Community members of Faith Church of Allentown pulled together to donate $37,000 worth of food gift cards for Raub Middle School families to alleviate some of the pressure this winter.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone emotionally, physically and financially. Community members of Faith Church of Allentown pulled together to donate $37,000 worth of food gift cards for Raub Middle School families to alleviate some of the pressure this winter.
 
“When COVID-19 hit the Lehigh Valley, our church family was moved to love our neighbors in tangible ways. The opportunity to partner with Raub Middle School provided ways for our family to show love in a variety of practical ways that allowed everyone to get involved,” said in a statement received on behalf of Faith Church.
 
Raub Middle School is a Community School located in the Allentown School District. In partnership with St. Luke’s University Health Network, United Way Community Schools level the playing field for students, families and schools in under-resourced areas.
 
“Our community school efforts at Raub Middle School continue to expand and thrive every year,” said Jaclyn Hudak, Community School Coordinator for Raub Middle School, supported by St. Luke’s Hospital. “As we were all hit with these unprecedented times, the work that we do has been tremendously supportive for our students and families now more than ever. Even through this health crisis, our 5th year as a Community School continues strong and we are eager to collaborate with our partners to support our local neighborhoods and youth together,” she added.
 
Faith Church connected with Raub’s mission and offered to adopt the school through the pandemic. “We have spawned an organic relationship that has helped lift a community deeply in need of support, care and kind hearts,” shared Jose Delgado, Principal at Raub Middle School. “One can only imagine how grateful and surprised we have been to watch this new partnership with Faith Church cultivate into something beyond measure that is directly serving the needs of our families,” added Izzy Vasquez, After School Coordinator at Raub Middle School, and another community school staff member employed by St. Luke’s Hospital.
 
For the Thanksgiving holiday, about 130 families picked up turkeys and food boxes donated by the church at Raub’s first drive-by Thanksgiving Fall Harvest event. “When we hear from families, ‘because of you, we eat great tonight,’ we are reminded of the good work that we do as a community of partners and WHY we are here to serve,” said Izzy.
 
The partnership also provided approximately $250,000 worth of renovations to the school which included construction, painting and landscaping. “Faith Church has helped us physically transform our building so that students feel safe and nurtured,” said Principal Delgado. “The church has helped us develop a culture and climate where everyone feels loved and cared for,” he added.
 
“Adapting to this new ‘norm,’ we continue our groundwork in the field and community to further support our families in highest need,” Jacki said. “On behalf of Raub Middle School, THANK YOU for all your hard work and continued dedication to our school and families.”
 
“This is a great example of the power of the community school model: needed services co-located at the school to better support students and families and engaging the larger community to rally in support of struggling families and schools,” said Beth Tomlinson, Senior Director of Education, UWGLV. “We talk about the African proverb, ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ which is so true; and at heart, every community school is trying to build that supportive village for every child, family and school who needs it.”

News

United Way Women United Provides Additional $25,000 to Support Lehigh Valley Children and Families

January 21, 2021

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Women United has announced an additional $25,000 in funding for two special impact initiatives aimed at supporting local women and children, including:

  • $13,600 for the Allentown Freedom Schools Partnership and
  • $11,400 for a parent and community course in Trauma Informed, Restorative Practices, Emotional Intelligence and Equity (T.R.E.E.) in partnership with Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley and Resilient Lehigh Valley.

“We are focusing our immediate attention on emerging needs to make an impact when and where the community needs it most,” said Renae Yeager, Chair of Women United’s Signature Projects Committee. “Furthering our investments not only aligns with our existing Women United strategy, but also broadens our reach to address pressing issues such as racial justice and trauma resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

This additional funding of $25,000 brings Women United’s annual investment to a total of $125,000. Other funded projects include programs at ProJeCt of Easton, The Literacy Center of the Lehigh Valley, Allentown School District’s Central Elementary School and New Bethany Ministries.

This announcement comes as United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley joins the Allentown Freedom Schools Partnership, making Women United a catalyst in the effort to elevate and advance the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools Movement across our region.

“When we see emerging needs in the community, our network is always quick to respond and join us as we work together to move important initiatives forward. Women United’s contribution is a testament to the power giving can have to create stronger educational systems that serve every child,” said Erin Connelly, Senior Director, Impact, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.”

Freedom Schools improve student literacy while encouraging Black and Brown children to fall in love with their identities, aligning with United Way strategies to support racial equity and summer learning. Based on the Children’s Defense Fund model and implemented in Allentown by the Resurrected Community Development Corporation, Inc., students in grades K-12 participate in an intensive learning that includes literacy, enrichment, parent and family involvement, civic engagement and social action, intergenerational leadership development, nutrition, health and mental health.

Additionally, Women United will fund a full session of Trauma Informed, Restorative Practices, Emotional Intelligence and Equity (T.R.E.E.) for families in high-need, United Way-supported Community Schools. In partnership with Resilient Lehigh Valley, Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley’s T.R.E.E. program coaches parents in the face of trauma and adversity, equipping families with tools to manage toxic stress and build resilience to break the cycle of family and community trauma.

“Our network of passionate women has been making great strides to strengthen our impact by considering new investment opportunities,” said Laurie Siebert, President, Women United. “By strategically contributing to innovative collaborations, we can continue to build resources that create equitable access for children and families to achieve their full potential. We welcome other passionate women to join our cause and further the impact.”

An affinity group of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Women United has invested more than $1.4 million into the local community since 2002. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.unitedwayglv.org/wu.