UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL IOWA BLOG

The Macomber endowment, a generous gift that will continue year-after-year, will help United Way of Central Iowa foster an equitable, engaged, and empowered community now and in the future.  

At this year’s LIVE UNITED event, the organization shared community needs under its strategic imperative, UNITED to THRIVE, and recognized organizations and individuals doing exceptional work in the areas of giving, advocating, and volunteering. Athene receives Spirit of Central Iowa Award for the fourth time.

United Way of Central Iowa announced yesterday that Elisabeth Buck, the organization’s President since 2017, will retire in July 2021. Buck joined the organization in 2011 as Chief Community Impact Officer, where she oversaw United Way’s mission-focused work. She was promoted to President in 2017.

Beginning with its founding 100 years ago, United Way has become deeply rooted in the central Iowa community.

For the past 16 months, a diverse group of central Iowans have rallied their support around the OpportUNITY initiative. Their audacious goal is to elevate 20,000 central Iowans out of poverty. Poverty is a niche game; for the hundreds of people struggling financially, there are hundreds of reasons why.

We know that central Iowans can work together to elevate their neighbors out of poverty. Poverty is more than a lack of money; it's a lack of hope.

Goodwill of Central Iowa has opened a new business and job-training venture, Good Beginnings Café, in Des Moines. The café is on the ground floor of the United Way of Central Iowa Human Services Campus at 1111 9th street, which houses a number of local nonprofit agencies.

Stephanie Burrows could understand how reading to young children could change their lives.  After volunteering as a reader at Conmigo Early Child Education Center, it quickly became clear that it could change her life, too.

Community Schools is a proven-effective strategy for helping students succeed academically and personally. Community schools brings together all the community assets needed—academic support, healthcare, dental care, counseling, food, childcare—for students to succeed.