Tara has graduated from United Way of Central Iowa's Bridges to Success initiative and is on a path to becoming a nurse through Central Iowa HealthWorks.
United Way started the Real Men Read program so that kids could see more men modeling good reading skills and serving as mentors. Jon Sullivan, a retired lawyer from Ankeny, stepped right up to the challenge.
After losing everything to Hurricane Maria, Soleil and Juan moved from Puerto Rico to Des Moines, where a friend introduced them to MyFreeTaxes—a free online filing service provided by United Way and H&R Block.
Bad relationships and drugs ruined her life. United Way, a female friend and mentor, and her own determination saved it. Her kids’ smiles are the reward.
United Way of Central Iowa works to address children's mental health and the trauma they experience through mental health consultants at child care centers.
Aainece is among 1,000 students in central Iowa who will receive free glasses thanks to Vision To Learn. The program improved her health and ability to learn.
Meet a volunteer with the Giving Garden at Telligen where about 20 volunteers donated more than 3,000 pounds of fresh produce to a central Iowa food pantry.
Warsame began to disengage from school, but BE REAL Academy, funded by United Way of Central Iowa's Education Leadership Initiative, helped Warsame succeed.
Women United's Smile Squad visited Lam's elementary school to provide free dental screenings. Since her family didn't have insurance, Smile Squad connected her to a clinic where she could get cavities treated for free.
Nine-year-old Breiner Morales speaks three languages: English, Spanish, and American Sign Language. But until last summer, he couldn’t read in any of them.
When she was homeless in Redhead Park on the East Side, living out of a suitcase, sleeping on a bench, and quitting crystal meth cold turkey—Michelle Jackson wouldn't have believed she would soon be a boss.
Gema Garcia of Ankeny volunteers to read with preschool students in both Spanish and English, teaching them essential
literacy skills for kindergarten.
Elisabeth Buck became United Way of Central Iowa's President this May. As we welcome her to this role, we took a moment to ask what has shaped her as a leader.
At age 30, Mikeesha came to a crossroads. A single mother of two, she was unemployed and struggling financially—with no clear plan for where to go next.
