--- title: Stories | United Way of Central Iowa | ELI description: ELI | Success stories about the community impact made by United Way of Central Iowa and its partners. --- [![White Full logo-8-1](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/hs-fs/hubfs/White%20Full%20logo-8-1.png?width=559&height=182&name=White%20Full%20logo-8-1.png "White Full logo-8-1")](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/) [![DONATE](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/542539/297ef930-7a06-40d1-8f7b-173b553599f6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/542539/297ef930-7a06-40d1-8f7b-173b553599f6) [![VOLUNTEER](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/542539/3549f8b5-de58-4575-9f74-f8f62520eb4a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/542539/3549f8b5-de58-4575-9f74-f8f62520eb4a) ![Book-Web-Header](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/hs-fs/hubfs/General/Web%20Page%20Header%20Images/Book-Web-Header.jpg?width=1920&name=Book-Web-Header.jpg "Book-Web-Header") # IMPACT STORIES Jul 24, 2020 3:46:00 PM #### [American at HeART](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/stories/american-at-heart-myat-story) [![](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/hubfs/ArtForce_Myat2.jpg) ](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/stories/american-at-heart-myat-story) *Myat, a Karen refugee, continues to embrace his culture while growing and evolving as an American through the power of art and education.* [Read More](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/stories/american-at-heart-myat-story) Oct 4, 2017 4:31:38 PM #### [After-school program changes Warsame's life](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/stories/warsame-story) [![](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/hubfs/Warsame.jpg) ](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/stories/warsame-story)   Warsame kept disappearing from BE REAL Academy’s after-school sessions. He would lie about needing to do something and then go outside to play with friends. Or when he came to a session, he struggled to focus on the activities and complete his homework. All of this was unusual for the fifth-grade student who’d been with [Oakridge Neighborhood’s after-school programs](http://oakridgeneighborhood.org/services/youth-programs/) since third grade. [Read More](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/stories/warsame-story) [All posts](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/stories/all) UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL IOWA 1111 9TH ST  •  Suite 100 Des Moines, IA 50314 (515) 246-6500   •   [contactus@unitedwaydm.org](mailto:contactus@unitedwaydm.org) ## Need Help? Dial 2-1-1 [![211 Iowa - Get Connected, Get Help](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/hs-fs/hubfs/211%20Logos%20062019/211%20Logo%20-%20color%20(white%20bubble)%20-%20No%20Tagline.png?width=180&name=211%20Logo%20-%20color%20(white%20bubble)%20-%20No%20Tagline.png)](http://211iowa.org/)     ---   [![Charity Navigator four star rated charity badge](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/hs-fs/hubfs/UWCI/Website/Miscellaneous/Images/Charity_Navigator2.png?width=150&name=Charity_Navigator2.png "Charity Navigator four star rated charity badge")](https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/420680425)United Way of Central Iowa is proud to have earned a four-star rating for 18 straight years from Charity Navigator, an American independent charity watchdog organization that evaluates charitable organizations in the United States. This record places United Way of Central Iowa in the top 1 percent of charities nationwide. Click the logo to review our complete evaluation. [![candid-seal-platinum-2024](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/hs-fs/hubfs/candid-seal-platinum-2024.png?width=108&height=108&name=candid-seal-platinum-2024.png)](https://www.guidestar.org/profile/shared/7474f287-45d6-42ae-8f99-9365333ee703)United Way of Central Iowa has received a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, the world's largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. The seal is given to nonprofits who have achieved the highest level of transparency through disclosures, information made available to the public, and accuracy and frequency of updates. Click the logo to learn more. © 2024 United Way of Central Iowa. All Rights Reserved. [**](https://twitter.com/UnitedWayCI) [**](http://www.facebook.com/UnitedWayofCentralIowa) [**](http://www.linkedin.com/company/61568) [**](https://www.flickr.com/photos/unitedwayofcentraliowa/) [**](http://www.youtube.com/user/UWofCI) [Privacy Policy](https://www.unitedwaydm.org/privacy-policy)