United Way of Sheboygan County (UWSC) has wrapped up the 2019-2020 annual fundraising campaign for the Community Action Fund.

Hundreds of businesses and thousands of community members annually support UWSC and the vision of a community where all individuals and families can achieve their human potential through education, healthy lives, and financial stability.

“Our community’s united response to local needs during this last year is remarkable. The ongoing support is what continues to build a brighter future for Sheboygan County,” said Kate Baer, UWSC Executive Director. “In addition, we saw increased generosity in response to the needs that arose during the pandemic.”

Collectively, the contributions made to the Community Action Fund during the 2019-2020 Campaign will provide $1.67 million dollars to support 40 Partner Agency programs, 2 Community Impact Initiatives, and other community programing such as the Volunteer Center, Food for Tomorrow, and 2-1-1 Resource Center.

UWSC’s 40 Partner Agency programs are funded based on an in-depth reporting system reviewed by trained board members and volunteers from the community. Both UWSC’s Community Impact Initiatives, Sheboygan County Community Partnership for Children (CPC) and the Providing Access To Healing (PATH), use a collective impact model that is executed by multiple organizations uniting for a common goal.

UWSC’s Partner Agencies and Community Impact Initiatives helped more than 43,000 people last year and there is an increased need for services as a result of COVID-19. “We knew that more than 30% of Sheboygan County residents were living paycheck to paycheck prior to COVID-19,” said Baer, referring to the latest A.L.I.C.E. report (source: https://unitedwaywi.site-ym.com/page/2018ALICE). “Though we have shifted our sails in many ways as an organization to respond to the effects of this pandemic, the highest areas of need remain housing, mental health and food security.”

In addition to the contributions made to the Community Action Fund this year, Sheboygan County residents raised more than $215,000 through the Sheboygan County COVID-19 Relief Fund to support local nonprofits serving the immediate needs of community members impacted by the pandemic.

“The continued ability to support the many Sheboygan County residents affected by COVID-19 reflects the generosity of our community and the great work done by these organizations,” said Louie Gentine, UWSC Campaign Co-Chair. “These agencies need our support, now more than ever and Sheboygan County continues to answer that call.”

Other highlights from UWSC’s 2019-2020 fiscal year include:

• On September 12, 2019, over 1,016 volunteers gathered for the 2019 Day of Caring – which supported 38 agencies by completing 58 projects collectively in one day.
• On October 15, 2019, Harvest for the Hungry raised $23,624.46 specifically to support local food programs, such as the Sheboygan County Food Bank and Boys & Girls Club’s Summer Backpack program. This annual event is hosted and sponsored by Kohler Co. and Sargento, Inc.
• March 14, the Sheboygan County COVID-19 Relief Fund was launched in response to school and business closures. In partnership with the Sheboygan Service Club, this fund has supported more than 25 agencies and collaborations within Sheboygan County’s social sector as of June 16, 2020.
• Since the program began in 2016, Welcome Baby Program (a program under UWSC’s Community Partnership for Children) initiative welcomed its 1,000 baby.
• Since the program’s inception, over 1,000 students and families have been supported by the Providing Access To Healing (PATH) school-based mental health program.

UWSC board, staff and partners look forward to the coming year to tell the important narrative of the great needs throughout our community.

For more information, reach out to UWSC directly by calling 920-458-3425 or emailing info@uwofsc.org.