United Way of Sheboygan County closes the 2020-2021 fiscal year with much to celebrate, including raising and investing $2.091 million dollars into local programs, services, and initiatives for the 2021-2022 investment cycle.
“United Way does a tremendous job in keeping a pulse on the needs of our community and this year was no different,” said Louie Gentine, UWSC Campaign Co-Chair. “United Way’s identification, facilitation, and collaboration between many agencies in our community continues to strengthen the nonprofit sector serving families and individuals across Sheboygan County.”
Louie Gentine, CEO of Sargento Foods, co-chaired UWSC’s 2021-2022 Campaign for a second year with Dr. Dan Francis, Francis Chiropractic Clinic.
“This last year businesses, nonprofits, and people alike faced new challenges,” said Francis. “With new challenges came new opportunities to understand what Sheboygan County’s social sector has to offer and United Way’s relevancy to supporting those programs and services lifting our community up.”
United Way’s 2-1-1 Call Center received twice as many calls from Sheboygan County in 2020 than the previous year. 2-1-1 serves as a hub for community information, including resources across Wisconsin and various other states. In 2020, the top call inquiries from Sheboygan County were related to healthcare, housing/shelter, and mental health services.
“Many of the illuminated community needs in recent news were there before the pandemic,” said Kate Baer, UWSC Executive Director. “We are grateful, not only to have such a strong social sector in Sheboygan County, but thankful for community members and businesses that are joining us in the efforts to answering the needs of our friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors across Sheboygan County.”
Though a trying year, businesses and individuals continued to fundraise for UWSC annual campaign. Completing the campaign in June 2021, over 139 businesses and foundations contributed, more than 3,800 employees gave through their employer’s workplace campaign, and 513 individuals gave through UWSC annual appeal. These numbers do not include the numerous gifts made through the Sheboygan County COVID-19 Relief Fund.
Contributions to UWSC stay local to support valuable programs and services found among the Sheboygan County’s nonprofit sector’s valuable programs and services. United Way Partner Agencies and Community Impact Initiatives serve a diverse range of needs in our community and are funded based on an in-depth reporting system reviewed by trained board members and volunteers from the community.
“The board has a very rigorous grant approval and accountability process to make sure that the funding UWSC is providing is truly making an impact in the community,” said Gentine.
UWSC’s 2021-2022 Investments total $2.091 million dollars. These investments include 38 Partner Agency programs/services investments (facilitated by 23 different agencies), UWSC’s 3 Community Impact Initiatives (Community Partnership for Children, Providing Access To Healing (PATH), and the Volunteer Center), along with other services such as 2-1-1 Resource Center, 2021 Day of Caring Grants, support for Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging for the social sector, and a new Emergency Reserve Grant opportunity for nonprofits.
Businesses, donors, volunteers, and community agencies unite to harness the collective compassion and resources of our community to improve lives. Through this amazing collaboration, UWSC invests in local solutions, creating deep and meaningful impact.
“This impact is made possible because community members believe that everyone should have the life they deserve. This belief lived in us before the pandemic and is what makes Sheboygan County Strong,” said Francis. “When we all give, everyone wins!”
Highlights from UWSC’s 2020-2021 fiscal year include:
- The Sheboygan County COVID-19 Relief Fund closed in July 2020 collecting a total of $285,176 which was distributed to 32 local nonprofit agencies to support increased needs due to the pandemic, including food, educational supports, housing/shelter, mental health, and general resource awareness.
Click here for the final report.
- Throughout the year, UWSC continues to host virtual meetings with local nonprofits. These nonprofit network meetings serve as an opportunity to convene conversations around emerging needs, resource sharing, best practices, and to inspire collaborations that best serve residents in our county. These meetings started as a direct response to the pandemic and continues to serve as a communication tool for the social sector.
- The 2020-2021 Campaign Kickoff and Day of Caring occurred mostly virtually on October 8th, 2020. 507+ acts of kindness were completed; 300+ children's books were donated; and 196 hours of safe socially distant in-person volunteer hours were provided! Additionally, UWSC staff held a conversation on the A.L.I.C.E. Report, highlighting community needs and the early effects of COVID-19 in Sheboygan County.
Click here for the recording of the virtual campaign kickoff.
Click here for the recording of the ALICE Conversation.
- On October 14, 2020, UWSC hosted a Virtual Conversation on Food Stability. Panelists from Meals On Wheels, Sheboygan County Food Bank, and the Sheboygan Area School District highlighted the new barriers of Food Stability in our area and referenced ways people can get involved in their solutions.
Click here for shared resources and facts from the conversation.
- On October 22, 2020, the Harvest for the Hungry drive-thru was a huge success! Hosted by Kohler Co., this event raised $12,785.27 specifically to support local food programs, such as the Sheboygan County Food Bank and Boys & Girls Club’s Summer Backpack program. Special thanks to the team at Kohler Co. and all those that donated in-kind food and raffles making this event possible in a new and safe way!
- UWSC conducted a Community Stakeholder Survey in the months of March and April. Results will be used, in conjunction with additional community reports, to guide UWSC’s upcoming Strategic Planning during the next fiscal year.
Click here for a copy of the summary and full findings from the Community Stakeholder Survey.
- Celebrating the dedication of community members and nonprofits throughout the county, 2021 Spirit of Sheboygan County Awards was held the last week in April virtually. UWSC presented five awards highlighting some of the amazing efforts in the past year!
Click here for a list of all nominees, winners, and featured videos.
- United Way Wisconsin hosted a 21 Week Equity Challenge which ran from February to June of 2021. More than 400 Sheboygan County community members signed up for this learning opportunity! UWSC looks forward to continued partnerships within the community to drive positive learning opportunities and change.
Click here for the Equity Challenge learning content. - Sheboygan County Community Partnership for Children (CPC), one of UWSC’s Community Impact Initiatives, continues to serve as a network of resources for families. New this year, CPC posts monthly youth and family resources to keep you in the know of fun family events and support services throughout Sheboygan County.
Click here for the latest resources and events. - 2021 Mental Health Awareness Golf Day raised more than $10,000 for Providing Access To Healing (PATH), another one of UWSC’s Community Impact Initiatives. PATH continues to serve our community by providing school-based mental health services county-wide. In this ever-changing climate, this resource is needed now more than ever.
Click here to learn more about the PATH program and view the latest program updates.
- Contributions came in all forms this last year. In addition to gifts made to the annual campaign, a variety of tangible items were donated and distributed throughout the local social sector:
- 660 gallons of Hand Sanitizer
- Over 200 Stuffed Animals from Lemons of Love
- Wipes from Rockline
- Thousands of Socks from Wigwam
- Numerous Office Supplies from Bemis Mfg., HSA Bank, and an anonymous donor
Click here for more impact stats from 2020-2021 Fiscal Year.
The annual giving theme for the 2021-2022 Campaign continues as “UNITED WE RISE.”
Join the UWSC board, staff, and partners as we ‘rise to the challenge’ together in new and innovative ways.
Current needs across Sheboygan County are highlighted in UWSC's Community Needs Snapshot Project (CNSP). Click here for a copy of the CNSP (pdf)
To receive more information and get involved, reach out to UWSC by calling 920-458-3425 or emailing info@uwofsc.org.