Together We Can!
Helping people is at the center of all we do. Everything we have ever done or ever will do, will be centered on helping local individuals and families while addressing needs in our community.
United Way’s work goes well beyond our historical role of funding strong, local, non-profit partners. Today we are leveraging our investments, resources, volunteers, and corporate partnerships to deliver transformative, measurable results. From a historic community chest with a broad charitable mission, we have evolved into a critical community convener that mobilizes our partners, including businesses, community leaders, public officials, residents and non-profit organizations.
Our mission is to connect people to people, needs to resources, and experts to advocates to improve lives and advance the common good throughout Crow Wing, Cass, and Aitkin counties. Every day we make this mission a reality by investing in the areas of Education, Basic Needs/Financial Stability and Health because we believe these are the building blocks for opportunity – individually and collectively and those building blocks lead to a good life.
Education
Education is the key to getting ahead in life, and United Way supports community initiatives that improve access to educational opportunities. We proudly administer Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and partner with Essentia Health on Reach Out And Read, both aimed at increasing early childhood literacy.
Basic Needs / Financial Stability
Many are walking a financial tightrope, and United Way helps broaden that tightrope into a path making it less likely that people will fall. The work United Way does to increase financial stability has benefits throughout the community.
ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households earn above the Federal Poverty Level but not enough to afford household basics in the communities where they live. Who is ALICE? Click here to learn more.
Health
Optimal mental and physical health enables us to be active and productive community members. United Way partners with local agencies ensuring healthcare needs are being met so all of us can reach our full potential.