Originally founded in 1887, the United Way continues to be the organizer for local charities and relief services, by bringing people, organizations, and communities together to be a part of local solutions.
There are nearly 1,800 autonomous 501(c)(3) organizations that make up the vast United Way network, each one governed and funded locally. Spanning more than 40 countries, this network serves 61 million people across the globe thanks to 2.9 million volunteers and 8.3 million donors.
For over 75 years now, the United Way of Williamson County (UWWC) branch of this network has served the residents of Taylor, Georgetown, and Round Rock. By providing help and hope for more than 55,000 Williamson County people each year through donations, sponsors, and volunteers, UWWC has continued to make it their mission to see that everyone in our community has the opportunity to thrive.
To support the needs of those in our community, UWWC focuses on three main areas, or pillars of support, in educational, financial, and health-related concerns.
Leading With Learning
Success in life begins with a solid education. Unfortunately, millions of children do not have the support they need to excel as they go through the educational system. In order to build a better foundation for future generations, UWWC works to support academic success for all Williamson County students.
Boosting school readiness at an early age builds curiosity, confidence, and helps parents reinforce learning naturally as their children grow. United Way’s approach to education spans from cradle to career, ensuring that every child gets a strong start in life, that teenagers have the tools to learn and grow, and young adults can thrive in the job market.
Unfortunately, in Williamson County, as many as 3,500 preschool children do not have access to books because their families simply cannot afford to buy them.
By partnering up with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, every child enrolled will receive one free brand new, age-appropriate book each month from the time the child is born until his or her 5th birthday.
Children must live in the boundaries of the ten Williamson County elementary schools with the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students. To see if your child qualifies, visit www.UnitedWay-WC.org/Dolly-Partons-Imagination-Library.
Through these libraries, reading programs, book drives, and their Born Learning parks and playground program, UWWC provides easy and fun learning opportunities for families with children at all stages of their academic journey.
Support That Counts
Last year, 34% of the population in Williamson County said they were struggling to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck with no other means of support. The current coronavirus is causing this number to skyrocket.
Households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the cost of living in Williamson County are ALICE - a United Way acronym that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These hardworking members in our community are employed, often with multiple jobs. Yet, they are not earning enough to afford the necessities of life.
One way that UWWC helps these individuals and families is through their Online financial literacy workshops. These virtual learning opportunities offer clear, in-depth financial lessons to help people of all ages navigate difficult financial topics.
By increasing access to assets, income strategies, job training, and other fundamental necessities, UWWC is leading families and individuals to financial stability and income independence.
Healing Help
Williamson County is known for its large retirement community and the number of people at or above the age of 65 who belong to our community continues to steadily increase. Not only are most of the population in our county at high risk for COVID, but as this disease continues to affect us all physically, it also affects everyone mentally with increased instances of child abuse and domestic violence.
UWWC fights for the health of all Williamson County residents through education, connections to healthcare options, and other supportive programs for those in need of health-related assistance and advice.
When the healthcare marketplace opens in November, staff members will help those who need assistance enrolling in a health insurance coverage plan and navigate the tedious process.
As the needs of the local population continue to change and evolve, their numerous relationships with various partner agencies allow UWWC the flexibility to change and serve the community wherever those needs happen to be.
Connecting the United
Aside from coordinating community events and relief efforts, the UWWC staff and their team of volunteers are usually out there connecting with businesses and organizations to build more relationships with those who can help and those who need help. If they didn’t have access to the virtual world, it would be nearly impossible to make those connections and maintain their existing relationships.
A Client with CTTS since 2007, we keep their virtual and physical IT connections safe and reliable. With proactive monitoring software for easy maintenance, system statistics, and reports, we can make sure all their important data is safe, secure, and easily accessible in the event of a disaster situation.
Recently migrated from an on-premise server to Microsoft 365, this made for a seamless transition in moving their staff to secure remote working environments. With Microsoft Teams, the easy collaboration between file and screen sharing, planning, and virtual meetings not only helps solidify their goals but unifies the organization as a whole.
Jodee O'Brien, CEO of United Way of Williamson County says, “The way we are able to come together in this platform makes it feel like we’re meeting in person.”
One of their favorite technology tools of late is the Nextiva, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), phone system. O’Brien calls this tool their, “Game-changer.” With the ability for staff or volunteers to simply download the Nextiva app to their computer or mobile phone, calls are answered professionally and easily, no matter the user’s location.
Heading for Hope
“When the work is done and needs are being met, we focus on keeping our team strong,” O’Brien says. She strongly encourages her team to check their mental health by taking regular breaks and prioritizing family. This helps the team feel secure, which boosts confidence, productivity, and happiness.
O’Brien says that it’s about finding a balance. While many of their staff and volunteers still work from home, some alternate coming into the office which is open for appointments only.
For the safety and health of our community, other adjustments have been made to their upcoming events. The next event is the popular Leadership Breakfast, where the community typically comes together to share a meal, gain inspiration and encouragement from a keynote speaker, and recognize individuals and organizations within the community. This year’s breakfast has gone virtual and will be broadcast Online on September 9th at 7:30 AM with a very special guest speaker, Joe Serio, Ph.D.
Another event that has a great impact on our community is the annual Day of Caring. Generally held each September, hundreds of volunteers come together to help local nonprofit agencies in need of a few extra hands. This year, there will be smaller group opportunities with a focus on outside projects in the open air.
How You Can Help
To help individuals and families in need in our community, there are many ways to show your support. You can donate your time, money, or expertise. Donors and volunteers can be individuals, businesses, or organizations. Business partners often sponsor events or give regular corporate donations.
Each tax season volunteers are needed to help with our VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program which provides free basic tax return preparation to individuals earning $55,000 or less annually. Clients often include minimum-wage earners, those who may be homeless, self-employed, and the elderly or people with disabilities. Volunteer positions include greeter, translator, and tax preparer. IRS-certified training is provided to volunteers interested in preparing tax returns. Learn more about this program and sign up to volunteer Online at www.WilcoFreeTaxPrep.org.
Help us spread the word - share this important work with your family, friends, and co-workers. If you are able to do more or need assistance for yourself or someone you know, call 512-255-6799. You can also visit their website at https://www.unitedway-wc.org/.