Special to The American
St. Louis, MO – Because of the community’s generous donations to its 2009 fundraising campaign, United Way of Greater St. Louis is awarding more than $56.9 million this year to area agencies and programs.
Of that, $50 million is being distributed to its 179 member agencies throughout its 16-county service area in Missouri and Illinois. The remaining $6.9 million will be invested through one-time grants, special funding projects, and programs such as 2-1-1 and the Volunteer Center.
“The support United Way receives from companies and people in this region is truly exceptional,” said Doug Yaeger, 2010 United Way board chair and chairman, president and CEO of The Laclede Group, Inc.
“With this support, United Way is able to continue supporting an important system of nearly 200 quality partner agencies that deliver programs and services to one out of three people each year. Thank you.”
Each United Way funded agency is reviewed yearly by a group of volunteers in the four performance areas of program, governance, finance, and administration. These nearly 400 volunteers then determine how the funding from United Way is invested.
Dave Janicke, community volunteer and United Way community investment committee chair, said more than 90 cents of each dollar donated “goes to the community to help people.”
The single largest beneficiary of regional United Way funding this year is American Red Cross, St. Louis Area Chapter, with $3,782,942. The only other agency receiving more $2 million in funds is Provident Inc. with $2,303,127.
Six other agencies are receiving more than $1 million: Young Men’s Christian Association Greater St. Louis ($1,577,581), Boy Scouts of America, Inc., Greater St. Louis Area Council ($1,497,164), and American Cancer Society, High Plains Division, Inc. ($1,267,322), Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis ($1,246,303), Jewish Community Center ($1,155,864) and Salvation Army ($1,131,370).
Among the agencies that are fixtures in the African-American communities, Grace Hill Settlement House received $715,140, Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club of St. Louis, Inc. received $549,501, Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club received $446,425, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri received $384,739, Fathers’ Support Center, St. Louis received $133,639 and Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center received $338,767.