April 26, 2024

United Way of Jasper County allocates funds to local nonprofits

By Newton Daily

United Way Executive Director Jessica Lowe presented Thombert, Inc., represented by Brandon Mastin, with the second annual Champion Award on Tuesday at the 2016 Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration. The Champion Award, which Lowe started last year, recognizes an outstanding support to the United Way by a local employer. (Jamee A)

More than $224,000 in funding has been allocated to nonprofit agencies thanks to the United Way of Jasper County.

During Tuesday’s United Way Annual Meeting, executive director Jessica Lowe announced that 16 nonprofit agencies were awarded financial support for 2016-17. The funds will help provide direct health and human services that assist Jasper County residents.

“The funds raised and allocated by United Way will truly impact thousands of lives,” Lowe said. “The money raised locally stays local to help those in need of assistance here in Jasper County.”

Lowe said 18 local providers applied for funding for 25 programs for the 2016-17 fiscal year. The applications were reviewed by four allocation teams comprised of United Way of Jasper County board members and community volunteers. The teams launched into an intensive process of reviewing program proposals in February. During the course of eight weeks, the teams reviewed each application, interviewed program directors and conducted site visits to observe the day to day operations of the nonprofit agencies.

“The teams looked closely at the quality of services delivered, the number of people served and the program’s outreach to all Jasper County citizens,” Lowe said. “The allocation team volunteers also closely scrutinized each agency’s financial records, looking for cost-efficient operations and leverage of a variety of funding sources eventually choosing to fund 23 local programs.”

The 16 agencies receiving funding include: American Red Cross, Baxter Early Learning Center, Camp Fire USA, Central Iowa Family Planning, Clearview Recovery, Crisis Center & Women’s Shelter, Crisis Intervention Services, Kid Assist, Jasper County Council for Prevention of Child Abuse, Newton YMCA, Peck Child Development., Progress Industries, RSVP of Jasper County, Salvation Army, Skiff Hospice and Willowbrook — A WesleyLife Adult Day Center.

The agencies were notified at the end of March, and received their first of four funding installments on April 1. Lowe said during the past five years, the United Way of Jasper County has allocated $1.14 million dollars to health and human service providers helping Jasper County citizens.

“The work of United Way of Jasper County is made possible solely through the generosity of businesses and individuals who choose to have an impact on the lives of their coworkers, friends, family, neighbors and complete strangers,” Lowe said. “While we did not reach 100 percent of our goal this year, people gave generously allowing us to provide nearly $225,000 to local nonprofits and that is amazing.”