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United Way grants unveiled

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JANESVILLE — More than $722,000 will be awarded by the United Way of North Rock County to 62 programs and 30 agencies in 2010 and again in 2011.

The grant money is being invested in four impact areas—education, income, health and families—plus a few other grants.

The income category will get the biggest chunk—$271,150—to help people meet basic needs and to build and sustain self-sufficiency. This includes the drop-in care at the Rock County Job Center led by Community Action of Rock and Walworth Counties, tuition assistance at the Janesville Community Day Care Center and disaster services at the American Red Cross of South Central Wisconsin.

"Covering basic needs right now is the biggest need in our community," said Sue Conley, impact council chairwoman.

It made sense to give United Way dollars to programs that could leverage other resources and programming that would help people secure or stay in a job, she said.

Programs that build and sustain families and communities were awarded the second largest piece—$191,250. Among the 10 partners receiving family funding are the YWCA Alternatives to Violence and CARE House programs plus the senior companion program operated by Senior Services of Rock County.

"If you look at the list (of grant recipients), you see a lot of children's programming and family respite care. It's really all about trying to keep families whole and strong," Conley said.

Another $139,00 will be invested in programs that focus on education, $112,950 will go to health-related programs and $7,500 into other grants.

Grant requests of $931,307 exceeded total grants awarded by nearly $210,000, said Janine Peterson, United Way vice president. That made deciding where dollars go even more difficult for hundreds of volunteers involved in the process.

"It's really hard," Conley said.

But United Way has created a point system that helps guide volunteers, who are well prepared and do a great job, she said.

"They know about the programs, what needs in the community are and how these program will try and help meet those needs," Conley said.

In addition to money being distributed to partners, the local United Way will receive nearly $500,000 during both 2010 and 2011. The money will be used to operate its First Call, Community Impact and Volunteer Network programs, pay for administration and support services and contribute to United Way Worldwide and United Way of Wisconsin.

Funding is based on United Way's anticipated income of $1.2 million that comes from campaign pledges and other income, said Lynn Gardinier, United Way board chair.

On average, United Way historically knows it won't be able to collect about 7.5 percent of pledges made, said Gail Graham, United Way president.

So to keep funding at its current level, money from the raffle of the last Janesville-built Tahoe has been set aside to make up for projected losses—$33,000 for each the next two years.

United Way grants

The United Way of North Rock County anticipates awarding the following amounts to community agencies in 2010 and again in 2011:

United Way

-- Administration and other support services: $232,661

-- Community impact: $121,328

-- First Call: $60,894

-- Volunteer Network: $59,006

-- Payments to United Way Worldwide and United Way of Wisconsin: $13,500

Total: $487,389

YWCA of Rock County

-- Alternatives to Violence: $44,000

-- CARE House: $37,000

-- Child Care: $10,500

-- Immigrant Outreach: $19,000

-- Women's Economic Empowerment Center: $13,900

Total: $124,400

Community Action of Rock & Walworth Counties

-- AWARE in Evansville: $14,000

-- Community Kids Janesville Learning Center: $43,450

-- Community Kids Rock County Job Center Drop-In Care: $3,900

-- Skills Enhancement: $9,150

Total: $70,500

Salvation Army

-- Family Social Services Assistance: $37,900

-- Pathways Transitional Housing: $9,750

-- Youth Development/Community Center: $7,500

Total: $55,150

American Red Cross of South Central Wisconsin

-- Biomedical Services - Blood Drives: $12,700

-- Disaster Services: $26,550

-- Health, Safety and Community Services: $6,500

Total: $45,750

Senior Services of Rock County

-- Benefit Specialist Program: $19,000

-- Senior Companion Program: $26,000

Total: $45,000

Janesville Community Day Care

-- Infant Center Tuition Assistance: $7,000

-- Ruger Site Tuition Assistance: $37,000

Total: $44,000

Boys & Girls Club of Janesville

-- Youth Development and Guidance: $40,000

Total: $40,000

Catholic Charities

-- ARC Recreation for Adults with Disabilities: $3,350

-- Child and Family Counseling: $2,350

-- Family Counseling: $27,100

Total: $32,800

Big Brothers Big Sisters

-- Youth Mentoring: $32,500

Total: $32,500

HealthNet of Janesville

-- Dental Care: $6,000

-- Primary Medical Care: $24,000

Total: $30,000

The Literacy Connection

-- Adult Literacy Education: $23,850

Total: $23,850

Family Services of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois

-- CASA of Rock County: $9,000

-- Consumer Credit Counseling Service: $8,000

-- Sexual Assault Recovery: $6,500

Total: $23,500

Lutheran Social Services

-- Counseling Services: $6,200

-- Positive Parenting: $11,625

-- Runaway & Youth Services RAYS: $4,000

Total: $21,825

Boy Scouts—Glacier's Edge Council

-- Boy Scouts: $5,000

-- Cub Scouts: $9,700

Total: $14,700

Edgerton Community Outreach

-- Breakfast Program: $500

-- Client Services: $7,750

-- Food Pantry: $5,950

Total: $14,200

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program

-- Community Referrals: $5,000

-- In-Home Groups: $675

-- Intergenerational Programs: $5,250

Total: $10,925

Rock Communities Youth Network

-- Youth Assessment : $9,100

Total: $9,100

Girl Scouts Badgerland Council

-- Leadership Experience Scholarships: $8,000

Total: $8,000

Family Respite Care Services

-- Respitality : $2,500

-- Respite Registry: $2,000

-- Sib's Camps: $3,300

Total: $7,800

SMILES

-- Equine Assisted Therapy: $7,700

Total: $7,700

Other grants

-- Other grants: $7,500

Total: $7,500

KANDU Industries

-- Waiting List Project: $7,000

Total: $7,000

Epilepsy Foundation

-- Client Services: $4,750

-- Community Education: $2,100

Total: $6,850

YMCA of Northern Rock County

-- Evansville Youth Center: $2,300

-- Scholarships for Low Income Youth: $4,500

Total: $6,800

Children's Service Society

-- Exchange Family Resource Center, Evansville: $3,500

-- FACT Families & Communities Together: $2,500

Total: $6,000

Enrichment Center

-- The Enrichment Center: $6,000

Total: $6,000

Child Care Resource & Referral of South Central Wisconsin

-- Provider Training and Recruitment: $2,700

-- Referrals and Public Awareness: $2,000

Total: $4,700

American Heart Association

-- Education and Awareness: $4,300

Total: $4,300

AIDS Network

-- Volunteer Services: $4,050

Total: $4,050

Partners in Prevention

-- Positive Youth Development : $2,100

-- Prevention Education: $1,850

Total: $3,950

Wisconsin Badger Camp

-- Camp Scholarships : $3,000

Total: $3,000