Your commitment to our community fuels solutions that uplift people across our area. When you support United Way, you join a network of individuals and organizations dedicated to creating a better life and a stronger community - for everyone.
Your gift makes an impact right here in Kenosha County. In the last year, your donations helped us to:
- Grant over $153,250 to local nonprofits
- Send almost 650 children free books monthly through the Imagination Library
- Provide 1,959 community members with prescription cost savings, which totaled $217K, through SingleCare
- Connect 2.17K Kenosha County residents with resources by contacting 2-1-1
- Mobilize VITA (Volunteer Tax Assistance Program) volunteers who processed 1,807 tax returns and brought over $1.19 million in refunds to Kenosha County residents
Your donations made all this happen. Imagine what we can do this year! You can change lives right here in Kenosha County through the Kenosha County United Way Campaign. Make your online pledge today.
Together, we have the biggest impact!
Health
Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services, Inc. - Meals on Wheels
Kenosha YMCA - Abilities in Motion Adaptive Sports
LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin – Kenosha Youth Program
Shalom Center - Homeless Shelter Program
Sharing Center - Nutrition Program
Catholic Charities - Behavioral Health and Counseling Services
Hope Council – Parenting Time/Supervised Visit
Financial Stability
Asset Builders of America – Kenosha Youth POWER Academy of Finance
Kenosha Human Development Services – Homeless Rapid Rehousing Services
Kenosha Vocational Ministry - Vocational Ministry
Women and Children's Horizons - Legal Advocacy
Women and Children's Horizons - Children’s Services
Education
BeLEAF Survivors - S.C.A.N. Stop Child Abuse and Neglect
Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha - Youth Empowerment
ELCA Outreach Center - Summer Camp
Kenosha Literacy Council - Literacy for Life
Overview:
The Meals on Wheels Program enables the elderly, the sick, and the disabled to remain in their own homes with help from people who care. Through Meals on Wheels, home-delivered meals are provided to persons who are unable to prepare their own meals and are at risk of going to a nursing home. Meals are nutritionally balanced, created for good taste, healthy portions and specific health needs in mind.
Outcomes:
There is a MOW client who calls in about once a month to tell us that she just loves the Meals on Wheels meals. Her name is Evelyn Beranek. She is 92 years old, and She lives alone. Her MOW driver/delivery folks are some of the only people she sees on a regular basis. She’s always so grateful for her meals and the services she gets from KAFASI. Evelyn has told us: “I just want you to know that the meal today was especially delicious! It was pasta and the sauce was so good! It really hit the spot. I’m so thankful for you all. You’re all so nice to me when I call you too.” Evelyn is exactly the kind of person this program matters too most. Not only do we provide daily nutrition, but we are a touchstone for her in the community. She is a precious reminder of why this program is so important.
Overview:
Funds are needed to provide LGBTQ+ Youth Programs that are desperately needed for the residents of the City and County of Kenosha. There is a strong need for youth to connect in person with one another and we want to create more welcoming spaces for that to occur. The needs of our community are too great for us not to stretch, and increase our capacity to serve more people in our community.
Outcomes:
The nearest youth programs are held from our location in Racine through virtual an in-person programming. This new Kenosha program would create an in-person support group, activities like going bowling, playing board games or learning about healthy dating, helping to plan youth events like the Equality Prom or an inter-generational project. The program will create fun and supportive in-person activities for youth ages 14-18.To build networks of support between the Center, youth, parents, schools, and the community. To create an environment where youth can develop social skills, make friends and reduce anxiety, depression, isolation, and self-harm.
Overview:
The Hope Council's Parenting Time program provides monitored, supervised, or therapeutic/supportive visitation services for parents whom the courts have determined must be observed while interacting with their children. Hope Council has provided these services for over 15 years. The agency serves families in the process of divorce, but it also serves those noncustodial parents who have never had relationships with their children as well as those who have charges of abuse and/or neglect stemming from the families being served. The program is open to anyone seeking reunification or visitation access and family services. Typically, women are thought of as custodial parents, but that's not always the case. In fact, in the last year, approximately 65% of noncustodial parents seeking visits with their children at the Hope Council are female. Children served are generally under the age of 13 but there is no age limit. Levels of income vary, as well, though most parents are employed and most live in Kenosha County. Due to the lack of programming available in surrounding counties, about 5% of clients utilizing this service are from Racine/Walworth Counties combined.
Outcomes:
In 2021 Hope Council received 46 application for services through the Parenting Time/Supervised Visitation program. In 2022, Hope Council received 63 applications for services through the Parenting Time/Supervised Visitation program. The need for this program continues to grow and outpace the funding available. The program has greater capacity and can service 50% more families if additional funding was available.
Overview:
Hello! My name is Juliya and I am a student in Kenosha Literacy Council. I want to share my story with you. A year ago, I embarked on a new chapter in my life, leaving my home country Russia, and arriving in the United States. At first, the fear held me back, I couldn’t speak English. At that time my husband became my assistant, he spoke for me in public places, made orders in cafes, and even answered my phone. Of course, that's not a sustainable life plan. This is when I discovered the Kenosha Literacy Council. I started by attending ELL Civics classes. The classes helped me to navigate daily life and adapt to my new community and country. I am also a big fan of the book club at the Kenosha Literacy Council.
Outcome:
I am proud to say that I've completed three books in English, and my journey continues. I also participated in Work Literacy which helped me to prepare for job interviews. I’m proud to share that I just started my first job in the United States! One of the most important parts of being a student at the Literacy Council is that I found a lot of friends from all over the world. Together we enjoyed the Adventure Awaits Conversation Class and Art Club in Literacy Council. If only I knew learning English could be this entertaining. The warmth and acceptance I experienced there not only helped me overcome my language barriers but also boosted my confidence significantly. Thanks to Kenosha Literacy Council I have found not only my voice in English but also a sense of belonging in this welcoming community.
Overview:
Kenosha County Youth As Resources (YAR) is a grant-giving program that funds youth-designed and youth-led community service projects in Kenosha County. Youth, with guidance from adults, determine the project they believe will address a need in their community. Youth groups may apply to Kenosha County Youth As Resources (YAR) for grants of up to $500 which may be used to purchase supplies for the project, but may not be used to pay for volunteer time. The Youth As Resources Board reads all applications and then invites youth groups to present their proposals to the board. Kenosha County Youth As Resources was developed out of a need – a need to make the youth of Kenosha County feel more connected to their community. According to results from a 2010 Search Institute Survey of Kenosha County youth, only 27% felt that they were given useful roles in the community. An even lower 25% of youth felt that adults value them. Kenosha County Youth As Resources is a program of Extension Kenosha County in partnership with the United Way of Kenosha County.
Outcome:
The project involved the construction of a paved path and a Memorial Monument for the ELCA Outreach Center, enhancing accessibility for clients and honoring those who have passed. The path, initially planned as concrete, was transformed into a cost-effective brick paver design, ensuring handicap access to the gazebo where Bible studies and activities are held. Completed on August 12, 2024, the path measures 5 feet wide and spans approximately 208 square feet, thanks to the efforts of 16 youth volunteers. The Memorial Monument, constructed on September 15, 2024, from Trex decking with a solar post cap for nighttime illumination, serves as a lasting tribute for members who have no other place of remembrance, facilitating memory sharing and ensuring their legacy within the community. The project has significantly improved participation for disabled clients and provided a meaningful space for remembrance. A $500 grant supported the purchase of essential materials, while the ELCA Outreach Center supplied the bricks. Reflecting on the experience, Jack noted,
"This project has helped me learn the importance of leadership and community. I learned about the uptown Kenosha Community and the struggles that many of the Outreach Center’s clients faced. At points, I did not think I would be able to finish the project and believed it would be impossible to learn how to build the path, but through some help, I found two experts who were willing to help for free to show us how to build the path. This project made me value the importance of perseverance and hard work."
The successful completion of the path and memorial has already made a positive impact, with many members expressing gratitude for the improvements.
