Our Mission: "United Way of Central Georgia mobilizes donors, volunteers, and advocates to help families and individuals move toward financial stability. Together, we are building a stronger community for all to thrive."
For many families, financial stability is a process—not a final destination. That’s why United Way programs are specifically designed to help vulnerable Central Georgia families thrive. Below you can see how our team supports young children and families in Central Georgia.
Read United: Once a child enters school, third-grade reading becomes the most important publicly available metric for predicting future academic success. Up until third grade, students learn to read. After third grade, they read to learn. Our Read United program relies on generous community volunteers to help struggling students achieve grade-level reading—setting them up for long-term learning success.
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Community Schools United: Our Community Schools United team ensures that students in low-income areas are not limited by the zip code they grow up in. Through innovative initiatives like the Walking School Bus, Neighborhood Clean-Ups, Laundromat Library, Read by Example, and more, the team is an invaluable resource for students and parents at Burdell-Hunt Elementary and L.H. Williams Elementary.
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Brookdale Resource Center: United Way’s partnership in creating the Brookdale Resource Center has provided Central Georgia with a vital safety net—helping more than 2,000 individuals and families avoid homelessness. Each night, between 40 and 60 people—many of them children—receive a warm meal, a friendly smile, and a safe place to sleep.
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Parents As Teachers: United Way promotes five key evidence-based parenting principles for children from birth to age three, equipping caregivers with tools to nurture early development. As a result, children's school readiness and overall success are significantly improved, setting the foundation for brighter futures and stronger communities.
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First Steps: United Way helps expecting parents and caregivers access resources, guidance, and home-visiting support to ensure children under five are healthy, safe, and ready for school. Through First Steps Georgia, countless parents and caregivers have gained access to essential services, transforming the lives of families across Central Georgia. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier, and more prepared community for generations to come.
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VITA & My Free Taxes: Every tax season, United Way partners with VITA and My Free Taxes to help low-income families claim the tax refunds they deserve. Thanks to generous volunteers from across our community, United Way has helped hundreds of Central Georgia families avoid predatory lenders and maximize their returns.
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YHDP: The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project is a groundbreaking initiative that helps young people avoid homelessness. This rapid re-housing effort partners with HUD and other community stakeholders to provide transitional housing for individuals under the age of 25.
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ALICE: The ALICE framework permeates every aspect of our work. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—hardworking community members who live above the federal poverty line but still can’t afford the basics. They are one financial emergency away from falling into poverty. Over the next decade, our goal is to help 10,000 ALICE families achieve financial stability through the totality of our programs.