As Johns Hopkins' 2007 United Way of Central Maryland
campaign moves toward its Dec. 14
completion date, our campaign's leadership asked the United
Way to brief employees on how donations
were distributed in 2006. The report follows.
Johns Hopkins' relationship with United Way of Central
Maryland has been a multifaceted and
long-standing one. But in 2006, it reached a new level as
the School of Medicine became an impact
partner, receiving close to $400,000 through June 2009 from
United Way to support school readiness
initiatives.
Since announcing the establishment of four impact
areas last year, United Way has distributed
funds to 40 agencies running 42 programs in six
jurisdictions in Maryland. Funds were allocated to 13
Basic Needs Initiatives, 11 Family Safety Initiatives,
seven School Readiness Initiatives and 11 Youth
Achieving Potential Initiatives.
The programs were all chosen for their long-term
success rates and will report their results
back to United Way on a regular basis. In order to ensure
that these programs succeed, United Way
community impact staff continue to take a hands-on approach
with these partner organizations,
offering expertise and guidance wherever needed.
Each day, dollars contributed from Johns Hopkins help
these valuable regional programs
continue to house the homeless and low-income; protect men,
women and children from the pain and
suffering of violence; make sure children are ready to
succeed in school; and ensure that young people
are able to develop into responsible, productive members of
society.
In 2006, the combined Johns Hopkins Institutions
contributed more than $2 million toward
these initiatives. These programs, like the School of
Medicine's early childhood one, help combat
deeper issues and work to create lasting change in the
community.
These funds have helped people like "Ms. B," who was
able to complete a child care certification
course, double her previously minimum-wage salary and move
herself and two daughters into an
apartment and out of transitional housing shelters.
Johns Hopkins dollars have also helped women like "R"
escape a violent situation, obtain a
protective order and emergency custody, and press criminal
charges against her abusive husband.
Today, her abuser is in jail and she is in a nonabusive
relationship.
And with these critical United Way funds, students
have begun to prepare for careers and
higher education. Just months after the new funding was
distributed, 37 high school students with
disabilities were recruited to participate in a youth
transition program, 36 students began school-
based exploratory career assessments, and 31 students
completed a two-day career assessment.
Johns Hopkins' role in making these programs possible
has been critical, with employees
contributing more toward the United Way of Central Maryland
campaign than any other employee
base.
But it's about more than just donating dollars. United
Way of Central Maryland relies on
thousands of volunteers to support programs and participate
in hands-on community events, too. In
September, Johns Hopkins volunteers rolled up their sleeves
and raced against the clock to
redecorate a room in a Howard County Y of Central Maryland
day care center. The makeover brought
members of JHU together with United Way and other valuable
community nonprofit and corporate
partners.
United Way's annual campaign kicked off in October and
continues until Dec. 14. Members of
the Johns Hopkins community can continue to be one of the
strongest supporters of this health and
human services leader by pledging online at
https://donor.unitedeway.org.
For more information about the United Way campaign,
the new partnership creation, the Johns
Hopkins Neighborhood Fund or campaign events, go to
www.jhu.edu/unitedway or contact campaign
administrator Matt Smith at unitedway@jhu.edu or
410-516-0345.
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