United Way of Marion County focuses on three core areas, which are the building blocks of a good quality of life.
Education:
We support programs that:
• Support early literacy
• Reduce environmental barriers to learning
Financial stability:
We support programs that:
•Ensure basic needs (housing, food, utilities).
•Change knowledge, habits, and behaviors through education and mentoring.
Health:
We support programs that:
•Ensure the availability of mental health services.
•Improve seniors' health by providing access to services.
•Provide health education and treatment for children
For a community to flourish, its members must be healthy. United Way of Marion County strategically invests in programs that provide adults and children with access to Education, Financial stability, and Health. We are focused on improving the health of children and families through partnerships that promote mental, physical, and social well-being for all.
OUR FUNDED EDUCATION PARTNERS
Arnette House: Non-Residential Family Counseling
Provides counseling to students experiencing behavioral problems in school, which interferes with their academic success.
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Comprehensive One-on-One Mentoring
Helps children realize their potential and build their futures.
Boys & Girls Club of Marion County: Everything STEM
Reinforces and enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school through "high-yield" learning activities at the Club and at home.
Early Learning Coalition of Marion County: Incredible Years
Initiative to increase the number of VPK students in Marion County.
Episcopal Children's Services: Early Education Program
Provides a better start for children and ensures that they are eager to learn and ready to succeed when they enter kindergarten.
Florida Center for the Blind: Vision Buddies Screening Program
Provides students with functional vision assessments, including central, peripheral, static movement, binocular function, and colorblindness.
Girl Scouts of West-Central Florida: Scout Leadership Experience
Building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Kut Different: Life Skills
A caring mentor will leverage the Boys & Girls' facility and membership to develop life, communication, and leadership skills.
Mrs. Educator: Girls on the Rise Summer Program
Committed to helping students; particularly young girls, R.I.S.E. above obstacles, seek opportunities to enhance learning, and use their passion to make connections in the community and beyond.
OUR FUNDED FINANCIAL STABILITY PARTNERS
Blessed Trinity/Brother's Keeper: Soup Kitchen & Emergency Utility Assistance Program
Ensures that a warm meal is available to men, women, and children lacking resources for safe and healthy living.
Community of Gratitude: Emergency Food Center Program
First Step Food Bank: Feeding the Needy
Distributes food products through approved agencies to the needy, ill, and children of Marion County.
Interfaith Emergency Services, Inc.: Homeless Engagement Program
Connects, refers, and coordinates services for clients needing housing and other resources.
Marion County Children's Alliance: Family Violence Prevention Workgroup
Project Hope: Hope Happenings
Marion County Literacy Council: Building Adult Literacy Skills
Provides self-sufficiency and independence through quality instructional services for adults seeking education growth.
Marion Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida: Feeding the need
Shepherd's Lighthouse: Direct Services
Provides a safe environment for the rescue, empowerment, and renewal of women and children in their time of need.
The Salvation Army:
Feeding Program
Serves nutritious meals every day of the year to homeless and low-income individuals in Marion County.
Shelter Program
Provides emergency shelter beds for single men, women and families, and assists clients with developing a self-sufficiency plan.
OUR FUNDED HEALTH PARTNERS
Florida Center for the Blind: Vision Buddies Screening Program
Provides a comprehensive vision screening to students, including functional vision assessment of central vision, peripheral vision, static movement, binocular function, and color blindness.
Heart of Florida Health Center: Pediatric Dental Program
Provides family-centered dental care and oral health education to primarily low-income children in Marion County.
Kimberly's Center for Child Protection:
Child Abuse Prevention
Provides youth with internet safety knowledge and teaches them to identify unsafe situations to reduce/prevent unintentional injuries.
Therapeutic Counseling & Advocacy
Provides highly specialized services in an all-in-one, child-friendly environment to minimize trauma after an allegation of child abuse.
Marion County Sexual Assault Center: Therapeutic Counseling & Advocacy Program
Marion Senior Services: Meals on Wheels
It provides meals, nutrition education, and risk screening for senior Marion County citizens and their spouses and encourages socialization and better health.
United Hands Inc. : FreeD.O.M Clinic, USA
Dental Care for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured Marion County residents.