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Dear Friends,
Five years ago, the United Way of Mid & South Jefferson County began an exciting new chapter with the launch of our initiatives. That pivotal step has strengthened our organization, expanded our community impact, and deepened our roots in the communities we proudly serve.
For a full year, we took the time to understand the gaps in services within our community—needs that were not fully addressed. With this insight, we mapped out a clear path forward, creating programs and initiatives designed to support families and meet those unmet needs. Our focus has been on workforce development, early literacy, and healthy families. Since our initial launch, we’ve continually adapted our programs to stay aligned with community needs and emerging opportunities. Thanks to the powerful partnerships among our donors, volunteer leadership, and professional staff, our impact has grown exponentially.
We are no longer the United Way we were in 2019; we are stronger, better, and more attuned to the needs of our community. Today, we continue to support local nonprofits through grants totaling $2,053,711, this year. Additionally, we will invest $200,000 through our initiatives. Our initiatives focus on workforce readiness, early literacy, food insecurity, volunteerism, and nonprofit development. One of our proudest achievements this year is the creation of SETXvolunteers.org, a regional virtual volunteer center. Connecting individuals and groups with volunteer opportunities, events, and community needs, while also allowing nonprofits to promote their work across the state through our partnership with the Governor’s Volunteer Texas program.
Collaboration has always been at the heart of the United Way, and this year, we’re excited to announce new partnerships and initiatives. For instance, we’ve teamed up with Lamar State College Port Arthur to expand our United We Work workforce readiness program, providing an online toolkit for job seekers, TWIC assistance, and more. Together, we’re helping working families succeed. We’re also thrilled to partner with the United Way of Orange County (UWOC) to extend the reach and impact of SETXvolunteers.org, promoting volunteerism even further across our region.
More than 125 years ago, a group of visionary leaders laid the groundwork for this global network of support, the United Way. Today, we’re proud to be a part of that network, which provides us with invaluable resources, knowledge, and support—particularly in times of disaster. Our participation in international councils and committees, including the recent branding refresh initiative, allows us to have a voice in shaping the future of the United Way movement while bringing that collective strength back to our local community.
As in the past, our purpose remains to identify local needs and develop plans to address those needs. We then mobilize our community to make a real difference. While our focus is local, the power of our work ripples outward, reaching the global community through our United Way network.
Thank you for being essential to the United Way of Mid & South Jefferson County. Over the past five years, we’ve grown, adapted, and THRIVED. I invite you to continue this journey with us as we deepen our impact and build a stronger future together.
With gratitude,
Janie
