At its brand refresh launch party, United Way West Tennessee recognized new additions to its executive leadership team as the organization continues to grow and expand its impact across the region. Lauren Kirk has been selected as United Way’s new Executive Vice President of Community Impact and Melissa Cox-Brown will serve as the Executive Director for the recently announced Ford Community Center in Stanton, Tennessee.
United Way of West Tennessee proudly received a Community Impact Grant of $10,000 from the Community Foundation of West Tennessee. This grant will fund the All-Star Readers program, which aims to foster a love for reading among children from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade across 15 counties in West Tennessee.
United Way of West Tennessee is excited to announce the West Tennessee Volunteer Hub – an online database designed to connect local volunteers with service opportunities in West Tennessee. This platform is accessible to the community at no cost and will serve as the central hub of communication between organizations and volunteers.
United Way of West Tennessee is excited to partner with Parker Hannifin to celebrate Live United Week 2024 in Weakley County on March 18 through March 22.
United Way will host the eleventh annual First Ladies’ Luncheon, its largest fundraising events, at the Jackson Fairgrounds on April 18 from 12-1pm. The organization will also host “An Evening Preview” at the same location the night before the luncheon from 5-7pm.
United Way of West Tennessee will offer one virtual agency training session for local agencies in West Tennessee on Thursday, January 11 from 1:00-3:00pm. This session is open to any area nonprofit interested in receiving funding from United Way as a partner agency.
United Way of West Tennessee and the Tennessee Commission of Children & Youth will partner together to host the ALICE Conference: United for Working Families on November 9, 2023 from 8am – 3:30pm at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center. The conference is free and open to the community and lunch will be provided.
The Community Foundation of West Tenn. recently awarded United Way of West Tenn. a $4,000 grant to launch a new program with the Jackson Rockabillys baseball team called Rockabilly Readers. United Way was one of seven local organizations to receive grant funding.
United Way of West Tennessee has been named a 2023 Best Place for Working Parents — one of the first employers in Madison County, alongside fellow nonprofits WRAP and STAR Center.
Rikkila Taylor from Stanton, TN has been selected as the recipient of the Dr. Barbara Jones Educational Empowerment for Young Women Scholarship. Last year, United Way partnered with Dr. Barbara Jones from the Weakley County Reconciliation Project to establish a scholarship for one African American female student seeking financial assistance to attend a four-year college or university.
United Way of West Tennessee is excited to announce that the organization has received a grant from the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) to fund a new tutoring program called Tutor U. This Connected Literacy Partner grant awards United Way over $830,000 to implement literacy tutoring for first through third grade students.
United Way of West Tennessee has officially merged its current education initiatives under an umbrella called the Office of Childhood Success. The organization created this classification to emphasize its increased support in the areas of early childhood development and educational programing across the region.
United Ways of Tennessee recently launched Tennessee Benefit Kitchen – a free, virtual tool that screens users for unclaimed public benefits. In response, United Way of West Tennessee and other local United Ways across the state are collaboratively spreading awareness about this resource.
United Way of West Tennessee recently partnered with Dr. Barbara Jones from the Weakley County Reconciliation Project (WCRP) to establish a scholarship for one African American female student seeking financial assistance to attend a four-year college or university. This fund – The Dr. Barbara Jones Educational Empowerment for Young Women Scholarship – will take effect at the beginning of the fall semester of 2023 and will be distributed by United Way on behalf of Dr. Jones in honor of the WCRP. Applicants should apply by February 15, 2023.
Ford Fund is investing $1 million in West Tennessee to help local non-profits and municipalities build capacity and infrastructure to better serve the community’s needs for generations to come.
The Jackson City Council, on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, approved $195,000 in ARPA dollars to fund two online platforms that will support existing childcare providers.
On April 26, 2022, more than 345 United Way staff from 18 states gathered in Greenville, SC for United Way’s Southeast Regional Conference. United Way of West Tennessee is proud to have been selected as the winner in the category of Exemplary United Way Leader for a small to mid-sized United Way.
The City of Jackson and United Way of West Tennessee are excited to announce the official launch of the Jackson Financial Empowerment Center in Jackson, Tennessee. The center, located at United Way, provides professional, one-on-one counseling and is open to all Jackson and West Tennessee residents who are 18 years and older as a no-cost, public service.
United Way of West Tennessee is excited to partner with Parker Hannifin and MTD for the ninth year to celebrate Live United Week 2022 in Weakley County on March 14 through March 21. Together, they will host the following events in conjunction with LIVE UNITED: a Weakley County BBQ Luncheon and Lawn Mower Giveaway. Both events will serve to benefit all Weakley County partner nonprofits.
Leaders Education Foundation, a non-profit 501c3, is thrilled to pledge $100,000 to The READ Team, a program of United Way of West Tennessee. The READ Team was formed in 2014 under the name ARISE2READ Jackson Madison County and served six Jackson-Madison County elementary schools. On April 8, 2021, The READ Team joined the United Way of West TN as a United Way Education initiative program. The READ Team allows volunteers to partner with students during school hours and under school staff supervision to assist students with reading initiatives for one hour per week.
Several organizations in West Tennessee have partnered together to develop the West Tennessee DREAM initiative - a regional strategy designed to address lack of access to crucial resources within the community. The proposal was created in response to the Department of Human Services’ Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Initiative, which is a new program designed to help spend down the State’s surplus TANF (TN Assistance for Needy Families) fund.
Later this year, United Way of West TN will be hosting Unitas, an 80th anniversary celebration of their work within the region, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. This community-wide event will feature as its distinguished guest former heavyweight champion, pastor, author, and entrepreneur, George Foreman.
This summer, we hosted our annual Celebration Breakfast at First United Methodist Church in Jackson. During this event, recognization was given to last year’s Top 30 Giving Companies, Campaigns of Excellence, the Agency Director of the Year, and this year’s Corporate Sponsors. We also updated attendees on last year’s accomplishments and recent projects.
Formerly known as ARISE2Read of Jackson-Madison County, The Read Team is now a new program of United Way of West Tennessee. The need for additional learning opportunities has significantly increased over the past year. Aligning the programming within United Way will expand the opportunity for a greater number of students to participate with The Read Team and experience literacy improvement.
United Way of West Tennessee and Weakley County will be hosting a Virtual Silent Auction and several major giveaways toward the end of March for the annual LIVE UNITED Weakley County fundraiser. All donations will benefit Weakley County Local Partner Agencies.
United Way of West Tennessee’s Women’s Leadership Council is thrilled to announce the eighth annual First Ladies’ Luncheon, United Way’s largest fundraising event. To ensure the safety of each guest during the COVID-19 pandemic, the luncheon will take place at the Jackson Fairgrounds Outdoor Pavilion on April 8th at 12pm.
Because of our donors, we continue to advocate for equity through Uniting agencies in ways that improve each person’s access to health, education, and financial stability. But, in order to continue building our impact we need your help. So, to ensure you can easily support the causes you are passionate about, we have transitioned to a new giving platform called Harness – an innovative fundraising tool specifically geared toward nonprofits. We are excited about this new feature because it enhances the donor experience by providing you with a more efficient way to donate!
Mark your calendars for Giving Tuesday on December 1, the biggest global day of generosity of the year, as organizations from across the world will witness millions of people rallying to support causes they care about!
United Way of West Tennessee is hosting a drive from Sept. 14 through Sept. 25. and is accepting gently used devices for students in school districts around West Tennessee who lack access to virtual classrooms.
As the community seeks further unity and effective change, United Way of West Tennessee and the Jackson Chamber have partnered together to host the "Be the Change" Outdoor Film Series on Equity and Justice each Saturday evening from July 11-August 1.
United Way of West Tennessee and the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation are working to fill the gap for displaced workers who do not qualify for traditional unemployment benefits.
Christmas Partners will soon be accepting applications for holiday assistance.
United Way Selects Matthew Marshall as New CEO after Two-Month Search
Search this site to find feeding programs for kids while school is out this summer.
Learn why we partner with programs that provide communal meals or home delivered meals to seniors in need.
Hundreds of West Tennesseans dined Thursday at Jackson Fairgrounds Park at the First Ladies’ Luncheon, raising money for an important cause.
Turns out, helping others can actually help you live longer. You heard that right: the key to a long and fruitful life might exist in what you give, not in what you get.
