About the Nonprofit
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United Way Mission Statement:
United Way brings people together to build strong, equitable communities where everyone can thrive. As one of the world's largest privately funded charities, we serve 95% of U.S. communities and 37 countries and territories -- making life better for 48 million people every year. Through United Way, communities tackle tough challenges and work with private, public, and nonprofit partners to boost education, economic mobility, and health resources.
United Way is the mission of choice for 1.5 million volunteers, 6.8 million donors, and 45,000 corporate partners in more than 1,100 communities worldwide. In our second century of service, we're building resilient, equitable communities across the globe.
Since its founding in 1921, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County (UWABC) has been known as a convener — bringing together the necessary people and resources needed to tackle crucial community issues and connect people to the support they need. Traditionally, we have done this in three central areas:
1. Community Investments (grants and contracts)
2. NC 211 (information and referral)
3. Hands On Asheville-Buncombe Volunteer Center (volunteer mobilization)
As UWABC has evolved, we have taken a more hands-on approach to working in and with the community, specifically with the inclusion of the community school strategy. In recent years, we’ve expanded this strategy, adopting it as our central organizing framework, recognizing that education and equity are inseparable and key to our vision of a united and resilient community where everyone belongs and everyone thrives. This includes lifting up, listening to, and learning from partners who are actively engaged in this strategy.
We recognize the many ways inequity, particularly racial inequity, takes form both historically and today and are working to name the structures that uphold injustice and eliminate these barriers to inclusion and equity in our work and in the community.
Hands On Asheville-Buncombe
We believe in the power of volunteerism. It is an experience that can change how we interact with the world and allows us each to show up united in community. Find a volunteer opportunity today.
NC 211 Asheville Center
By dialing 2-1-1, anyone in our community can speak to a real person and find the help they need — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are proud to be the caring voice on the other end of the line for our neighbors and to be a part of United Way of NC’s efforts to serve all 100 N.C. counties. Find help today: Dial 2-1-1 or visit nc211.org
Community Schools
Community Schools create hubs of opportunity to support students, their families, and the extended community. This critical support is provided in collaboration with the school, the community, and our valued partners as a joint effort to provide every community member the opportunity to live free from poverty and injustice.
The community school strategy is the framework we employ to achieve our mission and is our value add to the growing United for Youth Network and Bold Community Goal.
Community Partnerships:
We believe it is critical that we invest community dollars into organizations and programs that provide support for the education, financial stability, and health of everyone in our community.
