Jun 27, 2015 2 min read

The board of directors of United Way of Washington County last week approved $551,000 in Community Impact grants to 38 health and human service programs serving Washington County.

An additional $ 494,236 was contributed directly to other United Ways and nonprofit agencies by United Way donors who designated their contributions, marking the total investment by the local United Way at $1,045,236, the highest amount in its 90-year history of raising funds in Washington County through the annual campaign.

As part of United Way of Washington County’s biennial Community Impact grants process, more than 50 volunteers met with representatives of every local charity seeking United Way funding.

Each program was evaluated for its efficiency of operation, financial accountability, impact within the community and alignment with United Way’s focus areas of education, health and financial stability.

“Each year, contributors to our campaign entrust us to invest campaign contributions in a manner that will do the most good within our local community,” said Joe Flynn, senior vice president at WesBanco Bank and the volunteer chair of the community services committee, which oversees the grants process.

“The volunteers took on the difficult task of determining grant amounts with passion and purpose,” Flynn said.

Sheila Cowieson, chairwoman of United Way’s board of directors praised the process.

“This was a year of challenge, innovation and fulfillment,”she said. “It was a challenge to review all of the requests and schedule the visits.

“It was a year of innovation because we convened community stakeholders to determine community needs and then sought out the appropriate programs to address those needs. It was a year of fulfillment, as the most effective and efficient local programs will receive much needed funding to continue their work for the people in our community.” she said.

United Way funds will be distributed to the following local programs and services:

• American Red Cross, Washington County – $14,288;

• ARC Human Services – $17,872;

• Big Brothers/Big Sisters – $5,182;

• CASA for Kids – $47,480;

• Catholic Charities – $28,463;

• Centerville Clinics – $7,500;

• City Mission – $61,694;

• Community Action Southwest – $80,374;

• Cornerstone Care – $16,400;

• Domestic Violence Services – $62,893;

• Dr. Howard F. Jack Scholarship – $1,000;

• Family Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania – $10,000;

• Genesis Inc. – $5,609;

• Greater Washington County Food Bank – $117,575;

• The LeMoyne Community Center – $34,317;

• Literacy Council of Southwestern Pennsylvania – $24,362;

• McGuffey Communities That Care – $5,273;

• PERSAD – $9,000;

• SPHS Connect Inc. – $43,142;

• Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid Services – $33,725;

• Transitional Employment Consultants – $30,954;

• Try Again Homes – $18,566;

• Washington Health System – $61,368.