United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley announced the results of the 2018 Community Investment Volunteer Review and recognized the 77 volunteers on Friday morning during a Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony, sponsored by Waffle House. The funding recommendations of the Community Investment Volunteers were presented to the United Way Board of Directors this week and were unanimously approved. United Way will award funding to 56 local programs through 28 agencies in the upcoming fiscal year.

“United Way is looking forward to the upcoming year, as we continue to work with our partner agencies to meet the needs of the community,” said Scott Ferguson, President & CEO of United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley. “Challenges were inevitable due to the decrease in funds, but the dedicated and passionate Community Investment Volunteers made sure that the dollars will be invested wisely,” he added.

Two new programs were approved for funding this year, including St. Anne Community Outreach’s Rental Clinic, which helps homeless and nearly homeless families attain housing stability, and the Boys & Girls Club’s new Social and Emotional Development program, which will work to reduce anger and aggression in at-risk youth.

Nine volunteer teams evaluated requests for funding during the six-week Community Investment process. Volunteers reviewed applications and attended site visits to see the programs in action. Volunteers also met board members, clients and staff that support these programs. Each program was reviewed in terms of how it met a community need, achieved results and exercised good stewardship. These three criteria, according to David Mitchell, 2018 United Way Community Investment Chair, are the “cornerstone of the volunteer process.” The majority of the Community Investment Volunteers have participated in the past while other volunteers have a connection to United Way through the annual campaign or volunteering. All volunteers demonstrate their commitment to United Way, the programs under review, and the community through their dedicated service and hard work.

“The role of the volunteers is critical to the process by which United Way invests the funds it collects,” said Mitchell. “Essentially it is the community that donates the money, and it is the community that determines how it wishes to invest the money to best achieve its goal of helping to improve the community. I have found that the process truly does work and that the team approach produces better results than any one individual could on their own,” he added.

All programs are providing services within the United Way’s four core areas – Basic Needs, Income, Health, and Education. In addition, the financial position of each agency was reviewed by a separate group of volunteers who have a strong experience in accounting and financial management.

Agencies and programs listed within the four core areas of service – Basic Needs, Income, Education, and Health:

Basic Needs

 
American Red Cross, Russell County
Emergency Services
 
American Red Cross, West Central Georgia
Emergency Services
 
Feeding The Valley Food Bank
Food Distribution
Kids Café
 
Open Door Community House, Inc.
Showering Program for the Homeless
Virginia D. Jackson Home For Women
 
SafeHouse Ministries
SafeHouse
Emergency Shelters, Trinity and Grace Houses
 
St. Anne Community Outreach
St. Anne Community Outreach Rental Clinic
 
Stewart Community Home
Stewart Community Home
 
The Salvation Army
Emergency Shelter/Meals Program
Social Services/Home Sweet Home Program
 
Income
 
B.R.I.D.G.E. of Columbus, Inc.
B.R.I.D.G.E., GED Program
 
Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers
 
Homeless Resource Network
Homeless Services
 
Open Door Community House
Circles in Columbus
 
SafeHouse Ministries
MCJ Education
 
The Family Center of Columbus, Inc.
Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS)
 
Health
 
American Red Cross, Russell County
Community Services
 
American Red Cross, West Central Georgia
Community Services
 
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley
Healthy Lifestyles
Social and Emotional Development
 
Columbus Hospice
 
Crisis Center of Russell County
Prevention Education
Rape Crisis Response Center
Shelter and Services for Victims of Domestic Violence
 
Easterseals West Georgia, Inc.
Family Support Programs
Therapeutic Care and Education
 
Girls Inc. of Columbus and Phenix-Russell
Health Programs
 
Homeless Resource Network
HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS)
 
Hope Harbour
Community Outreach Program
Shelter & Services
 
House of T.I.M.E. (This I Must Earn)
Homeless to a Home
House of T.I.M.E. Transitional Program
 
MercyMed of Columbus
MercyMed Dentistry
MercyMed Primary Care
 
Russell County Child Advocacy Center, Inc.
Child Advocacy Program
KEEP (Kids Engaged in Education and Prevention) Program
STARS (Specialized Treatment for Adolescents without Residential Services) Program
 
TEARS, Inc. (Teens Empowerment Awareness with Resolutions)
TEARS Student Assistance Program (TSAP)
 
Teen Advisors, Inc.
Elevate 9th Grade Program
Teen Advisors High School Program
Velocity Middle School Program
 
The Family Center of Columbus, Inc.
Family Counseling of Columbus (FCC)
 
Twin Cedars Youth and Family Services, Inc.
Chattahoochee Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Children’s Tree House Child Advocacy Center
 
Education
 
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley
Character and Leadership Development
Education and Career Development
 
Chattahoochee Council, Boy Scouts of America
Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting
 
Ferst Readers, Inc.
Growing Early Childhood Literacy
 
Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, Inc.
Girl Scout Leadership Development Program
 
Girls Inc. of Columbus and Phenix-Russell
Education
 
Open Door Community House, Inc.
Mathews Promise Academy
 
The Family Center of Columbus, Inc.
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)
Families and Schools Together (F.A.S.T.)
 
The Salvation Army, Inc.
After School Program/Summer Day Camp
 
YMCA of Metropolitan Columbus
Rearing Children and Youth at Risk
Student Success – Youth Sports and Aquatics