United Way Announces Over $12K Funding Coming To Edmonson County

(July 10, 2024) - United Way of Southern Kentucky announced today that it is investing a total of $12,015 in Education, Health, Income and Safety Net programs and services in Edmonson County. Five local programs provided through two service providers will receive the allocated campaign dollars and donor designations.

These investments started July 1, 2024 and will continue through June 30, 2025. In total, $1,013,484 will be invested across the 10-county Barren River Area Development District (BRADD), supporting 50 programs.

In September of 2023, organizations with programs impacting UWSK’s strategic imperatives in each of the defined Community Impact issue areas (Education, Income, Health, and Safety Net) were asked to submit a Letter of Intent indicating their desire to complete a full application request for funding. Across the 10-county BRADD, 76 total Letters of Intent were submitted.

Allocation dollars were determined based on the work of 95 volunteers working specifically in their home counties of Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, and Warren. In total, these volunteers invested 1,145 hours in the process which began with training sessions for all volunteers. This time generated an impact of $42,800 in service to our community (based on National Rate of Volunteer Time: $33.49 per hour). Volunteers reviewed programs, finances, governance, and outcomes to develop the recommendations for program investments.

In Edmonson County, $12,015 was allocated by volunteers led by Edmonson County Chair, Craig Browning, as follows:
EDUCATION: $5,000
Kindergarten Readiness:
Edmonson County FRC, Camp Kindergarten: $5,000

HEALTH: $3,000
Access to Affordable Health Care:
Kentucky Legal Aid, Barren River Long Term Care Ombudsman: $1,500
Kentucky Legal Aid, Benefits Counseling: $500
Safe Home & Community:
Kentucky Legal Aid, Emergency Shelter & Crisis Aid to Protect & Empower (ESCAPE): $1,000

SAFETY NET: $750
Access to Basic Needs:
Kentucky Legal Aid, Emergency Legal Assistance: $750
Remaining Investment to be made: $3,265

“As our region continues to grow at a steady pace, so also do the needs in our community. We are grateful for all the of local business, organizations, and individuals that continue to give, advocate, and volunteer in an effort to meet the growing needs. This year, we are especially thankful to be able to allocate more funding to local profits than we did last year. Our we hope that every year the generosity of others will allow the upward trend of giving and impact to continue,” said Debbie Hills, President & CEO of United Way of Southern Kentucky.

To receive funding from United Way of Southern Kentucky (UWSK), programs had to align with the four areas deemed most important by a community research project conducted by United Way that began in 2012 and included nearly 5,000 surveys, 55 Community Conversations, and large amounts of secondary data.

The four broad areas of most concern were defined by the community as: Education, Income, Health, and Safety Net. Programs were also evaluated on the following IMPACT criteria: Innovative, Measured, Partnered/Collaborative, Accountable, Community-centered, and Transformative.

This includes an emphasis on programs that provide services within a best practices framework, that are collaborative and integrated into the fabric of other community education, income, health, and safety net efforts, that consider the goals, needs and aspirations of the communities they serve, and that are innovative.