Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2017-2018 | Page 91

F
ounded in 1923, United Way
California Capital Region
(UWCCR) has been bettering
lives through better education, health,
and financial stability for almost a
century. The organization’s new Square
One Project will greatly increase the
number of students who graduate from
high school ready for college or career.
“We are committed to ending poverty
starting at school through our Square
One Project,” says Stephanie Bray, CEO.
“This is our major, long-term initiative
of working with high-need schools to
break the cycle of poverty.”
The project’s four primary goals
are keeping kids in school, keeping
students on track, setting high
expectations for their success, and
keeping their support systems strong.
The project has a two-pronged
approach – one is a place-based
approach working with Title I schools
(schools where the majority of students
live in poverty), and the second is a
regional strategy that encompasses
UWCCR’s region of Sacramento,
Yolo, Placer, El Dorado and Amador
counties.
In those five counties, UWCCR
provides grade-level reading support
for students struggling to read,
provides support for healthy meals
during the school year and in summer,
and targets the financial health of the
entire family by enabling people to
become more financially stable.
UWCCR also provides training for
other nonprofits to help them help
their clients with financial coaching. A
grant funds special trainings through
UWCCR for nonprofits to take part and
become certified as financial coaches.
“We increase the capacity of other
nonprofit organizations to fulfill their
missions. That way, much-needed
assistance is spread farther,” says Bray.
UWCCR asks the business
community to become their workplace
giving campaign partners. “Partnering
with us enables companies and
individual employees to assist our
YOURLOCALUNITEDWAY.ORG
United way
SUCCESS STARTS
AT SQUARE ONE
mission as donors and volunteers,”
concludes Bray. “It takes all of us to
make change and we’re grateful for the
community’s help.”
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