United Way of Northeast Georgia announced that it will invest $800,000 in grants in 2022, supporting a total of 30 programs across the 12-county region. The grantees provide programming in one of the organization’s three focus areas: basic needs, early childhood success, and workforce development. United Way of Northeast Georgia 2022 Grant Recipients include:

Basic Needs recipients (program and agency)

• ACCA Meals on Wheels: Athens Community Council on Aging

• Child Advocacy Services: The Tree House, Inc.

• Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention Services: Project Safe in collaboration with Circle of Love and Peace Place

• Food for Kids: Oconee Area Resource Council

• Homeless Prevention Program: Family Promise

• Post Pandemic Recovery Services Program: Family Counseling Service of Athens 

Early Childhood Success recipients (program and agency)

• ATLAS Primary Prep: Atlas Ministry

• Bundles of Books Family Engagement: Books for Keeps in collaboration with Community Partnership of Elbert County

• Creating Quality and Ensuring Access: Quality Care for Children

• Early Childhood Mental Health Collaboration: Family Connection – Communities in Schools of Athens

• First Steps/Healthy Families: Brightpaths

• Home Visiting Diaper Partners: Athens Area Diaper Bank

• Northeast Georgia CASA

• Northeast Georgia Early Literacy Intervention: Reach Out and Read

• Nurturing Parenting Program: The Tree House, Inc.

• SafeCare: Children First, Inc.

• The Ark Family Preservation Center

• YWCO Girls Club: YWCO of Athens

• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library - Clarke and Oconee counties: Books for Keeps (Clarke County) and Oconee Area Resource Council (Oconee County)

Workforce Development recipients (program and agency)

• #ASHTONSENTUS Program: Ashton Hope Keegan Foundation

• Go Succeed Fellowship Program: College Factory

• Java Joy: Extra Special People

• Love.Craft Athens Trainee Fund: Love-Craft Athens

• Manufacturing Institutes for High School High Tech Students with Disabilities: Georgia Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities

• Opportunities to Excel: ACTION, Inc.

• Weld 2 Work: Northeast Georgia Regional Commission

• Workforce Development for Young Adults: Goodwill of North Georgia

• Young Scholars: Chess & Community

• Youth Workforce Development: Athens Land Trust

In the second year of grantmaking through a Community Impact model, United Way of Northeast Georgia has increased its county coverage to an average of 14 programs per county, has more than doubled its grant funding since 2021, and has increased the number of programs supported from 22 to 30 from 2021 to 2022.

“We are proud of this year’s grant making process, especially the care and consideration of our review panelists,” said Mark Madison, Director of Community Impact. “These programs and so many more are making a difference each day in the lives of our neighbors, and we are proud to invest in them. We are grateful for the donors and volunteers supporting mission. Because of them, we are able to invest in these vital programs to continue meeting the highest priority needs of our region. This grant process is critical in how we LIVE UNITED.”

With a team of 43 grant reviewers, composed of community members from our 12-county region and from a range of industries, applications were carefully reviewed to determine the final choices. Grant recipients receive financial funding for the entirety of the year and provide quarterly updates of their program’s impact. Grant applications are open each year from May-June. To learn more about the Community Impact model and grant making process, please visit our website at unitedwaynega.org.