How We Invest

As United Way of Southwest Alabama forms and executes strategies to benefit individuals and families in our area, we work closely with 48 of local nonprofit organizations to align and coordinate our work. This approach allows the greatest potential impact on some of the most difficult issues facing our community, and ensures everyone involved is aware of those around them who are working toward the same goal.

Community investment decisions at United Way of Southwest Alabama are made based on the advice and direction of volunteer community advocates in the areas of Health, Education, Financial Stability, and Essentials. Union members, corporate donors, community leaders, individuals from philanthropic and community organizations and others carefully study each request for funding and support, and select the local programs that best align with our communities’ most critical needs and have the highest performance outcomes to propel us to our goals.

To ensure accountability and to demonstrate the impact of your donation, funded programs go through a rigorous application process every two years and must provide measurable outcomes and outputs each year.

The following programs receive funding from United Way of Southwest Alabama.

Clarke County

Health:

Alpha Women’s Resource Center ($2,000) – Positive Pregnancy Outcomes; To equip men and women with the information and resources necessary to make and implement positive pregnancy plans
Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama, Mobile & Gulf Coast Chapter ($500) – Client Services; To provide advocacy, education, and support services for people of all ages with Epilepsy
Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast, Inc. ($1,000) – Medical Assistance Program; To help individuals with healthcare issues and/or disabilities obtain medical supplies, adaptive equipment, home modifications, etc.
Home of Grace for Women, Inc. ($1,750) – Substance Abuse Recovery Program; To provide addiction recovery services for women 18 and older
Lifelines Counseling Services ($1,000) – Rape Crisis Center; To provide high-quality, comprehensive services to sexual assault survivors and to educate the community on sexual violence
Regional Child Advocacy Center, Inc. ($3,094) – Forensic Interviewing of Children; To support training and equipment/supplies for forensic interviewers
Regional Child Advocacy Center, Inc. ($6,000) – Foster Care at “Almost Home”; To provide foster care services for children ages birth to 17 who have experienced abuse or neglect
Sickle Cell Disease Association, Mobile Chapter, Inc. ($250) – Sickle Cell Laboratory Testing/Trait Counseling Services; To provide lab services and improve public awareness and understanding of the implication of the sickle cell trait
Victory Health Partners ($2,000) – Compassionate & Comprehensive Healthcare for Uninsured Adults; To increase access to healthcare of uninsured working adults ages 19 to 65

Education:

Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama ($2,000) – Project Learn & Tutoring; To provide afterschool tutoring and summer learning for children ages 4 to 16
Drug Education Council ($500) – TADAA – Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse Awareness Workshops; To provide drug prevention education through a workshop targeted to middle and high school students, along with student-run, school-site prevention campaigns
Lifelines Counseling Services ($1,000) – Rape Crisis Center – Education Initiative; To provide school-based prevention education programs that focus on healthy relationships and target young people in elementary school through college
Southwest Alabama RSVP ($1,500) – Reading Tutors; To improve reading fluency for elementary students by providing senior volunteers to read one-on-one with students that need additional assistance

Financial Stability:

Southwest Alabama RSVP ($500) – VITA/TCE Tax Program; To provide free income tax preparation for low-income individuals

Essentials:

American Red Cross Serving South Alabama ($2,000) – Disaster Cycle Services; To provide disaster preparation and response services
American Red Cross Serving South Alabama ($1,500) – Service to the Armed Forces; To provide emergency services for and to work with military and VA health care facilities to meet the needs of service members, veterans, and their families
Catholic Social Services of  the Greater Mobile Area ($2,500) – Clarke County Emergency Assistance Program; To help low-income individuals and families facing financial crisis with accessing basic living necessities, emergency financial assistance, and financial counseling
Community Action Agency of South Alabama ($500) – Safety First; To provide emergency financial assistance to low-income individuals and families
Feeding the Gulf Coast ($1,000) – Child Nutrition Program; To provide meals for children 18 and younger when they are outside of school
Feeding the Gulf Coast ($2,500) – Emergency Food Distribution Program; To collect, warehouse, and distribute food to food insecure individuals and families
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile, Inc. ($1,200) – Family Room Respite Program; To give parents, caregivers, and close family members of pediatric patients a place of refuge in the hospital
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile, Inc. ($4,000) – Overnight Lodging Program; To provide temporary housing for families of hospitalized children

Mobile County

Health:

AIDS Alabama South, LLC ($8,819) – Transportation = Treatment = Prevention; To provide transportation services for healthcare/dental appointments for those with HIV or AIDS
Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama, Inc. ($14,992.30) – Summer Day Camp; To provide comprehensive outdoor experiences for youth who are club members
Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama, Inc. ($48,504.50) – Triple Play:  A Game Plan for Mind, Body and Soul; To provide kids and teens with help in maintaining a healthy lifestyle by increasing physical activity, making smart food choices, and enhancing positive interactions with others
Crittenton Youth Services ($11,464.70) – Olweus Bullying Prevention Program; To decrease bullying behaviors by providing intervention and prevention education for youth
Crittenton Youth Services ($11,464.70) – Youth Living Responsibly; Aims to reduce the number of sexually active youth, provide STD education, and reduce teen pregnancies in middle and high schools
Dearborn YMCA ($17,638) – Fitness and Recreation; To improve the health and wellness of children and adults through increased physical activity; the program provides variety age appropriate activities for all members of the community
Dearborn YMCA ($8,819) – Senior Activities for Independent Living (SAIL); To provide seniors with nutritional, recreational, and social wellness through educational programs
Dumas Wesley Community Center ($26,457) – Senior Activities for Independent Living (SAIL); To provide low-income and minority seniors with nutritional, recreational, and social wellness through transportation to medical appointments, field trips, and nutritious meals
Home of Grace for Women, Inc. ($44,095) – Substance Abuse Recovery Program; To provide addiction recovery services for women 18 and older
Lifelines Counseling Services ($44,095) – Family Counseling Center; To help individuals and families achieve a greater sense of health, quality of life, and well-being through mental health services after major, life-changing events
Lifelines Counseling Services ($26,457) – Rape Crisis Center; To provide high-quality, comprehensive services to sexual assault survivors and to educate the community on sexual violence
Mobile Arc ($17,638) – Health and Medical Services; To provide program participants with IDD access to healthcare, improving their quality of life
Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy ($30,866.50) – Generic Medication Safety Net Program; To provide free prescription medication to individuals age 19 and up who lack access to treatment
Sickle Cell Disease Association, Mobile Chapter, Inc. ($11,023.75) – Sickle Cell Laboratory Testing/Trait Counseling Services; To provide lab services and improve public awareness and understanding of the implication of the sickle cell trait
St. Mary’s Home ($35,055.53) – Health Program; To provide healthcare (medical, behavioral, and mental) to children in the foster care system, as well as substance abuse counseling
The Child Advocacy Center, Inc. ($44,095) – Child Sexual Abuse Mental Health Counseling Program; To provide counselors and family/court advocates to children who have experienced abuse and their non-offending family members
The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama ($26,457) – Roadmap to Self-Sufficiency (Dauphin Way Lodge); To provide a safe, drug- and alcohol-free living environment, drug and alcohol treatment, and transportation to and from work and appointments for men 18 and older
Via Health, Fitness and Enrichment Center ($17,638) – GrandFriends Adult Daycare Program; To provide adult day care services for seniors with a target on veterans
Victory Health Partners ($79,371) – Compassionate & Comprehensive Healthcare for Uninsured Adults; To increase access to healthcare of uninsured working adults ages 19 to 65

Education:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Alabama, Inc. ($26,457) – Beyond School Walls (School-based Mentoring Program); To provide one-to-one mentoring for children ages 6 to 18 years old
Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama, Inc. ($24,693.20) – Project Learn Academic Enhancement Program; To provide academic support to youth ages 6 to 18, including tutoring; STEM, remedial reading, and computer literacy; and college/career prep
Child Day Care Association, Inc. ($22,047.50) – Star Map; To provide quality early learning services that promote kindergarten readiness for children 6 weeks to 5 years
Dearborn YMCA ($17,638) – Afterschool Academy; To provide academic support for at-risk children ages 5 to 13, including reading and math tutoring
Drug Education Council ($22,047.50) – Juvenile Drug Testing; To provide drug prevention education component of the program through classroom presentations for 8th-, 9th-, and 10th-grade students in MCPSS
Dumas Wesley Community Center ($22,047.50) – After School Achievement Program (ASAP); To provide after-school educational activities for low-income children ages 6 to 18 from Crichton and Toulminville
Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast, Inc. ($22,047.50) – Adult Education Program; To improve the reading and math proficiency of adults 17 and older and helping them prepare for/attain their GED
Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast, Inc. ($30,866.50) –Early Childhood Education Program; To encourage literacy skills, emotional intelligence, and kindergarten readiness for children from birth to five years old, as well as parent-focused instruction during home visitations
Gulf Regional Early Childhood Services, Inc. ($57,323.50) – Early Head Start; To promote kindergarten readiness by partnering with childcare centers for comprehensive early learning services to children ages 0 to 3 years old/families/teachers
Lifelines Counseling Services ($8,819) – Rape Crisis Center – Education Initiative; To provide school-based prevention education programs that focus on healthy relationships and target young people in elementary school through college
St. Mary’s Home ($28,441.28) –Education Program; To implement a transitional learning center for abused, abandoned, and neglected children ages 6 to 19 years old; includes tutoring and summer learning programs
The Learning Tree, Inc. ($13,228.50) – Little Tree Preschool; To maximizes learning opportunities for children ages 2.5 to 5 years old with developmental disabilities, and give parent Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) training
The Learning Tree, Inc. ($13,228.50) – Woody’s Song School; To helps children with Autism spectrum disorders to reach their full potential; includes parent Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) training
United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile, Inc. ($17,020.67) – UCP Preschool; To provide early learning services for children ages 3 to 5 with and without disabilities
United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile, Inc. ($13,228.50) – Camp SMILE; To provide a five-day camping experience for children and adults with disabilities
Wilmer Hall Children’s Home ($26,457) –Education4Life; To provide mentoring and academic support that targets key educational needs for at-risk youth from K-12

Financial Stability:

Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast, Inc. ($24,201.10) – Employment & Training Program; To provide opportunities for individuals to develop skills, training, or experience that will improve their employment prospects
Lifelines Counseling Services ($52,914) – Consumer Credit Counseling Service; To help consumers achieve financial stability via high-quality counseling and education
Mobile Arc ($44,095) – Job Ready; To broaden the potential of adults with IDD, help them integrate into the community, and assist them in finding viable employment

Essentials:

American Red Cross Serving South Alabama ($22,047.50) – Disaster Cycle Services; To provide disaster preparation and response services
American Red Cross Serving South Alabama ($7,055.20) – Service to the Armed Forces; To provide emergency services for and to work with military and VA health care facilities to meet the needs of service members, veterans, and their families
Catholic Social Services of  the Greater Mobile Area ($26,457) – Emergency Assistance Program; To provide emergency financial assistance for low-income individuals and families
Dumas Wesley Community Center ($35,276) – Sybil H. Smith Family Village (SSFV); To provide transitional housing and wrap-around services such as career development, education, childcare, etc. for homeless women and their children
Family Promise of Coastal Alabama ($13,228.50) – Interfaith Hospitality Network Shelter Program; To provide food and shelter for homeless families
Feeding the Gulf Coast ($17,638) – Child Nutrition Program; To provide meals for children 18 and younger when they are outside of school
Feeding the Gulf Coast ($26,457) – Emergency Food Distribution Program; To collect, warehouse, and distribute food to food insecure individuals and families
Housing First, Inc. ($44,095) – Rapid Rehousing for Individual Adults Program; To provide supportive housing services, including outreach, case management, and temporary financial assistance to single individuals experiencing homelessness
McKemie Place, Inc. ($13,228.50) – Emergency Shelter Program; To provide emergency shelter for unaccompanied women 18 and older
Mobile Arc ($17,638) – Residential Services; To provide shelter and assistance for individuals age 21 or older with developmental disabilities
Mulherin Custodial Home ($26,457) – Life Essentials Program; To provide food, shelter, and 24-hour care for individuals with developmental disabilities
Penelope House, Inc. ($70,552) – Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter; To provide emergency shelter and comprehensive services for victims of domestic violence and their children
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile, Inc. ($8,819) – Family Room Respite Program; To give parents, caregivers, and close family members of pediatric patients a place of refuge in the hospital
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile, Inc. ($13,228.50) – Overnight Lodging Program; To provide temporary housing for families of hospitalized children
St. Mary’s Home ($7,055.20) – Essentials Program; To provide food, shelter, and basic needs for abused, abandoned, and neglected children ages 6 to 19 years old
The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama ($30,866.50) – Family Haven – Shelter; To provide shelter for whole families experiencing homelessness
The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama ($17,638) – Red Shield Shelter; To provide overnight and short-term shelter for homeless men
Wilmer Hall Children’s Home ($8,819) – Transitional Family Program; To provide housing and supportive services for single mothers ages 18-24 and their children to help them transition to independent living
Wilmer Hall Children’s Home ($8,819) – Transitional Living Program; To provide housing and supportive services for single individuals ages 18-24 to help them transition to independent living

Washington County

Health:

AltaPointe Health Systems, Inc. ($8,819) – School-base Therapy: Community Counseling/Behavioral Health; To provide mental health assessment, therapy, and family support on site in K-12 schools
Drug Education Council ($881.90) – South Regional Information & Materials Clearinghouse; To provide drug prevention and educational materials to schools
Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama, Mobile & Gulf Coast Chapter ($1,234.66) – Client Services; To provide advocacy, education, and support services for people of all ages with Epilepsy
Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast, Inc. ($2,658.93) – Medical Assistance Program; To help individuals with healthcare issues and/or disabilities obtain medical supplies, adaptive equipment, home modifications, etc.
Home of Grace for Women, Inc. ($4,409.50) – Substance Abuse Recovery Program; To provide addiction recovery services for women 18 and older
Lifelines Counseling Services ($881.90) – Rape Crisis Center; To provide high-quality, comprehensive services to sexual assault survivors and to educate the community on sexual violence
Regional Child Advocacy Center, Inc. ($2,379.37) – Forensic Interviewing of Children; To support training and equipment/supplies for forensic interviewers
Regional Child Advocacy Center, Inc. ($2,143.90) – Outreach Program; To educate the public on how to protect children from abuse through the SCAN in-school program to 3rd-, 5th-, 7th-, and 9th-graders
Victory Health Partners ($8,819) – Compassionate & Comprehensive Healthcare for Uninsured Adults; To increase access to healthcare of uninsured working adults ages 19 to 65

Education:

Lifelines Counseling Services ($881.90) – Rape Crisis Center – Education Initiative; To provide school-based prevention education programs that focus on healthy relationships and target young people in elementary school through college
The Arc of Clarke County ($3,086.65) – Customized Employment Solutions; To provide high school students with IDD with knowledge of workplace readiness, social skills, job readiness, financial education, and self-advocacy

Essentials:

American Red Cross Serving South Alabama ($6,614.25) – Disaster Cycle Services; To provide disaster preparation and response services
Educational Center for Independence, Inc. ($30,866.50) – Assisted Day Habilitation Program; To provide training in essential skills to adults with IDD to increase their independence
Feeding the Gulf Coast ($1,763.80) – Child Nutrition Program; To provide meals for children 18 and younger when they are outside of school
Feeding the Gulf Coast ($3,527.60) – Emergency Food Distribution Program; To collect, warehouse, and distribute food to food insecure individuals and families
Mobile Community Action, Inc. ($2,645.70) – Emergency Assistance with Financial Literacy; To assist households facing financial crisis with expenses and to provide financial education
Penelope House, Inc. ($2,204.75) – Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter; To provide emergency shelter and comprehensive services for victims of domestic violence and their children
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile, Inc. ($8,819) – Overnight Lodging Program; To provide temporary housing for families of hospitalized children