Page 36 - BusinessWest November 28, 2022

UNITED
WAY OF PIONEER VALLEY
1441 Main St., Suite 147 Springfield, MA 01103 (413) 737-2691 www.uwpv.org
YEAR ESTABLISHED
1921
MISSION STATEMENT
United Way of Pioneer Valley mobilizes people and resources to strengthen our communities.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
The United Way of Pioneer Valley helps individuals and families in Hampden County, Granby, and South Hadley move from dependency to self-sufficiency. For more than 100 years, we have created local, innovative solutions for our community’s toughest problems, and we’re constantly identifying more ways to help those in need. Learn more about our latest work at uwpv. org.
Feeding the Hungry: With rising costs
in every direction, many of our neighbors are struggling to put food on the table.
We combat hunger in the Pioneer Valley
by offering food to those who need it in
our region via our Chicopee Cupboard in downtown Chicopee and our Springfield Cupboard, located in our Springfield Service Center.
Empowering Youth: Our Stuff the Bus program provided more than 2,500 new backpacks, filled with necessary school supplies, to youth who are homeless throughout the school districts in the Pioneer Valley. Thrive for Youth, providing basic financial skills for middle-school students, will launch through partnerships with
local nonprofits in January 2023. Keep a lookout for more upcoming youth-oriented programs.
Building Financial Futures: Thrive provides free one-on-one financial coaching in both English and Spanish for anyone seeking assistance with budgeting, credit repair, debt reduction, bank accounts, credit reports, and saving. Thrive can be reached toll-free at (833) 308-4748.
24-7 Lifelines: United Way’s Mass 2-1-1 hotline has taken hundreds of thousands
of calls to connect people to the social services they need. Call2Talk, our emotional- support and suicide-prevention hotline, has an extremely busy satellite office at UWPV, where trained volunteers serve as skilled listeners.
Volunteer Opportunities: At www.uwpv. org, there are multiple opportunities for volunteers to offer their time and talents both at UWPV and at other local nonprofit organizations throughout the year, as well as during our traditional September Day of Caring.
Working Together: The Dora D. Robinson Women’s Leadership Council is dedicated to creating a world of opportunity for everyone. The group volunteers, strategizes, and advocates on behalf of women and girls in Hampden County, Granby, and South Hadley. New members are welcomed year-round.
ANNUAL EVENTS
• Feed a Family (Thanksgiving dinners for families in need)
• Hope for the Holidays (holiday toy drive)
• OnBoard (board member matching throughout the year and biennial tabling event)
• Mass 2-1-1 Day (Feb. 11)
• Power of the Purse (spring distribution of purses filled with toiletries for women in need)
• Boo Bash (family fun day to celebrate Halloween)
• Annual Day of Caring (volunteer opportunities to support needs throughout the region)
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
You can help us strengthen and expand our interconnected network of programs, groups, and organizations to provide the safety net that our community continues to need. Donate to United Way of Pioneer Valley at www.uwpv.org/donate.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
United Way of Pioneer Valley manages a state-of-the-art volunteer portal, easier than ever to use for nonprofits, corporate partners, and volunteers alike. Partners who sign
up through our account receive premium features for free. Volunteers can sign up for an event at volunteer.uwpv.org. Partners can sign up for a nonprofit or corporate account at volunteer.uwpv.org/register/organization. Call our Volunteer Hotline at (833) 386-5687 for more information.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Baker Mary Beth Cooper Julie Dialessi-Lafley Daniel Finnegan Denis Gagnon Jr. David Griffin Scott Grodsky
V. Van Johnson III Matt Maguire Jason Newmark Susan O’Connor Kathleen Plante Sarah Reece Moyah Smith Daniel Warwick Michael Weekes Lora Wondolowski
36 NOVEMBER 2022 GIVING GUIDE
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