Last year, thanks to our donors:

Basic Needs

• More than 10,500 people received help in becoming financially stable through better jobs, reliable transportation, financial education and tax credits.
• United Way 2-1-1—our community help line—recorded a 63 percent increase in calls for tax preparation assistance after the Claim It! effort began
• More than $5 million in grants, including four new job-training programs, were awarded to programs that will help place 6,000-7,000 people in better jobs each year between 2008 and 2010.
• Almost 4.8 million additional pounds of food were collected for local food shelves.

Health and Independence

• More than 450 youth and their parents learned new strategies for combating obesity and type 2 diabetes by improving nutrution and physical activity.
• More than 4,700 children ages 5 and under received dental services through United Way Bright Smiles. A majority of the children had never received dental services before and 42 percent needed and received follow-up care.
• Some 16,500 parents, pregnant women and kids received oral health instruction encouraging healthy habits which will reduce costly future problems.
• Over 110,000 seniors and people with disabilities received support to maximize their independence.

Nurturing Children and Families

• Over 1,500 youth took part in the two-day youthrive PeaceJam conference featuring a keynote address by Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. United Way partnered with youthrive to support the year-long peace-building and service learning project for youth in North Minneapolis.
• About 14,000 parents learned skills to better care for their children and provide a stable, nurturing environment at home.
• More than 67,500 families, including 24,000 children, received support to resolve family violence and conflict.