Community Programs & Initiatives
In addition to supporting a strong system of quality agencies to meet community needs, United Way believes in forming partnerships among public and private organizations to help with specific issues and needs. Each year, millions of dollars are invested into these programs and initiatives to help people live their best possible lives.
100 Neediest Cases
In partnership with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the 100 Neediest Cases program assists thousands of families in need during the December holidays by distributing cash and gifts-in-kind donations throughout the greater St. Louis area.
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Money Smart Month
Provides hundreds of free classes to kids and adults on money management, setting financial goals, saving for retirement and college, buying a home, relieving debt, building credit, and avoiding identity theft.
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Ready by 21 St. Louis
Ready by 21 St. Louis works to ensure all children and youth have the support they need to be safe, healthy, and successful from birth to adulthood. Ready by 21 provides a unifying agenda to advance standards for leaders and create broader, more effective partnerships in the region. This united approach brings collaboration and alignment to policy, practice, and investments that support child and youth well-being.
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East Side Aligned
East Side Aligned is harnessing the collective power of our partners and community to improve outcomes for children and youth in East St. Louis. We are addressing the complex and critical task of improving child well-being in East St. Louis through a strong network of partnerships and impactful investments. We have a shared vision of a community where we can say “all children are well and ready for life.”
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Imagination Library
United Way of Greater St. Louis and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library want to help more kids have books in their homes. Through the program, books are delivered directly to the child’s home – one per month – until he’s 5 years old.
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Providing Access to COVID-19 Vaccines through Lyft
Access to safe, reliable transportation is a major barrier that many of our neighbors face every day. Our innovative partnership with transportation network, Lyft, aims to provide access to thousands of rides to local people over the next year who are having trouble accessing transportation for COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Program partners include Anthem, The Centene Charitable Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, National Hispanic Council on Aging, National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, National Urban League, the National Action Network and many others.
Learn moreDollar More & Dollar Help
Funded by voluntary contributions from Ameren customers and Ameren Corporation (Dollar More), and Laclede Gas customers and Laclede Gas Company (Dollar Help), these programs help local families stay warm in the winter, cool in the summer and healthy all year long. United Way, Ameren and Laclede Gas share administrative costs so every dollar donated goes to people in need.
Financial Stability Programs
Empowers people to move themselves from poverty to an improved quality of life through financial education, consumer training and access to asset-building resources and supports.