4-Star Rating Puts UWBCKR in Top 2% Nationally

For the ninth consecutive year, Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest evaluator of charitable agencies, awarded United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region its coveted 4-Star rating. Only 2 percent of charities evaluated nationwide by Charity Navigator have achieved this mark nine times running. Charity Navigator rates nonprofits in two areas of performance: financial…

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Jobs, Homes and Financial Stability: See What Our Income Quarter is All About

When more than 530 jobseekers walked into United Way’s Career Life Expo last February, they found 83 employers ready to talk about job opportunities. But day to day, many people can’t pursue such opportunities because of barriers such as lack of identification, incomplete education, lack of housing and no transportation. That’s why the Expo also…

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Family Health Center Employee Wins Sweepstakes Car

When Mary Lewis received her hard-earned bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University last Saturday, she thought that would be the highlight of her month. Turns out she has two great things to celebrate. Lewis, Practice Director at Family Health Center (FHC), is this year’s United Way Sweepstakes automobile winner. She was chosen at random from…

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United Way Sets Holiday Hours

United Way will have limited office hours during the upcoming holiday week. Our Battle Creek office will be closed Dec. 24-Jan. 1. The Kalamazoo office at 709 S. Westnedge Ave. will be open Dec. 26-28 and 31 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily for supporters who wish to drop off year-end donations. (If you…

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Making Holidays Brighter

Holiday preparation is in full swing at the Portage Community Center. Over the next few weeks, staff and volunteers will distribute 63 food baskets, hand out donated gifts to 89 adopted families and celebrate with 114 children at the annual holiday party. They’ve already delivered 124 Thanksgiving baskets. “It’s a very busy time right now,”…

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#Faithfully United: Faith Community Answers Call to Action

A new partnership with the faith-based community drew together a diverse and enthusiastic group of volunteers. More than 50 people gathered at Stones Church on Nov. 29 to assemble 1,000 weekend food packs for food-insecure families throughout our region. The volunteer effort was part of Faithfully United, a pilot initiative launched this fall that aims…

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Share Your Story: How Has United Way Touched Your Life?

This week, we’re sharing impact. We want you to know what a difference you have made in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo with your dollars, your support, your volunteerism, and your advocacy. We’ve shared some results in Income, Health, Education and Basic Needs, and we’ve shared just a few stories from people who have been personally…

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Taking Impact Personally

Chris Sargent, President & CEO, reflects personally on Impact Week 2018. Every now and then, someone asks what draws me to the work of United Way. The answer is easy: For me, it’s personal. I’ve spent much of my life living in this area. I have children here. Grandchildren, too. This is my home, and…

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Impact Week: Reaching That First Birthday

When a community commits itself to safeguarding the health of its most vulnerable people, that means more babies—especially babies of color—will celebrate their first birthday. United Way BCKR set a goal to improve infant mortality rates in families of color and low income to 6.0 per 1,000 births by 2025. Tristen’s Story Before his sophomore…

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