Special Needs Grants have a big impact

If you read our website today, you will see a story about the Special Needs Grants just announced by Valley United Way's Board of Directors. Fourteen agencies will share in over $33,000 in new grants in addition to an earlier grant of more than $12,000 to Valley Regional Adult Education through a special fund set up by Sikrosky Aircraft to foster improving high school graduation rates.

The Special Needs Grants program was set up as a result of the growth of donor designated funds going to specific areas of need rather than to individual agencies or into the general allocations pool. Originally, there were eight different areas defined, but that number has now grown to fifteen because of choices made through different campaigns. The amount of funds available varies widely from year to year and program area to program area. The total has grown from approximately $13,000 in 2003 to over $47,000 this year.

The Special Needs grant program is run separately from Unite Way's regular allocation process, but volunteers are still the key to the process. The applications are made on-line, and then our Allocations Committee under the able leadership of Chairman Peter Galla reviews all of the applications before making recommendations to the Board. This year the applications were more than double the dollars available for distribution, making the review process a difficult one for the committee members.

In the end, their recommendations and the Board decisions will have a wide impact across the Valley. The Red Cross will use their $600 grant to meet basic needs for those in need while the Boys & Girls Club will be using a grant of over $2,000 for their drama club. The Valley Parish Nurse Program will use $2,200 to provide child seat restraints. The Valley YMCA will use their money on a playground for their new day care program. At the opposite end of the age spectrum, the VNA of South Central CT will be using their $4,000 grant to help seniors with chronic medical conditions manage their health issues.

Since 2003, we have allocated over $200,000 to 36 different agencies that provide direct services here in the Valley area. Though the individual grants may have been smaller in nature, the cumulative effect has been enormous.

For more information about Valley United Way, visit our website at www.valleyunitedway.org.