Yale partners with United Way to help the greater New Haven community

Monday, December 20, 2021

Members of the Yale Women's Basketball team volunteering in the community — Jenna Clark, Camilla Emsbo, John Miller, and Rashana Miller helped out in a community garden, November 2021.

Yale President Peter Salovey kicked off this year’s Yale United Way campaign with a simple call to action. “Your support is needed to make sure children and families in our community get a good start in life, can put food on the table, and develop strong work skills for a brighter future.” Led by co-chairs Fred Borrelli and Meghan Dahlmeyer, a core committee, and a team of departmental champions, the campaign aims to raise $1,400,000 and hopes to engage more than 2,000 Yale supporters this year. Donations from Yale faculty and staff members help United Way address education, health, and financial stability issues across the twelve-town Greater New Haven region.

Local families are struggling financially due to the pandemic

United Way has been solving community problems for the last 100 years — and has quickly adapted to meet growing community needs since the start of the pandemic. More families are struggling. While the economic outlook is improving for some, the impact of the pandemic is uneven. In Greater New Haven, 44% of families qualify as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), meaning they have a job, or maybe more than one, but can’t make ends meet on even the most basic budget.

Infographic, showing how these families are feeling the pressures of the pandemic more than those of us who are better off. — The graphic above shows how these families are feeling the pressures of the pandemic more than those of us who are better off.

Yale core committee co-chair Fred Borrelli describes the campaign’s role in connecting people during the pandemic. “Our Yale-United Way campaign provides an opportunity for faculty and staff to come together to help improve the lives of our fellow community members at a time when they need us most. It is an honor and privilege to be part of the Yale community, and the United Way campaign confirms that sentiment.”

It’s easy to look at the work of United Way and find a cause that means something to each person who donates. Last year alone, Yale donors helped reach over 100,000 of our neighbors in need. United Way’s recent ‘Learner Engagement Program’ stands out for its impact.

Partnering with local organizations to help children return to school and thrive

Last year, over 30% of New Haven public school students, nearly 6,000 in total, were identified as chronically absent and not fully engaged in remote learning. The crisis has exposed vast disparities, especially for low-income families. Compounding the trauma of poverty and the pandemic are the effects of economic and social inequities that have become more pronounced. United Way recognized the problem and did what it does best, bringing together the right partners and resources to tackle it head-on. Working with the public school system, United Way partnered with Ice the Beef, a local grassroots organization that consists of people from at-risk neighborhoods.

An 'Ice the Beef’ canvasser going to door-to-door to help connect New Haven Public School students who face barriers returning to the classroom. — An ‘Ice the Beef’ canvasser going to door-to-door to help connect New Haven Public School students who face barriers returning to the classroom.

Over a decade ago, Ice the Beef began its work in the community to reach people in New Haven who were impacted by rising gun violence. While COVID-related issues may be different, the approach is the same: Ice the Beef canvassers hit the streets, meeting families on their terms to address the barriers students face when returning to the classroom. The program is designed to understand each family’s unique situation and immediately connect them to community and school resources to prevent further learning loss, address mental health challenges, and meet other basic needs.

Since the program’s launch in July 2021, canvassers have visited an impressive 4,700 homes and have held over 2,300 successful conversations with student families. Not surprisingly, the program has found that the ability to pay rent and utilities and obtain transportation is among the top barriers families face.

The power of your donation

This is where donor support comes in — by giving to United Way, donors are helping to knit the community back together and supporting an organization that can meet immediate needs as they arise. Donations create connections, empower families to share their problems, and gather the resources to address them. Not many other organizations are able to bring this type of work to life.

Since 2016, Yale faculty and staff members have donated $6,500,000 and provided thousands of volunteer hours through its partnership with United Way. The numbers are impressive, but so are the stories people have shared about the program’s impact. Everyone can be part of this incredible work. By learning more about what United Way does in the Greater New Haven area, you can be part of these recovery efforts and help create a better community.

To make a gift to this year’s campaign, please visit the Yale-United Way website and click “Give Today.”