2019-2020 Report to the Community

A Message From Our President & CEO

Live United

As we’ve done for over 75 years, Chester County United Way focuses on more than just a single issue or community. We invest in strategies and solutions that fight for the education, health and financial stability of every person in Chester County.

We do this through our Community Impact Fund. Each year, United Way grants funding for programs that advance our mission of building better lives and stronger communities. Agencies go through an extensive evaluation process to ensure the funded programs meet United Way standards for effectiveness and efficiency.

2019-2020 Program Grantees

Health

Education

Financial Stability

“I so enjoy coming to the West Chester Area Senior Center, they offer so much and truly care about the seniors health and wellbeing,” said Susan, a senior who attends the center four days a week. “The classes, presentations, and speakers are always interesting and helpful – I feel fortunate to be a part of this community.” Susan enjoys attending a variety of classes related to well-balanced nutrition such as: healthy food selection and cooking, understanding food labels, what to eat to promote good bone and heart health, how to prevent diabetes, and much more. She believes that these classes have made a tremendous difference in her approach to health and has resulted in keeping her blood pressure down, improved her stamina and strength. She is among many who share their experiences related to improved health whether it is news of reduction in medications, healthy weight loss, improved eating habits, better sleep, and/or feeling good in general.

One of the 6th grade students began in the Charles A Melton Center’s New Directions After-School Program when he was in 4th grade. Due to challenging circumstances within his family, he and his younger sister moved to Philadelphia for the 2018-2019 school year before returning to West Chester and the New Directions After-School Program in the fall of 2019. When the family returned to West Chester, the staff and coaches met with this student’s grandmother at the beginning of the year and made a plan to support him for a successful school year. He attended the program every day, met with an Academic Coach for help with his homework, and was given leadership roles. In previous years, he had a difficult time choosing positive ways to express and cope with his emotions. This year, he showed increasing ability to express his emotions, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts positively. He has developed strong study habits, and his reading skills, especially fluency and comprehension, have consistently improved. The program continued to support this student with virtual 1:1 tutoring and mentoring sessions throughout the spring school closures and summer, and he has continued to grow and develop as a student and leader.

With the birth of her daughter in 2019, Lauren knew that she and her two kids had outgrown the one-bedroom apartment she had rented for the three previous years. The landlord was also delinquent in making needed repairs, leading to living conditions that were less than ideal. But there was a barrier to Lisa making a move—she only earned about $1,300 a month in her supportive employment position, one that was created for individuals like her who have a serious and persistent mental illness that makes retaining traditional employment difficult. Lauren wasn’t able to save up enough to put a down payment on a new rental. Open Hearth’s Housing Program Coordinator, Annie, met with Lauren to determine her eligibility for assistance and to participate in the Financial Insight and Resource Management (FIRM) assessment. Annie worked with Lauren to help her develop a monthly spending plan that was a true reflection of all her expenses. Annie was also able to assist Lauren in creating a long-term financial goal plan that provided Lisa with a blueprint for her next steps. Lauren was found eligible for assistance with a security deposit and is now happily living along with her two children in a two-bedroom apartment that is more spacious and much better maintained.

COVID-19 Response Fund

Chester County United Way launched the Chester County COVID-19 Response Fund allowing us to deploy resources to community-based organizations offering crucial support to families and individuals in need immediately during the Global Pandemic.

$814,553

Total dollars contributed by 314 individuals, corporations and foundations

109

109 grants were distributed to 87 organizations in our community

$292,000 granted towards food insecurity
$155,500 granted towards continuing services
$89,500 granted towards homeless prevention
$71,000 granted towards medical needs
$39,758 granted towards mental health services
$166,795 remain for additional COVID-19 related response and recovery needs
In partnership with Kimberly-Clark, we were able to donate 2,500 bottles of body wash, 5,000 toothbrushes and 10,000 rolls of toilet paper
We distributed 3 pallets of Banana Republic clothing valued at an estimated $10,000

ALICE

Although Chester County is the wealthiest county in Pennsylvania, there is still a poverty rate of 7%. The real need in our community becomes clearer when we consider there is a 20% rate of ALICE households. That’s 20% of our neighbors, friends and families going unable to afford basic necessities. We have seen the biggest impact from COVID-19 related causes on the ALICE population.

Who is ALICE?

ALICE stands for… Asset Limited. Income Constrained. Employed.

ALICE has income above the FEDERAL poverty line, which makes ALICE ineligible for many state and federal programs
ALICE cannot meet the basic needs required to live in Chester County without help
ALICE is hard-working
ALICE needs short-term help, not long term hand-outs
ALICE is every gender, race, age and ethnicity
ALICE contributes to your quality of life
ALICE is your NEIGHBOR!

DID YOU KNOW…That supporting Chester County United Way, you’re supporting our neighbor ALICE?

Learn More About ALICE

2019-2020 Pilot Results:

UWCC assisted in 177 appeals
Lowered their assessments by 70%
Average taxes will amount to 30% of what they owed in the previous year

Mobile Home Project

Mobile homes depreciate over time, unlike other forms of real estate. Because the tax assessment system makes no provision for that reality, mobile home taxes are accurate only in the first years after purchase, and become increasingly inaccurate each year thereafter.

Ultimately, some of these homeowners end up with a tax liability several times higher than reasonably expected. Mobile homes are the only form of property that require periodic assessment appeals to maintain equitable agreement to actual value.

A small local reassessment project came to the attention of Chester County United Way who, after learning more about the issue, were determined to help this population and focus the reassessments on two specific neighborhoods as a pilot endeavor. Chester County United Way partnered with the Honey Brook Food Pantry and engaged Legal Aid of SEPA to assist with hearings and paperwork.

After a successful 2019-2020 pilot, Chester County United Way has partnered with Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania to continue this important work and scale it to assist all mobile home owners in Chester County who may be in a similar situation.

Learn More About The Mobile Home Project

Before Jim learned about Chester County United Way’s Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Project, he was paying nearly $1,200 a year in property taxes. As a retired man on a fixed income, that was a heavy burden on him, especially in the midst of a pandemic. His financial stress became heightened.

Once he learned about the Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Project, he figured it may help him save a little extra on taxes and will relieve some of his financial pressures. “The whole process was very simple and handled completely by the United Way, including any court cost,” said Jim. “My time investment was approximately a half hour and my monetary cost was $0!”

As a result of this project, Chester County United Way was able to save Jim nearly $800 a year in property taxes. “I am on a fixed retirement income and the extra $70 per month will help a lot with my monthly expenses,” said Jim.

After a successful year of assisting residents, Chester County United Way, in partnership with Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, will continue to offer assistance to mobile home owners in Chester County to file for property tax reassessment appeals in 2021. We will do all the work and pay the fees on behalf of the homeowners in the program.

Leadership Chester County’s class of 2020 persevered through the pandemic and graduated without a hitch! As always, graduates bring back to their organizations valuable business, leadership and entrepreneurial skills, with new knowledge of the local economic landscape and new skills in management, planning and strategic thinking.

Since its first year 2001-2002, when it was known as “Chester County Leadership Connection”:

482 individuals have graduated from the course
136 businesses, nonprofit organizations and municipal entities have sponsored
this program
427 nonprofits have experienced the benefits

Learn More About LCC

Corporate Partners

Chester County United Way gratefully acknowledges the corporate partners, nonprofit agencies, foundations and other organizations whose financial and in-kind support help us fight to improve lives in Chester County.

View All of Our Corporate Partners

TOP 10 CAMPAIGNS 2019-2020

Financials

Source: Audited Financials 2019-2020