Workplace survey finds United Way donors interested in workforce development

Wichita Falls, TX (August 6, 2009) – During the 2008 campaign, the North Texas Area United Way surveyed their donors, asking questions on each of the pledge forms in their workplace campaign. The United Way wanted to know what their donors’ were interested in for each of the focus areas of education, income and health.

• 70% of those surveyed agreed that helping people obtain job training skills to improve employment opportunities is an important direction for the United Way.

“The results of this donor survey fall right into alignment with the work we are currently doing. This just solidifies to us that our work is relevant and more important now more than ever.”

Judge Woody Gossom – 2009 Board Chair

 

One funded strategy, focusing on workforce development, is a collaboration between the Wichita Adult Literacy Council, the Workforce Resource Center and Region IX Education Service Center. Building Lives of Families through Education andIncome is a three part program aimed at increasing financial stability among working families by focusing on:

Workforce development

Financial Literacy

Adult Education (GED / ESL)

“The goal of this program is to give working families the skills they need to be successful both at home and in the workplace. Job readiness and financial literacy classes are things to help families stay on the path to financial stability.”

Sara Shelton - Director, Wichita Adult Literacy Council

 The United Way is also partnering with the Salvation Army and Straight Street to provide Workforce training to the homeless and to adolescents entering the workplace.

The same survey also showed that 53% of donors expressed an interest in seeing United Way focus on providing after school mentoring programs for children and youth. As a result, the United Way is partnering with after school programs in our community that have an educational component and meet on a more frequent basis.

For more information about the Wichita Adult Literacy Council contact Sara Shelton at 940-767-5257.

More information about the United Way and their funded programs can be found online at www.ntauw.org or by contacting April Canetto, Vice President of Community Impact at 940-322-8638.