United Way adds three accredited partners
INDIANAPOLIS – United Way of Central Indiana announced today that three community-based organizations have been approved for accreditation and can apply for United Way grants in basic needs, family opportunity and social innovation as well as access training, technical assistance and capacity building programs beginning this month.Comprised of board, staff and community members, United Way’s accreditation workgroup evaluated each organization on its responsiveness to community needs; diversity and inclusion in governance, operations, community engagement and employment; organizational and financial health; and alignment with United Way impact initiatives.Joining United Way as new accredited partners are Indy Reads, School on Wheels, and TeenWorks. The programs for these three organizations align with United Way’s Family Opportunity goals in helping improve the education, financial stability and well-being of families.Indy ReadsIndy Reads builds literacy, English language and job readiness skills to empower adults and families to reach their full potential and is the only provider of adult education classes focused on the lowest levels of literacy through high school equivalency and job readiness skills. Indy Reads programming offers a curriculum that builds the foundational literacy and language skills needed to get in the door and get to the next level.School on WheelsSchool on Wheels provides one-on-one tutoring and educational advocacy within the school setting for students and families who are considered homeless and live in Marion County, with service areas focused on Center and Washington Township. They also provide tutoring and academic support programs at shelters throughout Indianapolis, including United Way partners The Julian Center, Salvation Army Barton Center, and Salvation Army Ruth Lilly Women and Children's Center. School on Wheels ensures that students impacted by homelessness meet critical academic milestones that lead to future success.TeenWorksTeenWorks provides a progressive employment and post-secondary readiness program for undeserved teens in Marion County and Muncie. The program helps students gain the skills necessary to obtain high-wage, high-demand jobs and helps reduce the economic barriers that these teens might face when accessing post-secondary opportunities. Through TeenWorks programming, students will not only gain the professional development, credentials, and work experience they need to successfully enter Indiana's workforce, but the support they need to achieve greater academic success and improved outcomes for their families.United Way Accreditation For more than 100 years, United Way has fought poverty in the community by coordinating its fundraising efforts and allocating funds to agencies which passed a rigorous certification process managed by civic volunteers. United Way replaced its lengthy certification process in 2018 with a three-year accreditation program. Accreditation is designed to be a more efficient process while maintaining the highest standards of accountability for community-based organizations. United Way accreditation signals that community-based organizations are demonstrating best practices in tackling poverty in the community and are in strong organizational and fiscal standing.To date, there are 89 accredited community-based organizations of United Way of Central Indiana. Applications are reviewed on an invitation-only basis.
MEDIA CONTACT:Jennifer Hashem | Public Relations Manager