Working together with a broad range of community partners - partner agencies, schools, faith-based groups, businesses, energized individuals, local government and more - we're seeking results that no one can accomplish alone.
To highlight, the United Way of Florence County supports 64% of the program costs for the Pee Dee Big Brothers Big Sisters, a one-on-one relationship building program geared towards “at-risk” children. In 2009-2010, this program boasted great success with the help of the United Way, with 94% of participants showing improvement in abstaining from negative behavior at school and at home. Our support of the Emergency Services in our region in 2010 resulted in over 3000 individuals’ and families’ needs being met through three of our partner agencies. Last year, the Salvation Army in Florence, SC was able to provide 58% of their emergency housing and utility assistance program because of our support. The availability of this program prevented homelessness in our area and allowed families to maintain the dignity of having access to basic needs. In 2010, our support funded 22% of the programming costs of Mercy Medicine, which offers one of two accesses to free health care in our region – their free retinal clinic is one-of-a-kind in the state. To learn more about our Community Impact, click here.
Directly out of our office, we sponsor several programs and initiatives that have tremendous impact in our community. STUFF the Bus occurs each Fall. This year, we have organized the collaboration between 35 leading community businesses allowing students and teachers at 32 schools in 3 districts to receive needed supplies for the new school year. Our annual Day of Caring has been a staple of the United Way for nearly 20 years. On September 17, 2010, we coordinated 250 people in works of volunteerism through 65 projects at 25 sites across our county. This initiative has become a great asset to our partnering nonprofits, allowing them to retain thousands of dollars for direct use in their programs rather than pay for these necessary projects to be completed.
Click the links to the left to learn about all of our initiatives and programs.