$117,000 in funds awarded to community partners since July

United Way of Greater Milwaukee has awarded $47,000 in Urgent Need Fund grants to three of its community partners to support their emerging and urgent needs.

$25,000 was awarded to Guest House of Milwaukee’s Guest House Counseling Clinic. The clinic provides professional, onsite substance abuse and mental health treatment designed to meet specific needs of Milwaukee ’s homeless population. An unexpected, but temporary reduction in funding caused a substantial shortfall for 2010 and left the clinic with a vacant counseling staff position. The grant will allow the clinic to serve more clients in need of treatment, better engage new clients to increase retention and extend treatment when necessary.

$10,000 was awarded to Jewish Family Services’ Exceptional Needs Case Management Program. Because of the economy, the organization lost matching and direct funding for the program, which provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities, physical challenges, and chronic and persistent mental illness. The program helps individuals maximize their ability to normalize their lives regardless of their limitation or disability or ability to pay for mental health services.

$12,000 was awarded to the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center (SSNC). The grant will help cover costs to operate a new school formed in partnership with Banner Academy. The combination middle/high school for at-risk and behavior reassignment students onsite at SSNC in space formerly used by Silver Spring Academy and other space within SSNC’s state-ofthe- art facilities. Banner will serve 127 students beginning September 2010.

This new funding is in addition to the $70,000 granted from United Way’s Urgent Needs Fund to help with flood relief efforts after July’s heavy rains devastated the Milwaukee area.

“The money we raised in 2009 helps us quickly respond the needs in our community. But the truth is that we really need more dollars directed to United Way to use for the greatest, most pressing needs to continue to respond efficiently and effectively,” said Mary Lou Young, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Milwaukee. “This year’s Community Campaign provides an opportunity for all of us to help increase United Way’s ability to support its 160-plus partner programs and still respond to emerging and critical needs.”

Only ten weeks into its fiscal year, the organization has already used $117,000 or more than 50 percent of its $200,000 budget earmarked for its Urgent Need Fund.

United Way of Greater Milwaukee will announce its 2010 fundraising goal during its Community Campaign kickoff at Miller Park on September 2.

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