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News, success stories, and program updates.

High-Quality Education | Success Stories
United Way partner, Girls Inc., helps local student blossom

Girls Inc. provided Jasmine a safe, comfortable after-school space to unearth her passions and expand her reading abilities.

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Comprehensive Basic Needs | Financial Security | Success Stories
United Way 211 helps family after car accident triggers financial crisis

A proud Haskell employee, she was invited to a United Way of Northeast Florida poverty simulation as part of the company’s annual fundraising campaign. United Way poverty simulations immerse participants in the daily challenges of families living in poverty. The experience moved Dana to tears.

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Good Health and Well-being | Success Stories
How a Nassau County teen overcame bullying to chase her dreams of becoming a nurse

  If you told Kiersten London eight years ago she’d one day give monologues in drama class, she wouldn’t believe you. The recent Fernandina Beach…

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Comprehensive Basic Needs | Good Health and Well-being | Success Stories
Veteran permanently disabled by PTSD regains hope and his life

  In March 2018, Chris Dempsey, JAG lawyer and Army combat veteran, found himself sleeping in the woods next to his church in Keystone, Florida….

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Comprehensive Basic Needs | Supporter Profiles | Volunteerism
Local Light: Catholic Charities’ Food Pantry Volunteers are “Real-Life Heroes”

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholic Charities food pantry volunteers have worked tirelessly to make sure individuals facing food insecurity in Jacksonville do not have to go hungry.

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Comprehensive Basic Needs | Supporter Profiles | Volunteerism
Local Light: “Rock Star” Volunteer Honors Mother by Serving Holocaust Survivors

Cecilia Cristol started volunteering with Jewish Family & Community Services because their work in the community with Holocaust survivors deeply moved me and is very personal as my mother is a Holocaust survivor.

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Supporter Profiles | Volunteerism
Local Light: Northeast Florida Volunteer Continues Grandmother’s Legacy of Service

Since 2018, Steffen has been an invaluable asset as a volunteer in United Way's Volunteer and Community Engagement department.

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Comprehensive Basic Needs | Supporter Profiles | Volunteerism
Local Light: East Jacksonville Changemaker Brings Compassion to Community

Nominated by the Kids Hope Alliance, Honey's day-to-day schedule is built around serving residents in need in the Historic East Jacksonville community.

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Volunteerism
United Way volunteer discovers his passion for community service

Steffen's combination of willingness to be of service and ability to guide and encourage others makes him a much-loved asset as a United Way of Northeast Florida volunteer.

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Comprehensive Basic Needs | Press Releases
City announces details on how to apply for emergency rental and utility assistance

The City of Jacksonville’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program will distribute nearly $29 million of federal funds to assist Duval County residents who have been unable to pay their rent or utilities due to a loss of income related to COVID-19.

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Comprehensive Basic Needs
Duval County emergency rent, utility assistance program shares eligibility information

The application for rent and utility assistance will open soon for Duval County residents. In the meantime, read preliminary information on eligibility.

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Success Stories
How Mother Pearl Became the Matriarch of A. Philip Randolph Blvd.

In the late 1960s, Pearl Graham, affectionately known OutEast as “Mother Pearl,” was an 18-year old fleeing an abusive home. Her heart was set on moving to Atlanta, Georgia, but her spirit led her to East Jacksonville.

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Comprehensive Basic Needs
Stories from the call lines: Meet Darius

Darius joined United Way’s 211 team two years ago. As a resource specialist, Darius spends most of his time working with veterans in the community as part of United Way of Northeast Florida’s Mission United initiative, newly established in 2019. When veterans reach out to 211 for assistance, Darius works to connect them to vital social services resources available.

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Comprehensive Basic Needs
Stories from the call lines: Meet Tressie

Tressie joined United Way’s 211 team in October 2019. As a community resource specialist, she answers calls from Northeast Florida residents seeking assistance with things others might take for granted, such as food, clothing and medical care. She assists callers who are facing eviction, foreclosure and utility disconnections.

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Comprehensive Basic Needs | Supporter Profiles
Stories from the call lines: Meet Lavon

Every year, United Ways across the world celebrate Feb. 11 as 211 Day to raise awareness about the 24/7 information and referral hotline -- and the incredible teams that power it. This year, United Way of Northeast Florida is highlighting United Way 211 team members all month long, sharing how their dedication is making a difference in the lives of families and individuals in our community.

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Comprehensive Basic Needs
From ‘hello’ to help, United Way 211 is here

United Way 211 is Northeast Florida’s vital, life-saving helpline that connects anyone in need to available community resources. Our database includes a vast list of organizations and resources like food pantries, shelters, mental-health clinics, financial management services, child-care resources, crisis assistance, employment services and much more. And it’s all free and all available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Community News
Jacksonville Announces Launch of Free Financial Navigator Service to Help Residents Tackle COVID-19 Financial Challenges

In partnership with national nonprofit organization the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund), today Jacksonville announced the launch of a free Financial Navigators program to help residents navigate critical financial issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Community News
United Way of Northeast Florida opens community needs survey

United Way of Northeast Florida has launched a 2021 Community Needs Survey to assess the needs of the community- especially in light of the economic effects of COVID-19.

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Community News
Statement from United Way of Northeast Florida President and CEO Michelle Braun on MacKenzie Scott’s historic gift

We are thrilled to share renowned author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott selected United Way of Northeast Florida to receive a $20 million gift to further...

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Community News | Press Releases
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott recognizes United Way of Northeast Florida with historic gift

United Way of Northeast Florida announced today it received a $20 million donation from renowned author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

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Community News | Press Releases
Miller Electric contributes $1 million to United Way to advance race, equity and social justice in Northeast Florida

The Jacksonville-based, family-owned company joins United Way of Northeast Florida in powering the next generation of race, equity and social justice in the community.

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Press Releases
Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund Delivers More Than $5 Million to Support North Florida Residents Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic

Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund awarded $5.4 million to 112 North Florida nonprofit agencies since the Relief Fund reopened in March to support residents disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Guest Posts
Tax Tip: The CARES Act and Charitable Deductions

A win for you and a win for our community, help United Way help more families in these difficult times by making a tax-deductible contribution.

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Comprehensive Basic Needs | Press Releases
United Way’s Mission United serves 4,000+ veterans during inaugural year

The initiative provides streamlined care coordination for local veterans in need.

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Comprehensive Basic Needs
Sleeping Giant: Evictions loom in Northeast Florida

What many do not realize is eviction has a devastating "snowball effect” on a person’s life.

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Community News | Guest Posts
Kids can’t vote, but you can

By Michelle Braun, president and CEO, United Way of Northeast Florida     One of my favorite quotes is from one of my favorite champions...

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Success Stories
From homeless to housed with one call to United Way 211

Living in a hotel with his wife and daughter, Eric* was a self-employed veteran who had fallen on hard times. He exhausted all of the...

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Success Stories
No car, no care: how a Duval County senior used United Way 211 to regain access to health care

Suffering from kidney failure and without transportation to his medical appointment, Stephen* found himself in dire need of assistance. Stephen, a senior living in Duval...

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Financial Security
United Way RealSense files 17,000+ tax returns despite pandemic

When RealSense sites closed in March due to COVID-19, it didn’t stop the work of United Way of Northeast Florida’s financial stability experts to change lives.

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Because Change Doesn't Happen Alone.