United Way of Greater Kansas City

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We're thrilled to be nominated for Kansas City Business Journal's Kansas City's Coolest Offices! You can vote for United Way of Greater Kansas City right now in round two at: https://buff.ly/4hpCKYk

Impact 100 partner Newhouse continues to see a dramatic increase in the number of individuals in our community needing domestic violence services. Last year, its staff provided nearly 600 survivors with transformative services, including trauma counseling. Newhouse’s Chief Clinical Officer, Ondria Thornton, has a personal connection to the work and an impassioned message:    It's tough being a teenager, no matter the circumstances. But imagine being 14, fleeing your home with your mother and siblings, and bouncing from shelter to shelter, seeking safety from an abuser.    “My mom was in a not-so-healthy relationship. We had to leave our house, and we had been to different shelters, eventually coming here, to Newhouse,” said Thornton, who today is the organization’s Chief Clinical Officer.   At Newhouse, her mom was supported by a case manager and therapist. The nonprofit’s team helped the family get a house where they could remain stable long-term.    “As a kid, I was kind of embarrassed that we were here, but I saw the benefits for my mom. She received treatment and was able to process a lot of things that happened,” Thornton said. “I was able to meet with her therapists and case managers, and we were so fortunate to have support from African American women. They were able to help families like ours flee danger, find safety, and strive to obtain stability.”    She now works to help treat the same kind of trauma her family endured and oversees a team of therapists, who each have more than two dozen clients. And there’s a long waiting list for the services Newhouse provides in the community.    “We have to really establish trust and rapport, so each person feels safe before they embark on this journey of healing,” Thornton said. “We talk about what safety looks like, validate their experience and feelings, and let them know they are not alone.”    Each survivor’s journey is personal and unique and often involves overcoming shame, restoring relationships they’ve withdrawn from, and turning toward support. “Domestic violence is often only a small piece of the whole tapestry of what they’re facing,” she continued. “We have to acknowledge that. It’s nothing the client did. It is not their fault.”    While Thornton works with individuals facing trauma directly, she says it’s important for all of us to recognize that we encounter people daily who are walking through it and to approach everyone with empathy.    This October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, she hopes you will be inspired to learn more and take action.    “Domestic violence is a key community issue. And if the community can, just understand how domestic violence affects other areas and sectors in our community, and then we can show up and, support individuals who are fleeing domestic violence or experienced domestic violence and they don't know how to flee,” Thornton said.     Give. Advocate. Volunteer. Whatever you can contribute it can make a meaningful difference. 

Calling all volunteers! We are seeking Community Advisory Members to help review applications for inclusion in the 2025 Impact 100, a group of high performing human service nonprofits that receive funding and other support as a member of this network of United Way community partners. Read the full job description and apply at: https://buff.ly/3tXVXvW The deadline to submit applications is October 31.

What a month! JE Dunn Construction went above and beyond during their United Way campaign, showing just how much they care about our community. Their campaign was full of excitement, with everything from special appearances by KC Current players and the Kansas City Symphony to hands-on projects like packing hygiene kits. Shoutout to Nancy Phelps, Kali McGee, and Mena Haas for their dedication in making this campaign a success. Your hard work brought the community together and made a real impact!

Congratulations to Women United Members who were named to the Ingram's Magazine 250, a list of the 250 most powerful business leaders in #KansasCity. Join us in celebrating Rachel Dwiggins, Madeleine McDonough, Alison Murdock, Quirin, Julie, and Ora Reynolds!

Halloween is creeping up next week, and our partners are ready to celebrate the spooky holiday! Check out these boo-tiful pumpkins made by Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas as part of their campaign kickoff! Which one is your favorite?

Every hour of every day, knowledgeable and caring Community Resource Navigators (CRNs) answer phone calls and online inquiries for 211, our region’s resource and referral system, connecting neighbors to a network of more than 7,000 community services. In 2023, United Way of Greater Kansas City’s 211 team responded to 358,099 contacts in our 23-county service area. To highlight the work of our incredible 211 team, we’re sharing highlights of some of the calls CRNs take each month. Check out our blog post to read a few call highlights for the month of September 2024: https://buff.ly/4gTX2sA

Black & Veatch made a big impact during their recent Global Leadership Summit by packing and donating over 200 STEM kits for students! Leaders from around the world gathered for this summit and had the opportunity to help pack these kits, adding personal messages to inspire young learners interested in STEM. Thank you, Black & Veatch, for your dedication to education and for helping empower the next generation of innovators!

The last day to submit Impact 100 applications is this Friday, October 25! We welcome proposals from nonprofit organizations focused on our community’s most critical health and human services needs facing our region today. For more information about the process and to access the application, visit https://buff.ly/3tXVXvW #KansasCity #Nonprofits #UnitedWay