United Way of Northern Arizona — Top 10 Highlights from 2024

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Top 10 Highlights from 2024

It has been an extraordinary year for the United Way of Northern Arizona and, more importantly, for the communities we serve. We saw dramatic increases in some programs, added benefits to others, and witnessed the amazing ability of our communities to pull together and collectively improve conditions for all in our region.

Here are our Top 10 highlights of the year:

1. Coconino Community College (CCC) and Northern Arizona University (NAU) provide tuition waivers to KinderCamp™ graduates. The targeted intervention program, coordinated by United Way of Northern Arizona with local school districts, facilitates successful transition for students going into kindergarten who have minimal preschool experience.

Starting with this year’s class, KinderCamp graduates will receive a “Teal Ticket” from Coconino Community College that they can redeem when they graduate from high school. Upon earning their associates degree from CCC, they can then use a “Golden Ticket” from NAU to complete their bachelor’s degree.

2. KinderCamp expansion. During 2024, we laid the groundwork to expand KinderCamp to rural communities throughout northern Arizona, and are proud to announce that the Holbrook Unified School District will be joining the KinderCamp program this coming summer. We are continuing to identify more school districts in part through a grant from The NARBHA Institute.

3. More than $1.2 million in local and federal funds distributed. Using our Community Investment Team model to review and determine the best use of donated dollars, UWNA awarded more than $500,000 to partner agencies for programs focused on early childhood development, positive youth development, and basic needs for those living in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties.

We were also entrusted to recommend distribution of more than $700,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA 2.0) federal funds that had been granted to the City of Flagstaff to assist nonprofits in Flagstaff that provide food, educational assistance, and other resources.

4. Hygiene kits distributed to Flagstaff Shelter Services. We were able to facilitate the distribution of hundreds of winter and summer hygiene kits during the year to Flagstaff Shelter Services. FSS has seen an increased demand in its services this year in part due to temporary closures at another facility.

5. Expanded early childhood literacy efforts. With the help of Read On Arizona, we were able to expand our early childhood literacy efforts on two fronts this year.

We increased enrollment dramatically in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a worldwide program where children from birth to age 5 get a free, age-appropriate book mailed to them free of charge every month. We know that children who are read to in the first years of their life develop a love of reading and learning, which makes this program so vital.

We were also able to start planning for Literacy Fairs designed to target children who are below proficient reading levels. The first of these fairs will be on February 22 at Killip Elementary School.

6. Building Intentional Inclusion for the LGBTQ+ Community. In May, United Way of Northern Arizona – along with Vitalyst Health Foundation, The Richard P. Stahl Charitable Fund, and The Kellenberger + Tollefson Center for LGBTQ Philanthropy at Arizona Community Foundation – hosted a training session for policy leaders and service providers with the tools needed to create safe and affirming environments for LGBTQ+ community members.

This training was followed by “listening sessions” over the past few weeks with LGBTQ+ seniors and LGBTQ+ youth to strengthen partnerships and determine gaps in support for the LGBTQ+ community.

7. Elevate PreK. UWNA worked throughout the year to strengthen this free, day-long, high-quality preschool program. Elevate PreK is designed for 4-year-olds in households with incomes between 101% and 250% of the federal poverty level, meaning families earn too much to be eligible for a child care subsidy from the state Department of Economic Security.

Last month, UWNA convened a meeting of more than 50 business and community leaders, elected officials, and early childhood education experts to discuss how strategic investments in early childhood programs can help support our local workforce and the economic health of our region.

8. Plans for Holbrook Youth Center. Last year, UWNA partnered on a project to help Navajo County teens survey their peers about mental health issues facing youth in northeast Arizona. One key finding was a strong desire among teens for a dedicated space they could call their own—a teen center.

We are now assisting the Grow Arizona Workforce Network to secure funding to convert a donated building in Holbrook into a teen center that would foster positive youth development, provide academic support and mentorships. The plan also includes constructing a second building that would house a resale shop, an artist consignment shop, and vacation rental units that the teens would manage, gaining workforce experience.

9. Liz Archuleta named to Arizona Board of Regents. This past April, UWNA’s President and CEO was appointed by Governor Katie Hobbs to the Arizona Board of Regents, which governs the state’s public universities, including Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University.

“Ms. Archuleta’s extensive history of leadership both within our state and nationally, particularly in areas such as early childhood education, justice reform and health and human services, underscores her profound commitment to public service,” said ABOR Chair Cecelia Mata said. “Her breadth of experience, including her strong partnerships with rural and tribal communities, will no doubt enrich the board’s work.”

10. Our Amazing Volunteers.

During 2024, volunteers served in so many ways throughout northern Arizona.

They were at KinderCamp helping out during parent orientation and graduation ceremonies. They brought supplies to Havasupai Canyon during the flood recovery efforts and participated in the annual cleanup in Eager. Several portrayed an injured airplane passenger for the Operation Ready FLG exercise to test how well our community would handle a mass casualty event.

And dozens of you served as workplace coordinators for our annual fundraising campaign or on our Community Investment Teams, evaluating programs that use donor dollars.

We so appreciate your efforts and your willingness to Lead the Way to make life better in Coconino, Navajo and Apache counties.

Thanks to all our partners, supporters, volunteers, advocates, and donors for making 2024 an incredible year!

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UNITED WAY OF NORTHERN ARIZONA

1515 E. Cedar Ave. Suite D-1 Flagstaff, AZ 86004

928-773-9813 nazunitedway.org

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