United Way Fox Cities

Partners and Grants

United Way Fox Cities invests in over 100 partners, grants, and United Way initiatives every year that help solve critical issues in the Fox Cities.

To create lasting change in our community, we partner with key stakeholders and area experts to identify our community’s greatest needs and determine strategies that result in measurable change in our three areas of focus: Health, Education, and Financial Stability. 

Volunteers help us invest in initiatives, grants, collaborations, and programs at local partner agencies that work together to support our strategies. We monitor funded programs to ensure financial accountability and measure progress.

Learn more about partners and grants below or click here to learn more about applying for a grant. 

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Every year, funding from generous donors gets invested back into the community by dedicated volunteers and staff, making a meaningful difference in the lives of those it has touched through our family of annually funded nonprofit partners.

Here’s some of the great work happening in our community through our current annually funded programs.

Partners

ADVOCAP, INC.
advocap.org
Financial Stability
Winnebago County Nutrition Program

AMERICAN RED CROSS IN NORTHEAST WISCONSIN CHAPTER
redcross.org/wisconsin
Financial Stability
Disaster Services - Fox Cities
Services to the Armed Forces

APPLETON PUBLIC LIBRARY
apl.org
Education
Reach Out and Read Partners - Fox Cities

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN, INC.
bbbsecw.org
Education
Community-Based Mentoring Program
Site-Based Mentoring Program

BOYS' & GIRLS' BRIGADE, INC.
bgbrigade.com
Education
Building Leaders Program

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE FOX VALLEY, INC.
bgclubfoxvalley.org
Health
Center for Grieving Children
Youth and Family Counseling Program

Education
After School Program
Page Turners Early Literacy Tutoring Program
STAR (Scholars on Target to Achieve Results) Program

BRIDGES CHILD ENRICHMENT CENTER, INC.
bridgescec.org
Education
Systems of Support Program
Tuition Assistance Program

CAP SERVICES, INC.
capservices.org
Financial Stability
Skills Enhancement Program
Community 2000 (previously a program of VPI)

CASA OF THE FOX CITIES
casafc.org
Education
CASA Child Advocacy Program

CATALPA HEALTH
catalpahealth.org
Health
Case Management Program

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF GREEN BAY, INC. - FOX CITIES
catholiccharitiesgb.org
Health
Counseling and Treatment Services

CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL, INC.
ccrrfoxvalley.org
Education
Child Care Provider Recruitment Program
Parent Referral Program

CHRISTINE ANN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICES, INC.
christineann.net
Health
Client Advocacy Services
Youth Advocacy Services and Prevention

Financial Stability
Emergency Shelter and Helpline Program

CITY OF MENASHA PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
menashawi.gov/departments/health/index.php
Health
Menasha Healthy Smiles

COMMUNITY FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS, INC.
cfrcseymourbc.com
Education
Family Enrichment Program

COVEY, INC.
covey.org
Health
Out-of-Home Respite

FAMILY SERVICES OF NORTHEAST WISCONSIN, INC.
familyservicesnew.org
Health
Counseling Clinic

Education
Community Connections Program
Parent Connection - Family Wellness Program
Parent Connection - Home Visiting Program

FOX VALLEY LITERACY COUNCIL, INC.
foxvalleylit.org
Financial Stability
Building a Literate Community

FOX VALLEY MEMORY PROJECT
foxvalleymemoryproject.org
Health
Memory Cafes and On a Positive Note Chorus
Mindworks Class and Caregiver Support Groups

FRIENDSHIP PLACE, INC.
friendshipplaceinc.com
Health
Social, Educational, and Recreational Outreach

GIRL SCOUTS OF THE NORTHWESTERN GREAT LAKES, INC.
gsnwgl.org
Education
Educational Program
Membership Program
Reaching Out Program

GOODWILL NCW (Merged with Financial Information & Service Center/FISC)
goodwillncw.org/financial-and-debt-solutions/
Financial Stability
Community Education and Awareness
Individual and Family Financial Counseling

HARBOR HOUSE DOMESTIC ABUSE PROGRAMS, INC.
harborhousewi.org
Health
DV & SV Victim Services
Outreach, Prevention, and Intervention Program

Financial Stability
Shelter Program

LEGAL ACTION OF WISCONSIN, INC.
legalaction.org
Financial Stability
Civil Legal Advice and Representation to Low-Income Persons

LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF WISCONSIN & UPPER MICHIGAN, INC.
lsswis.org
Financial Services
Make the Ride Happen

NAMI FOX VALLEY, INC.
namifoxvalley.org
Health
Education and Outreach Program
Support Program

NEENAH / MENASHA DIAL-A-RIDE
ci.neenah.wi.us/directory/
Financial Stability
Transportation for Older Adults

NON-PROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING-BASED RENTAL SERVICES (NAHBRS)
outagamiehousing.us/nahbrs
Financial Stability
Transportation Shuttle Program

PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC.
partnershipchc.org/
Health
Dental Program
Medical Program

PILLARS, INC.
pillarsinc.org
Financial Stability
Crisis Housing Program
Supportive Housing Program

REACH, INC.
reachcounseling.com
Health
Advocacy Program
Counseling Program
Education Program
Sexual Abuse Treatment Program

REBUILDING TOGETHER FOX VALLEY
rtfv.org
Financial Stability
Safe and Healthy Housing Program

SAMARITAN
samaritanfoxvalley.com
Health
Counseling Program
Connected Community Wellness Screen Program

SOAR FOX CITIES, INC.
soarfoxcities.com
Health
Able Families (Caregiver and Family Support)
Community Education and Outreach
Empowered for Life (Healthy and Able Individuals)

Education
Children and Youth Program

VPI
vpind.com
Health
Community Outreach Center - Youth & Young Adult Services

Education
Early Intervention Birth to 3 Program

Financial Stability
Thrive Career Academy

VILLA HOPE, INC.
villahopeinc.com
Financial Stability
Residential Services for CBRF and SAP

VIVENT HEALTH
viventhealth.org
Health
Life Care Services
Prevention Services

YMCA OF THE FOX CITIES
ymcafoxcities.org
Health
Older Adults Programs
Special Needs Programs
YMCA Camp Hope

Education
Birth to Five Child Care Program
Birth to Five Growth and Development Program
School Age Program
Youth Development Program

YOUTH GO, INC.
youthgo.org
Education
Education Program
Recreation Program
Support and Wellness Program

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United Way provides grant funding for innovative solutions to our community’s issues. Take a look at this list of our current grantees and all of the good they’re doing. Click here to learn how to apply for a grant.

GRANTS FUNDED 2018 – 2022

Health Grants

Catalpa Health
Mental Health Pediatric Care Navigation Program
Total Grant Amount: $150,000
Grant Period: 2021, 2022

Catalpa Health serves more than 8,500 kids annually in the Fox Valley, with some families traveling from outside of the Fox Valley to receive care. Half of the clients served are of financial need and often have additional, significant barriers to accessing mental health services and completing treatment.

The expansion of the program will add three full time cases managers over two years and will significantly increase the number of children served. It will also serve more children through the urgent care clinic and provide more comprehensive wrap around support for families with significant needs such as connections to community resources and navigation through the mental health continuum.

Community Benefit Tree
Family Support
Total Grant Amount: $25,000
Grant Period 2022

When serious illness or disability strikes, the whole family is affected. Each person in a family plays a specific role that is part of the family’s everyday functioning, meaning the illness of one family member disrupts the whole family. It is through this lens that the Family Support Program works towards supporting families in medical crises by offering case management, resource navigation, financial planning, basic needs support, and more. Families receive ongoing guidance as they navigate a stressful season, leading to better mental, emotional, and financial well-being. At any time, there are between 35-45 families on the long-term caseload. Family support specialists help these families set and reach goals over 1-5 years.

Family Services of Northeast WI
Community Connections
Total Grant Amount: $270,438
Grant Period: 2018, 2019, and 2020

Community Connections is a collaboration between Family Services and Outagamie County, Department of Health and Human Services, Children, Youth and Families Division to prevent the incidence of child abuse and neglect. The rapid-response program will provide 24-weeks of voluntary, pro-active services to families at-risk for child maltreatment, but not currently involved in the child protection system.

N.E.W. Mental Health Connection
Qualitative Study of Teen Suicide-Related Behaviors
Total Grant Amount: $90,000
Grant Period: 2019 and 2020

The Qualitative Study of Teen Suicide-Related Behaviors is designed to identify the reasons why our youth are attempting suicide at twice the rate of the rest of the state and the nation. The research will also include an environmental scan of social media to better understand its role in self-harm and suicide-related behaviors. The project will be led by a research team from the Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine.

N.E.W. Mental Health Connection, Appleton Police Dept., Outagamie County Mental Health, and Medical College of WI
Crisis Response Team
Total Grant Amount: $100,000
Grant Period: 2021, 2022

The Crisis Response Team is a co-responder model, where a mental health clinician, employed by Outagamie County, will be embedded in Appleton Police Department. Together, the behavioral health officer, dressed in plain clothes, and the clinician will respond to calls for service that are related to mental health. Meeting individuals who are having a mental health crisis in their home allows that individual to have a greater sense of security, safety, and autonomy. This coupled with a response in an unmarked police car and an officer in plain clothes will decrease the likelihood of the crisis escalating unnecessarily.

N.E.W. Mental Health Connection
Mental Health Navigator
Total Grant Amount: $30,000
Grant Period: 2022

The Mental Health Navigator assists law enforcement, across the Tri-County, in getting individuals in crisis connected to the mental health system of care. The primary responsibilities of the MHN are to provide case management services to individuals referred, which includes connecting them to an outpatient mental health provider, ideally within 7 days, and providing follow-up through three complete appointments to ensure engagement. The MHN also has the ability to assist individuals with transportation to/from community mental health appointments (within a 30-mile radius) through prearranged transportation services, support to meet basic needs, and reminder calls to prevent no-showing.

Samaritan Counseling Center
Centralized Clinical Intake Specialists
Total Grant Amount: $150,000
Grant Period: 2021, 2022

Currently, clients who call for an intake have to wait between 2 and 4 weeks for the appointment. In order to address the wait time two Centralized Clinical Intake Specialist (CCIS) positions have been created. There will be one point of entry for clients that is more therapeutic in nature and responsive to the level of care needed and provide therapeutic point of triage, assessment and referral by a treatment provider. The positions will allow clients who have concerns of a more urgent nature to be seen more promptly.

The CCIS will gather a brief screen from the client regarding their needs. If the client is determined to be appropriate for outpatient treatment they will be scheduled with one of the CCIS or another therapist for further assessment. If they are determined to not be appropriate for outpatient care during the screening process, or if a different treatment specialty is recommended, an appropriate referral will be made. This will enable Samaritan to refer the client to the most appropriate care provider before having to come in for an intake only to have to be referred elsewhere.

Tri-County Dental
The Dental Bus
Total Grant Amount: $50,000
Grant Period: 2020

The Dental Bus offers free dental care to all children who qualify for the free or reduced lunch program in their schools in the three counties we serve; Winnebago, Outagamie, and Calumet. This grant allowed for the purchase of a new dental bus. Services are provided to children Pre-K through 6th Grade. Typically, the bus arrives at a school on a Monday to do the exams including x-rays. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday the bus returns to clean their teeth, apply sealants, and provide oral health education. On Friday, restorative work is performed on the bus.

Us 2 Behavioral Health
Building Leadership Capacity
Total Grant Amount: $25,000
Grant Period: 2022

Since inception, the agency has grown from two unpaid volunteers (the Founders) to 18 full-time employees and with the intent to increase clinical providers during 2023. With this growth strategy, Us 2 has identified a major constraint; business/operational resources have not grown in parallel with clinical department. Today, the Director of Operations & Finance is bound in managing day-to-day business tasks. This includes bookkeeping, marketing, website management, technology, procurement, project management, human resources, etc. Us 2 reached a point where this is no longer feasible for an agency of this size. The solution to this problem is to hire a full-time Business Manager to free up capacity of this Director role that will enable them to allocate incremental resources.

Education

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley
STAR (Scholars on Target to Achieve Results), formerly Scholars of Excellence Program
Total Grant Amount: $230,000
Grant Period: 2018, 2019, and 2020

STAR is a collaboration among school districts, post-secondary institutions, and community partners to improve the academic achievement levels, graduation rates, and post-secondary enrollment rates of African-American youth.

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley
Page Turners Literacy Tutoring Program
Total Grant Amount: $75,000
Grant Period: 2019 and 2020

Page Turners aims to reduce the disparities in third grade reading proficiency by providing individualized reading instruction to kindergarten through third grade students who are ranked in the bottom 25-30% of reading proficiency. The program will be offered at five elementary schools and the Boys and Girls Clubs locations in Appleton and Menasha. The school sites include: Badger, Columbus, Foster, and Highland elementary schools in Appleton and the Little Chute elementary school.

Catalpa Health
Diversity, Ethics, and Inclusion Training
Total Grant Amount: $10,000
Grant Period: 2022

Funding will help Catalpa Health provide a one-day training session in September 2020 for Catalpa Health team members as well as providers within the community, centered around deconstructing systemic racism and exploring ethical considerations related to cultural diversity. The goal is to increase provider competency in serving different populations and to consider how to better recognize concepts of marginalization and privilege. The training will also increase equity and inclusivity both within Catalpa Health, and also the community at large. 

Empowered Tutoring (formerly Life Tools Foundation)
Shoulders to Stand On
Total Grant Amount: $11,500
Grant Period: 2022

Empowered Tutoring was created in 2014 to provide quality 1:1 tutoring for students in Grades K-12 whose families could not otherwise afford the cost of tutoring. The agency provides math, reading, science and ACT prep tutoring, plus they mentor students in life skills (organization, accountability, perseverance, confidence, etc.). These skills allow other students to excel academically and to pursue whatever it is they are called to do with their lives. The families served must meet a specific level of financial need. The families live in the greater Fox Cities area, from Oshkosh to Green Bay. Empowered Tutoring have served 500+ students since the agency began.

The Shoulders to Stand On program is in partnership with schools in the Fox Cities where they provide mentoring to high school girls who need extra help in life skills, academics and taking that next step after high school. They project to serve 70+ students this academic year. With the possible expansion to the Appleton area high schools, this number could increase to that of 85-90 young people. 

Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin
Parent Connection – Family Wellness Program
Total Grant Amount: $13,000
Grant Period: 2022

Parent Connection serves first time parents prenatal to age three with home visitation, screening, and developmental information. Family Wellness serves any parent or caregiver with children birth to 18. The outpatient counseling program provides therapy services to individuals and families from age five to senior. Clients have mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma response, family conflict, and serious mental illness. The therapy team provides school based mental health providers in the PATH program and to high school students in Triumph program. 

Goodwill North Central WI
Skills to Build
Total Grant Amount: $25,000
Grant Period: 2022

Goodwill NCS programs provide opportunities to people with barriers and disadvantages and arm them with tools to reach their full potential. Focus on skill building by teaching social skills, digital skills, and employability skills to help individuals overcome their barriers to reach their goals. The Skills to Build Program will serve individuals and youth in the Fox Cities who face barriers or disadvantages. This includes at-risk youth, youth, individuals with disabilities, individuals experiencing poverty or lack of affordable housing, and veterans. 

Menasha Joint School District and Fox Valley Technical College
Menasha Even Start Family Literacy Program
Total Grant Amount: $172,285
Grant Period: Through 2020

Even Start Family Literacy Program helps low-income families increase their educational attainment and potential for economic stability. Parents and children go to school together; the children receive early childhood education and the parents learn skills to become more self-sufficient. 

Pointters Community Initiatives
Workforce Development
Total Grant Amount: $20,000
Grant Period: 2022

Workforce development is a career focused program designed basically for black students within the Fox Valley Area to prepare for future career and opportunities. The program provides students with relevant skills and training needed to reach goals.

PCI successfully presented a workforce and entrepreneurship workshop in March 2022. 60 Black high school students from the Appleton Area School District actively participated in this program, and 95% of the students would recommend it to others. PCI is planning to run a similar program this Fall to target incoming Freshman and Sophomores. Pointters plan to use this as a model that can be expanded for use in all schools throughout Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago counties.

Volunteer Fox Cities
Tech Ed for Older Adults
Total Grant Amount: $45,000 
Grant Period: 2021, 2022

Volunteer Fox Cities assists isolated adults age 65 and older in Outagamie County in Tech-Ed for Older Adults. This one-on-one technology education program is designed to teach older adults how to use their own electronic devices and to introduce them to other forms of technology and social media in order to reduce their social isolation and give them the tools and training they need to be socially connected to their community and helping them to live independently. 

Financial Stability

Community Clothes Closet
Shopping Floor
Total Grant Amount: $10,000
Grant Period: 2021

This is a trial program to bridge the gap between the current inventory and existing need. Funding to provide new men’s and women’s underwear on Community Clothes Closet general shopping floor. Clients are referred from several different social agencies, churches, schools, and food pantries around the Fox Valley. CCC serves ALICE families, students, foster children, single parents, veterans, disabled, victims of domestic abuse, and people who have experienced a fire, flood, or other natural disaster. Currently, CCC accepts gently used underwear to provide to clients. This program will strictly focus on adults ages 18+ in the trial run. Providing new underwear to clients is important for their health, self-confidence and restores an individual’s sense of dignity.

Fox Valley Veterans’ Council
Emergency Assistance and Outreach Program
Total Grant Amount: $10,000
Grant Period: 2021

The Fox Valley Veterans Council executes a dual mission of assistance and outreach. The Veterans Emergency Fund (VEF) Program provides assistance to local veterans for basic needs. This includes housing, utilities, transportation, dental, food insecurity, and education. The Outreach Program facilitates our role as a Community Veterans Engagement Board as designated by the Federal VA. Both programs are permanent, ongoing functions of the organization.