If you are a member of the media and would like information about United Way, please contact: Joshua Mamis, Senior Director of Community Engagement, (203) 691-4229 or jmamis@uwgnh.org
“When parents are engaged in their children’s education, students have better school attendance, lower rates of suspension, and higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates,” said Jack Healy, president and CEO of United Way of Greater New Haven.
Published in the New Haven Register, Saturday, June 04, 2011
By Steve Higgins, Special to the Register
“United Way designed the RFI process to help connect the rich diversity of programs and services in the community with the schools,” said Jennifer Heath, executive vice president at United Way of Greater New Haven.
Published in the New Haven Register on Saturday, May 28, 2011
By Steve Higgins, Special to the Register
“The district asked us to help address the availability and quality of a range of wraparound services” Bohen said. “We’re looking at extended learning opportunities, behavioral health, physical health and family support and engagement — all the things we know have a huge impact on student achievement.”
Published in the New Haven Reigster on Sunday, May 22, 2011
By Steve Higgins, Special to the Register
A 16-year-old New Haven girl whose father had been in prison for many years began missing too many school days at Metropolitan Business Academy this year. She had to take care of her mother and younger sister, and it became overwhelming.
But her attendance has increased significantly since this spring, when she was placed in a program designed to engage students who demonstrated a need for a more personalized learning environment, according to Nisha Sajnani, director of the Drama Therapy, Community Health and Prevention program at the Foundation for the Arts and Trauma. “She likes the class, and that really makes a difference,” said Sajnani.
Source: New Haven Register
Published: Thursday, May 19, 2011
By: Pamela McLoughlin, Register Staff
NEW HAVEN — United Way of Greater New Haven held a sixth birthday breakfast Thursday for its early childhood initiative, “Success By 6,” designed to give kids a solid start in life and in hopes of making strides in closing the achievement gap.
It was a big party, with some 300 guests, held at the Omni Hotel at Yale, with Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman among the guests, as Gov. Dannel Malloy was called out of town and couldn’t speak as planned.Al Smith, chairman of the organization’s Board of Directors, noted like any proud father that United Way has transformed itself from a community fundraising agency to a community impact agency and Success by Six is an example of that.
Published: Saturday, May 14, 2011 in New Haven Register
By Steve Higgins, Special to the Register
High-quality early childhood programs help not only with academic preparation, but in every area of a child’s life.
One New Haven toddler started in the United Way Early Head Start program with significant developmental and physical disabilities. Born prematurely, doctors told his mother he would not be able to do normal things. Over the course of 11 months in the Early Head Start program, he made remarkable progress.
Published in the New Haven Register: Sunday, April 10, 2011
By Steve Higgins, Special to the Register
Published Sunday, March 27, 2011 in New Haven Register.
In late 2009, a 38-year-old Branford woman with two young children was devastated when her husband said he was leaving and wanted a divorce. Stunned, Donna (not her real name) spiraled into depression and anxiety. The divorce left her with the apartment and most of the responsibility for supporting their two children, ages 10 and 13. Shortly after the divorce was finalized, Donna’s hours were cut at her workplace and, within a few months, she had fallen behind on the rent.
Published: Sunday, March 06, 2011 in New Haven Register
By Steve Higgins, Special to the Register
Editor’s note: Neighbor-to-Neighbor LifeLine is an emergency winter fundraising program of United Way of Greater New Haven and the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven to raise awareness and funds to address critical housing and hunger needs in the region. This is one in a series of articles outlining those needs. To get involved, visit www.n2nlifeline.org.
Valerie was working as a teacher and living on the Shoreline two years ago when her life began to come apart. She was laid off from her job and last year was evicted from her apartment. Valerie moved into a less expensive apartment in New Haven and took on part-time work, but it wasn’t enough to pay all of the bills. With nowhere else to turn, Valerie approached Jewish Family Service of New Haven for help. The organization provided Valerie with emergency money to pay her car insurance bill and her electric bill that month. “They came through for me,” said Valerie, who now is working three part-time jobs. “I don’t know how I would have gotten through that rough patch. I still struggle day to day, but that particular time, it was even worse. It was like I was drowning and someone threw out a lifeline to me. I feel so grateful.”
New Haven Independent
BY Melissa Bailey | DEC 15, 2010
Mirna Rivera took a break from assembling surgical staplers to put together a fitness package for school kids—then joined them in the gym to try out the equipment.
