Tri-City Area United Way has three initiatives that we are introducing to our communities: Educational Success - Cradle to Career, Financial Stability, so our residents can earn enough financially to successfully take care of their families, and Health and Well-Being for all residents.
TCAUW will improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of the community. As part of our Educational Success and Health and Well-Being initiatives, we realize that the chances for children to succeed in school diminish if they are not healthy. By mobilizing local community business we were able to provide free vitamins for children in Pre-k to 6th grades. Northeast Pharmacies, which are located in Peshtigo and Oconto, provided free vitamins to children in the 3 county school districts. United Way and the employees from the Northeast Pharmacies were present at most school open houses and were able to sign up 2,000 children for vitamins. This could equal $96,000 in savings for those parents as well as be a health boost for the children.
TCAUW also partnered with the local community technical college (Northeast Wisconsin Technical College) to provide 200 children with a free health screening. Many professionals team up with us to provide the following: dental check, fluoride treatment, spinal check, hearing test, vision screening, and lesson on nutrition. This was an excellent opportunity for parents to obtain health checks for their child at no personal cost. This partnership with Northeast Wisconsin Technical College provided a great learning opportunity for their student nurses as well.
Additionally, by working with our partners under our Educational Success - Cradle to Career, TCAUW was able to provide over 7,000 area youth with services. This included programs that keep children safe after school and homework help. The chances of children succeeding improve tremendously when they have help with their homework as well as activities in a safe environment. Prevention of substance abuse activities for our youth provides the strength to say no to drugs, and it also provides a positive model to encourage hard work and studying in school. Statistics in our local area show that some children have tried alcohol as early as 3rd grade. Some students are at risk of staying in school and our youth at-risk program provided much needed services for 13 youth. Children who are neglected and abused receive a court appointed advocate to be there for them at court appearances, meetings with their social workers, and with their parents.