United Way of Citrus County

Community Impact

There is so much more to United Way of Citrus County than our fund raising.

Our core business is Community Impact……creating sustained changes in community conditions by influencing whatever sectors, systems and groups that can play a role in improving the lives of people affected by problems in our community.

It is not how many individuals we provide for and serve, and it is not how many programs or partners we unite.

What matters is the bottom-line results:

The lives we change.

The communities we shape.

For our country, our county, our communities, our families….that’s what matters.

Progress Energy has designed a gift to the United Way of Citrus County to conduct a community needs assessment that will lead this process. In 2006, we will seek participation through out Citrus County to identify important initiatives to the community and to develop an impact strategy. Please watch this site as we progress in our efforts to improve lives.

Born Learning

A local partnership with Altrusa, Citrus Memorial Health System, and United Way of Citrus County are providing printed materials to help parents provide their children, ages zero to five, with quality early learning experiences.

The Born Learning program helps parents realize that they can turn simple every day moments, such as doing laundry or running errands, into fun and engaging teaching activities for their child.

The Born Learning campaign communicates to parents and caregivers that learning starts long before children are old enough to go to school and, as a result, a child’s success depends on small learning lessons each and every day.

Investing in a child’s success in the early years of his/her life is critical and tangible results- adults with greater success in life, fewer involvements in crime, higher income, and higher education levels will be achieved through early learning.

Click here to learn more about Born Learning from www.bornlearning.org.

Living In Poverty

The federal government says a family of four earning $19,971.00 or less a year is living in poverty.

These are the decisions that people are forced to make every day when they live in a state of poverty.

Click here to learn how far $19,971.00 goes in America today

Cars that Care!

Auto tech and auto repair students at Withlacoochee Technical Institute in Inverness have been working the school term to repair a vehicle donated by a local car dealership. Local auto parts stores have donated parts to the “Cars that Care!” project.

One local family will drive away the vehicle if they need it to gain, retain or improve employment or to deal with everyday challenges like childcare, medical, school or other appointments so a job can be kept. Qualifications include: resident of Citrus County, low income, currently employed, possess a valid driver’s license, have the ability to pay for insurance, taxes, title, license tags and future maintenance of the vehicle and complete an application for “Cars that Care!”

Also applicants must be willing to perform 10 hours of community service either at United Way or one of its partner agencies, at a church food kitchen or clothes closet/food pantry or at the children’s school. A one-page justification on why the applicant(s) needs a car must also be submitted with the application.

The application for “Cars that Care!” is available below. Just click the button and download the 4 page application. Applicants without computer access may call United Way of Citrus County at 527-8894 and request an application be mailed. A committee of United Way board members and/or volunteers from the community will select the most qualified and deserving applicant/family based on income, family size and need of a car for transportation to and from work. Decision by the committee is final.

“Cars that Care” will be offered twice a year through the partnership of Withlacoochee Technical Institute, United Way of Citrus County, local car dealerships and local auto parts stores. Vehicles will be offered in June and December each year.

Click Here For Application for Cars That Care !