The United Way of Beaver County (UWBC) is grateful to announce that all donations to our Annual Campaign or to The ALICE Fund from #GivingTuesday through the end of 2024 will be matched by Shell Polymers Polymers Monaca up to $16,500!
Shell's donation will support workforce development initiatives through The ALICE Fund. However, a donor’s gift can support the Annual Campaign, which has a goal of $1.1 Million, and/or The ALICE Fund.
Fourteen mini-grants made possible through The ALICE Fund have already helped so many Beaver County families this year – families that may have not been helped otherwise. To date, the UWBC has given $120,000 in grants to non-profit organizations providing food, utility payment assistance, youth mentoring, workforce development, after school programs, and much more.
An alarming 39% of the households in Beaver County are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). ALICE populations are found in every town, borough, and municipality throughout Beaver County, with the percentages of ALICE households ranging from 17% to a distressing 73%! ALICE households are unable to afford the basics of housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology. (Source: www.unitedforalice.org).
Donations on #Giving Tuesday and beyond will contribute to the well-being and stability of families in Beaver County, especially to the 39% who are struggling, creating a positive ripple effect for years to come.
“I am so grateful that Shell continues to support The ALICE Fund, having provided the UWBC with $91,500 in matching grants in a little over a year. Continuing to help in the way of an additional matching grant leverages other donations from Beaver County residents and from the corporate community, allowing us to extend our reach of support even further,” said Mary Lou Harju, Executive Director of the UWBC.
“I am just overwhelmed by the amount of support that we have received for this endeavor so far,” said Harju. “The high percentage of ALICE households is not going to decrease anytime soon. We need to do what we can to help ALICE, while also trying to lower that statistic in Beaver County. We are grateful to Shell Polymers Monaca, the many other companies who contribute, and to our individual donors in Beaver County for their generosity.