Media Releases

(Friday, Jan. 20, 2012) - United Way of Greater Topeka releases the first round of 2012 grant award recipients.

After years of planning and literally thousands of volunteer hours dedicated to creating community change, United Way has announced the programs awarded grant dollars through the first round of 2012 strategy investments.  (Download the 2012 Partner Report Here) Partners will lead a progressive effort to change community conditions and to report measurable outcomes to make headway on overarching 10-year community goals approved by the board of directors in January 2011.  Funding to address basic needs, including food, shelter, safety from domestic violence, health/prescription assistance and rent/utilities assistance, has also been awarded.

Information is still being processed, but preliminary totals estimate families in need at approximately 2,900.  Household sizes vary from one single individual to a family of 12.

"We have more than 9,000 people total of all ages this year seeking help," said Tom Baumgartner, director of volunteer engagement for United Way of Greater Topeka.  "Every number is up from the number of families to total people.  Even the average size of household is up because when times get tight, households often combine to help share in expenses."

The breakfast event, held earlier this morning at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, celebrated the dedication of the class of 2011 Campaign Ambassadors and their sponsoring companies.  The Campaign Ambassadors dedicated countless hours to the community to help companies facilitate internal campaigns and educate the public on the needs of the community and United Way’s impact work. 

(Wed., Nov. 2, 2011)  Thousands of good girls and boys of all ages are hoping they make Santa’s 2011 Christmas Bureau list.

The Christmas Bureau has been connecting generous adopters with people in need for 70 years.  In its inception in 1941, 445 families were adopted.  In 2010, the number of families assisted was 2,800.  More than 8,000 men, women and children were adopted through a combination of private adoptions through individuals, church groups, companies; and through collaboration with a myriad of community partners: including Salvation Army, Let’s Help, North Topeka Outreach, Topeka Rescue Mission, Let’s Help and others.