Print Article 6/4/14
The Tribune-Democrat reported that the Agency's Nurse-Family Partnership program received the largest grant of $91,000 announced by the United Way of Laurel Highlands.
Improving lives, creating change | United Way grants will help many
JOHNSTOWN — Twenty-four agencies and organizations in a two-county area got some very good news this past week. They will receive a share of the almost $800,000 that will be handed out by United Way of the Laurel Highlands.
The groups offer programs in Cambria and Somerset counties that provide help for new parents, young children and those struggling to break the hold of addictions. The three areas of focus were identified by community needs assessment established earlier by United Way of the Laurel Highlands.
“These investments will deliver results that will improve the lives of many in need in our community and create social change,” Paula Gojmerac said during a grant-announcement program at Pitt-Johnstown’s Living and Learning Center. Gojmerac is the local chapter’s community impact manager.
Two of the organizations that will get much-needed, and the biggest, slices of the United Way’s funding pie will be Home Nursing Agency’s Nurse-Family Partnership Program and the Family Center’s Parents as Teachers program.
The nurse-family partnership, established in 2002, has made an impact on about 1,400 families, according to Lisa Ritchey, program director. The initiative links a first-time mother with a registered nurse mentor who helps the new mom through her pregnancy, birth and the child’s first two years of life. Many of the young moms-to-be haven’t even celebrated their 21st birthday, Ritchey said.
The aid, we imagine, is probably a godsend for the women who may have many questions or uncertainties during their pregnancy and delivery.
“It helps them figure out how they are going to survive as a family,” Ritchey said.
It also dispels the notion that they have to face their pregnancy alone. They always will have a compassionate and knowledgeable shoulder to lean on.
Somerset County’s Parents as Teachers initiative reinforces the need for first-time parents to have their children prepared to enter school.
Parents as Teachers also provides an invaluable service and is able to step in to help when perhaps not enough help is available within the family unit.
Two years ago, in an effort to better serve the needs of the region, United Way unveiled its community needs assessment, which helps the agency pinpoint specific areas of concern.
“It tells us where we need to focus our efforts,” said Bill McKinney, president and CEO of United Way of the Laurel Highlands, during the grant announcement.
Other agencies in the group of 24 that will receive grants include the Johnstown Free Medical Clinic, YMCA, Victim Services, Salvation Army, Women’s Help Center, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Mom’s House.
Your contributions help to supply funding to many organizations under the United Way umbrella. The next time someone asks you for a contribution to United Way or your employer has a sign-up campaign, won’t you please consider donating? There are many people counting on your generosity.
