Bold Goals
THE TIME IS NOW TO BE BOLD
Too many of our children live in poverty, go hungry and fall behind in school. Our youth find too few opportunities. Too many of our neighbors lose loved ones to addiction. And too many families struggle to find a way forward financially.
That’s why United Way has reinvented itself. We are taking on our community’s most challenging problems with innovative strategies and an ambitious vision of our shared future.
Guiding our approach will be four Bold Goals for 2025:
65% of APS third-graders reading at or above grade level
2015-2016 baseline: 38%
2018-2019: 50%
90% of APS high-schoolers graduating in 4 years, with 60% college/career ready
2015-2016 baseline: 75% and 21% respectively
2017-2018: 80% and 19% respectively
Financially empower* 11,000 people
2016 baseline: 42,000 people in Akron were considered to be “working poor”
December 2019: 1,206 clients are on the path to financial empowerment. 866 clients participated in 2,384 financial coaching sessions, increasing savings $421,582 and decreasing debt $642,601. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax returns generated $3,517,531 in refunds and savings to clients.
*With the skills, knowledge and resources to budget and save, manage debt, build credit and access banking services
Reduce ER Visits due to drug overdoses to 1,000
2016 baseline: 2,400
2019: 1,228
Ultimately, United Way of Summit County envisions a future where EVERYONE has the tools to be financially empowered, where every student has the skills to succeed in the classroom and beyond and where no family is devastated by addiction. As we work toward the future, these Bold Goals for 2025 will serve as concrete benchmarks for our success and hold us accountable to our community.
By pursuing these Bold Goals, we at United Way are intent on recapturing the promise and potential of our community. Because there’s a better future in store for Summit County, and the time is now to make it happen.
