United Way hands out $1.4 million in grants

YAKIMA, Wash. -- United Way of Central Washington announced Thursday $1.4 million in community grants to 76 programs that provide health and human services to residents in Yakima and Kittitas counties.

United Way officials said they couldn't fund all of the programs' requests because fundraising fell short in the tough economy.

The group had a $2.1 million goal and fell just short, raising about
$2 million, said the local organization's president Lance Stephens.

"I don't know that there were programs we were unable to fund," he said. "But there were some we weren't able to fund to the level requested."

The $1.4 million in grants is the same amount given last year, Stephens said.

"As we continue to see an increase in demand for basic services, we felt our grant-making focus this year should be on maintaining core services that help stabilize families and individuals during these tough times," Allen Cottle, board chairman of United Way of Central Washington, said in a news release.

United Way of Yakima County and United Way of Kittitas County merged last April, citing the need to cut expenses. In the fundraising year before the merger, the Yakima chapter raised $2 million.

Four new grant recipients were announced this year, including Ready by Five, an early-learning initiative in east Yakima, and Allied Arts of Yakima.

A total of 82 community volunteers participated in nine review teams that evaluated more than $1.65 million in requests.

Other programs receiving funding were:

Initiatives

Greater Columbia 211 Call Center ($20,000) -- Community information and referral services in Central Washington

Homeless Network of Yakima County ($20,000) -- An assistance fund that provides resources to help homeless individuals and families transition into affordable housing

Yakima County Agencies and Programs

American Red Cross, Yakima Valley Chapter ($110,000) - Disaster services

Boy Scouts of America, Grand Columbia Council ($105,800) -- Youth development programs

Camp Fire USA, Roganunda Council ($31,520) --- Mega Club after-school program

Camp Fire USA, Roganunda Council ($11,000) -- Self-reliance babysitting courses

Camp Fire USA, Roganunda Council ($43,460) - Traditional Club program

Catholic Charities Housing Services ($6,870) -- Ministry of Management affordable housing support programs

Catholic Family and Child Services ($22,470) -- Carroll Children's Center early learning center

Catholic Family and Child Services ($9,660) -- Child Care Resource and Referral program

Catholic Family and Child Services ($55,500) -- Counseling services

Catholic Family and Child Services ($14,730) -- Pathways to Parenting program

Catholic Family and Child Services ($11,000) -- Teens in Foster Care program

Catholic Family and Child Services ($45,640) -- Valley Intervention program

Catholic Family and Child Services ($14,800) -- Yakima County Volunteer Chore Services program

Community Presbyterian Church ($7,740) -- English-as-a-Second Language classes in Wapato

Edith Bishel Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired ($6,890) -- Independent Living Skills program

Educational Service District 105 ($19,230) -- Yakima County KidScreen program

Enterprise For Progress in the Community ($15,030) -- Crisis Nursery Respite Car program

Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho ($14,980) -- Youth development programs

Grandview Community Fund ($14,530) -- Youth recreation and sports and senior programs

Granger Community Fund ($2,950) -- Youth sports programs

Hearing and Speech Center ($35,100) -- Preschool Deaf Therapy program

Lower Valley Crisis & Support Services ($25,000) -- Domestic violence services

Lower Valley Crisis & Support Service ($25,000) -- Sexual assault services

Mabton Food Bank ($8,180) -- Food purchases operations

Merit Resource Services ($26,100) -- Family outpatient treatment

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill -- Yakima Chapter ($15,550) -- Family support services

Parent Trust for Washington Children ($6,010) -- Independence for Fragile Families program

Provident Horizon Group ($25,780) - Project Search program

Salvation Army ($165,550) -- Emergency assistance and food bank services

Salvation Army ($32,930) -- Senior Nutrition program

Selah Community Fund ($4,570) -- Selah Civic Center operations

St. Michael's Pantry ($7,000) -- Food purchases operations

Sunnyside Ministerial Food Bank ($9,790) -- Emergency services and operations

Toppenish Community Fund ($11,840) - Youth sports and recreation programs

Toppenish Community Chest Food Bank ($13,740) - Food and operations

Voices for Children Foundation ($6,000) - Foster children support services

Wapato Community Fund ($6,810) -- Youth sports and the Noah's Ark homeless shelter

Wellness House ($24,200) -- Support service for persons with life-threatening illnesses

White Swan Community Fund ($9,300) -- Youth and community activities

Yakima County Retired Senior Volunteer Program ($21,000) -- Senior volunteer opportunities

Yakima Family YMCA ($11,980) -- ASPIRE youth mentoring program

Yakima Family YMCA ($14,730) -- Jewett child care programs

Yakima Family YMCA ($9,800) -- C.O.R.E. program

Yakima Family YMCA ($28,500) -- Eastside Youth Sports program

Yakima Family YMCA ($6,000) -- Midnight Madness program

Yakima Family YMCA ($19,100) -- Saturday Nite Live program

Yakima Family YMCA ($8,400) -- Summer day camp

Yakima Family YMCA ($30,000) -- Youth drop-in Center

Yakima Family YMCA ($48,300) --Youth sports programs

Yakima Interfaith Coalition ($28,000) - Casa Hogar women and children's education programs

Yakima Police Athletic League ($7,620) - Youth sports and recreation programs

Yakima Valley YWCA ($61,000) - Domestic violence shelter and services

Kittitas County Programs and Agencies

Aging and Long-Term Care ($2,700) -- Respite care

American Red Cross -- Kittitas County Chapter ($4,810) - Disaster Services

Boy Scouts of America Grand Columbia Council ($1,280) - Youth development programs

Catholic Family & Child Services ($1,730) - Kittitas County Volunteer Chore Services

Central Washington Disability Resources ($3,650) -- Recreational Health & Wellness program

Court Advocates for Children Kittitas County ($3,500) -- Foster children support services

Dispute Resolution Center ($840) - Outreach services

Dispute Resolution Center ($460) - Victim Offender Meeting program

Ellensburg Community Health Clinic ($4,810) -- Free health services

Elmview ($7,620) -- Senior Nutrition program

Elmview ($4,520) -- Vocational services for persons with disabilities

Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho ($1,150) -- Youth development programs

Hope Source ($1,930) -- Youth Recreation Scholarship program

Hospice Friends ($1,760) - Hospice support services

Kittitas County Retired Senior Volunteer Program ($4,780) - Senior volunteer services

Kittitas Valley Opportunities ($4,620) - Parent to Parent program

Youth Services for Kittitas County ($8,780)-- Youth recreation and educational services