Organizations awarded more than $175,000 in grants from United Way

Friday was an exciting day for 20 local nonprofit organizations, which received a total of $175,293 in much-needed funds to help with their work in education, health and financial stability.

The funds came through designations to the Prince William Area Community Impact Fund in the United Way National Capital Area’s annual workplace giving campaign.

Paul Moessner, regional council chairman for Prince William County, welcomed representatives from each of the organizations at the presentation at the McCoart Administration Center.

“This is the time where we get to put the dollars raised from the generosity of this great community to work. The county grants are part of $1.75 million being awarded to more than 160 of National Capital Area’s member nonprofit organizations throughout the Washington region,” said Moessner.

Grants were awarded to The Arc of Greater Prince William/INSIGHT, Ayuda, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Brain Injury Services, Catholics for Housing, Center for the Arts of Greater Manassas/Prince William County, English as a Second Language and Immigrant Ministries, Food and Friends, GnG (Guitars not Guns) National Capital Area, Habitat for Humanity of Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park, Just Neighbors Ministry, Literacy Volunteers of America—Prince William, Matthew’ Center for the Visual Learning, The National Capital Poison Center, Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry, Northern Virginia Family Service, OAR (Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources) of Fairfax County, Pediatric Primary Care Project, Transitional Housing BARN, and Youth Orchestras of Prince William.

“The contributions from the Prince William community demonstrate a commitment to joining together to ensure that needed programs can continue their essential work. Each of the grants will have an immediate and positive impact on each of these vital organization,” Bill Hanbury, president and CEO, United Way National Capital Area said in a news release.

He said 45 organizations in the county submitted proposals but “we were only able to fund about half of those. So you see, while we are proud of what we can do, we recognize the need is so great. This is why it is so important for the community to give to their local community impact fund to further meet the needs and enrich the communities it serves.”

One of the grant recipients is the Pediatric Primary Care Project, which provides primary medical care for uninsured children. “This grant will be used to cover the salary of an additional enrollment representative,” Luz Krafsig, case manager said in the news release, “which will allow us to increase outreach and increase the number of children that will have access to medical services from an average of 21 a month to 30.”

Colin Davis, executive director of Transitional Housing BARN, said his organization’s grant is a capacity-building initiative. “The grant will allow BARN to serve more families beyond those living at our transitional shelter each year,” Davis said in the news release, “and also will help prevent more families from becoming homeless and move more families out of the homelessness sooner.”

Prince William County Executive Melissa Peacor and Kim Sells of Literacy Volunteers of America both addressed the gathering and praised the United Way for the importance of the grants and for the work it’s doing to strengthen Prince William, making it a better place to live and work.

All donors to the United Way have the option of directing their pledge to the Community Impact Fund. Funding decisions are made by a volunteer, citizen-led task force that works together with area nonprofits, governments and business leaders to determine where there are gaps in services and where the funds will do the most good. This year, member organizations submitted proposals totaling $807,660.

Staff reporter Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-368-6707.