Loudoun Nonprofits Receive United Way Grants

During a ceremony Friday in Leesburg, the United Way of the National Capital Area announced that it will award 16 United Way member organizations serving Loudoun will receive 18 grants worth $175,941.

The funds came through designations to the Loudoun County Community Impact Fund in United Way NCA’s annual workplace giving campaign, with each grant directly addressing United Way NCA’s focus areas of education, health and financial stability. In total, United Way raised nearly $1.65 million in Community Impact Funds in the Washington region.

Loudoun County grantees include:

• American Red Cross
• Every Citizen Has Opportunities (ECHO)
• Friends of Loudoun Mental Health
• Help for Others
• Just Neighbors Ministry
• Legal Services of Northern Virginia
• Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice/LAWS
• Loudoun Community Health Center
• Loudoun Interfaith Relief Inc.
• Loudoun Literacy Council
• Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers
• Northern Virginia Family Services
• Northern Virginia Dental Clinic
• The Good Shepherd Alliance
• The Salvation Army Loudoun
• Volunteers of America Chesapeake Inc.

“United Way NCA was instrumental in establishing our Medically Fragile Day Support Program, which initially served nine participants and has grown to 25,” said Every Citizen Has Opportunities (ECHO) CEO Bill Haney. “We’re grateful for the help in offering this much-needed service to the Loudoun community.”

ECHO offers comprehensive individualized employment, vocational training and community integration opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Funding awarded to the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic, which is also receiving grants from the Alexandria fund, will be used to support full-time personnel expenses primarily for staff who help deliver direct patient care.

“There is a tremendous need for oral health care services for the low-income, uninsured, and underserved residents of Loudoun County,” said Tom Wilson, executive director, Northern Virginia Dental Clinic Inc. “United Way NCA Community Impact grants enable the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic to provide access to these critically needed services. The individuals we serve are often in pain and/or have an active infection, and alleviating this pain and/or infection is vital to maintaining or improving their quality of life.”

Each year, United Way NCA solicits funding proposals from its member nonprofit organizations for specific programs and work in these communities. This year, Loudoun County member organizations submitted 44 proposals totaling $785,500. Funding decisions are made by a volunteer, citizen-led task force that works with area nonprofits, governments and business leaders to fill service gaps.