Press Release:
United Way of Highway 55 announces the funding of sixteen local nonprofits. On June 12, 13, & 14, the United Way of Highway 55 allocations committee, made up of local community and Board members, reviewed applications and conducted interviews with each agency. Of 25 nonprofit applicants, the committee chose 16 nonprofit partners to help fund. They are located and/or serve in Coffee, Moore, and Warren Counties. They will each receive varying amounts to help fund unique requests within their organization. Each nonprofit will receive quarterly checks for the year. This year, the Board approved $60,000 to be allocated to the local nonprofit recipients. Ashley Abraham, Director of United Way of Highway 55, states, “Our goal is to allocate more funds every year to local nonprofits. Raise more so we can give more. We are making history by allocating $60,000, as that amount is the most United Way of Hwy 55 has ever allocated. This is all thanks to those that entrust us with their donated dollars.” Abraham continues by saying, “The committee does not take choosing the partners lightly. Every nonprofit is required to present to the committee. The committee studies every application and required submitted documents. Many areas are weighed like do they serve Coffee, Moore, and/or Warren Counties? Does their mission serve one or more of our 4 pillars: Health, Basic Essentials, Education, & Income? Does their mission impact many in our community? Are their services duplicated? Can their need be solved by stronger partnerships or resources? How much are they requesting and where will the funds be used? Where do most of their donations come from (Grants, Businesses, Individual, Fundraisers)? Are they heavily volunteer or salary based? What are the top needs for each county we serve? The committee decides whether to select fewer to allocate more to those nonprofit needs and missions-thus creating a bigger impact OR selecting more. These questions along with many more are discussed. The committee meets without the Director to decide and divide the budget on how much each nonprofit will receive. It is a tedious and well thought through process. I would say it is the best way to get involved and learn about our local nonprofits and what United Way does. We do this process to protect donated dollars entrusted to United Way of Hwy 55. Any community individual can be on the allocations committee if they are not employed or serve on a nonprofit Board/Committee and there is no conflict of interest with those applying. We do want a diverse committee representing all 3 counties we serve. We appreciate all nonprofits that applied and will continue to share our resources and support all. We also invite all local nonprofits (501c3) that serve Coffee, Moore, and Warren Counties to apply next year.”
Introducing our 2024-2025 Partner Nonprofits:
The 2024-25 Partners include:
Warren Co. Meals on Wheels
Warren I (931) 473-351 I wchromedeliverymeals@gmail.com I wcmealsonwheels.com
To promote the dignity and independence of the disabled, the elderly, and other homebound persons by delivering nutritious meals and coordinating needed services.
Horseplay Inc.
Coffee & Moore I (931) 307-0774 I http://www.horseplayinc.org/ I 815 Westside Drive Tullahoma, TN 37388
Provides a recreational horseback riding program designed to improve the quality of life for individuals with physical and/or intellectual challenges. They serve Coffee, Moore, Franklin, Lincoln, and Rutherford Counties.
CASA Works Inc.
Coffee & Warren I (931) 455-7426 I wanda@casaworks.org I http://www.casaworks.org/
Believes that every child has a right to the safe embrace of a loving family. Volunteers are recruited, trained, and supervised to be Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused children in Juvenile Court in Bedford, Coffee, and Franklin Counties.
Haven of Hope
Coffee & Moore I (931) 680-3011 I havenadmin2@cafes.net
Provides proactive, curative, and preventative measures against domestic and other violent crimes (i.e., sexual assault and stalking) in the contracted service areas. And to provide resources to strengthen and empower victims to resolve their own issues and problems. The program provides emergency shelter and support services to victims of domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Lincoln, Marshall, and Moore counties in Middle Tennessee.
Children's Advocacy Center-31st Judicial District
Warren Co I (931) 507-2386 I cac31ed@gmail.com I http://www.cac31.org/
Well-trained personnel are dedicated to working with children reported as suspected victims of child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse or neglect, drug exposed, or witnesses to violence. We provide a full scope of needed services: child forensic interviews, victim-family advocacy, crisis intervention, trauma counseling, resource assistance, education, and outreach.
Access Hope
Coffee, Moore, & Warren I (844) 269-4673 I info@accesshope247.com
A free service offered by the Family Counseling Center. It is a non-profit organization with services free of charge to all callers, to respond twenty-four hours daily to the emotional needs of the callers with confidential, non-judgmental, active listening: By fostering self-directed resolution, by offering referrals, or by intervention through telephone conversation with Access Hope volunteers.
The Hope Center
Warren I hopecenterwc@yahoo.com I http://www.hopecenterwc.org/ren Co I (931) 507-7800
A place to provide HOPE for those who seek to live a better and more productive life through recovery and the teaching of life skills. It is a place where we offer people a hand UP, not a handout.
-We do Alcohol and Drug Assessments for the Warren County Legal System and make recommendations.
-We provide Parenting Classes for the Department of Children Services.
-We provide Anger Management for the Warren County Courts.
-We provide Codependency Support Groups for the family members of Substance Abusers.
-We provide transportation and pay entry fees for furloughs from jail for the PD office, and DA.
-We are a database for the Community, providing referrals, as well as open doors for walk-ins.
-We transport and purchase ID’s and bus tickets for those who are homeless.
HOME (Homeless of McMinnville Effort)
Warren I (931) 668-0702 I home371101@gmail.com
Our mission is to honor the dignity and improve the lives of those who are unsheltered or displaced by providing meals, basic hygiene services, spiritual support, and access to resources for them to work towards self-sustaining futures.
Kids in The Community
Warren I (931) 668-5437 I kidsofcommunity@gmail.com
Provides a monthly activity for children in low-income families that is in a safe, drug-free environment. In addition, they hope to teach morals, values, and exposure to the positive aspects of living a productive life. Serves Warren County.
The Storehouse Food Pantry
Coffee, Moore, & Warren I (931) 409-6040 I storehousetenn@gmail.com I 607 Hickerson Street, Manchester
The Store House was started to serve those in need. Those who are a low point in life. We provide food and clothing through the Blessed Boutique. We rely on donations from the community. We are a 501(c)3 organization.
Community Development Center
Coffee & Moore I (931) 684-7673 I https://cdctn.org/family-support I 111 Eaglette Way, Shelbyville
It is the mission of the Community Development Center to provide flexible support services and empowerment to families with members who have severe disabilities in Bedford, Marshall, Lincoln, Coffee, Franklin and Moore counties.
Child Development Center
Coffee, Moore, & Warren I (931) 684-9203 I https://cdctn.org/index I 111 Eaglette Way, Shelbyville
The Child Development Center (CDC), a program of the Community Development Center, provides quality early intervention services to families of young children with developmental delays or a disability. To be eligible for the CDC, children must be under the age of three years. Once enrolled, services may continue to be provided until the school year begins after a child's fifth birthday. The early intervention program operates year-round without costs to families. The primary service area includes Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, and Warren Counties of Middle Tennessee.
Moore Co Senior Center
Moore I (931) 759-7317 I director@moorecotnsenior.org I 87 High St, Lynchburg
Provides a senior center for Moore and surrounding counties for residents 55 and older in Lynchburg. Offers yoga classes, chair exercise classes, line dancing, bingo, arts and crafts classes, rook, pickleball and pool playing and other programs for senior health, education and wellness. Also offers daily lunches at 11:00 am for those 60 and older; meals are free, but donations are welcome; people must call the day before 1:00 pm to reserve a spot for lunch the following day.
Moore Co Resource Center
Moore I (931) 434-6808 I moorecorc@gmail.com I 241 Main Street, Suite 5, Lynchburg
It is the mission, duty, and purpose of Moore County Resource Center to coordinate and provide aid and relief to eliminate hunger, homelessness, and wellness needs on a local level. The Moore County Resource Center (MCRC) is now located in the Moore County 241 Main Street Suite #5 (County Building basement) starting on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. As it has historically been, the resource center will be a convenient one stop site for anyone in our community seeking assistance. We will be offering food (perishable and non-perishable), toiletries/household necessities, assistance with fuel for automobiles, and assistance with utilities. We continue to partner with several assistance agencies and churches in our area.
Tullahoma Bridges Out of Poverty
Coffee, Moore, Warren I (931) 307-3381 I scott@tullahomabridges.org I tullahomabridges.org
Tullahoma Bridges exists to empower communities and individuals in overcoming the challenges of the under-resourced, and to arouse hope for positive change starting with the Tullahoma area and reaching out to the world.
Coffee County Child Care Center
Coffee I (931) 728-0288 I Coffeecountychildcarecenter@gmail.com I 707 Oak Drive, Manchester
Coffee County Child Care Center is a Nonprofit organization(501c3) dedicated to proving quality childcare in a secure facility at affordable rates. Your child will be cared for, and treated as the unique person they are. It is our goal to provide a safe and educational environment for all students. We provide developmentally appropriate childcare for ages 12months though 5years. Nutritional meals are provided to all enrolled children through the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Partner Nonprofit Celebration
On August 16th at Common John Brewing Co, United Way of Hwy 55 celebrated and announced the 16 new partner nonprofits. They received their first quarter check. The nonprofits will receive 3 more checks throughout the year. UWHWY55 Director Ashley Abraham comments, “We appreciate all applying agencies and the time and effort put into their applications and presentation. It is never an easy decision for the committee. There are many important nonprofits in our community, and they exude passion and dedication towards their mission-and impact many. Our goal is to help connect every nonprofit with needed resources. Uniting our efforts is at the center of our mission every day. Congratulations to the 2023-24 UWHWY55 Partner Nonprofits.”
Abraham continues by saying “Our community will continue to grow and strengthen through supporting these much-needed missions and programs. I am truly grateful for the businesses and individuals who support our nonprofits every year. We can support so many local agencies and programs because of the help of our community. United Way of Hwy 55 strives to be involved and impact as many nonprofits and programs in the community as we can with the support of our amazing, continued donors”.
This year’s allocation’s committee included the following individuals:
· Michelle Carmack: UWHWY55 Board Vice-Chair/Allocations Chair; Director of Finance and Administration at The University of TN Space Institute
· Michele Simmons: UWHWY55 Board Chair; Business Development Manager at ResourceMFG
· Ashley Franklin: UWHWY55 Board Treasurer; CEO/Founder of NQAA, Independent Contractor
· Monty Hawkins: Board Member; Utility Man, Certified Arborist at TUA
· Gloria Humphrey: UWHWY55 Board Member; Physician Recruiter, American Physician Partners
· Katie Crowell: Flight Capital projects for Arnold Engineering Development Center
· Katie J. Guthrie-Shearin: Tullahoma Downtown Lions Club Member and Community Volunteer; Realtor for Mike Winton Realty and Auction
· Bertha Smith: UWHWY55 Board Member; Tullahoma Noon Rotary Club Member; Director of Imagination Library of Coffee Co, Community Volunteer
· Shellee Nunley: Manager at US Bank in Tullahoma
· Amanda Johnson: Certified Childbirth Educator and Doula at Gentle Voice Prenatal Support
· Rebecca Wright: Economics Teacher at Coffee County High School
To learn more, visit our website or DONATE at highway55unitedway.org. Contact Ashley Abraham at Director@highway55unitedway.org or call (931) 455-5678.
Comments