About UWP
EVERYONE DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE
Because of people like you who invest in this work, United Way of the Piedmont brings people and resources together to tackle our community’s most challenging issues. We fight for the Economic Mobility, Education, and Health of every member of our community.
See more of our impact by reading our latest publications.
Economic Mobility
1 in 4 individuals in our community can’t afford their basic needs—things like food, rent, or transportation to work. Families have to make agonizing choices that compromise their safety and wellbeing just to get by. When families can’t afford the necessities, they have nothing left to save for emergencies or future obligations. This means that one unexpected expense could put these families into crisis.
United Way of the Piedmont helps families get out of crisis—and stay out. The issue is economic mobility, the goal is self-sufficiency.
Education
Less than half of the children in our community enter kindergarten ready to learn, putting them behind before they even get started in school. For children living in poverty, the rate is even lower.
Without access to high-quality educational opportunities and other interventions, the achievement gap widens each year. This not only affects students' success in school, but the opportunities they have in adulthood.
United Way of the Piedmont’s work in education has one overarching goal: that children, youth, and adults would have access to quality education that supports lifelong success. We work to increase access to early learning opportunities, improve third grade reading outcomes, and support local youth programs with demonstrated impact.
Health
When families are struggling to make ends meet, they have to make difficult choices. Often, things like healthy foods or doctors visits when they're sick have to wait so the lights can stay on. Lack of access to affordable and quality health care and supportive services prevents many families in our community from living healthy and safe lives.
United Way of the Piedmont improves health in Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union Counties by focusing on two target issues: safe environments and access to care. We work to increase access to physical and mental health resources, prevent disease and violence, and increase the resiliency of our entire community.
