We are proud to help rewrite the stories of men, women and children in our community.
Help us create more positive beginnings and happier endings. Your contribution to Orange County United Way’s Community Impact Fund helps us do more to improve lives and change conditions in our community.
Education Success
Helping to Create Brighter Futures
Jessie’s sights were set on getting into college from an early age, but the cards were stacked against her. Instead of focusing on the obstacles in her path, Jessie focused on the opportunities before her and turned her dreams into reality. As a student at Los Amigos High School, Jessie early on enrolled in the school’s AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) college-readiness program. It was here that she was introduced to Orange County United Way’s Destination Graduation and Youth Career Connections programs.
Learn more about Jessie’s journey by watching this video.
Income Success
Earned Income Tax Credit Makes Lasting Impact
Finding out that she would be receiving more than $3,000 from her Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Cal EITC had Gloria smiling from ear to ear. At first, Gloria didn’t know that she was eligible for Cal EITC until she met with an IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteer tax preparer at the Anaheim Independencia Family Resource Center, one of the OC FREE TAX PREP locations. For Gloria, the California and federal EITC are extremely helpful in making ends meet.
Health Success
Making Healthy Foods Available
Sylvia and her husband are raising three children in Orange County, one in college, a senior in high school and the youngest in elementary school. Over two years, their rent increased by $400 a month, and the family of five really began to feel the strain. When their oldest child offered to drop out of school, get a job and contribute to their income, Sylvia knew the family needed extra help, and learned about United Way’s Healthy Food Provision program.
Housing Success
Help When It’s Needed Most
When Alicia found herself unable to afford the high cost of housing in Orange County, she resorted to living in her car with her son for a year. Alicia received support from one of Orange County United Way’s Rapid Re-Housing partners. By connecting people with a home, they are in a better position to address other challenges that may have led to or resulted during their homelessness, such as obtaining financially sustainable employment.
