Joseph and his family arrived in Grand Rapids from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2018. As the school year approached, he began attending the summer literacy program at the Refugee Education Center, one of Heart of West Michigan United Way’s partner agencies.

Ann’s sense of purpose and belonging have been restored. Recently, she remarked, “I feel alive and happy.”

How do you get fourth and fifth graders excited about math? For AmeriCorps member Dan Graham, you start with mechanical pencils and fun-size candy bars.

How do you help middle schoolers develop a love of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), especially those who come from difficult backgrounds and under-resourced schools in and around Grand Rapids? Camp Blodgett’s answer: Take them outside.

“Doing a tax return’s like doing a story problem, and how much fun is that?”

When arctic temperatures and relentless snowfall plunged Michigan into a deep freeze this week, our 211 team continued to report to work, taking calls from people across the state who needed help.

A group of United Way partner agencies worked together to give Anna Cater the confidence to realize her potential and land her dream job.