For August Faces of FACCES, we are recognizing a partner whose commitment to strengthening families and expanding educational opportunities continues to make a lasting impact: United Way of Central Ohio.
Partnerships like this make lasting change possible. United Way has played a vital role in the growth of the FACCES Independence Ready program, helping expand opportunities for students and families while strengthening support throughout the community.
As Melanie Hill, United Way’s Director of Data Analysis and State Lead for ALICE, shared, “I think one of the things that makes this collaboration meaningful is both of our organizations doing what we do well and then walking alongside each other together for this kind of a common mission of supporting the families and the students.”
Hill also reflected on how each organization brings unique strengths to the partnership, creating greater impact by working together.
“So, where you guys are more boots on the ground and you know the families that you work with really well, they trust you; we are working from a broader system level perspective and bringing together many organizations from across the community and in different neighborhoods and helping to make sure that we’re all kind of marching in the same direction, even while each organization does its own work as best they can. We’re always going to be better together.”
That shared commitment to collaboration has strengthened FACCES’ Education Pillar by expanding programs that equip youth with the skills, confidence, and support they need for the future. By combining trusted, relationship-based services with community-wide collaboration, more families can access opportunities that create lasting impact.
Hill also emphasized the value of learning from one another and facing challenges together.
“I feel like the solutions and the responses to problems are going to be better when we partner with others because we just learn from each other and there’s power in numbers. So, I think that it’s really important so that we can navigate whatever is ahead for us in our community.”
Through its investment in the FACCES Independence Ready program and its commitment to bringing organizations together around a shared mission, United Way exemplifies the spirit of partnership that Faces of FACCES is designed to celebrate.
Through this partnership, United Way continues to help create brighter futures for children, youth, and families across our community. FACCES is honored to recognize United Way as our August Faces of FACCES!
To learn more about the FACCES Independence Ready program, explore our Education Pillar, or discover ways to support our mission, visit thefacces.org.
