Shawano Area United Way Awards $42,000 to 14 Groups Amid 19 Requests

Shawano Area United Way approved $42,000 in grant funding for 14 local nonprofits after reviewing 19 requests that together sought $103,000, the organization reported following a Feb. 17 board vote. The awards include support for Keshena’s St. Michael’s Food Pantry and a mix of education, food-security and environmental programs across Shawano County.

United Way officials said, "each funding decision was based on how closely programs align with the organization’s mission, the level of community need, and the potential impact on local residents." The organization itself summarized the application round this way: "We received 19 requests for a total of $103,000. Thanks to our communities' generosity, we had $42,000 of funds to distribute which was split between 14 organizations!"

Funding came from community donations collected through Shawano Area United Way’s annual campaign and contributions tied to the CoVantage Credit Union Cares Giving Tuesday campaign, according to the organization. Board members met and voted on allocations during their Feb. 17 meeting; representatives from recipient groups gathered March 2 to celebrate the awards, and the allocations were publicly reported March 5.

Program-level uses of the funds are spelled out for several grantees. The F.R.E.S.H. Project will use support for its $5 Token Program, which provides fresh produce from the Shawano Farmer’s Market to low-income households. WAMSCO will apply funding to an environmental education garden by Schoenick Lake, specifically to pay for educational signage about native plants. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shawano County will support its One-to-One Youth Mentoring Program, and the Boys and Girls Club of Shawano will bolster the Educational Programming Site housed at Hillcrest Primary School. The Community Clothes Closet received funding to begin operating in Shawano with a Traveling Closet Program, and Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin will fund its Parent Connection program, including Welcome Baby, Home Visitation, the Shawano Area Early Childhood Partnership and the SAECP Giving Closet.

Other named recipients include Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Lutheran Counseling and Family Services-Shawano, Navarino Nature Center, Red River Riders, SAFPARC, Shawano Area Food Center, Shawano-Menominee Resiliency Coalition, and Rise Wellness Recovery Center. In total, 14 organizations serving Shawano County and neighboring communities shared the $42,000 allocation.

The United Way encourages those interested in the allocations or agency work to contact the organization directly at PO Box 31, Shawano, WI 54166, or by phone at 715-513-9471. With requests totaling roughly $103,000 and available funds of $42,000, the board’s decisions this cycle underscore the gap between need and donated resources as groups plan programs for the year ahead. United is the Way!