Project Grant 21SCICA001

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NAME OF LEGAL APPLICANT: CENTRAL COUNTY UNITED WAY BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF APPLICANT'S ORGANIZATION AND ITS MISSION: CENTRAL COUNTY UNITED WAY (CCUW) IS A PROVEN LEADER IN IDENTIFYING COMMUNITY NEEDS THROUGH ITS EXTENSIVE CONTACT WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, LOCAL NONPROFITS, AND LOCAL CITIZEN GROUPS. CCUW'S MISSION FOR MANY YEARS HAS BEEN TO RAISE FUNDS AND ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS TO A VARIETY OF AGENCIES THAT THEN PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. UNITED WAY'S MISSION IS TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AS WELL AS FUNDING HANDS-ON PROGRAMS THAT OFFER DIRECT SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY WITHIN THESE THREE FOCUS AREAS. THIS ALLOWS CCUW TO USE ITS CONTACTS, RESOURCES, AND STAFF IN A MANNER THAT ENSURES POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL UNITE AND EMPOWER OUR TEAM TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT AND GROW OUR FOUNDATION OF DONOR PARTNERS. THIS HANDS-ON APPROACH PLAYS WELL INTO ITS SPONSORSHIP OF THE SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM BECAUSE IT ALLOWS CCUW MORE RESOURCES FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM. AN ESTIMATED 15 SENIOR COMPANION VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE THE WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY AREA. OF THIS NUMBER, ALL 15 VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION TO DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS OR PHARMACIES, GROCERY SHOPPING, AND LIGHT MEAL PREPARATION. OUR SENIOR COMPANIONS CAN COMMUNICATE THEIR OBSERVATIONS; WHETHER GOOD OR BAD, WITH THEIR CLIENT'S CARETAKER, FAMILY MEMBER, OR SOCIAL WORKERS. THIS IS A VERY HELPFUL BENEFIT ON BEHALF OF THE CLIENT. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF OUR PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE COMPANIONSHIP THAT HELPS ELIMINATE FEELINGS OF ISOLATION AND LONELINESS TO THE SENIORS OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THESE SERVICES WE PROVIDE WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AND WILL IMPROVE THEIR SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT. WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS SERVICE WILL NOT ONLY BENEFIT THE CLIENTS, BUT OUR PROGRAM GOAL ALSO INCLUDES A DESIRE TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF OUR VOLUNTEERS. WE WANT THEM TO GROW THROUGH SERVICE AND KNOW THEY PLAY A VALUABLE ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES TODAY. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $68,839 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $17,895.00.