Our Impact
Together with our community, we take action that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of those with the greatest need. Our agenda is the community’s agenda, and thanks to generous donations and sponsorships from our community, we’re able to impact thousands of people around Laramie County.
In 2021, here’s just part of what your donations helped make possible:
low-income and underinsured families and individuals were able to access timely, regular, preventive health care
families and individuals in need were able to access basic needs, emergency services, and shelter services
children participated in Youth Development programs designed to build academic performance, character and leadership success
victims of domestic violence were able to access basic safety needs and get help toward self-sufficiency
How We Help
United Way and local expert volunteers identify and prioritize our community’s most pressing needs
Your pledge is combined with others, including corporate and grant support
Pledges are strategically invested in programs and partnerships in the areas of Education, Financial Stability and Health
With United Way support, funded programs often secure additional funding
United Way monitors programs to ensure they’re getting results
As a result, lives improve and our community grows stronger
Each year, United Way of Laramie County awards Community Impact Grants to Laramie County nonprofits whose goals and funding requests align with our focus areas of health, education, or financial stability.
The amount of donations United Way of Laramie County receives directly impacts the amount of funds we have available to create a positive impact each year.
Local Impacts in Laramie County
Health
Good health is fundamental to the ability to enjoy life, provide for yourself and your family, realize your dreams, and contribute to society.
We work to ensure Laramie County residents can receive timely and regular preventive care, acute care, and chronic disease services, as well as have access to wellness programs that improve health behaviors.
By 2025, we hope to achieve the following goals:
- 95% of Laramie County adults under age 65 have health insurance
- 90% of Laramie County children/adults have access to healthcare services
- 80% of Laramie County adults have visited a dentist or dental clinic for any reason in the past year
- 80% of Laramie County women ages 50-74 have had a mammogram in the past 2 years
- Laramie County deaths due to alcohol-impaired driving are reduced to 10% or less
- Laramie County deaths due to drug poisoning are reduced to 8% or less
- Rate of Laramie County adults who state their mental health (including stress, depression and problems with emotions) was “not good” for 14 or more of the past 30 days is reduced to 5% or less
Local program partners who benefit from your donation:
Initiatives We Support
Education
We believe every child in our community deserves the opportunity to achieve their full potential, which is why we work to educate Laramie County families, parents, caretakers, businesses and providers on the importance of investing in high-quality learning environments for our children; on the benefits that accredited, licensed or legally exempt child care can offer to children, families, and community; and to provide awareness of, and access to, education programs that focus on parenting skills and support networks.
For Laramie County’s children and youth, we work to ensure they have a positive and involved family and community structure; access to a variety of activities that provide quality education, a positive learning environment, and assistance in developing life skills; and that they are productive, engaged, and avoidant of risky behaviors.
By 2025, we hope to achieve the following goals:
- 93% of Laramie County students graduate high school on time
- 80% of Laramie County students enter kindergarten ready to Learn
- 70% of all Laramie County 4th grade students on free and reduced lunch are scoring proficient or advanced on the reading assessment
- 60% of all Laramie County 4th grade students on free and reduced lunch are scoring proficient or advanced on the math assessment
- 60% of all Laramie County 8th grade students on free and reduced lunch are scoring proficient or advanced on the math assessment
Local program partners who benefit from your donation:
Economic Mobility
We empower people to become financially stable through services that advance skills, improve personal financial management, and provide a safety net support system during times of crisis. The result is a thriving community where everyone can succeed.
Our goals are to ensure that Laramie County residents living in poverty have adequate education, skills, and safety net services necessary to obtain a livable wage and manage daily activities in a livable environment; have a single access point to help navigate their way toward resources to meet their basic life, safety and economic needs; have a sustainable network of efficient safety net organizations, offering a variety of services, referrals, and case management resources; and that Laramie County seniors have opportunities/services to acquire or maintain a level of independent living they choose or desire.
By 2025, we hope to achieve the following goals:
- 99% of homeless individuals and families have access to emergency shelters and services
- 85% of people living in Laramie County are 200% above poverty level
- 70% of individuals and families living in Laramie County spend less than 30% of household income on housing expenses
- Laramie County children under the age of 18 living in poverty is reduced to 10% or less
- Laramie County population seeking work is reduced to 3% or less
Local program partners who benefit from your donation:
Helping Neighbors in Crisis & Strengthening Families
Direct Homeless Services
In addition to the programs listed above, United Way of Laramie County also supports the following initiatives in our community.
Human Services Advisory Council (HSAC)
Made up of United Way of Laramie County, the City of Cheyenne, and Laramie County, HSAC works to invest the 5th penny sales tax human services commitments in a way that best fulfills the needs of Laramie County.
Currently, United Way of Laramie County is under contract with the City of Cheyenne and Laramie County government to oversee the HSAC and manage the human services portion of the 5th penny sales tax. In this capacity, United Way of Laramie County works with the City of Cheyenne and Laramie County to:
- Initiate a common grant application process
- Conduct joint hearings on funding requests
- Establish policy recommendations concerning future funding and delivery of human services proposals to the appropriate governing bodies
Community Schools
Organizing community resources around student success.
With a vision that all students come to school ready to learn, Community Schools is a strategy for organizing community resources around student success. Started in 2017 at Cole and Hebard Elementary School, this United Way of Laramie County Initiative thus far has collaborated with over 35 different organizations to provide services to the families and students of both schools.
Wyoming Free Tax Service
This program provides free tax preparation services to families who earn $66,000 or less a year, persons with disabilities, and limited-English-speaking taxpayers. Through the program, IRS-certified volunteers work with participants to ensure proper tax credits are utilized during the filing process, then file and direct-deposit participants’ refunds for free. Two filing options are available: In-person at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites, or online.
To learn more about this year’s program, where to find it, and the documents you need to bring, click here.
To file online (if your income is $60,000 or less), visit MyFreeTaxes.com.
Donate Today
Your donation has the power to impact your friends; your neighbors; your child’s classmates; maybe even your own family. Every donation we receive goes directly toward fostering hope and opportunity in Laramie County.