Each year, there are local students who must forgo continuing their education due to unmet financial needs. These are students in good academic standing, making the difficult choice to drop out because they cannot afford groceries, transportation, daycare, or books. This prevents them from gaining new skills, pursuing different employment opportunities and many times creating a more stable life for themselves and their families.
Together we are changing this norm through the United Way Mirogrant Program. The grant amounts may seem small (just $900 a semester at most), but they are having a BIG impact. After 3, full, academic years, results show that students who receive a United Way Microgrant have higher retention rates than their peers and the majority are staying in the Chippewa Valley filling high-demand jobs and improving our local economy.
"The United Way Microgrant helped reduce the financial burden of returning to school at age 27. As a result of my new degree, my income has doubled and I'm able to continue living in Eau Claire. It was a valuable piece of a larger puzzle that has redefined the course of my professional life." - United Way Microgrant Recipient -
This is just one of many examples of how when you give to United Way, you are not just making a donation, you truly are changing lives and strengthening our community.