United Way works to ensure that every dollar we invest addresses critical community needs and delivers measurable, lasting results. In other words, we’re not as interested in how many kids attended one of our after school programs; we want to know how many of those kids actually improved their grades, stayed in school and graduated. We’re not as interested in how many people received meals at a soup kitchen; we want to know how many of those people no longer rely on the soup kitchen because they’ve become independent. We support effective programs at the following partner agencies: