GVSU and the United Way

Grand Valley and the United Way have a long-standing partnership that helps members of our communities when they most need a hand up. As a place-based institution and community partner, Grand Valley's long-standing commitment to the United Way demonstrates our desire to be a good civic partner in West Michigan. 

We are committed to sustainable partnerships that operate in pursuit of an equitable future for our communities.

Our Civic Action Plan reaffirms our commitment to using our institutional resources to create social and economic equity for all, ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to contribute to our democracy.

Part of this ongoing commitment to our community is expressed in our partnership with the United Way. We are proud to be a strong partner with United Way in making our communities stronger.

As captains, we have an opportunity to show our colleagues, peers, and supervisors that their contribution to the United Way can make a difference for those in need.

Myth: Only unemployed people are struggling.

Fact: 28% of Kent County people are working but unable to meet their basic needs. Especially vulnerable are families with children, single parents and minority populations.

Myth: There are jobs available, but people don’t want to work.

Fact: Fastest growing jobs in Michigan are low paying (think food prep, factory production, retail sales). 60% of jobs pay less than $20/hour and don’t include health insurance. For a 2 adult/2 child home, survival budget requires $28.23/hour. Working multiple jobs is commonplace.

Myth: Social mobility is possible by working hard.

Fact: Education is the key to social mobility, not simply “working hard”. Jobs today requires workers to be more skilled than in the past. Many people living in poverty cannot afford the costs of a secondary education.

Myth:  Poverty has little lasting impact on children.

Fact: Research is clear that poverty is the single greatest threat to children’s well-being. It impedes the ability to learn and significantly limits social, emotional, and physical health.

Alice isn't one specific person. ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. 

People who fall into this category, combined with the 9 percent living below the poverty level, are the 37% of people who are unable to consistently meet their basic needs. Many of these families are a single crisis away from falling into extreme poverty. ALICE families and people are an important part of every community.

West Michigan United Way organizations are working hard to help ALICE, the thousands of people who are working, yet still struggling to meet their basic needs.

From housing to food security to job training and much more, contributions to the United Way through the Grand Valley State University United Way Campaign helps fund grants to partner agencies who work to ensure people in our communities have what they need to succeed.

Where Contributions Go

Gifts to the United Way are used to fund local agencies that focus on six main areas of support for families in West Michigan: Housing, family crisis, food security, financial security, mental and behavioral health, and youth education. This broad focus allows the United Way to support a wide variety of organizations and programs that strategize to work on tackling the root causes of poverty.

What you can do as a captain: 

• Advocate
• Educate
• Inspire
• Motivate
• Ask
• Invite

Together, We Can!

IDENTIFY our community's most pressing issues.

HELP people meet their immediate needs.

FIND sustainable solutions.

BUILD a better community.

LIVE United.

Explain why you personally believe in the United Way! Talk about ALICE and how improving lives of those in our communities improves our lives as well. 

At Grand Valley, our goal for the United Way campaign is based on response.

• Communicate campaign dates and encourage 100% response within unit.
• Ensure confidentiality.
• Understand and explain the online giving process.

If you have any questions, reach out to the United Way campaign committee, and thank you for being a captain!