United Way:
A partnership between the United Way and the University of North Florida
TWENTY YEARS IMPACTING THE REGION
University of North Florida and United Way of Northeast Florida have
been partnering longer than many of the current first-year students at UNF have
been alive. Starting in 1997, UNF
employees have participated in annual United Way Campaign; in the most recent campaign $32,000
was raised at UNF and is
leveraged to double the impact. Recently,
this partnership has expanded to two newer initiatives with curricular and
co-curricular aspects to engage students in the relationship.
SOCIAL INNOVATION
United
Way’s Upstream Initiative supports ideas for positive social change in any one
of United Way’s grand challenge areas which include Education, Basic Needs,
Financial Stability and Health. For
example, one social innovation challenge solicited ideas on improving basic
needs for those living in underserved communities. In spring 2017, $30,000 in seed grants were
awarded to UNF students, working alongside community partners such as
Full-Service Schools and Downtown Vision Inc., to make their ideas a
reality. Through the Upstream
Initiative, UNF students established a program addressing health issues (food
scarcity and hunger) in the community with “Food Fighters.” 
This initiative won $10,000 in funding to
establish a food recovery program that eliminates food waste on UNF’s campus.
United Way provides the finalists with mentoring workshops and networking with
experienced leaders and coaches to help develop the idea and create a plan for
implementation. United Way also provides
assessments of effectiveness and accountability for the programs once underway.
This partnership’s dreams for future projects include collaborating with UNF’s
Volunteer Center, Career Resource Center and Carpenter Library, among others,
as we create new engagement opportunities for the entire UNF community.
UPSTREAM
The Upstream Initiative, described above, teaches students
how to implement community projects. This program does a great deal to help
develop civic-minded graduates who will impact communities near and far. Having
gone through the rigorous process of developing a proposal and receiving
funding can make a student feel she or he could accomplish anything. UNF
students successfully launched a mentorship program for African American male
students at Sandalwood High School with “Gents for Jax.” Two UNF students
designed the curriculum and facilitate the sessions for the program. “Embedded
Within,” a mentoring project to help at-risk high school students transition to
college developed by a UNF junior, and “Mindful Friends,” an after-school
program to educate sixth-grade students about mental illness presented by two
UNF seniors, shared the first-place finish in the inaugural Upstream
competition. The benefits to the students don’t stop at grants, but also
include the networking opportunities and professional development described
earlier. Students who participate in Upstream have the chance to identify their
passion and work with like-minded professionals to achieve something great.
DAYS OF SERVICE
Lastly, UNF students collaborate with volunteers in the
business community and high school students in increasing numbers during Days
of Service such as the city-wide Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Day of
Service. Students have worked on issues
ranging from the environment to art in neighborhoods to beautification
programs, education, and tax information in downtown neighborhoods. Post-service, students convene over lunch to
reflect on the day with other students to discuss their experience and what the
day means to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In addition, UNF provides transportation,
t-shirts, and lunch for students to decrease barriers to participation.
After over 20 years
of supporting one another in various ways, UNF and United Way of Northeast
Florida are still exploring other initiatives to encourage this ongoing
relationship. Conversations around
expanding co-curricular opportunities, include more Day of Service events and
partnering on other existing programs and projects. Overall, the partnership has been one of
mutuality and through dedicated staff and employees at both organization, it is
a model of sustainability.
For more information about the United Way of Northeast Florida, please visit: https://unitedwaynefl.org/
