2022-2023 Annual impact report
Because of you, we are creating communities where everyone can thrive
United in purpose
2023 was historic, as we merged two sister organizations – United Way of Coastal Fairfield County (UWCFC) and United Way of Western Connecticut (UWWC) – to become United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut.
We united in purpose with a resolute mission: to build communities where everyone can thrive. We focus specifically on a population who works hard but earns incomes below the cost of living. (We call these neighbors ALICE®--Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.)
We united in purpose with a clear vision: every child enters school ready to learn, every family is financially stable, and every community we serve is healthy and strong.
We united in purpose around a key set of operating principles that value collaboration, equity, and representative governance.
We united in purpose to better serve our neighbors in need, through:
Greater reach, now serving 27 towns and one-fourth of the state’s population
A larger portfolio of innovative and successful initiatives to share across the footprint
More competitive fundraising, as a single, larger organization, instead of 2 smaller ones vying with each other
Increased sustainability, as we achieve economies of scale
Together with donors, and partners, we can and will do even more to serve our communities.
“We will continue to be the champions for our communities. Together, we will empower our neighbors to lead healthier lives, to succeed in school and prepare for careers, and to build stronger financial foundations—for today and the years to come.”
As we reflect on 2023, we celebrate the positive combined impact we made.
Together, we connected families to healthy food and stable housing. We supported children’s ability to succeed in school and prepare for careers. We promoted financial coaching, savings, and asset-building programs to help build stronger financial foundations. And we advocated for policies to help hard-working families get ahead.
Together, we helped close gaps and open opportunities—so all our neighbors can thrive.
A Year of impact
240
partners united
$7.3 MILLION
invested in community
58,000
neighbors impacted
2,200
VOLUNTEERS MOBILIZED
Coastal and Western Connecticut is an area of geographic beauty, educational opportunity, and economic prosperity. And yet, that wealth is not equally shared. As the costs of basics have climbed, wages for ALICE workers have failed to keep up. The result? Workers have lost buying power over the past 15 years.
According to the 2023 ALICE Report on hardship, 40% of households in Coastal and Western Connecticut live paycheck to paycheck, working hard to afford the basics like food and housing, but earning incomes below the cost of living. In lower-income homes, children often read 2-3 levels behind their affluent peers and life expectancy declines by up to 19 years.
ALICE families have been overlooked and undercounted by traditional poverty measures. ALICE is the nation’s child care workers, home health aides and cashiers heralded during the pandemic – those working low-wage jobs, with little or no savings and one emergency away from poverty. Inflation in Connecticut has long contributed to a structural economic problem: wages for jobs essential to the running of the economy are not high enough for workers to afford the household basics they need to support their families. For example, the cost of six household essentials in Connecticut has risen at a faster clip than inflation, leaving low-wage workers priced out of affording the basics.
We’re working to close gaps and open opportunities for everyone: to meet basic needs today, while working toward long-term solutions.
Closing gaps and opening opportunities
Thank You
The strength of our partners, generosity of our donors, compassion of volunteers and the resilience of people across our 27-town region. Thank you for being a part of our story and for helping to create transformative change in our community. We are grateful beyond measure.
