Thrive 2027 and the United Way of Greater Portland Investment

Thanks to the generosity of our community, Northeast Hearing & Speech is excited to announce that we are one of the 48 partners working with United Way of Greater Portland to improve outcomes for the people in our community.  We will be working in goal area one to provide screening and evaluations for children, professional development for early childhood educators, and treatment for children with speech-language and hearing difficulties.  To learn more about Thrive 2027 and the United Way of Greater Portland Investment click here.


From the United Way Greater Portland:


United Way of Greater Portland (UWGP) announced the investment of $3.74M in 74 programs and initiatives with 48 funded community partners, including $256,500 of investments in its Brick & Beam Society and Women United affinity groups.


In addition, UWGP is one of more than 210 organizations that has embraced Thrive2027, our community’s 10-year effort to achieve measurable progress in the areas of education, financial stability, and health. While serving as the backbone support, UWGP also is playing its part in ensuring the success of Thrive2027 by utilizing strategies such as public policy, community engagement, and financial support, including this $3.74M investment toward direct services and other community initiatives.


The community investment process kicked off with an open request for proposals in January with a focus on community programs, initiatives, and collaborations that have a measurable impact on the Thrive2027 Goals. UWGP also committed that each currently funded partner would receive a minimum of 70% of their total funding from the prior year.


“We recognize that significant change takes a willingness to do things differently,” said Liz Cotter Schlax, President & CEO, United Way of Greater Portland. “After three years of careful planning and collaboration with our community partners, we opened our community investment pool for the first time, resulting in an extremely competitive application process. We believe this new approach will help better the odds for children, families, and communities.”


More than 30 new organizations applied for funding, resulting in the funding of 8 new funded partners in addition to the ongoing funding of 40 long-standing United Way partners.


Over 47 community volunteers helped make funding decisions, spending 650 hours evaluating requests and ensuring grants were distributed objectively and aligned to make the greatest impact on the Thrive2027 Goals.


“Thanks to the generosity of our community and the hard work of our volunteers, we are able to take a significant step forward in our effort to advance Thrive2027,” said Dan Coyne, Senior Vice President of Community Impact, United Way of Greater Portland. “Investments are laser-focused on proven strategies to give more kids a strong start, empower more of our neighbors to thrive – not just survive, and help us all live longer, better lives.”


In 2017, United Way announced its first strategic investments in Thrive2027 allocating $250,000 in three community initiatives: the Children’s Initiative at Maine Behavioral Healthcare; Maine Medical Center – Preble Street Learning Collaborative at Preble Street; and Smile Partners previously at the Cutler Institute for Health & Social Policy at the University of Southern Maine Muskie School.


“United Way of Greater Portland is being both thoughtful and strategic with the direction we are taking to address the health and well-being of our region,” said Anne Dalton, Chief Officer for Strategic Initiatives, The Association of Junior Leagues International, and United Way of Greater Portland Board Chair.


Those wishing to get involved by donating their time, money, or voice to help Greater Portland thrive should visit www.unitedwaygp.org.