United Way Approves $200K in Grants for Lafayette-Oxford-University Community

The United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County (UWOLC) Board of Directors has given the green light to the organization’s fiscal year 2024-25 grants, awarding a sum of $200,000 to eligible applicants serving in the Lafayette-Oxford-University (LOU) vicinity. The latest funding initiative will support 25 programs that span across distinct domains of health, education, finance, and basic needs services.

Details of the Grant Awards

The financial boost will largely support the functioning of recipients such as Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi, The Leap Frog Program, and Interfaith Compassion Ministry. These funds are intended to have a profound impact, fostering health improvement, education advancement, financial stability promotion, and the fulfilment of basic necessities among the citizens of Lafayette County.

The Executive Director of UWOLC, Kurt Brummett, states, “Our organization provides the means to support several outstanding programs and thousands of Lafayette County residents of all ages as well as backgrounds through a one-time or recurring donation.”

Residents lead the UWOLC’s Community Investment

A unique prospect of the grant awarding process is its leadership. The UWOLC community investment is spearheaded by LOU community volunteers who are given full authority to undertake reviews, make recommendations, and final decisions on all grant awards. This meticulous step-by-step process is designed to ensure that each grant is awarded to an organization capable of producing positive outcomes and addressing residents’ needs proficiently.

Furthermore, for a more personalized contribution, donors can designate their gifts. These funds are subsequently applied to either the chosen agency’s grant or a specified area of focus.

The Challenges Faced

According to Brummett, the task of addressing evolving community needs with a limited funding scope is challenging. However, he emphasizes on virtues like teamwork, empathy, and accountability as the cornerstone for their assigned task. He extends his thanks to all volunteers, applicants, and supporters for showing commendable dedication to make a meaningful difference in local residents’ lives.