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Make a donation to United Way of the Greater Capital Region to help support the work of our community-based organizations fighting for the health, education and financial stability of every person in the Capital Region.
Boys and Girls Club of the Capital Area
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area provides safe havens for young people by offering quality programs and critical relationships with nurturing and reliable adults. In addition to programming, they ensure no kid goes hungry, serving approximately 1,100 meals daily to feed youth from Albany to Troy. The kitchen runs year-round through the summer and school year.
LEARN MORE about Boys & Girls Summer Meals Program, narrated by Benny the Bunny!
Connect Center for Youth
Connect Center for Youth provides youth development programming alongside community aid initiatives to provide support holistically, serving as a community hub for youth connection and empowerment.
LEARN MORE about their work through 2023, their expansion and new programming.
Albany Damien Center
The Albany Damien Center is a resource center designed to improve health, reduce stress and increase the quality of life in a supportive atmosphere for individuals and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. This year, their Smart Meals Program has provided 27,200 nutritious meals to members, creating a profound impact on the health and well-being of their community, demonstrating how a simple commitment to nourishment can lead to life-altering change.
LEARN MORE about the impact of the Smart Meals Program on Kevin.
Girls on the Run Capital Region
Children today are exposed to longstanding gender stereotypes, societal obstacles and cultural challenges that can be detrimental to their emotional and physical health. Girls on the Run helps girls from 3rd to 8th grade recognize their potential and rise above limiting gender expectations. They make an impact at a critical age, focusing on the girl's inner strength, increasing their level of physical activity, imagining their possibilities, and confidently standing up for themselves and others through the innovative integration of fun physical activities, life skills lessons, and impactful community projects.
LEARN MORE about the work of Girls on the Run in the Capital Region.
Literacy New York, Fulton, Montgomery & Schoharie Counties
Literacy issues are interconnected with financial stability, employment, and independence. Literacy New York - Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie Counties (LNY-FMS) provides free and confidential educational services for adults including basic literacy, writing, math, GED preparatory instruction, and English as a second language.
LEARN MORE about Raheam, a 41-year-old who is able to prepare for his GED through the help of the team at LNY-FMS.
Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County
Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County plays a vital role in our community by offering English, math, financial, and computer literacy instruction to approximately 200 adult learners annually. Their program, EL (English language/English literacy) Civics, gives newly arrived immigrants and refugees a chance to learn about life in America while improving their English skills.
LEARN MORE about our newest community members who succeeded through the El Civics Program.
Schoharie River Center
The Schoharie River Center works to promote learning, environmental stewardship, and community involvement for individuals in Schoharie, Montgomery, and Schenectady Counties. They offer programs for both youth and adults, with a focus on ecology. Their Middleburgh Advantage Program and Environmental Study Team's youth development programs engage teens in outdoor learning and community-based activities focused on water and air quality monitoring, cultural documentation, and stewardship.
LEARN MORE about Schoharie River Center and their impact on the environment and the Schoharie River Valley.
South End Children's Cafe
The South End Children's Cafe's (SECC) goal is to ensure that no child goes hungry or experiences health or academic challenges due to lack of proper nutrition. They involve all enrolled children in serving meals, instill a sense of responsibility and ownership in the Cafe, and offer after-school help and enrichment activities. SECC operates with the help of donors and volunteers.
LEARN MORE about a day in the life of Grandma Dot, a proud grandmother of four children in the SECC program who helps feed the kids in the program as long as other members of her neighborhood.
Sunnyside Child Development Center
Catholic Charities' Sunnyside Center is a haven for children from six weeks to 12 years old in the area, providing a safe and educational space to learn, grow, and be a kid. They host a wide range of STEM and volunteer activities to engage the kids.
LEARN MORE about the toddlers who are participating in STEAM through baking.
YWCA NorthEastern NY
YWCA NENY works to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. They offer comprehensive domestic violence support services to individuals and families in need, affordable housing and housing services to low-income and homeless women (trans-inclusive), accredited early learning curriculum, counseling, advocacy, economic empowerment, and more. YWCA has teamed up with the Boys & Girls Club of Schenectady, where youth are at a higher risk of broken family ties, gang affiliation and poverty.
LEARN MORE about the YWCA's Youth Violence Prevention Program, which helps boys ages 7-10 emphasize the importance of“redefining strength by rediscovering themselves.” The young men discuss the importance of anger management, coping skills, mindfulness, healthy and unhealthy relationships, learning to say no, gratitude, and other topics that break the narrative of “boys don’t cry.”
