by Jame Brown
Community Investment Advisor
United Way of Salt Lake uses the Collective Impact approach to create long-term community change. Partner agencies show support for Collective Impact through their relationship with UWSL.
One such organization, Community Health Centers, Inc., recently pledged its support in a big way!
For over thirty years, Community Health Centers has provided exceptional healthcare to people of all ages, backgrounds, and life circumstances. Community Health Centers, Inc. offers community members access to primary and preventative healthcare, dental services, and mental health. Jesse Oyler, a Project Director for the Health Access Project at Community Health Centers, recently told me of one of the great ways Community Health Centers serves the community:
”Vulnerable, underserved populations face barriers to accessing oral health care, including social, cultural, economic, structural, and geographic factors that contribute to huge oral health disparities. In partnership with the United Way of Salt Lake Dental Promise Partnership, Health Access Project has worked to improve access and coordinate good oral health care for the most vulnerable members of our community, as well as offering other valuable outcomes like a great smile and the confidence that a smile brings. This past Thursday and Friday our partnership was able to hold an after-hours dental clinic at Roosevelt Elementary School (a United Way of Salt Lake Community School), where 34 children and six adults were seen for their restorative dental needs.”
Providing these services are not the only way Community Health Centers give to the community. In their most recent workplace charitable giving campaign, Community Health Centers’ employees increased their contributions by 132 percent, raising nearly $2,000 more this year than their previous campaign! When asked about the campaign, Gary Ham, Director of HR, said the following:
“Community Health Centers has been a avid supporter of the United Way for many years. We believe in its mission, which coincides with our mission of reaching out into the community, to help those who have basic needs. As Campaign Manager, I watched our employees give generously this year, as they do each year. They are excited to be a part of this process of helping others.”
Being excited to help others is a huge part of its success! The generosity of Community Health Centers employees is inspiring and greatly appreciated! It is because of wonderful Partner Agencies like Community Health Centers that United Way of Salt Lake’s Collective Impact model is able to successfully reach so many children and families.
Thank you, Community Health Centers, for showing the community what it means to LIVE UNITED!
