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As I reflect back on 2025, I am inspired by the collective action of Utah communities working together to create lasting impact. This past month, United Way of Salt Lake hosted seven roundtables across the state, connecting local leaders and experts to explore how partnerships are dramatically improving outcomes for kids and families in Utah.
This winter season, we are turning support into action. From advocating for community-based partnerships across Utah to volunteers preparing holiday meals to expanding essential services and ensuring families have the resources they need, our community continues to show that United is the Way to create meaningful change together.
Read on to see how this season, we are creating brighter futures for local kids and families.
Warm regards,
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Bill Crim
President & CEO |
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PROGRAM UPDATE
Roundtables Rallied Support for Utah Kids
United Way of Salt Lake co-hosted roundtable conversations in seven communities across Utah: Salt Lake City, Heber City, Brigham City, Monticello, Moab, Price, and Richfield. We gathered key stakeholders to learn about a recent report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute about how community-based partnerships transform outcomes for Utah kids and families. Attendees also gained insights from a panel of local leaders and national experts about building a comprehensive system of support for kids from birth to workforce entry and increasing economic mobility — especially in Utah’s rural communities. |
Thank you to Comcast for sponsoring the Economic Mobility Partnerships Roundtables. By supporting this work, they are demonstrating their commitment to advancing family prosperity, workforce growth, and opportunity.
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT
211 Utah and UTA Drive Mobility Solutions
211 Utah and Utah Transit Authority (UTA) help thousands of Utahns overcome barriers to essential needs through the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program.
As part of this partnership, 211 Utah serves as a mobility management hub that provides services beyond traditional public transit. Our team:
- Maintains a centralized, continually updated database of transportation resources across the region;
- Trains 211 service navigators on the mobility management program so they can effectively navigate options with callers;
- Provides transportation and referral services, including proactive follow-up with at least 10% of callers to understand outcomes and remaining gaps.
Together, 211 Utah and UTA are building a smarter, more responsive transportation ecosystem. Data gathered through 211 Utah help pinpoint service gaps, highlight emerging needs, and guide improvements to local transit and mobility resources.
Thanks to our partnership with UTA, hundreds of seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income households have received transportation assistance to access medical appointments, groceries, and community services. |
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Season of Service: Supporting Local Families
This holiday season, United Way of Salt Lake is working with schools across the Wasatch Front to make sure every child’s winter is warm and bright. A total of 17 schools from Canyons, Davis, Granite, and Salt Lake City school districts compiled their highest-priority needs: food (requests for food assistance increased by 80%), warm clothing, household supplies, and gift cards.
As part of their Season of Service efforts, Enbridge partnered with the Salt Lake Center for Science Education (SLCSE), a public charter high school, to support students and families. Enbridge volunteers kicked off the day with a career panel, sharing their professional journeys and answering students’ questions about careers in energy. Volunteers worked alongside SLCSE’s Peer Leadership class to prepare fifty Enbridge-sponsored Thanksgiving baskets packed with holiday meal staples to ensure families in need had food for the holiday.
As Season of Service continues, we invite you to follow Enbridge’s example to create meaningful, community-centered impact. Please visit our Season of Service webpage or contact veronica.scheidler@uw.org to learn how you can support local families in need this winter. |
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ADVOCACY UPDATE
Governor Cox Proposes Budget to Support Partnership Work
On December 3, Gov. Spencer J. Cox released his state budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027. As part of a $654.2 million proposed budget for public education, Gov. Cox makes a significant commitment to early literacy ($80M), and to the expansion of public/private community-based partnerships ($5M) recently profiled by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. According to the FY27 budget book, this investment will help secure a strong future workforce because “[c]onnecting community and education is essential for student success. Creating these partnerships and supporting collaboration will create better educational outcomes” (p.32). By expanding partnerships statewide through Promise Partnership Utah, the nationally recognized partnership of schools and districts, cities, higher education, businesses, nonprofits and many others — and aligning community efforts to strong district implementation of best practices — Utah can unite around the goal of 100% of kids reading on grade level.
United Way 211 Emergency Relief Fund Supported Utahns During Shutdown
On November 12, Congress and the president agreed to end the longest shutdown in national history. The act funds most government agencies through the end of January and provides funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September 2026.
THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to the United Way 211 Emergency Relief Fund! Together, we raised $251,000 to support Utahns impacted by the shutdown. And 211 Utah, operated by the United Ways of Utah, connected 25,783 Utahns to help during the same time.
“We truly appreciate the donation United Way was able to provide to UCA. Thanks to this contribution, we were able to ensure that 35 households, comprised of 137 individuals, were able to maintain their housing and avoid homelessness.”
-Sahil Oberoi, Chief Operating Officer, Utah Community Action |
Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
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Season of Service
November 13 - December 19, 2025
Give warmth and support this winter by helping families and schools meet their highest needs during the colder months.
Learn More > |
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Legislative Preview Breakfast
January 13, 2026
Join us to learn about United Ways of Utah’s legislative priorities during the 2026 General Session.
Get Tickets > |
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