Your pledges are helping protect youth in foster care

There are nearly 6,000 foster children in Missouri and Illinois. Your donations to United Way help protect and care for these youth in a variety of ways. Read more about how your pledges are helping thousands of foster children in our communities – children like 13-year-old Latrina, who came to Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center after suffering educational, physical and medical neglect.

United Way helps here: meeting basic and emergency needs

Food. Shelter. Clothing. These are basic needs most of us take for granted. Hurricane Katrina. The ice storms last December. The power outage in summer 2006. When an emergency strikes, do you know where to turn? Do you know how to find help or give help? With your help, United Way is meeting basic and emergency needs throughout the region.

United Way helps here: building financial stability and independence

The reasons behind financial struggle are as diverse as those who live with it. Standard alternatives for the poor and economically isolated are bleak. For many in our region, living paycheck-to-paycheck is their only option – and sometimes, even that doesn’t cover necessities like rent and utilities. The United Way is building a healthier community by helping people through promoting financial stability and independence.

Individual Development Accounts help youth aging out of foster care

After learning financial responsibility from United Way's IDA pilot program for youth in foster care, 21-year-old Mike Fogelbach has a steady job, a great apartment and a growing savings account.

Responsibility and respect are passed down through Wesley House's youth programming

United Way funding means 12-year-old Sharmayne and dozens of children like her have the opportunity to learn independence, build character and strengthen self-esteem in a safe environment.

Special homecoming keeps up with tradition

Ranken Jordan, a step between a regular hospital and going home, offers services such as intense rehab and physical therapy for children and teens, from 2 weeks old to 18 and older. On Oct. 12, the specialty pediatrics hospital gave a homecoming to be remembered.

At United Services, preschoolers learn through play (video)

St. Peters-based programs focus on integrating fun into early intervention learning for special-needs children.

St. Louis Crisis Nursery is a place where kids can be kids (video)

The nursery provides emergency care to children whose family is in crisis.

Neighborhood Houses strengthens children, families and communites (video)

Communities come together to provide child care, parent education and emergency assistance to those in need.

YWCA empowers women to report and overcome sexual assault and abuse

Kathleen was there to hold Colleen's hand as she told the police about years of abuse.

After a massive stroke, Connie regains her confidence and learns new skills at Wesley House Association

She now volunteers to assist in the same computer classes that she has mastered.

St. Joseph Institute grads work in nation's capital

Two students are making a difference in Washington.

Riverbend Head Start & Family Services program leads to healthier youth

Without the support of United Way funding, Marla may never have gotten the counseling she needed.

Kids in the Middle gives children a voice in divorce

10-year-old Mackenzie tells how Kids in the Middle helped her cope.

Jalissa gives back to the agency that helped her grow

After getting a foothold at Kingdom House, Jalissa finds a way to help.

Girl Scouts reach Beyond Bars to give support, education and hope

Girl Scouts have started a program for girls whose mothers are incarcerated.

Fatherhood Initiative Program breaks cycle of absent dads

Reggie was close to becoming a statistic – raised by a single mother in poverty, enmeshed in drugs and alcohol, not prepared to be a father to his three children. Then he found Catholic Family Services' Fatherhood Initiative.