United Way of East Central Iowa

06/19/2026

is a reminder of both history and progress, of resilience carried forward, and the ongoing work of building communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Today, we honor the generations who fought for freedom and the people continuing that work in communities across the country. ❤️🖤💚

06/18/2026

Our annual Power of the Purse event is back this year on Thursday, September 10 at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids!

Join UWECI and Women United for a wonderful event full of beautiful purses and the thrill of an auction, all while supporting women's access to healthcare in our community. View last year's recap here: https://bit.ly/4ab4a22

Purchase tickets today: https://bit.ly/4aC99sI

06/17/2026

Yesterday, UWECI's Vice President of Community Impact Karey Chase and Nicole McAlexander of the Southeast Linn Community Center represented our local area on a statewide webinar, which was part of releasing the updated Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed (ALICE) data for our state. Karey and Nicole talked about the strain ALICE households face while navigating food insecurity.

The latest report shows that 34% of households in Iowa are below the ALICE threshold. Essentially, this means that 1 in 3 Iowa households are struggling to afford basic needs. Those households are often forced to make tough choices, like paying an electric bill or rent, fixing a flat tire, or finding affordable childcare.

To learn more about the latest ALICE report, visit this website: https://bit.ly/4oC4IUL.

Additionally, you can also check out local media coverage about yesterday's Iowa ALICE Report Release from The Gazette and KCRG-TV9:
📰: https://bit.ly/4vjjUbV
🎥: https://bit.ly/4gr8ga6

06/16/2026

Emerging Leaders United is bringing community-minded young professionals together on June 25, and we'd love for you to be part of it!

If you're looking to connect with other community-minded young professionals, this event is for you. Join us for networking, conversation, and an opportunity to learn more about ELU and the impact we're making across East Central Iowa.

June 25
4-5 p.m.
Sag Wagon, Cedar Rapids

Whether you're already involved with ELU or interested in learning more, we'd love to see you there! Feel free to bring a friend or co-worker and enjoy a complimentary drink ticket provided by our event sponsor, Skogman Companies.

06/15/2026

Last Friday was our annual United We Thrive event, an opportunity to reflect and celebrate our past year of community impact. During our event, we enjoyed recognizing several community champions with our annual awards and highlighting our efforts in transforming housing, financial security, and community leaders with an Impact Chat, featuring KZIA's Eric Hanson, UWECI President and CEO Kristin Roberts, and UWECI Vice President of Community Impact Karey Chase.

A big congratulations to all of this year's award winners:
⭐Campaign Excellence Award: Skogman Companies
⭐Emerging Leader Award: Bre Horstman
⭐John B. Northcott Award: Teri Gibson
⭐Lynn Nichols Award: Jane Drapeaux
⭐Community Philanthropist Award: Randy & Lisa Ramlo

06/11/2026

As we being to wrap up another campaign year, we're grateful for the dedicated leaders who serve on our Campaign Cabinet and help drive our mission forward.

Today marked our final Campaign Cabinet meeting of the year, and we want to extend a special thank you to Nick and Wendy Nielsen for their leadership, commitment, and support.

Thank you to all of our Campaign Cabinet members for your commitment to our mission to create lasting change in East Central Iowa!

06/10/2026

Event update!📣

Due to the weather forecast, we have made the decision to postpone today's Emerging Leaders United Meet & Greet.

NEW DATE: Thursday, June 25

While we're disappointed we won't be gathering today, we're still looking forward to bringing everyone together later this month!

Whether you're already involved with ELU or simply curious to learn more, we'd love to have you join the conversation. Thank you for understanding, and we hope to see you on June 25!

06/09/2026

Are you looking for a career where you can build connections and make a meaningful impact in the community?

At UWECI, our Campaign Specialists build relationships, connect with local businesses, and help create lasting impact in our community. As former Campaign Specialist, Judie Gofton shared:

"I've had the opportunity to learn from many agency partners and how they work together as a unit. A huge thank you goes to Quaker Oats and UWECI for their wonderful partnership and this wonderful opportunity I have been given."

Learn more and apply today: https://bit.ly/4oiCjD1

06/08/2026

Join us for a documentary that will change the way you think about charitable giving. On Monday, June 22, the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation's Nonprofit Network, Southeast Linn Community Center, and United Way of East Central Iowa will host a free screening of UnCharitable.

Monday, June 22
5:30 to 8pm
Bijou Theater
123 2nd St SW in Mt. Vernon
5:30pm: Doors Open
6pm: Movie Begins
7:30pm: Q&A with Local Nonprofits

Register for free here: https://bit.ly/4uUadAf

06/05/2026