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The 5 Pillars Of Progress: Inside United Way Of Erie County's Bold 2025 Strategy To Crush Poverty

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The United Way of Erie County (UWEC) is not just a fundraising organization; it is a strategic social impact entity focused on a singular, ambitious goal: crushing the cycle of poverty in Erie County, Pennsylvania. As of December 2025, the organization is leveraging a collective impact framework, uniting hundreds of local employers, government bodies, and over a dozen core nonprofit partners to create a cohesive, long-term strategy that moves beyond simple charity to systemic change. This deep-dive explores the fresh, unique, and highly localized initiatives that are defining UWEC's mission and impact in the current year, highlighting the massive investments and leadership changes driving their success.

The organization’s commitment to keeping all funds raised within the county ensures that every dollar directly supports local residents facing economic hardship, educational barriers, and health crises. The strategy for 2025 is built on key pillars of stability and growth, with a significant emphasis on education as the primary pathway out of poverty. Recent financial investments, including a major $1 million donation announced in June 2024, underscore the community's belief in the long-term effectiveness of the United Way's model.

United Way of Erie County: Leadership and Core Mission Profile

The United Way of Erie County operates as a locally governed, mission-driven body, distinct from the national organization in its specific focus and application of funds—all of which are dedicated to the Erie County community. The following profile details the key figures and organizational structure driving their 2025 agenda.

  • Organizational Focus: Breaking the cycle of poverty through a collective impact model.
  • Geographic Area Served: All of Erie County, Pennsylvania.
  • Current Board Chair: Christine Drabic (Wabtec Corporation).
  • President/CEO: Mike Jaruszewicz (Successor to retiring President Laurie Root).
  • Key Financial Impact (2025): Over $150,000 invested across 15 nonprofit partners delivering essential services.
  • Major Initiative: The Community Schools Model.
  • Annual Campaign: The 2025 Annual Campaign is active, with the assurance that "What's Raised Here Stays Here!"

The transition in executive leadership, welcoming Mike Jaruszewicz, signals a fresh chapter in the organization's history, poised to build upon the foundational work established by figures like Laurie Root and the strategic guidance of the Board, led by Christine Drabic. This continuity and evolution are critical as the United Way addresses complex challenges like food insecurity, lack of affordable housing, and educational disparities in the region.

Pillar 1: The Community Schools Model—A $1 Million Commitment to Education

The cornerstone of the United Way of Erie County's anti-poverty strategy is the revolutionary Community Schools Model. This initiative is a direct response to the reality that non-academic barriers—such as unstable housing, hunger, and lack of healthcare—are the primary obstacles preventing students from succeeding in the classroom.

The Community Schools Model transforms public schools into neighborhood hubs, integrating essential health, social, and economic services directly into the school building. By providing resources like mental health counseling, tutoring, dental care, and food pantries on-site, the model effectively removes the logistical and financial barriers that keep students from learning.

The financial future of this model was significantly bolstered in June 2024 with the announcement of a $1 million donation, specifically earmarked to secure the initiative for this and future generations. This massive commitment ensures the continuation of vital services at schools like Diehl Elementary School, East Middle School, and Erie High School, which are leveraging the model to drive better student outcomes and family stability.

The success of this approach is being shared nationally, with UWEC hosting the inaugural 2025 Community Schools Conference, attracting other United Way chapters seeking to adopt this issue-focused, direct-action strategy to address local poverty.

Pillar 2: Direct Family Stability Programs for Immediate Relief

While the Community Schools focus on long-term systemic change, the United Way of Erie County maintains critical programs that offer immediate, essential relief and stability to local families and seniors. These programs form a vital safety net, addressing basic needs that, if unmet, can quickly spiral into crisis.

The 211 Helpline: The Gateway to Social Services

The 211 Helpline is arguably the most crucial resource for immediate assistance in the county. It functions as a free, confidential, and 24/7 gateway that connects residents to a vast network of social services. Whether a family needs emergency rental assistance, a senior requires hot meals, or an individual is seeking mental health support, 211 provides the necessary link to the appropriate partner agency.

Imagination Library: Investing in Early Childhood Literacy

Recognizing that literacy is foundational to future success and a powerful tool in breaking the cycle of poverty, UWEC champions the Imagination Library program. This initiative provides a free, high-quality book delivered monthly to every registered child under the age of five in Erie County. This simple yet effective program ensures that children enter kindergarten with the necessary vocabulary and pre-literacy skills to thrive, directly addressing educational barriers before they even begin.

Pillar 3: The 2025 Annual Campaign and Corporate Partnership

The success of all United Way initiatives hinges on the annual workplace giving campaign, which is in full swing for 2025. This campaign mobilizes over 500 Erie County employers, from major corporations like Wabtec Corporation and First National Bank of Pennsylvania to small local businesses, in a collective fundraising effort.

A key differentiator for the United Way of Erie County is the guarantee that every dollar donated remains local, directly funding the Community Schools and partner agencies within Erie County. This transparency and local focus drive strong corporate and leadership giving, as donors can see the tangible impact on their neighbors and community.

The 2025 campaign has already shown promising results, with corporate partners demonstrating exceptional generosity. For example, a recent campaign by Tops Markets in the Erie and Niagara counties region successfully surpassed its goal, raising over $66,000 for local services, demonstrating the strong community support for the United Way’s mission.

The leadership giving structure encourages generous community members to become "Leadership Givers," a group whose substantial contributions are instrumental in addressing the most complex challenges facing the region.

Pillar 4: Strategic Investment in Nonprofit Partner Agencies

The United Way of Erie County acts as a strategic funder and backbone organization, providing essential financial support and technical assistance to a network of local nonprofits. In 2025 alone, the organization invested more than $150,000 across 15 different nonprofit partners. These organizations—the "backbone of Erie's social services"—deliver a wide array of critical services, including emergency shelter, job training, youth mentorship, and senior support. This focused investment ensures that funds are directed toward programs that demonstrate measurable results in poverty reduction and community stability.

The investment process is rigorous, utilizing data and evaluation metrics to ensure maximum community impact. Sara Naughton, the Associate Vice President of Data and Evaluation, plays a key role in measuring the effectiveness of programs, ensuring that United Way's funding is driving real change and not just maintaining the status quo.

Pillar 5: The Collaborative Community Vision

Ultimately, the United Way of Erie County’s 2025 strategy is defined by its collaborative community vision. The organization envisions an Erie County where all students succeed and all families thrive, a goal that requires the coordinated efforts of the entire region.

By focusing on the collective impact framework, UWEC brings together diverse stakeholders—from the Erie School Board and local businesses to volunteer groups and government officials—to work toward shared goals. This unified approach to tackling poverty, centered on education, stability, and health, positions the United Way of Erie County as the leading force for systemic social change in the region.

The 5 Pillars of Progress: Inside United Way of Erie County's Bold 2025 Strategy to Crush Poverty
united way of erie
united way of erie

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