United Way of Northern Arizona

United Way of Northern Arizona mobilizes communities to action so all can thrive.

We work with partners to create more opportunities for our children and teens. We promote greater health and financial security for our families. In times of crisis, we rally volunteers and direct resources to where they are needed most, quickly and efficiently.

Together, we can drive the solutions that result in lasting positive changes and a stronger Northern Arizona because United is the Way to a better future for all. Our work is based on four pillars:

• Youth Opportunity - Through our Step Up for Youth initiative, we tackle big challenges, such as expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare; improving literacy rates; preparing pre-schoolers for kindergarten; and fostering positive youth development so our teens can reach their full potential.
• Healthy Communities - Helping families meet basic needs like safe housing and adequate food enables them to move from day-to-day existence to planning for a positive future.
• Financial Security - We support education, tools, and job training programs so that families have financial freedom, peace of mind, and can build a stronger future for their children.
• Community Resiliency - In times of emergency - including wildfires, government shutdowns and pandemics - we marshal resources and volunteers to help meet the immediate needs of the community.

Signature Programs
Contributions to the United Way of Northern Arizona help sustain a network of collaborative partners from parenting classes to food banks to domestic violence shelters.

Additionally, UWNA spearheads several signature initiatives with partners in the community.

KinderCamp™ is an early education program that gives children ages 4 and 5 the foundational social and academic skills necessary for a successful transition into kindergarten. In KinderCamp, students learn much more than their letters and numbers. They also get familiar with riding on a school bus, eating in a cafeteria setting, and working cooperatively with other students. The biggest transformation for these students, according to their parents, is their increased confidence and excitement about starting school.

The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) helps families nurture a culture of literacy by providing free books to children in Coconino, Navajo and Apache counties. Being read to or having a small child be able to flip through a book and look at the pictures are key behaviors that foster literacy. They teach children how to "operate" a book, and that amazing images and stories are waiting for them between the covers. Under the program, DPIL provides a carefully selected children's book to children aged 0-5 once a month free of charge, delivered straight to their door. 

Youth Experiencing Success (YES!) Leadership Summits & Workshops. What does leadership look like when you’re just starting high school? Our YES! Leadership Summits helps 9th graders explore their strengths, understand their potential, and connect with local role models.

Testimonials

Testimonials from parents who have children who have attended KinderCamp™ :
• My baby girl learned so much and has become so much more outgoing - thank you so much.
• Riding the bus has given my son a sense of independence.
• She loved sharing her projects with us and any songs she learned that day. We loved our experience with KinderCamp!
• My child would talk about KinderCamp every day and night after school.
• He was able to sign his Father's Day card for his daddy.