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BOSTON -- On the heels of news that more than 1,000 families in Massachusetts have overflowed the capacity of emergency homeless shelters and are instead living in motels paid for by the State, United Way today announced that the organization will invest $661,100 to advance the Housing First strategies of 13 organizations in Boston, Cambridge, Lynn, Lowell, Quincy and Somerville --communities that have all launched 10 year plans to end homelessness.  read more »

BOSTON - This Thursday, September 24, more than 1,300 Massachusetts employees took to the community to participate in United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley's (United Way) 18th Annual Community Care Day, an effort to better the region through single-day projects while fostering long-term volunteer engagement. Volunteers have become increasingly important as human service organizations try to save money under rising costs of operating and a growing community need.  read more »

BOSTON -- The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has awarded Thrive in 5 a $1.5 million grant over two years to support implementation of Boston's School Readiness Roadmap.  Thrive in 5 is a public-private partnership launched by Mayor Menino and United Way, a citywide framework to prevent the achievement gap in the next generation of students by promoting school readiness and ensuring the healthy development of all Boston children.  Boston is home to 39,000 infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers.  read more »

BOSTON - The Board of Directors of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley has approved a funding strategy for the next fiscal year that upholds the organization's three-year plan to invest $100 million in the community.  In 2007, UWMBMV launched its new funding strategy, which tied its investments to specific community goals and measurements focused on ensuring children are ready for school, keeping youth engaged in school so they graduate and helping families achieve financial stability.  read more »