Mission, Vision & Community

Mission

Our mission is to improve lives and build strong communities by uniting individuals and organizations with the will, passion, expertise, and resources needed to solve problems.

Vision

United Way of Greater Union County envisions a community where all children and families achieve their potential through education, income stability, and healthy lives:

  • Where all children receive a quality education that offers a pathway to a brighter tomorrow
  • Where the cycle of poverty and financial dependence ends and more productive lives begin
  • Where all children and families have access to affordable health services and healthy activities that improve their quality of life
  • Where all families' basic needs of food, shelter, health, and safety needs are met

Communities We Serve

Greater Union County encompasses Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, New Providence, North Plainfield, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, South Plainfield, Summit, Union, Westfield, and Winfield Park New Jersey.

Our Community At A Glance

A closer look at The Union County Needs Assessment reveals that Elizabeth, Hillside, Linden, Plainfield, Roselle, Rahway, and Union show increased rates of poverty, unemployment, and poor housing compared to the rest of Union County:

  • The poverty rate in these communities is 11%, compared to 4% in Union County in 2011.

  • 1 in 11 households can’t afford healthy, nutritious meals.

  • In Plainfield, 36.3% of those aged 18-24 do not have a high school diploma.

  • Among youth aged 16-19, the unemployment rate is 27%, with 36% of males and 18% of females out of work.

  • 26% of mothers do not receive early prenatal care

As a result, the majority of UWGUC’s focus is on these Communities of Opportunity.

 

 

Diversity Policy Statement

United Way of Greater Union County as stated in our Values and Beliefs, recognizes that our diversity strengthens us and thus pursues participation from all segments of our community.  To that end, United Way of Greater Union County, seeks to ensure that its policies and practices which guide and direct its employment practices as well as recruitment of volunteers does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, marital status, familial status, national origin, ancestry, sex, mental retardation, mental disability, including but not limited to, blindness or deafness, or any other protected class not identified herein.  United Way of Greater Union County is fully committed to assuring equal opportunity and equal consideration to all qualified applicants and employees in personnel matters including recruitment, hiring, training, promotions, salaries, and other compensation, as well to volunteers in recruitment and placement opportunities.