FILE YOUR TAXES FOR FREE WITH VITA
Appointments still available through April 18
There is still time for taxpayers to have their federal, state and local taxes prepared for free. With 17 sites around Lancaster County, more than 200 trained volunteers in United Way of Lancaster County's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program are available to prepare returns for individuals and families earning $62,000 or less. VITA has already prepared 5,300 returns and recovered refunds totaling close to $8 million.

In partnership with BB&T, VITA volunteers will be available to file your taxes at a special "Get Connected" day in Elizabethtown on Saturday, April 1 from 9am - 1pm at the Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren.

To schedule an appointment at one of VITA's tax preparation sites, call 2-1-1 to speak with one of United Way's trained information and referral specialists.

Free online filing is also available through United Way's MyFreeTaxes.com website.
THANK YOU to our VITA site sponsors:
Fulton Bank, Ephrata National Bank PNC Bank 
A Message from Our Leadership:
United Way of Lancaster County's Strategic Plan

Dear Lancaster Community,

Warmer temperatures are on the horizon and you can begin looking forward to sunny days and planning your Spring planting. At United Way of Lancaster County, we too are looking ahead. Late last year we completed a Strategic Plan with guidance from Lois Dostalik and E-4 Strategic Consultancy. The results of this strategic planning process generated a new mission statement, vision, strategic priorities and organization-wide core values.

Our new MISSION is:
Mobilize the caring power of our community to achieve impactful, systemic social change within our community.

Our VISION is:
Accomplish our Four BOLD GOALS by 2025:

  1. 100% of our children will enter kindergarten ready to learn.
  2. 100% of students and adults will have post-secondary credentials.
  3. Decrease individuals and families living in poverty by 50%.
  4. 100% of individuals, children and families will have a medical home.

Our LONG TERM STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT SUCCESS INDICATORS are:

  • United Way of Lancaster County is recognized as the agent of systemic social change within the County.
  • United Way of Lancaster County is recognized as a highly collaborative organization, prized for its energetic and open-minded partnerships.
  • Critical milestones for each Bold Goal have been accomplished.

Our core VALUES are: collaboration, compassion, empowerment, innovation, integrity and respect.

United Way of Lancaster County will be conducting a County-wide general survey in the coming weeks to benchmark how we are perceived in the community. We look forward to your participation in this survey.

Thank you to all our donors and supporters for investing in our vision to make Lancaster County an amazing place to live!

Sincerely,



Randy Patterson
Chair of the Board



Sue Suter
President & CEO
Partnership Spotlight: Reunify, Empower, Prevent
The Power of Collective Impact & Collaboration
Collaboration is the key to achieving systemic social change within Lancaster County. Reunify, Empower, Prevent (REP) is a collaborative of nine Community Impact Partners working together to help children currently in or exiting foster care to reunify with their families in safe, permanent and stable homes.

Stay tuned for further stories on the work our 17 Community Impact Partnerships in doing throughout Lancaster County. If you have an inspiring story of collaboration, we want to hear from you! Email your story to [email protected]
The Power of Volunteering
Read Across America
On Thursday, March 2 our Volunteer Center recruited 62 volunteers to participate in Read Across America. These volunteers visited more than 100 classrooms in elementary schools and childcare centers throughout our County reading to more than 2,300 children.

In addition, a special thank you to our corporate partner  Brubaker, Connaughton, Goss, Lucarelli, LLC and United Way board member, Theresa Mongiovi for donating more than 100 books to Lancaster Early Education Center.
Our next United Way volunteer event will be a First Pitch Baby Shower on Friday, April 28 at Clipper Magazine Stadium for United Way Day at the Lancaster Barnstomers' Home Opener. We will come together to provide baby supplies to new mothers in Lancaster County. To hold a baby shower drive at your workplace or to volunteer to help package supplies, contact our Volunteer Center at [email protected].
Upcoming United Way of Lancaster County Events
The United Way Trike Race
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Rhoads Energy Facility - Hazel Street
A fundraising event of friendly tricycle competition to benefit our mission.
Hosted by Rhoads Energy
2017 Celebration Event
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Eden Resort
An evening for United Way to celebrate success and recognize those who have contributed to that success.