United Way Of The Mid-South

Programs: The organization provides support to over 500 community agencies in an eight county area. It conducts an annual fundraising campaign in the fall of each year to obtain contributions to provide that support. Specifically, allocations to agencies includes programs that improve education, financial stability, and health in our region. Programs include efforts to ensure more children enter school ready to learn and succeed, more youth are engaged in a range of safe and productive after school activites in schools and the community, more families are self-sufficent with their basic needs met, more families are free from violence and abuse, and more seniors implement their own life choices later in life.

united way coordinates the work of multiple agencies to implement the free tax prepartion/volunteer income tax assistance in crittenden, desoto, fayette, lauderdale, shelby, tate, tipton and tunica counties. This partnership provides free tax preparation to maximize the total amount of eligible tax credits for low to moderate tax filers. The free tax preparation/vita program was funded through multiple sources: internal revenue service, tn department of human services, wells fargo, community foundation of middle tn and united way of the mid south investments. Funds were used to support the operation of super vita sites, mobile tax preparation, a marketing campaign, and volunteer recognition. In fiscal year ended 6/30/17, over 9,800 tax returns were prepared, returning over $12 million to mid-south families.

youth united way develops young leaders and promotes youth philanthropy and community service. Youth united way members serve as ambassadors of the program, speaking to other youth about the benefits of giving back to neighborhoods. Over 100 members serve on committees for coordinating fund raising events, a scholarship distribution process, community service, and collaborating with other youth groups.