Latest news with #AngelaF.Williams
Associated Press
26-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
211 Helpline Data Reveals Most Pressing U.S. Community Needs
Alexandria, VA, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, United Way Worldwide (UWW) released its annual 211 Impact Survey with 211 contact data collected from all 50 states offering insights into the day-to-day struggles of families and communities across the country. The 16.8 million 211 requests* for help in 2024 – amounting to 32 calls, texts, or chats per minute – were met with more than 18 million hyperlocal referrals for assistance. For the third year running, 211 referrals for assistance with housing (5.6 million), utilities (2.9 million), and food (2.5 million) were most prevalent, indicating that these are the three most pressing community needs for individuals contacting 211. Referrals for housing and utilities assistance have increased year-over-year since 2019, with the two needs accounting for nearly half (47%) of all 211 referrals in 2024. 'With the release of this striking new data, the 211 network—one of the best barometers of community challenges in the country—reveals the extent to which millions of Americans and their families are struggling to meet their basic needs,' said UWW President and CEO Angela F. Williams. 'At a moment when individuals and communities need more support, but national and local resources are uncertain, it's vital to use these data to identify cross-sector solutions that will help our communities thrive.' Other key findings from the 2024 211 Impact Survey include: Referrals for utilities and food assistance steadily increased, too. Utility assistance referrals are up 12% since 2022, as many struggle to pay routine bills. Food assistance referrals, including access to food pantries, are up 5% from 2023. These needs can have a compounding effect; without reliable housing, food and transportation, it's extremely difficult to pursue an education or hold down a job. Referrals for disaster-related assistance spiked in 2024, increasing by over 50% from 2023 to 2024. There was heavy volume of disaster referrals in North Carolina, California and Texas. The 211 network was there for individuals and families impacted by hurricanes and flooding in the southern U.S. throughout 2024 by assessing needs, convening services and supports, and mobilizing resources. More recently in early 2025, for example, trained 211 Community Resource Specialists referred local residents and tourists to mental health services after tragedy struck New Orleans and helped renters and homeowners recover from the Los Angeles County wildfires. 'While the annual 211 Impact Survey provides a valuable snapshot of community challenges – greater public and private investments in 211 would enable us to better understand and address community needs in real time,' said Dr. Nicole M. Cooper, EVP, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at UWW. 'We are currently looking for partners to collaborate with us to create the first-ever national dashboard that integrates locally collected 211 data to provide insights into community needs – like housing, food, and transportation – allowing partners across sectors to more quickly and effectively develop solutions at the national and local level.' Where there's a need, United Way and 211 are there. With nearly 200 call centers across the country, 80% of which are operated or funded in part by local United Way organizations and United Way state associations, over 2,000 community resource specialists help those in need navigate disasters and day-to-day struggles with dignity and empathy, connecting them to programs and other support from a comprehensive database of community-based resources. For more information, visit * Requests are defined by the number of telephonic and non-telephonic (e.g., text, chat, emails) interactions with 211 for assistance. Referrals are defined by the number of times an individual is referred to a specific service during an interaction. About United Way Worldwide (UWW) United Way mobilizes communities to action so all can thrive. True to our founding spirit, whenever there is a need in our communities, United Way is there. We bring a comprehensive approach to every challenge, actively listening and responding to local needs. Our reach across tens of thousands of communities means we can share innovations and scale impact to improve lives around the world. From strengthening local resilience to advancing health, youth opportunity, and financial security, we're working towards a future where every person in every community can reach their full potential. To learn more, visit About 211 211 is a 24/7 free, confidential service offered in 180 languages that connects individuals to resources and services in their local communities. Individuals in need or who are looking for information for someone else can call, text, email or web chat 211. United Way supports and helps provide 211 services which are accessible to approximately 99% of the U.S. population and all of Canada. For more information about 211, visit
USA Today
27-02-2025
- General
- USA Today
Angela F. Williams redefines leadership as CEO of United Way Worldwide
Angela F. Williams redefines leadership as CEO of United Way Worldwide Show Caption Hide Caption United Way CEO says 'we know that communities are suffering' United Way Worldwide CEO and community service advocate Angela Williams is one of USA TODAY's 2025 Women of the Year. Angela F. Williams is one of USA TODAY's Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. Meet this year's honorees at ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – Angela F. Williams is frequently reminded of a phrase her father wrote more than half a century ago: 'Now is the time to be brave and stand up for your neighbors.' It's a sentiment Williams has taken to heart throughout her more than three decades as a lawyer and nonprofit leader – working to redefine what it means to lend a helping hand and lead with your values. The first Black woman to serve as president and CEO of United Way Worldwide in the charity organization's 135-year-history, Williams is aiming to scale community-driven solutions and break down systemic barriers to equity, economic mobility and social justice for all. Since 2021, she's stood on the frontlines of the organizations response and recovery efforts to devastating disasters including the Los Angeles wildfires and the hurricanes that ripped through the south in 2024. Williams credits her father, a Baptist preacher who worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as head of the NAACP for South Carolina during the civil rights movement, with instilling in her a drive to serve others. "That lesson from 1961 stands true today.' Williams said of his note. 'We as human beings have an obligation to stand up and fight for our neighbors.' Disaster relief Williams' first taste of nonprofit work came in 2006 when she was invited by former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton to serve as the inter-faith liaison for their Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery effort. The fund raised more than $130 million for victims of the storm and awarded upwards of 1,200 grants. Williams led efforts to distribute tens of millions of those dollars to rebuild houses of worship in devastated communities on the Gulf Coast. Up to that point, she had already led a life dedicated to service – first in the military as a U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate, then as an Assistant U.S. Attorney on the Department of Justice's National Church Arson Task Force where she wrote a training guide for FBI agents investigating hate crimes. But no position had brought together her faith, legal experience and passion for standing up for people in her community quite like the work on the Katrina fund, Williams said. 'I literally would take phone calls from people that had been affected by the hurricane, and the amount of grief on the other end of the phone was palpable,' she remembered. One of those calls was with a woman whose husband had died in his sleep. He was a pastor, and their family had lost their New Orleans church in the flooding days before. The woman didn't know what to do with her kids, how to rebuild or where to turn. She was searching for a lifeline. For Williams, the call was a critical lesson in how to be empathetic and resourceful in the face of despair. The experience helped guide her approach to supporting United Way's 2024 disaster response to Hurricane's Helene and Milton, and then again when fires erupted across Los Angeles in January. As the October storms ravaged regions in the southeastern United States, Williams said local United Way staff dodged downed power lines and flood water rapids in their communities to bring clothes and boxes of food to people in need. The organization also organized a television benefit show with Hollywood actors and musicians. Through the concert and other fundraising efforts, it raised roughly $11.2 million to support communities building back from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. And United Way's 211 call center in North Carolina, which typically connects people with health and social services, transformed into a missing person reporting network at the request of the state's government. Workers experiencing their own loss and devastation took calls around the clock from people desperately searching for their loved ones. In all, they received roughly 16,000 missing persons calls. Southern California's 211 network later would leap into action in a similar way, assisting thousands of evacuees from the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Pasadena neighborhoods of Los Angeles find emergency housing, financial aid and community resources as their communities burned to the ground. United Way Worldwide was among the countless organizations funneling disaster relief funding to victims of the disaster. 'To see that we were able to do it, and to still keep smiles on our faces, to still care about each other's wellbeing as we care for the community … that's what I'm proud of,' Williams said. 'That's how we demonstrate being a good neighbor.' Building blocks to systemic change Throughout her life, Williams has focused on taking small, community-focused actions that, together, help tackle some of society's most pressing challenges. Her dedication to creating a more equitable world has spanned from personal to professional endeavors. Williams for years mentored youth living on the South Side of Chicago who were in her Sunday school classes and who lived in unstable environments. She hosted birthday parties for the children and took them sightseeing and gave them support. It was a way of standing up for her neighbor. 'That was my moment to say, what can I do to change the lives of young people that don't stand a chance if I don't intervene?' Williams said. When an opportunity later opened to work as executive vice president and general counsel of the YMCA helping improve the lives of young children like the ones she mentored, Williams jumped at it. Today, in her work at United Way, Williams empowers small, scrappy teams of people across the world to provide similar support to their communities. When wildfires tore through the coastal community of Lāhainā on the Hawaiian island of Maui in 2023, the areas local four-person United Way sprung into action, Williams said. They doled out money and supplies and acted as a trusted source of aid for people who were deeply skeptical of the government and private companies. She saw it as evidence that it 'doesn't take hundreds of people,' to make a difference. In her role as CEO of the nonprofit, Williams is leading the charge in reimagining how small-scale community programs can create systemic change – including by finding ways to bring broadband to rural communities and working to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables in food deserts. 'When I talk about disrupting systems, I'm talking about making them better so that more people can access them [and] more people can live lives that allow them to thrive,' Williams said of her mission. The tasks ahead are daunting, but she is as undeterred as ever. 'Mobilizing the caring power of people and serving communities – that is an awesome responsibility,' Williams said.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Hanover and its Employees Contribute Over $1.5 Million to Nonprofits Across the Country
WORCESTER, Mass., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Through its annual giving campaign, The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) and its employees raised over $1.5 million for nonprofit organizations across the country, including United Way, Feeding America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, American Red Cross and Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation. The Hanover has sponsored an annual employee giving campaign for more than 70 years. 84% of the company's employees took part in the 2024 campaign, benefitting individuals and families in need. The donations, which included a matching contribution from the company's charitable foundation, will be made to nearly 1,900 nonprofits nationwide in 2025. "Watching our team come together each year to make a difference is truly inspiring," said John C. Roche, president and chief executive officer at The Hanover. "Giving back is at the heart of what we do. I'm proud of the impact our employees make, both through our business and their community involvement, where they support nonprofits that address many critical issues and help build strong, healthy communities." "The Hanover Insurance Group and its employees set a powerful example of the true spirit of community and generosity," said Angela F. Williams, president and chief executive officer at United Way Worldwide. "Their remarkable commitment to supporting nonprofits across the country reflects the power of collective action in addressing critical needs and strengthening communities. We at United Way are honored to partner with The Hanover in creating meaningful change." To learn more about The Hanover's community impact, please visit ABOUT THE HANOVERThe Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, which together constitute one of the largest insurance businesses in the United States. The company provides exceptional insurance solutions through a select group of independent agents and brokers. Together with its agent partners, the company offers standard and specialized insurance protection for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for homes, automobiles, and other personal items. For more information, please visit CONTACTS:Abby C. Ursoleo Emily P. Trevallion aursoleo@ etrevallion@ 508-855-3549 508-855-3263 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio
