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USA Today
18-06-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Millions of caregivers have access to this help line. Still, they're drowning.
Millions of caregivers have access to this help line. Still, they're drowning. Show Caption Hide Caption Bradley Cooper new documentary sheds light on caregiving crisis A new documentary, "Caregiving," executive produced by Oscar-nominated actor Bradley Cooper, will explore the hidden struggles of caregivers. unbranded - Entertainment Jami Chapple feels stuck. At 54, the single mother has no income and is two months behind on rent. She's behind on her utility bills, too, and can't find work because she's busy caring for and homeschooling her 12-year-old son who is autistic and has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. 'It's so draining that there's no way to financially produce," Chapple, who lives in Wyoming, said. "Even if you want to.' The last time Chapple felt this stuck was around 2005. She was raising four children then and needed help finding food and clothes for her family, so she dialed the 211 helpline, a national program run by United Way Worldwide that connects callers to local experts who can refer them to health and social service organizations in their community. 'That lady took so much time, with such patience," Chapple said of the 211 call taker. "She gave me dozens and dozens of resources.' Chapple called 211 this time, too. But she said she wasn't eligible for the services the helpline referred her to, and the caregiver support group they connected her with is too far from her home. The 211 helpline is expanding services for caregivers like Chapple. But with 53 million caregivers in the U.S., according to a 2020 report by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, it's not nearly enough − especially if the services 211 refers callers to start to dwindle, said Bob Stephen, vice president of health security programming at AARP. Life for caregivers might get even harder if the Senate passes President Donald Trump's so-called "big beautiful bill" which includes massive cuts to Medicaid. The proposal includes work requirements for people under 65 to access Medicaid, "many of whom would be family caregivers," said Nancy LeaMond, AARP's executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer. In 2021, in partnership with AARP, 211 met the caregiving crisis by adding a Caregiver Support Program in a handful of states including Florida, Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The program grew in the years that followed, and now millions more caregivers will have access to caregiver-specific support assistance as the program is being expanded to 10 more states: Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Missouri and Illinois, plus Puerto Rico. The full list of participating states and regions can be found here. His sick wife asked him to kill her. Now that she's gone, he says the loneliness is worse. Specialists help with callers' most immediate needs like food and shelter, and then get them connected to other programs that specialize in long-term support. There are about 5,000 211 phone workers nationwide, said Heather Black, vice president of 211 System Strategy at United Way Worldwide. "We're the triage," Black said. But what happens when the triage isn't enough? 211 helps caregivers who don't know they are caregivers Since 2021, the 211 Caregiver Support Program has helped more than 1 million caregivers through a combination of direct support, local community engagement and website visits, according to United Way Worldwide. Caregivers often say they didn't know they were a caregiver at the time, including celebrity caregivers like Bradley Cooper and Uzo Aduba. So when 211 specialists speak with people in need, Stephen said, they don't ask the obvious question, "Are you a caregiver?" 'Tuna breath' and death: Bradley Cooper shares memories of caring for his late father Instead, call takers are trained to listen for cues that indicate the person is a caregiver. 'It's amazing how much information people share as they tell you their story about their situation," Black said. 'You don't use the word caregiver until you've got them recognizing some of the tasks that they do," Stephen said, like driving older parents to medical appointments. Callers might ask about food, housing or utility assistance, which were the most common requests out of the nearly 17 million 211 helpline calls last year. If the caller indicates they may be a caregiver, then there are a slew of other resources 211 workers can direct them to, like transportation services, veterans' benefits, respite care, meal delivery programs and caregiver support groups. Evidently, though, some well-meaning attempts to connect people with programs are falling flat. And that may only get worse if funding cuts rattle the caregiving community's resources. Survey: The caregiving crisis is real. USA TODAY wants to hear from you about how to solve it. More help is needed, caregivers and advocates say The 211 helpline is designed to connect people to resources already in their community. But if the resources people need aren't available in that region, there's not much 211 can do, Stephen said. Chapple said 211 was helpful when she was raising her four older children back in the early 2000s, when she lived in Texas. But now that she's in Wyoming and raising a kid with a neurodevelopmental disorder, she's hitting roadblocks. Some of the referrals she got recently through 211, Chapple said, she was not eligible for. "There's not a lot of resources for my situation," Chapple said. Chapple said she doesn't have family support like other caregivers. And she's had a hard time finding a job that offers the flexibility she needs to care for her son. Her biggest needs now, she said, are rent assistance and help finding work. But she said some programs require more time to apply than caregivers have. 'There is an immense amount of time wasted for caregivers on forms," Chapple said. "Filling out forms, phone calls, research, paperwork, interviews with the health agencies and even just the emotional preparation to do those things is sometimes distressing.' The 211 helpline doesn't rely on federal funding, Stephen said, 'although the federal budget does fund many of the things that 211 connects people to.' He's worried federal cuts could further reduce the programs available for people in need, including caregivers. '211 is going to be more critical," Stephen said. "Because people aren't going to really understand what is still there." Caregiving is a labor of love, Chapple said. But it's difficult physically, mentally, financially and emotionally. She said she's had to give up a lot of the simple pleasures she used to enjoy, like taking a relaxing bath or writing songs. Sometimes, she said, she sits in her car for just 10 minutes to listen to music. That brings her some peace. 'There's no time for us," Chapple said. "There's no time for self-care. I mean, I'm lucky if I get like a shower or two a week.' Madeline Mitchell's role covering women and the caregiving economy at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach Madeline at memitchell@ and @maddiemitch_ on X.
Associated Press
29-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Walmart Family Mobile Introduces Most Affordable Plans Yet with New Features to Support Families During Economic Challenges
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 29, 2025-- Walmart Family Mobile, a leading prepaid brand powered by Verizon's award-winning network and available exclusively at Walmart, is proud to introduce its most affordable plans yet, designed to help families stay connected without compromising their budget. With inflationcontinuingto impact household finances across the country, Walmart Family Mobile helps families save money during times of financial uncertainty. New Plans and Features: Lifeline Value for Families in Need Walmart Family Mobile's Lifeline discount program lowers monthly phone service costs for eligible low-income customers, providing critical and affordable mobile connectivity for families in need. Qualified customers can access plans for as low as $5.88/month in California and $9.88/month in other states, helping ease financial burdens without sacrificing connectivity they can rely on. To further support enrollment and outreach, Walmart Family Mobile will also award grants to community partners to help eligible customers enroll in Lifeline. Family Mobile Peace of Mind When unexpected challenges arise, Family Mobile Peace of Mind is there to keep families connected to what matters most. The Family Mobile Peace of Mind feature provides up to six months of unlimited talk and incoming text messages for $1/month plus taxes and fees, helping customers stay in touch with loved ones and employers in case of emergency. This feature is available for all customers who have been with Walmart Family Mobile for 90 days or longer. 'Walmart Family Mobile's new plans and features underscore our unwavering commitment to supporting families through economic hardships,' said Nancy Clark, President of Verizon Value Brands. 'In these challenging times, connectivity is not just a convenience—it's a necessity. Through these offers and partnerships, we want to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most by providing affordable and reliable mobile services.' United Way Worldwide and Goodwill Industries International Partnerships As part of the brand's commitment to supporting families, Walmart Family Mobile is also partnering with United Way Worldwide and Goodwill Industries International (GII) to provide resources that connect families to basic needs. Walmart Family Mobile will be supporting United Way's work with 211, a free, 24/7 service that connects individuals to critical local resources, such as Lifeline, with professional Community Resource Specialists handling over 42,000 calls daily in more than 180 languages. The brand is also working with GII at both the national and local level: Walmart Family Mobile remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting families through economic challenges by offering affordable and reliable mobile services, because staying connected shouldn't come at a high cost, especially when it matters most. For more information on Walmart Family Mobile, visit About Walmart Family Mobile Walmart Family Mobile provides quality no-contract wireless solutions to value-conscious consumers and is available exclusively at Walmart and Walmart Family Mobile is part of the Verizon Value portfolio of prepaid brands, which includes Total Wireless, Visible, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, SafeLink, Straight Talk, and Verizon Prepaid. View source version on CONTACT: Value Media Relations [email protected] KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL CONSUMER ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CARRIERS AND SERVICES PHILANTHROPY WOMEN ONLINE RETAIL MEN DEPARTMENT STORES HISPANIC FAMILY OTHER PHILANTHROPY NETWORKS CONSUMER MOBILE/WIRELESS SOURCE: Walmart Family Mobile Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/29/2025 09:05 AM/DISC: 05/29/2025 09:03 AM
21-05-2025
A new award for 'civic bravery' recognizes everyday people who step up
NEW YORK -- United Way Worldwide and a group of foundations launched a new award Tuesday for 'civic bravery,' which includes grants of up to $50,000. The Courage Project, a partnership between United Way and funders like the Freedom Together Foundation, will grant $5 million in awards over at least a year to recognize nonprofits and individuals who stand up for their communities. The individual recipients won't receive a monetary award but can direct funds to a nonprofit of their choice. 'They don't do it because they want recognition. They aren't elected officials. It's not something where they are required to do this work. They do it out of a love of humanity,' said Angela Williams, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide, of the awardees. The first recipients include the United Way of South Sarasota County in Florida for providing legal services to older people and the working poor and Women of Welcome, a Colorado nonprofit that mobilizes evangelical women to advocate for asylum seekers and immigrants drawing on their faith. Bri Stensrud, the nonprofit's director, said it is a difficult time to raise money around immigration, especially for the long-term education and advocacy work her organization does. She received $25,000 as part of the award. 'I feel very honored to be recognized, to be known and to be invested in,' she said. 'That's another privilege to hold really humbly and I'm super thankful for it.' Educators from an upstate New York town were also recognized for their efforts to free three students and their mother who were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in March. 'At the time, I didn't feel like we were exhibiting courage,' said Jennifer Gaffney, the superintendent of Sackets Harbor Central School District. 'We were just doing what we needed to do because it was the right thing to do.' The school's principal, Jaime Cook, and other teachers sprung into action when they learned of their students' arrest and contacted government officials to advocate for their release. Community members organized a rally and their protest gained national attention. 'Coming together as a community in the face of adversity, having hope and strength, I think that's an important message,' said Jonna St. Croix, a teacher at the school and award recipient. 'I'm a social studies teacher. Civic duty's important and I have to walk the walk.' The three educators were given $50,000 to donate to a nonprofit of their choice and picked the Northern New York Community Foundation. They said they hope the funds will benefit students and young people in their area. Jana Gallus, a professor at UCLA Anderson School of Management, who has studied awards, praised the decision to allow the individual recipients to decide where to give the grant funding. It creates a gift that keeps on giving with the recognition transferring from the awardee to the nonprofit, she said. 'People sometimes say recognition awards are this fluffy thing, they are soft. Recognition is not soft in that sense. It's actually very strategic,' Gallus said. 'It shapes who feels seen, who is seen, what actions then stand a chance of gaining traction.' The Courage Project is accepting nominations from the public for future recipients, as well as from United Way. Gallus said asking for public nominations is another way the awards can help democratize who is celebrated as American heroes. The foundations will select the recipients from the nominees. Deepak Bhargava, president of the Freedom Together Foundation, said the group of funders were thinking ahead to the 250th anniversary of the United States ' independence and asked themselves what role they could play as philanthropic foundations. They decided to recognize the courage and civic action of people who don't normally get attention. 'Most awards are designed for people who are occupying positions of power or to some degree are already famous," he said. 'These awards are designed to support people who do the invisible but essential work to make our communities healthy and to sustain our freedoms.' The other funders of The Courage Project are CFLeads, The James Irvine Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Marguerite Casey Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the Public Welfare Foundation, The Skillman Foundation and the Surdna Foundation. Separately, another nonprofit, The Heritage Foundation, which organized Project 2025 and focuses on building the conservative movement, will also award prizes to encourage the celebration of the country's independence. The foundation usually does not make grants but started to award Innovation Prizes in 2022 in part to put its endowment to work, said Bridgett Wagner, executive director of the Edwin J. Feulner Institute at the foundation. 'We want to encourage with this. We want to spark innovation. We want people to do something that's different,' she said of the prizes, which total around $1 million each year. She said the awards are more than grants because they communicate the foundation's support of the organization and raise their profile with other donors. The Heritage Foundation will announce the recipients of the America's 250th prizes in June. ____
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
A new award for 'civic bravery' recognizes everyday people who step up
NEW YORK (AP) — United Way Worldwide and a group of foundations launched a new award Tuesday for 'civic bravery,' which includes grants of up to $50,000. The Courage Project, a partnership between United Way and funders like the Freedom Together Foundation, will grant $5 million in awards over at least a year to recognize nonprofits and individuals who stand up for their communities. The individual recipients won't receive a monetary award but can direct funds to a nonprofit of their choice. 'They don't do it because they want recognition. They aren't elected officials. It's not something where they are required to do this work. They do it out of a love of humanity,' said Angela Williams, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide, of the awardees. The first recipients include the United Way of South Sarasota County in Florida for providing legal services to older people and the working poor and Women of Welcome, a Colorado nonprofit that mobilizes evangelical women to advocate for asylum seekers and immigrants drawing on their faith. Bri Stensrud, the nonprofit's director, said it is a difficult time to raise money around immigration, especially for the long-term education and advocacy work her organization does. She received $25,000 as part of the award. 'I feel very honored to be recognized, to be known and to be invested in,' she said. 'That's another privilege to hold really humbly and I'm super thankful for it.' Educators from an upstate New York town were also recognized for their efforts to free three students and their mother who were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in March. 'At the time, I didn't feel like we were exhibiting courage,' said Jennifer Gaffney, the superintendent of Sackets Harbor Central School District. 'We were just doing what we needed to do because it was the right thing to do.' The school's principal, Jaime Cook, and other teachers sprung into action when they learned of their students' arrest and contacted government officials to advocate for their release. Community members organized a rally and their protest gained national attention. 'Coming together as a community in the face of adversity, having hope and strength, I think that's an important message,' said Jonna St. Croix, a teacher at the school and award recipient. 'I'm a social studies teacher. Civic duty's important and I have to walk the walk.' The three educators were given $50,000 to donate to a nonprofit of their choice and picked the Northern New York Community Foundation. They said they hope the funds will benefit students and young people in their area. Jana Gallus, a professor at UCLA Anderson School of Management, who has studied awards, praised the decision to allow the individual recipients to decide where to give the grant funding. It creates a gift that keeps on giving with the recognition transferring from the awardee to the nonprofit, she said. 'People sometimes say recognition awards are this fluffy thing, they are soft. Recognition is not soft in that sense. It's actually very strategic,' Gallus said. 'It shapes who feels seen, who is seen, what actions then stand a chance of gaining traction.' The Courage Project is accepting nominations from the public for future recipients, as well as from United Way. Gallus said asking for public nominations is another way the awards can help democratize who is celebrated as American heroes. The foundations will select the recipients from the nominees. Deepak Bhargava, president of the Freedom Together Foundation, said the group of funders were thinking ahead to the 250th anniversary of the United States ' independence and asked themselves what role they could play as philanthropic foundations. They decided to recognize the courage and civic action of people who don't normally get attention. 'Most awards are designed for people who are occupying positions of power or to some degree are already famous," he said. 'These awards are designed to support people who do the invisible but essential work to make our communities healthy and to sustain our freedoms.' The other funders of The Courage Project are CFLeads, The James Irvine Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Marguerite Casey Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the Public Welfare Foundation, The Skillman Foundation and the Surdna Foundation. Separately, another nonprofit, The Heritage Foundation, which organized Project 2025 and focuses on building the conservative movement, will also award prizes to encourage the celebration of the country's independence. The foundation usually does not make grants but started to award Innovation Prizes in 2022 in part to put its endowment to work, said Bridgett Wagner, executive director of the Edwin J. Feulner Institute at the foundation. 'We want to encourage with this. We want to spark innovation. We want people to do something that's different,' she said of the prizes, which total around $1 million each year. She said the awards are more than grants because they communicate the foundation's support of the organization and raise their profile with other donors. The Heritage Foundation will announce the recipients of the America's 250th prizes in June. ____ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit
The Hill
21-05-2025
- The Hill
A new award for ‘civic bravery' recognizes everyday people who step up
NEW YORK (AP) — United Way Worldwide and a group of foundations launched a new award Tuesday for 'civic bravery,' which includes grants of up to $50,000. The Courage Project, a partnership between United Way and funders like the Freedom Together Foundation, will grant $5 million in awards over at least a year to recognize nonprofits and individuals who stand up for their communities. The individual recipients won't receive a monetary award but can direct funds to a nonprofit of their choice. 'They don't do it because they want recognition. They aren't elected officials. It's not something where they are required to do this work. They do it out of a love of humanity,' said Angela Williams, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide, of the awardees. The first recipients include the United Way of South Sarasota County in Florida for providing legal services to older people and the working poor and Women of Welcome, a Colorado nonprofit that mobilizes evangelical women to advocate for asylum seekers and immigrants drawing on their faith. Bri Stensrud, the nonprofit's director, said it is a difficult time to raise money around immigration, especially for the long-term education and advocacy work her organization does. She received $25,000 as part of the award. 'I feel very honored to be recognized, to be known and to be invested in,' she said. 'That's another privilege to hold really humbly and I'm super thankful for it.' Educators from an upstate New York town were also recognized for their efforts to free three students and their mother who were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in March. 'At the time, I didn't feel like we were exhibiting courage,' said Jennifer Gaffney, the superintendent of Sackets Harbor Central School District. 'We were just doing what we needed to do because it was the right thing to do.' The school's principal, Jaime Cook, and other teachers sprung into action when they learned of their students' arrest and contacted government officials to advocate for their release. Community members organized a rally and their protest gained national attention. 'Coming together as a community in the face of adversity, having hope and strength, I think that's an important message,' said Jonna St. Croix, a teacher at the school and award recipient. 'I'm a social studies teacher. Civic duty's important and I have to walk the walk.' The three educators were given $50,000 to donate to a nonprofit of their choice and picked the Northern New York Community Foundation. They said they hope the funds will benefit students and young people in their area. Jana Gallus, a professor at UCLA Anderson School of Management, who has studied awards, praised the decision to allow the individual recipients to decide where to give the grant funding. It creates a gift that keeps on giving with the recognition transferring from the awardee to the nonprofit, she said. 'People sometimes say recognition awards are this fluffy thing, they are soft. Recognition is not soft in that sense. It's actually very strategic,' Gallus said. 'It shapes who feels seen, who is seen, what actions then stand a chance of gaining traction.' The Courage Project is accepting nominations from the public for future recipients, as well as from United Way. Gallus said asking for public nominations is another way the awards can help democratize who is celebrated as American heroes. The foundations will select the recipients from the nominees. Deepak Bhargava, president of the Freedom Together Foundation, said the group of funders were thinking ahead to the 250th anniversary of the United States ' independence and asked themselves what role they could play as philanthropic foundations. They decided to recognize the courage and civic action of people who don't normally get attention. 'Most awards are designed for people who are occupying positions of power or to some degree are already famous,' he said. 'These awards are designed to support people who do the invisible but essential work to make our communities healthy and to sustain our freedoms.' The other funders of The Courage Project are CFLeads, The James Irvine Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Marguerite Casey Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the Public Welfare Foundation, The Skillman Foundation and the Surdna Foundation. Separately, another nonprofit, The Heritage Foundation, which organized Project 2025 and focuses on building the conservative movement, will also award prizes to encourage the celebration of the country's independence. The foundation usually does not make grants but started to award Innovation Prizes in 2022 in part to put its endowment to work, said Bridgett Wagner, executive director of the Edwin J. Feulner Institute at the foundation. 'We want to encourage with this. We want to spark innovation. We want people to do something that's different,' she said of the prizes, which total around $1 million each year. She said the awards are more than grants because they communicate the foundation's support of the organization and raise their profile with other donors. The Heritage Foundation will announce the recipients of the America's 250th prizes in June. ____ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit
