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UNITED WAY OF
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WAYS TO HELP

OUR GROUPS

HOW WE HELP

Our Impact

OUR STORIES

More than 1 and 2 households in Southeast Louisiana are struggling. These stories are a snapshot of the thousands of people your support is helping, creating more opportunities for us all.

TOGETHER, LET'S TAKE ACTION SO ALL OF US CAN THRIVE.

Catera

READ HER STORY

Maggie AND Dale

READ & WATCH THEIR STORY

Andrea and Kean

READ & WATCH THEIR STORY

Pearlissa

READ HER STORY

Zen and Zwila

READ & WATCH THEIR STORY

Joaquin and Bunny Lee

READ & WATCH THEIR STORY

Kristy

READ & HER STORY

Terry

READ & WATCH HIS STORY

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LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK

Catera

Catera, a first-generation graduate, found hope through United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s IDA Project.

While working as a caregiver at Rainbow Child Care Center, Catera discovered the IDA project, a 4:1 matched savings program. Her goal was to save for college and pursue a Business Administration degree. Catera learned how to budget and took financial capability classes. She made regular deposits to her savings account and with the 4:1 match, her dream became a reality. Today she is a proud college graduate and employee of the United Way SELA team, where she actively contributes to the IDA Project’s success.

In addition to supporting education, small businesses, and home-maintenance accounts, the IDA Project has made homeownership a reality for over 200 families, highlighting the transformative impact of collaboration and community support. This program is one of many UWSELA supports as we work towards eradicating poverty in Southeast Louisiana. When you invest in your community through United Way, you help more children succeed in school, more families lead healthy lives, and more people grow their incomes to become financially stable.

At United Way SELA, we fight for the health, education, and financial stability for all. Remember, United Way turns every dollar donated into $7.67 in local community impact.

Be a part of our centennial and donate $100 dollars to continue driving change for the next generation.

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Maggie and Dale

Maggie and Dale were struggling to save to buy a home while dealing with increasing rent and expenses. Would they be forced to move to a different city to get by?

The couple joined a United Way program and worked with a financial capability coach to develop a plan to save for the down payment. They also completed trainings to prepare them for the journey of homeownership, which would help provide stability for their family.

With support from United Way and Habitat for Humanity, Maggie and Dale were able to make their homeownership dreams a reality.

“I’m really happy that we found United Way,” shared Maggie. “That help is there as a hand up and not a hand out.”

Health, education, and financial stability are the cornerstones of a good life. That’s why United Way of Southeast Louisiana is committed to helping all our neighbors by providing programs and services dedicated to increasing access and support in these areas. Together, United, we can create opportunities for everyone to thrive.

United, we stand up for the most vulnerable among us.

IDA Project

Andrea and Kean

Andrea lost her hospitality industry job and health insurance during the pandemic, forcing the delay of an important surgery for her young son’s club foot condition. With travel and medical costs mounting, Andrea didn’t know how she would afford the new specialty brace Kean needed after his surgery.

Andrea applied for a Hospitality Cares crisis grant through United Way of Southeast Louisiana and the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation, which provided funds to cover a significant portion of the brace.

“Just to know that someone is helping you – it’s been a blessing,” shared Andrea.

Kean is flourishing post-surgery and keeps his mom busy with his boundless energy. Andrea is now in a new job in human resources where she uses her industry experience to connect hospitality workers to resources and supports.

Health, education, and financial stability are the cornerstones of a good life. That’s why United Way of Southeast Louisiana is committed to helping all our neighbors by providing programs and services dedicated to increasing access and support in these areas. Together, United, we can create opportunities for everyone to thrive.

Learn more

Pearlissa

A lack of access to quality, affordable child care forces parents to miss work opportunities and prevents children from receiving important early learning experiences. “I get those phone calls with parents who just need their children to go somewhere so they can work,” shared Royal Castle Administrative Assistant Pearlissa.

For over 25 years, Royal Castle Child Development has provided high-quality early childhood education to local families. COVID-19 posed a catastrophic threat to many local child care centers like Royal Castle, who operated on razor-thin margins before forced closures, reduced enrollment, and additional staff and cleaning costs.

Funding and support from United Way SELA’s United for Early Care and Education program helped Royal Castle weather the pandemic and reopen as soon as possible to continue supporting young learners and families.

Health, education, and financial stability are the cornerstones of a good life. That’s why United Way of Southeast Louisiana is committed to helping all our neighbors by providing programs and services dedicated to increasing access and support in these areas. Together, United, we can create opportunities for everyone to thrive.

Learn more

Zen and Zwila

At 26 months old, Zen was diagnosed with a severe language delay and later diagnosed with Autism. Through the enrollment in a United Way partner program, Zen has been able to thrive in an environment that fosters his socialization and language skills. With the love and support of teachers and staff, Zen continues to develop and grow more confident and is now counting, saying his A-B-C’s, and can speak the words that delight everyone in his life, “I Love You.” Your gift to United Way is able to help fund programs that offer the unconditional love to Zen and many other children in our region.

United, we stand up for the most vulnerable among us.

Learn more

Joaquin and Bunny Lee

Joaquin and Bunny Lee sustained devastating damage to their home and business in the floods of 2016. They were able to escape the floodwaters on a boat, but the greater challenge was to navigate the roadblocks over their own recovery. Like so many of our neighbors, they work hard but struggle to make ends meet on a fixed income. Joaquin and Bunny Lee turned to United Way, where we were able to find every resource we could to make their lives whole again.

United, we face the struggles of rebuilding after the storm.

Kristy

After being held hostage, choked, beaten, and severely battered by her abuser, Kristy feared for her life and knew she needed to do something to protect her children. Kristy found the counseling and support she needed through United Way programs and we continue to create historic policy change so that no family has to endure this type of pain and trauma. Kristy has now regained her freedom and her voice, which she wants to share as an advocate for survivors like her.

United, we fight for the victims of domestic violence.

Learn more

Terry

Poverty had Terry on the wrong path. Formerly incarcerated and facing a lack of opportunity, Terry was finding it more difficult to get his life on track. After enrolling in United Way’s financial stability services, Terry has a renewed outlook for he and his family’s future. Once we offered him credit counseling and showed him how to manage his finances, he has been able to turn things around. Terry is now on his way to becoming a homeowner and is working two jobs to help him realize his dream.

United, we face poverty in Southeast Louisiana.

Helena Moreno

Campaign Email:  letsgo@helenamorenola.com
Contact Phone Number:  (504) 655-2878


Campaign Website and Social Media Handles
www.helenamorenola.com
@HelenamorenoHQ  |  @helenamorenola

Commitment: If elected, would you dedicate additional funding in the City budget for early care and education?

Yes.

If so, how would you prioritize it in the budget?

Both in the state legislature and city council, I’ve been a strong supporter of bringing early childhood education to New Orleans. In 2018, we allocated the first $1.5M in city funds for additional seats. As Council President, we doubled that to $3M. I was the lead author to put the pre-k millage on the ballot, providing millions more. I will continue this work as mayor. As for additional funding for pre-k, is there anything more important? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources. There are competing priorities, especially when it comes to drainage, but our kids desperately need pre-k, and so do our parents, who are under pressure to be both caregiver and financial provider.

Commitment:  If elected, will you use your power and platform to advocate at the state and federal levels for sustained early childhood funding? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Yes.

Every leader at the local, state, and federal levels should be working together to provide high-quality early childhood education to our young people. I will always shout from the rooftops about the enormous benefits of Head Start and pre-k, along with Medicaid, SNAP, public housing, and kids’ programming on PBS. As mayor, I will lead a broad intergovernmental relations effort with constant coordination between city leadership, the legislative delegation, and advocates. I don’t think anyone is listening, for now, but that can change. More broadly, this is why the mayoral election is so important. New Orleans needs to stand on its own two feet. No one is coming to rescue us, so we must be strong in the face of unprecedented economic, environmental, and political headwinds.

Commitment: If elected, will you commit to ensuring our early care and education providers can keep their doors open, grow their business, pay a living wage to their teachers, and help ensure families and educators can continue to afford to live in the city? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Yes.

Child care providers will have a strong supporter in the mayor’s office when I am elected. Our city hall will serve as a hub, connecting needs and resources, with a focus on streamlining red tape for critical service providers, such as those offering child care. It is not enough to have more early childhood seats; we need quality. Even at current levels of local and state funding, pre-K early education programs exist in an environment where low wages are the norm and facilities are often in disrepair. The current climate at the state and federal levels may preclude additional funds. Yet, at the local level, as I mentioned earlier, is there anything more important than pre-k? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources.

Commitment: If elected, would you commit to ensuring essential local workers – including those in city government – can access childcare through local providers, and that private sector employers do their part in ensuring their employees can access the childcare they need to work, be productive, and grow our economy? If yes, please elaborate on how you would fulfill this commitment.

Yes.

I will always advocate amongst employers and at the state level for a real-living wage that can provide for a family. In workplaces across New Orleans and at city hall, I see parents working double time, struggling to keep up due to a lack of child care. Part of the answer is more public school seats for children aged 6 months to 4 years old. For older kids, I want NORD to do more. A lot more. I have been a leader in expanding NORD’s budget to record highs. Now the goal is to maximize services during non-school hours. Summer enrichment is especially crucial to prevent any backslide. In short, I want to usher in a NORD Renaissance, especially after school. This would go a long way, especially for working parents who need a few more critical hours of support before they can leave work.

Commitment: If elected, will you commit to maintaining this office and protecting these investments?

Yes.

How will you ensure these efforts are sustained beyond your term and are prioritized in future budgets?

Yes. I helped lead the effort for early childhood education with Agenda for Children, and I will commit to maintaining and protecting these early childhood investments. They were hard won, and we cannot lose them. If anything, we need an expansion, which will be the key subject of future budgets, which must balance ALL the city’s needs. The bottom line: we must support families, or else they will simply leave, and New Orleans will not have a future.