January 27, 2017, Des Moines, IA – Children & Families of Iowa (CFI) has been awarded the OpportUNITY Leading the Way Award, presented by the United Way of Central Iowa (UWCI) during the OpportUNITY Summit on January 24, 2017. Five organizations in central Iowa received the recognition for their dedication to reducing poverty and increasing opportunities for central Iowa youth.
“We are excited about the support and recognition we received from United Way of Central Iowa and the community,” said Janice Lane, Chief Executive Officer for CFI. “We do not take lightly the opportunity to serve young adults and the community. We embrace the spirit of collaboration and partnership.”
This quarterly summit, themed “Youth Career Readiness”, highlighted local initiatives designed to prepare youth for successful careers. CFI’s Stephanie Brewer spoke of the Connect 2 Careers (C2C) program as a member of the Community Service Organizations Panel. CFI’s C2C program offers youth in central Iowa profession-based skills and opportunities, including financial literacy education, job shadow opportunities and resume writing workshops.
“OpportUNITY’s Leading the Way Awards recognize organizations and individuals who lead efforts to increase opportunity among the one-third of central Iowans who live in poverty,” said Elisabeth Buck, Chief Community Impact Officer for UWCI. “Children & Families of Iowa’s innovation and dedication to helping young people prepare for successful careers has made a difference for the many families they serve and our community.”
CFI was among many businesses and community organizations represented at the summit. Four other organizations were awarded the Leading the Way Award: Des Moines Public Schools (Central Campus), Waukee Community School District (Waukee APEX), Oakridge Neighborhood Services, and Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families.
About Children & Families of Iowa
Children & Families of Iowa is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring hope, building futures and changing lives throughout Iowa. With offices in Ankeny,
Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Osceola and Ottumwa, Children & Families of Iowa is restoring hope for victims of domestic violence, helping teens find their futures, creating safe homes for children, preparing children to succeed and helping people reshape their lives. Please visit www.cfiowa.org for more information.
About United Way of Central Iowa
Since 1917, United Way of Central Iowa (UWCI) has brought together individuals, employers and organizations from throughout central Iowa to create and implement initiatives focused on making lasting impact in the areas of education, income and health. UWCI is a “Collective Impact” organization, bringing together nonprofits, businesses, government, and community leaders to collaborate and implement solutions to tackle our community’s most critical issues.
Event Photo
Pictured left to right are: Cheryl Johnson, CFI VP Community Based Services; Janice Lane, CFI CEO; Stephanie Brewer, CFI Connect 2 Careers Career Planner/Refugee and Immigrant Development Coordinator.
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