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Level Up and Launch Grantee’s New Years Aspirations

(Source: United Way of Lancaster County)

Tuesday, grantees from the United of Lancaster County’s Level Up and Launch grant program, will present their mid-year presentations. The Level up and Launch initiative empowers organizations to maximize their impact by connecting with both current and new donors through match funding. For every dollar donated by the community to a Level Up & Launch grantee, United Way will match it dollar-for-dollar, up to the original grant amount. Allowing grant recipients to obtain 3x the original grant amount.

This year United Way distributed $250,000 among 11 organizations: Arch Street Center, ASSETS Lancaster, Bright Side Opportunities Center, CASA of Lancaster & Lebanon Counties, Ephrata Area Social Services,  Homefields, Lancaster County Food Hub, Lancaster EMS, Parish Resource Center,  Pennsylvania Furniture Mission, The Common Wheel. These organizations had from July to November to raise match funds through donations to their projects and initiatives. On January 14, the organizations will present what they have learned, accomplished, and what is to come as they leverage United Way of Lancaster County’s support and funding.  

United Way of Lancaster County’s mission includes 3 focus areas: education, health and economic mobility. For the new year, One United Lancaster asked a few of the Level Up & Launch grantees what their hopes and aspirations are for Lancaster County, as it relates to economic mobility. The following has been edited for length and clarity:

Jamie Arroyo
Jamie Arroyo (Source: Provided)

ASSETS: As a steering committee member of Cultivate Lancaster, ASSETS works collaboratively to create programming, referrals, and events to help promote the growth of small businesses and jobs in Lancaster County. “Our purpose driven organizations create an environment where entrepreneurs can find ways to fund their dreams without being turned away,” said Jaime Arroyo, chief executive officer of ASSETS. In 2025, ASSETS plans to focus on providing a 0% interest small dollar loan, training workshops, grant opportunities and language access initiatives to grow and enhance their services.

Lancaster EMS Team (Source: Provided)

Lancaster EMS: Lancaster EMS focuses on supporting underserved populations through improving access to healthcare and services. Offering several programs in Lancaster County such as, the Emergency Medical 9-1-1 Services, In-Home Childhood Vaccine Program and wheelchair van and medical appointment transportation services. Additionally, Lancaster EMS runs an EMT Academy which is a three-month intensive program designed to clear a path for individuals seeking sustainable employment in the emergency medical services field.

The EMT Academy addresses economic mobility by providing individuals with the skills and certifications necessary to achieve a job within EMS and healthcare. This program emphasizes education, but also health by enhancing Lancaster residents’ access to timely and effective medical care. Lancaster EMS also collaborates with local organizations, such as Career Link, to help promote workforce development and inspire individuals to explore healthcare careers.

 Allison Connelly, director of marketing and development at Lancaster EMS, said “We are grateful for United Way’s support and look forward to continuing our work with other community organizations to move Lancaster County forward in 2025 and beyond.”

Bikes at The Common Wheel (Source: The Common Wheel.com)

The Common Wheel: The Common Wheel understands the importance of affordable and practical means of transportation that contributes to the economic mobility of an individual. In 2025, The Common Wheel plans to further its mission, revolutionizing people and places through the equity and energy of bicycles. It’s Bikes for All program had a record number of applicants and sponsors in 2024. The program provides functions through relationships with community partners with donations of $100 to sponsor applicants. The applicants are provided with everything they need to commute by bicycle.

“Employment is a means of achieving economic mobility,” said Common Wheel Executive Director, MacKenzie Hand. “And the expense of owning and operating a vehicle can be a substantial obstacle for many individuals.” Bikes for All aims to break that barrier for individuals in need of transportation. In 2025, The Common Wheel hopes to increase funding for Bikes for All through community support and expanding its network of community partners. The organization also hopes to set another record year for Bikes for All completed applications. “All this so that more individuals in our community can achieve economic mobility,” said Hand.