Recently, our team received a powerful message from Brienne Hooker, our valued partner at the Jasper-Newton Foundation. Her note underscores exactly why collaboration matters — and how, when we work together, we can change the trajectory of an entire family’s life.

“We were made aware of a situation at our local school of a family that is in imminent danger of being homeless. They reached out to the school counselor, who called me.

I was able to connect them with Robin at United Way Northwest Indiana where she has been offering financial counseling and immediate help with potential negotiation on mortgage and car payments and family budgeting. She is also working to see if they can stabilize the family and try to connect the dad to a new work opportunity with his skills. His workplace is closing (which I verified).

This is what I dreamed our partnership would be like with United Way.

Without United Way — this family would 100% be homeless and without any hope in the next two weeks. We now have a way to prevent that from happening. There is a ton of value in this work for my community.”

Because someone reached out — and because our community partners are deeply committed to the families they serve — hope arrived in time.

Thanks to the compassionate and dedicated work of Robin Wright and our United Way Northwest Indiana team, this family is now connected to emergency assistance, financial counseling, housing stabilization support, and job-seeking resources. Together, we are helping them stay in their home and regain stability during an incredibly difficult moment.

This is the impact we strive for in Jasper and Newton Counties — and it is becoming a reality.

This is the power of your generosity. This is what it means to invest in real, local impact.

Thank you for helping families stay housed, hopeful, and on the path to opportunity.

When you give, neighbors don’t face crisis alone. Lives truly change — because of you.