News
Aug. 29, 2025
The Catawba County United Way’s annual John F. Hall Cross Country Invitational will be held on Oct. 8 at Southside Park in Newton.
Since 1993, this event has provided an opportunity for local athletes to compete in a first-class meet and learn about the value of giving back to their communities through service projects.
This year registration opens on Sept. 2 at Milesplit NC and closes on Oct. 1 at 9 p.m.
The password to…
Aug. 29, 2025
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
How do 449 and 6,292 and 120,000 relate?
For Catawba County, these are numbers that reflect housing instability in some way.
The Catawba County United Way (CCUW) recently received a $120,000 grant from the United Way of North Carolina.
These funds will be sub-granted back out by the CCUW to three local non-profits who will use the money to help families struggling with housing stability…
Aug. 28, 2025
The Catawba County United Way is excited to welcome Paw Tales Lodge & Day Spa in Hickory
(1575 25th Ave NE) to the CCUW’s Small Businesses Love Big initiative.
This is an opportunity for small companies in Catawba County (50 employees or less) to invest back into their communities by supporting local non-profit programs.
Each participating SBLB company contributes $365 a year, which will be used to fund this new Catawba…
Aug. 22, 2025
By John Bailey
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
When is a pencil box more than a pencil box?
When you don’t have a pencil box.
According to 2025 data from the NC Department of Public Instruction, all three public school districts in Catawba County have more than 50% of their students classified as economically disadvantaged.
This means the start of a new school year adds greater stress to many local families already struggling…
July 30, 2025
The Catawba County United Way’s Small Businesses Love Big (SBLB) grant cycle opens on Aug. 15.
This United Way allocation process is focused on supporting local, small and start-up nonprofits and their programs.
The SBLB initiative is an opportunity for small companies in Catawba County (50 employees or less) to invest $365 a year towards helping fund local nonprofit outreach.
Criteria for Applying for a Grant:
Asking for a…
July 25, 2025
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
For some children a teddy bear is a toy, an object that brings them joy and comfort.
For those attending the Junior Warrior’s program at Malorie’s Place in Maiden, it is a tool to help them navigate trauma.
“When they’re feeling upset or anxious or depressed we told them to take their teddy bear and give it a big hug and start breathing in and out,” Malorie’s Place…
July 22, 2025
The Catawba County United Way recently had the opportunity to drop off the Giving From the Heart volunteer award check to Youth Category winner Zaira Mendoza, who requested it go to The Corner Table in Newton.
The CCUW thanks the Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation for funding the GFH grant awards, providing $500 for each category winner to be paid to the non-profit of their choice.
The other 2025 GFH winners were Marc St. Germain…
July 18, 2025
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
“It’s so hard to be who I am.”
This was what OUTright Youth of Catawba Valley Executive Director Kim Bost recently heard from a local student interested in learning more about the agency, and it’s a message she hears often.
OUTright Youth is dedicated to creating safer communities for LGBTQ+ youth and is committed to fostering a supportive environment where LGBTQ+ youth can thrive and be…
July 14, 2025
The Catawba County Youth Council, in partnership with the Catawba County United Way recently announced this year’s Community Impact Grant recipients.
The Youth Council’s grant process addresses the impact areas of health and education as they relate to the needs and wellbeing of children and youth in our community.
Agencies receiving grants must either be incorporated as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt entity or who have a 501-C3…
July 11, 2025
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
A seven-pound bag of food may not sound like a lot to most people but for children in The Corner Table’s Backpack Program, it means a weekend of food they might not otherwise have.
According to the 2023 Catawba County Community Health Assessment by Catawba County Public Health, poverty impacted children the hardest, with 18.8% of all children experiencing poverty, including 19.7% of young…