News
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…
July 7, 2025
The Catawba County United Way School Supply Drive is underway and will run through the month of July.
This annual School Supply Drive is about meeting immediate and future needs of local public-school students (Catawba County, Hickory City and Newton-Conover school districts). Last year nearly 9,000 items were collected by 30 community partners.
The CCUW office (2760 Tate Blvd SE in Hickory) is the primary public donation drop…
June 30, 2025
The Catawba County United Way is excited to welcome New Directions Chiropractic in Hickory (1333 2nd Street NE, Ste 312) 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…
June 12, 2025
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
On Wednesday, the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) hosted the annual Giving From the Heart (GFH) Volunteer Awards at Conover Station to recognize and thank some of the most invaluable members of every nonprofit in the county.
This year’s group of 28 nominees was equally amazing as in the past with individuals who have donated their time for decades, to groups who never say no when…
June 6, 2025
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
John Lookadoo’s addiction to drugs and alcohol started when he was fifteen and after a lifetime of struggling, he ended up at Strong Life Ministries in Conover. At that moment he was just looking for a bus pass. What he got was a chance to change his life forever.
More than 11,600 individuals were homeless last year in North Carolina, according to data from the 2024 HUD Continuum of Care…