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AveNew, an initiative of United Way of Greater Kingsport, focuses on youth substance misuse, prevention and mental health awareness.
Why is this important? Evidence based prevention and education is key in creating protective factors for children that lead to their ability to become healthy, safe and successful adults, reduce stigma and help connect those to resources who need them most. Substance misuse and mental illnesses can create a strain on the economy through increased incarceration rates, increased unemployment and higher rates of Adverse Childhood Experiences.
In 2024, AveNew participated in and/or hosted over 20 events focused on community outreach, reducing stigma and education to individuals and families. AveNew continues to partner with over 15 community partners to serve over 15,000 people in our community.
Statistics for Sullivan County:
- Ranked 67th for children living in poverty.
- Ranked 32nd for babies born with low birth weight.
- Rank 60th in children as victims of abuse or neglect.
- Rank 90th for individuals scoring for severe depression (PHQ-9 per 100k).
- 211 Substantiated cases of Drug Exposed Children (FY 23-24).
- 30,751 individuals who received an Opioid Prescription for Pain (2023).
- 504 non-fatal overdoses reported (2022).
- Suicide Mortality Rate of 19.7 per 100K residents.
ENSURING HEALTH, SAFETY AND STABILITY
American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee – Disaster Cycle Services ($105,000) serves people affected by disaster and prepares communities for disaster, response, and recovery, to create a more resilient community.
Appalachian Miles for Smiles – Appalachian Miles for Smiles Mobile Dental Unit ($24,000) provides quality dental care and eye examinations at no cost to uninsured residents of East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
CASA for Kids, Inc. – Core Program ($47,000) supports and promotes professionally-trained community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children’s best interest within the Juvenile Court and ensure safe and stable placements.
Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County – Counseling Program ($38,000) provides trauma-focused treatment to the child victims of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse in a child-friendly environment that focuses on the well-being of the child.
Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County – Victim Services Program ($10,000) provides counseling and assistance to the non-offending parents or caregivers of victims from initial contact and throughout the investigation and intervention process.
Friends in Need – Dental Services Program ($58,200) provides affordable dental care to the uninsured and underinsured across Northeast Tennessee.
Friends in Need – Medical Services Program ($22,000) provides affordable medical care to the uninsured or underinsured across Northeast Tennessee.
Holston Counseling (Frontier Health) – Outpatient Services ($50,400) offers a wide variety of services, including various therapy types, case management, and medication management to those with mental, addiction, or co-occurring conditions.
Legal Aid of East Tennessee – Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Program ($16,500) provides family safety and stability for victims of domestic violence through court orders granting a divorce or order of protection.
Link House (Frontier Health) – Core Program ($41,900) provides food, shelter, crisis intervention, diagnostic and evaluation services as well as counseling to adolescent females who are neglected, abused, runaway, unruly, or delinquent.
Mountain Region Speech & Hearing Center – Speech-Language Scholarship Program ($57,000) provides infants, children, and adults with quality and cost-effective evaluation, treatment, and education for speech, language, and swallowing disorders regardless of their ability to pay.
SAFE House (Frontier Health) – Domestic Violence Shelter Program ($61,350) provides a safe, confidential, and temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children. 24/7 services may include crisis services, transportation, advocacy, follow-up, and education.
SUPPORTING AGING WITH CHOICES
First Tennessee Human Resource Agency – Personal Support Services Program ($19,100) promotes self-sufficiency and prevents institutional placement by providing cost-effective in-home care for individuals in threat of harm due to abuse or neglect.
Meals on Wheels of Kingsport – Core Program ($110,000) provides hot, nutritious meals and human contact to isolated, incapacitated senior citizens and, if appropriate, other home-bound, disabled persons to facilitate safe, independent living.
United WE READ, a signature initiative of United Way of Greater Kingsport is working to build a literacy rich community through increased book access, promoting kindergarten readiness and supporting parents and caregivers with appropriate literacy resources. THe mission of United WE READ is to engage, empower and equip all children, and families with tools and strategies that build lifelong success. Reading on grade level by third grade is crucial for lifelong academic success- in order to achieve that goal is it crucial that students arrive to kindergarten ready to learn.
2024-2025 United WE READ key focus areas:
Kindergarten Readiness
Increased Book Access Community wide
School District and Afterschool organizations partnerships
HELPING CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUCCEED
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Tri-Cities – Community-Based & Site-Based Mentoring Program ($59,300) matches caring, consistent adult volunteers with children in our community who need a friend and mentor.
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport – Formula for Impact Program ($130,730) helps young people reach academic success, good character & leadership, and healthy lifestyles through targeted programs, learning activities, and regular attendance.
Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians, Inc. – Leadership Experience Program ($11,000) provides a leadership development program for girls grades K-12 by building skills that lead to future success.
Girls Inc. of Kingsport – Core Program ($151,800) provides facility-based and off-site outreach programs both after-school, after hours, and during the summer for girls ages 4-19 that enhance their educational, occupational and physical development.
Holston Children & Youth Services (Frontier Health) – School-Based Prevention Program ($23,100) provides clinical services for at-risk students with academic, social, and/or behavioral problems; helps schools maintain safe, disciplined learning environments; and provides consultation for teachers and collaboration with counselors.
Kingsport Child Development Center – Sliding Fee Scale/Income-Based Childcare Program ($112,667) provides quality childcare/preschool services implementing developmentally-appropriate programs meeting the social, emotional, and educational needs of all children served at affordable rates for parents/guardians.
Scouting America, Sequoyah Council – Youth Development Program ($13,000) prepares young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. – Equine-Assisted Activities & Therapies Program ($20,000) enhances the physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and behavioral growth of individuals with special needs and disabilities through equine-assisted therapies.
Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. – Equine-Assisted Positive Youth Development Program ($15,500) teaches life skills and personal development of children and youth by providing leadership, and work/college-readiness skills through equine-assisted learning activities.
Sullivan County Imagination Library – Sullivan County Imagination Library Program ($20,000) promotes early childhood reading through monthly mailings of free, age-appropriate books to registered children in our county who are between birth and age five.
According to the 2024 Point-in-Time count, a one day snapshot of the community, there are around 172 individuals experiencing homelessness in Kingsport. In 2024, 60 people achieved permanent housing with help from the Kingsport Homeless Coalition. The homeless coalition works to reduce obstacles for individuals by linking resources across organizations that serve the unhoused in the greater Kingsport area.
Kingsport VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) continued in 2024. VITA is a partnership with the IRS where volunteers assist in filing taxes for free for those who quality. VITA was able to process 522 federal tax returns in 2024, saving approximately $126,000 in tax preparation.
PROMOTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Family Promise of Greater Kingsport – Family Self-Sufficiency Program ($17,000) enhances the lives of those experiencing homelessness in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia by providing families with children temporary shelter and assistance so they may become self-sufficient.
Hope House – Fresh Start Program ($21,000) offers support services for pregnant women, new parents, and extended family members who are in crisis concerning pregnancy, parenting, and providing basic needs for themselves and their young children.
Hope House – Restart Program ($20,000) provides a residential program with a full range of support for pregnant mothers in crisis in our community to grow, succeed, and become self-sufficient.
Literacy Council of Kingsport – Tutoring Program for Adults ($35,953) helps improve the literacy and/or English language skills of adults who struggle to read, write, do math, or use technology above a third-grade level through one-on-one tutoring with trained volunteers.
Oasis of Kingsport – Core Program ($15,000) provides education, mentorship, support groups and training to at -risk women in the community through classes and case management.
Salvation Army – Social Services Program ($60,000) provides a wide variety of services including rent/mortgage/utility assistance, clothing assistance, food assistance, referrals, and case management.
Salvation Army – Emergency Shelter Program ($30,000) provides lodging, meals, personal hygiene items, clothing, counseling, job placement, and financial planning, to assist individuals/ families in becoming self-sufficient.
Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. – Horses Empower Heroes Program ($9,500) promotes the recovery, stability, and self-sufficiency of veterans by assisting with the transition from mere survival mode into resiliency and hope through trauma-focused, relationship-rich, equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT).
Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency – Community Service Neighborhood Assistance Program ($24,000) Provides rental and utility assistance, and employment needs for the prevention of homelessness through financial literacy and life coaching.
UWGK’s 2024 campaign theme was “Looking Back & Leading Forward" focusing on United Way of Greater Kingsport’s 90 Years of Impact across the areas of the health, education, and financial stability in our community. Thank you to every donor, volunteer, and service provider in our area who helped raise the $2.64 Million for this year’s campaign! Because of your generosity, we can continue our fight to make the life of every person in our community better.
Data from 2024 unaudited financial records. Copies of the 2024 audit and 990 will be available June 2025. Copies of previous audits are available at the United Way of Greater Kingsport office.
2024 Board of Directors and Staff
