United Way of Central Iowa

11/09/2026

Investing in our youngest learners starts with supporting the educators who help them thrive! 💙

We're proud to support PCDC with new classroom materials that help create engaging, high-quality learning experiences for children.

Together, we're building a stronger foundation for early childhood success in central Iowa! 💛

11/09/2026

📚❤️ Book Buddies Are Coming to PCDC! ❤️📚

We are so excited to get our United Way Book Buddy Program started! Through this special program, children will have the opportunity to enjoy time with a Book Buddy who shares stories, encourages a love of reading, and helps make books a fun part of their week.

And the best part? At the end of EVERY week, children get to take books home to keep and enjoy with their families! 📖🥰

We are so thankful to United Way for making this opportunity possible. Programs like this help build early literacy skills, encourage a lifelong love of reading, and give families more opportunities to enjoy books together.

We can't wait for the stories, smiles, and new books that are headed our way! ❤️

United Way of Central Iowa

11/06/2026

More frequent buses mean more opportunities. 🚌💙

Erin Hockman of DART highlights how public transit schedules impact access to jobs, especially for those who rely on transportation to get to work each day.

🎙️ Hear more on Community Difference Makers, a podcast collaboration between United Way of Central Iowa and Bankers Trust.

11/06/2026

Transportation isn’t a luxury. For many central Iowans, it’s a necessity. 💙

United Way of Central Iowa’s Luke Lynch shares how the Ride United pilot program helped address transportation barriers, connecting individuals to essential services like healthcare, food assistance, and housing resources.

The lessons learned are helping inform future partnerships and solutions to improve transportation access across our community.

🎙️ Hear more on the latest episode of Community Difference Makers, a podcast collaboration between United Way of Central Iowa and Bankers Trust.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

11/05/2026

💙 It’s Thriving Thursday!

Thriving means more than simply making it through each day.

For Benjy Klostermann, thriving is about having access to the opportunities and resources that allow people to move beyond survival and build a better future.

From education and economic opportunity to health and well-being, Benjy believes these areas are interconnected and play an important role in helping individuals and families thrive.

🎥 Watch this week’s Thriving Thursday to hear why Benjy believes creating opportunities is essential to building a stronger Central Iowa.
What does thriving mean to you?

11/03/2026

Heading to the polls today? 🗳️

Our friends at DART are offering FREE rides on all fixed bus routes today, November 3, to help make voting more accessible across central Iowa!

No pass or code needed. Just hop on and ride for free!

Learn more at rideDART.com.

REMINDER: Tomorrow (Tuesday) is Election Day, and we’re offering free rides on DART fixed bus routes all day to help you get to the polls.

We will begin collecting fares again on Wednesday, November 4.

See what’s included in this promotion at rideDART.com/vote.

10/30/2026

Your career is a journey, and every experience along the way matters. 💙

Gaby Cox of Project Iowa shares how extracurricular activities, volunteering, and community involvement all play a role in shaping a young person’s career path. Every experience is an opportunity to learn, grow, and discover what’s possible.

🎙️ Hear more on the latest episode of Community Difference Makers, a podcast collaboration between United Way of Central Iowa and Bankers Trust.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

10/30/2026

Not every career path looks the same, and that’s what makes exploring different opportunities so important. 💙

United Way of Central Iowa’s Mike Cooper shares how apprenticeships offer hands-on learners the opportunity to build valuable skills, take pride in their work, and see the lasting impact of what they create.

🎙️ Hear more on the latest episode of Community Difference Makers, a podcast collaboration between United Way of Central Iowa and Bankers Trust.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

10/29/2026

💙 It’s Thriving Thursday! 💙

Thriving means more than just getting by. It means having hope for a better future.

For Chris Terhark, thriving looks like families having stability, children having opportunities, and communities coming together around shared priorities.

Sh believes that when we bring resources together and focus on the needs of our entire community, we can create opportunities for more people to move forward and succeed.

🎥 Watch this week’s Thriving Thursday to hear Chris share what building a thriving Central Iowa means to her.

What does thriving mean to you?

10/28/2026

Every young person deserves the opportunity to explore their potential and build a future they’re excited about. 💙

On the latest episode of Community Difference Makers, United Way of Central Iowa’s Mike Cooper joins Gaby Cox of Project Iowa, Heather Isaacson of By Degrees Foundation, and host Emily Abbas to discuss how educators, employers, and community partners can work together to help students discover opportunities and make informed decisions about their futures.

Community Difference Makers is a podcast collaboration between United Way of Central Iowa and Bankers Trust.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: www.BankersTrust.com/communitydifferencemakers