Disaster Cycle Services & Home Fire Preparedness
American Red Cross of North Central Ohio
The American Red Cross Disaster Cycle services prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Their Home Fire Preparedness campaign saves lives by installing smoke alarms and educating families about home fire safety. United Way of North Central Ohio is proud to support these efforts in Crawford, Wyandot, and Marion counties.
Formula for Impact
Boys & Girls Club of Marion County
Formula for Impact is a program developed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America to encourage positive youth development through a safe, positive environment; fun; supportive relationships; opportunities and expectations; and recognition. It also incorporates high-yield learning activities, targeted programs and regular attendance.
GEAR Up
GEAR Up Marion City Schools
The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) at Marion City Schools works to support early college preparation and awareness using academic, career and culturally woven events and activities including tutoring, mentoring, academic preparation, financial education, and college scholarships.
Keeping Kids in School – LASC’s Youth Law Project
Legal Aid Society of Columbus
LASC’s Youth Law Project directly address barriers to high school graduation in our community by identifying recurring themes and challenges experienced by Marion County’s children and creating a community-wide referral network for children and their families.
Let’s Read 20
Let’s Read 20
Forming the habit of reading at a young age is linked to higher performance and achievement throughout life. Let’s Read 20 is a community-wide initiative that promotes early childhood literacy and is attempting to positively impact the culture of our community and the way it values reading, education and academic success.
Changes & Choices

Marion Adolescent Pregnancy Program
MAPP operative the Changes and Choices comprehensive sex education classes in local schools as well as to students at Marion Technical College and Ohio State University Marion Campus. United Way of North Central Ohio supports the work of MAPP in providing area students with the information needed to make educated choices about their lives.
Tel.740.387.8336
Victim Assistance Program
Marion Area Counseling Center
The Victim Assistance Program provides county wide services to victims of any crime. Victim Assistance minimizes the effects of crime in the lives of crime victims, while Victim Advocates offer victims of crime support services which include emergency assistance, emotional support, agency referrals, and assistance with legal filings as well as court orientation and advocacy.
Weekend Backpack Program
Marion City Schools
The Weekend Backpack Program provides meals to the most food insecure students at Marion City Schools. Volunteers fill bags weekly with shelf stable foods to cover two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners to bridge the weekend gap when school meals are unavailable.
Job Readiness
Marion Goodwill Industries
Job readiness training at Marion Goodwill Industries helps participants understand workplace etiquette and employer expectations. Participants also learn how to conduct an effective job search and develop the skills required in their respective career fields.
Youth Mentoring
Marion Mentors
The Marion Mentors program works to support the development of one-to-one relationships between a volunteer adult role model and a student. This unique relationship provides support and encouragement, and can help a young person develop the academic, social, personal, and leadership skills to foster success in their future.
Music Time
Marion Public Library
Supported by United Way of North Central Ohio, Music Time at the Library is a program that fosters early childhood learning. Led by a board-certified music therapist, the program builds kindergarten-readiness skills by focusing on music and movement activities and is designed to be inclusive of all children, regardless of developmental levels or disabilities.
Housing Crisis
Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission
With support from United Way of North Central Ohio, OHCAC works with a network of housing programs to provide emergency housing for homeless individuals and families in Marion County. OHCAC has a full time staff member dedicated to housing the homeless.
Pay It Forward Project
The Ohio State University, Marion
With support from United Way of North Central Ohio, the Pay It Forward Project at OSU Marion helps students to learn the important role philanthropy plays in sustaining and improving our local community, to apply academic course content in service to the community, and to become engaged citizens by awarding grant funds to local organizations.
Ruling Our eXperiences
Ridgedale Exempted Village Schools
The Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) program is implemented in the Ridgedale School District for girls in 5th through 12 grade. The program works to equip girls with the knowledge and skills to live healthy, independent, and violence-free lives.
Safety City

Safety City of Marion Ohio
Safety City uses hands-on role playing to give Marion County kindergarteners knowledge and experience in the 9-1-1 system, fire safety, gun safety, and traffic safety, enabling them to make good choices and help them live long, safe and healthy lives.
Tel.740.387.5019
Scouting Scholarships

United Way of Marion County
Scouting Scholarships provides funding for a variety of scouting expenses, including troop dues, summer camp fees, patches, national/district events, weekend camping, day camp, and High Adventure. Scholarship applications are available at the UWNCO; funding is provided through the Scouting Committee which meets monthly to review applications.