News | United Way of Chatham County

Meet our new Executive Director, Carlos Lima!

UWCC Welcomes new Executive Director, Carlos Lima

United Way of Chatham County is pleased to announce the appointment of Carlos Lima as its new Executive Director. Carlos brings with him a deep commitment to service, a wealth of leadership experience, and a strong connection to our local community.

Carlos first came to North Carolina in 1988 as an exchange student at UNC Chapel Hill while pursuing his MBA. After a successful career in his family’s business in Venezuela, he relocated to the United States in 2001 with his family. For the past 20 years, Carlos has served as Director of Operations and Finance at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill, where he became known for his steadfast leadership, service-driven mindset, and ability to foster meaningful relationships.

Carlos, whose first day is Monday, May 12, is eager to build upon the strong foundation laid by outgoing Executive Director Katie Childs. He is excited to contribute to the continued growth of United Way’s mission to improve lives and strengthen Chatham County through collaborative, community-based solutions.

Carlos and his wife have called this area home for over two decades. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, reading, and playing board games.

Katie Childs, who announced her planned departure earlier this year, will work alongside Carlos for a short time to ensure a smooth and thoughtful leadership transition. As she prepares to relocate with her family, we are deeply grateful for Katie’s years of visionary leadership and her unwavering dedication to Chatham County.

Please join us in welcoming Carlos to the United Way of Chatham County!

Meet the new Bold Goal Case Manager

We are thrilled to introduce Bold Goal Case Manager Guadalupe Avellaneda, currently employed at Chatham Literacy. Guadalupe holds a Master’s Degree from Walden University and comes to Chatham from Greenville, SC, where she worked in human services. Guadalupe works closely with Bold Goal Family Navigator Maria Soto, and participates in the weekly case conferencing calls between the Bold Goal Pilot Program partners.

Describe your role as Bold Goal Case Manager:
As the Case Manager for Chatham Literacy, I will collaborate with the family navigator and other case managers in connecting families who are interested in enrolling in ESOL, citizenship classes, Adult Goal-based education, Spanish Literacy, and Financial Literacy. Moreover, as I work alongside other case managers, we can collaborate in assisting families in connecting them with resources and addressing systemic poverty.

What do you most look forward to as the new Case Manager?
I look forward to seeing families gain resources and support from the entire community. As a case manager I look forward to walking along side families and empowering them to overcome current and future challenges.

With your new knowledge of the Chatham community, how do you think families will react to this new programming to wrap services around entire households, starting in the schools?
I am relatively new to the Chatham community; however, I’m hopeful that families will see the benefits of agencies working together to provide accessible and welcoming services. Having a positive support system that includes your community fosters connection and trust.

What do you think of United Way’s Bold Goal – ending and preventing poverty for 2,000 people in 2,000 days (by 2030) and this new collaborative service delivery United Way is leading between agencies?
United Way’s Bold Goal is an innovative project that will bring community services together to work through and overcome systemic poverty. Each family comes with their unique needs and goals therefore working collaboratively will help service providers develop achievable family support plans for each family.

Allocations Information

United Way’s allocation process is now open! If your organization is interested in applying for funding for the 25-26 year, the first step is to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) (Certification documents). You must submit a separate LOI for each program for which you are requesting funding.

The LOI submission period is open through March 17. To access the LOI visit https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=chathamcounty.

If you have submitted funding for United Way or Chatham County before, enter your username and password. If you are a first-time applicant seeking funding, click Create New Account. If your agency has applied for funding previously, but you are a new user, please reach out to United Way so we can add you to the agency profile – DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT.

Following the review of LOIs, eligible organizations will be invited to submit a full application for United Way funding on March 31. The application deadline will be April 18.

United Way is in the process of aligning its funding to make the greatest impact on ending and preventing poverty in Chatham County. During this transition year, we’ve simplified the application process to assess how well your program aligns with the Bold Goal priority areas and evaluate your agency’s capacity for collaboration. The application will be 5-7 questions, and there will be no site visit or Q&A session. Once you submit your application the United Way Board will make funding decisions, to be announced by June 15. You can expect to see volunteers return to our allocation process next year with a more robust process.

The allocation process is expected to be highly competitive this year, as new program requests are allowed. Prior funding levels are not guaranteed. To that end, agencies may submit an LOI for no more than TWO separate programs.

We value the work you do in our community and look forward to partnering with you through this process. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our office at 919-542-1110.

We need your help to find the next leader of United Way of Chatham County!

You may have heard the news: Katie recently announced her plans to step down as Executive Director this spring. While we are sad to see her go, we are already looking toward the future. The Board of Directors is fully committed to building on the growth and success our organization has achieved with its Bold Goal Initiative.

To keep this momentum going, we’re seeking a passionate, innovative and experienced Executive Director to lead United Way of Chatham County into its next chapter. This leader will guide our staff and board in achieving our mission of addressing the most critical needs of Chatham County.

We’re excited to share that the job posting is now live. We’d be grateful for your help in spreading the word to ensure we attract a diverse pool of talented candidates.

Here’s how you can help:

Share the opportunity: Please forward this email to your networks, or share our posts on Facebook or LinkedIn.
Consider applying by clicking the button below.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to United Way during this exciting transition. Together, we will continue to strengthen our community and make an even greater impact!

Chatham Success Network

United Way is committed to ending and preventing poverty for 2,000 people in 2,000 days (by 2030). To bring this vision to life, we are proud to announce the launch of the Chatham Success Network (CSN), an innovative, community-driven initiative designed to provide families with the support they need to thrive.
Empowering Families Through Collaboration

Beginning with Siler City Elementary, where poverty rates are significantly higher than the county average, the Chatham Success Network brings together a powerful network of community partners to provide seamless, wraparound services for families in need. These partners include:

Chatham County Department of Social Services
Chatham County Schools & McKinney Vento Program
Chatham Literacy
Communities in Schools
Partnership for Children
Salvation Army of Chatham
United Way (backbone support, family engagement resources, and evaluation services)

Making an Immediate Impact

Since the program’s launch, Maria Soto, the Chatham Success Network’s Family Navigator with Communities in Schools, has already enrolled the pilot program’s first clients. With personalized guidance, these families now have direct access to case management, education, housing assistance, and employment support, helping them access tools to achieve lasting stability.

Strengthening Our Community Together

The Chatham Success Network is more than a program; it’s a transformational partnership. By working together, agency representatives are better equipped to provide holistic support and break down barriers for families. Weekly partner meetings foster collaboration, problem-solving, and collective impact, ensuring no family falls through the cracks.

Already, families are feeling the difference. They express confidence in reaching their goals, knowing they have a dedicated support system behind them.
“True power lies in collaboration,” says Tych Cowdin, Executive Director of Communities in Schools. “When people come together to share ideas, they inspire new solutions, and collective wisdom paves the way for meaningful change.”

Join Us in Creating Change

Launching the Chatham Success Network is just the beginning. As we work toward our Bold Goal, we invite you to learn more, get involved, and be part of the solution.

Mental Health First Aid 2024

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to assist and support others who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge.

Eleven people attended the MHFA training, representing community members, Chatham Housing Collective Provider Subcommittee members, and members of the larger housing sector in Chatham County. The training was facilitated by two facilitators from Vaya Health

MHFA trainees learned the following over the course of their day:

Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges.
Common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.
How to interact with a person in crisis.
How to connect a person with help.
Expanded content on trauma, substance use and self-care.

Vaya Health provided the free training, with United Way planning the day, providing lunch and managing signups. Thank you to everyone who attended!

Giving Tuesday – Thomas’ Story

Today is Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity where individuals come together to support causes that make a difference. It’s a day to turn compassion into action, creating hope and opportunity for those who need it most. Thomas’ story is a powerful example of the life-changing work made possible by your support. Join us today — because your generosity fuels hope, resilience, and a stronger community for all.

A Lifeline for Thomas: United Way’s Role in Restoring Stability and Hope

Individuals and families in Chatham County are being evicted weekly with nowhere to go. This was the case for Thomas. Thomas was diagnosed with stage four bone cancer and no longer able to work. With no income and unable to pay rent, he was evicted, homeless, and living out of his truck.

Thomas was a few years shy of social security income, and hung up in the red tape surrounding his disability status. He lived in his truck for several months during the heat of summer, driving to Southern Pines for cancer treatment several times each week. The cancer was in his spine, and a truck during the summer months offered little comfort and only a few hours of sleep each night.

Multiple agencies assisted Thomas with food while he was living in his truck, and eventually he was moved to a hotel, where he was able to have a caregiver. Because of apartment waitlists, Thomas’ hotel stay was extended to three months, paid for by multiple nonprofits in Chatham. Eventually Thomas was moved into a two bedroom apartment with his caregiver, where he’s now been for one year.

Thomas’ journey demonstrates the impact of Chatham County’s collaborative network of service providers, led by United Way. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies, Thomas’ needs were addressed with both dignity and urgency. His story highlights the significance of tackling systemic barriers and serves as an example of how United Way fosters meaningful change through strong partnerships.

Please support United Way so we can continue leading and creating collaborative, sustainable solutions for Chatham County residents like Thomas. Your generosity fuels meaningful change and helps build a stronger, more connected community for everyone.

Want to make a difference for people like Thomas? Donate today:

$25 provides food for several days
$50 provides an overnight stay in a hotel
$100 provides a utility deposit
$500 provides a deposit for a rental home/apartment

United Way Executive Director Guest Speaker at Chatham Chamber’s Annual Event

United Way Executive Director Katie Childs was asked to speak on housing challenges and United Way’s role in creating collaborative solutions in our community at the 2024 Chatham County Chamber of Commerce’s State of Chatham annual event. Childs began United Way’s housing work in the winter of 2021 with the creation of the Chatham Housing Collective, which is now managed by United Way’s newest employee, Daisy Butzer, our Impact Manager. Housing is just one of the focuses of United Way’s Bold Goal Program – ending and preventing poverty for 2,000 people in 2,000 days. To learn more about our Bold Goal, visit www.unitedwayofchathamcounty.org/boldgoal.

Meet the Bold Goal Family Navigator

Meet the Bold Goal Family Navigator, Maria Soto

We are happy to announce Communities in Schools of Chatham County (CIS) has hired the Bold Goal Family Navigator, Maria Soto.

The Bold Goal Pilot Program focuses on families in Siler City, using Siler City Elementary School as a gateway to provide comprehensive support. With 86% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch and 85% from racial/ethnic minorities, the program targets households seeking to improve income and social determinants of health.

Maria will collaborate with case managers to create and implement family support plans, with services wrapping around entire households.

Maria has served the Chatham community in various ways since 1988, and we asked her a few questions to learn more about her role and how she believes the new program will be received in the community.

Question: What do you most look forward to as the new Family Navigator?
Answer: To help individuals and families navigate systems of care and improve their quality of life.

Question: With your experience in Chatham, how do you think families will react to this new coordination of services you will be providing?
Answer: Families are likely to react positively to the new coordination of services provided by the Family Support Navigator through Communities in Schools of Chatham County.

Increased Hope and Empowerment: Families may feel more hopeful and empowered as they gain access to resources, support systems, and guidance tailored to their specific needs.
Trust and Collaboration: Relief from Navigational Challenges: Many families struggle to access and navigate complex systems of care. The Navigator’s guidance can alleviate stress, particularly for those facing systemic barriers like language, transportation, or lack of awareness.
Building Social Connections: Community gatherings and other opportunities to expand social networks can help families feel more connected, supported, and less isolated.

However, some families may initially express hesitation or skepticism, particularly if they have had negative past experiences with similar programs or systemic institutions. Building trust through consistent communication, cultural sensitivity, and transparency will be key in addressing these concerns.

Question: What do you think of the United Way’s Bold Goal and this new, collaborative service delivery United Way is leading between agencies?
Answer: United Way’s Bold Goal—to end and prevent poverty for 2,000 people in 2,000 days—is ambitious, but it reflects a proactive and focused approach to addressing systemic poverty. This initiative reflects United Way’s and Chatham County’s commitment to tackling poverty at its roots while empowering families through coordinated, sustainable support. The Family Support Navigator role aligns perfectly with this vision by bridging gaps in services and helping families achieve self-sufficiency.

For more information on the Bold Goal Program, visit our website.

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