How a United Way grant helps students realize their potential

JAG-K, a United Way-funded partner, helps students connect their passions to a career.

Children in south-central Kansas have an ally with United Way of the Plains. This year we invested $850,000 into education-focused nonprofit programs through our Opportunity on the Plains grant. One of those recipients was Jobs for America’s Graduates – Kansas (JAG-K), an organization that helps high school students connect their passions to viable careers.

This grant has helps JAG-K pay for a full-time substitute teacher to provide supplemental support for their staff of education specialists.

“[Our substitute teacher] is able to connect with our different specialists across the area, and she just kind of picks up and carries on, where we’ve left off,” shared Christy Pray, JAG-K Regional Manager.

Many of the students JAG-K serves can’t always see their own potential. The lessons this organization teaches helps them connect the dots of their unique abilities and future potential.

Joyea Marshall (pictured above), one of JAG-K’s full-time substitutes, shared how many of the students don’t have a full grasp on what they are capable of when they first start the program.

“So what brought me here was being able to do something that was different than traditional subjects in school,” said Marshall. “Talking about the real world. Bridging [students], preparing them for what is ahead of them outside of high school when they’re adults. So giving them that readiness and guidance.”

United Way of the Plains believes education is the foundation to success in work and life, and the cornerstone to a strong community. We create pathways for young people to achieve their potential through direct services like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, book distributions, the Read to Succeed literacy program, and support of area nonprofits through grants, advocacy and volunteer recruitment.