Every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive. At United Way of Long Island, we help children get off to a good start and empower youth to reach their full potential by breaking down barriers to success. We advance what works, including early childhood education, literacy development, access to a high-quality K-12 education, enrichment opportunities like after-school and summer programs, college and career readiness, and family engagement, fostering a future where every young person can realize their dreams.
YouthBuild
YouthBuild Long Island is a signature program of United Way of Long Island, dedicated to changing the path of Long Island's youth by addressing the core issues facing low-income communities: housing, education, employment, crime prevention, and leadership development.
At YouthBuild, men and women ages 16-24 work toward their GED High School Equivalency Diploma while learning essential job skills. The program currently serves the Village of Hempstead, and Wyandanch communities.
Stuff-A-Bus
United Way of Long Island’s “Stuff-A-Bus” program provides vital school supplies for kindergarten through 5th grade students across Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Education is an essential building block to unlocking a student’s potential and achieving financial success. For many Long Island families, the cost of buying school supplies can be a significant burden. By providing backpacks and school supplies, United Way sets students up with the proper tools for academic success while increasing the economic opportunity of students’ families.
Scholarships & Memorial Funds
Since its inception in 2002, United Way of Long Island has awarded scholarships and/or grants, in the areas of Academics & Enrichment, totaling more than $1,000,000.