Media Center
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/26/2007 |
Contact: Seandra Sims 302-573-3731 ssims@uwde.org |
RESEARCH FOCUSES ON THE IMPACT RELIGIOUS AND NONPROFIT GROUPS HAVE ON WILMINGTON RESIDENTS IN NEED
Project leaders are set to unveil details about the research project on Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at Kingswood Community Center, 23rd and Bowers Streets in Wilmington, at 4:00PM. At the event, they will discuss plans for developing a database of information to help faith-based congregations work more effectively with the government and nonprofit sectors to meet the unique needs of Wilmington residents.
The project will be conducted by Dr. Ram Cnaan of University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Robert Wineburg of University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Both have years of experience in assessing community needs, as well as building solid collaborations for sharing resources to provide better help to people in need.
“The city of Wilmington has a wealth of stakeholders who are invested in helping meet critical health and human service needs,” said Dr. Cnaan. “Not least among them is the city’s large faith community, whose congregations and programs are a testament to the impact that all segments of our community can have on improving lives,” he added.
Over the past two months, Drs. Cnaan and Wineburg have begun training a team of city residents at United Way of Delaware to conduct research interviews of every congregation in Wilmington.
Community partners IMAC and ICBBW strive to enable faith-based organizations to work collaboratively and strategically in support of safer neighborhoods, stronger families, and positive youth development. Access to a complete inventory of citywide faith-based services will enhance their ability to work more effectively.
“Here at United Way, we know that collaboration is the best way to create pathways to success for all Delawareans,” said Drew Langloh, president of United Way of Delaware. “As a community leader and partner, we are happy to be part of this important project, and we look forward to learning more about the critical services provided by Wilmington’s faith community,” he said.
United Way of Delaware’s mission is to maximize the community's resources to improve the quality of life for all Delawareans. Through its Community Impact Fund, United Way invests in quality programs addressing Delaware's wide range of critical needs, including resources for children, seniors, and persons with disabilities.