United Way of Connecticut and Connecticut’s 13 local United Ways mobilize communities to action and advocate for innovative solutions so all can thrive. They power the initiatives you know and trust — 211CT, 988, Care 4 Kids and ALICE. They also provide urgent support to Connecticut residents during natural disasters.
Whenever and wherever there is a need in our state, United Way answers the call.
Check out the other 2026 Business Excellence Awards honorees
Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments.
Innovation is a defining characteristic of our growth and approach, and integral to advancing our mission.
The 2022 launch of the national dialing code, 988, brought a 350% volume increase to our Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In fiscal year 2026, 988 Connecticut responded to more than 51,000 calls.
In late 2025, our crisis team launched 24/7 in-state chat and text response, opening additional channels of communication important to younger residents. We now routinely handle nearly 2,000 chats and texts every month.
The Journal of the American Medical Association found that in just three years, Connecticut’s rate of suicide among young people fell by 18% — success when it matters most.
United Way is here for Connecticut — from mental health to basic needs. To serve more people, faster, we are deploying cutting-edge tools — like text-referrals, ZIP code-based links and QR-code access. Helping families when they need help most is what we do.
What are your plans for future growth?
United Way is here for Connecticut — whatever our residents need. Changes in federal policies mean more Connecticut residents need our help with food and healthcare costs.
With more extreme weather hitting our state every year, we are here to help with immediate assistance. As healthcare providers increase efforts to help patients meet basic needs to maintain their best health, we will partner with them to connect Connecticut residents with the community resources to support them.
Check out the other 2026 Business Excellence Awards honorees
