AveNew, an initiative of United Way of Greater Kingsport, is dedicated to preventing youth substance use and promoting mental wellness through trauma-informed and community-based strategies. AveNew has a vision of making Kingsport a community where every young person has the opportunity to thrive with strong mental health and lives free of substance-related harm.
In 2025, AveNew hosted and/or participated in 32 community outreach events, serving 6,636 individuals with a focus on mental health resources and training for students and teachers, as well as educating the community on substance misuse and prevention. AveNew continues to partner with over 20 community partners to serve people in our community.
HEALTHY COMMUNITY
Appalachian Miles for Smiles – Appalachian Miles for Smiles Mobile Dental Unit ($24,000) provides quality dental care and eye examinations at no cost to uninsured residents of East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
CASA for Kids, Inc. – Core Program ($45,000) supports and promotes professionally-trained community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children’s best interest within the Juvenile Court and ensure safe and stable placements.
Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County – Counseling Program ($38,000) provides trauma-focused treatment to the child victims of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse in a child-friendly environment that focuses on the well-being of the child.
Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County – Victim Services Program ($10,000) provides counseling and assistance to the non-offending parents or caregivers of victims from initial contact and throughout the investigation and intervention process.
First Tennessee Human Resource Agency – Personal Support Services Program ($17,000) promotes self-sufficiency and prevents institutional placement by providing cost-effective in-home care for individuals in threat of harm due to abuse or neglect.
Friends in Need – Dental Services Program ($58,200) provides affordable dental care to the uninsured and underinsured across Northeast Tennessee.
Friends in Need – Medical Services Program ($22,000) provides affordable medical care to the uninsured or underinsured across Northeast Tennessee.
Holston Counseling (Frontier Health) – Outpatient Services ($46,900) offers a wide variety of services, including various therapy types, case management, and medication management to those with mental, addiction, or co-occurring conditions.
Legal Aid of East Tennessee – Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Program ($15,000) provides family safety and stability for victims of domestic violence through court orders granting a divorce or order of protection.
Link House (Frontier Health) – Core Program ($41,900) provides food, shelter, crisis intervention, diagnostic and evaluation services as well as counseling to adolescent females who are neglected, abused, runaway, unruly, or delinquent.
Meals on Wheels of Kingsport – Core Program ($110,000) provides hot, nutritious meals and human contact to isolated, incapacitated senior citizens and, if appropriate, other home-bound, disabled persons to facilitate safe, independent living.
Mountain Region Speech & Hearing Center – Speech-Language Scholarship Program ($51,900) provides infants, children, and adults with quality and cost-effective evaluation, treatment, and education for speech, language, and swallowing disorders regardless of their ability to pay.
SAFE House (Frontier Health) – Domestic Violence Shelter Program ($58,000) provides a safe, confidential, and temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children. 24/7 services may include crisis services, transportation, advocacy, follow-up, and education.
Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. – Horses Empower Heroes Program ($9,500) promotes the recovery, stability, and self-sufficiency of veterans by assisting with the transition from mere survival mode into resiliency and hope through trauma-focused, relationship-rich, equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT).
COMMUNITY RESILIENCY
American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee – Disaster Cycle Services ($85,000) serves people affected by disaster and prepares communities for disaster, response, and recovery, to create a more resilient community.
United WE READ, an initiative of United Way of Greater Kingsport, aims for 100% of area 3rd graders to read proficiently. It unites schools, afterschool programs, community stakeholders, and caregivers to foster early literacy and support children's future success. United WE READ focuses on hosting book drives, identifying and stocking Little Free Libraries, coaching parents on beneficial reading practices for young readers, and teaching children the power and relevance of reading.
In 2025, United WE READ distributed 2,057 books and hosted and/or participated in 26 community outreach events, serving 8,189 individuals.
2025 United WE READ key focus areas:
Kindergarten Readiness
Increased Book Access Community Wide
School District and Afterschool Organizations Partnerships
YOUTH OPPORTUNITY
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Tri-Cities – Community-Based & Site-Based Mentoring Program ($58,097) matches caring, consistent adult volunteers with children in our community who need a friend and mentor.
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport – Formula for Impact Program ($130,000) helps young people reach academic success, good character & leadership, and healthy lifestyles through targeted programs, learning activities, and regular attendance.
Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians, Inc. – Leadership Experience Program ($11,000) provides a leadership development program for girls grades K-12 by building skills that lead to future success.
Girls Inc. of Kingsport – Core Program ($137,272) provides facility-based and off-site outreach programs both after-school, after hours, and during the summer for girls ages 4-19 that enhance their educational, occupational and physical development.
Holston Children & Youth Services (Frontier Health) – School-Based Prevention Program ($19,852) provides clinical services for at-risk students with academic, social, and/or behavioral problems; helps schools maintain safe, disciplined learning environments; and provides consultation for teachers and collaboration with counselors.
Kingsport Child Development Center – Sliding Fee Scale/Income-Based Childcare Program ($112,367) provides quality childcare/preschool services implementing developmentally-appropriate programs meeting the social, emotional, and educational needs of all children served at affordable rates for parents/guardians.
Scouting America, Sequoyah Council – Youth Development Program ($13,000) prepares young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. – Equine-Assisted Activities & Therapies Program ($18,000) enhances the physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and behavioral growth of individuals with special needs and disabilities through equine-assisted therapies.
Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. – Equine-Assisted Positive Youth Development Program ($12,400) teaches life skills and personal development of children and youth by providing leadership, and work/college-readiness skills through equine-assisted learning activities.
Sullivan County Imagination Library – Sullivan County Imagination Library Program ($16,000) promotes early childhood reading through monthly mailings of free, age-appropriate books to registered children in our county who are between birth and age five.
According to the 2025 Point-in-Time count, a one-day snapshot of the community, there are approximately 222 individuals experiencing homelessness in Kingsport. In 2025, 104 people achieved permanent housing with help from the Kingsport Homeless Coalition. The homeless coalition works to reduce obstacles for individuals by linking resources across organizations that serve the unhoused in the Greater Kingsport area.
Kingsport VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) continued in 2025. VITA is a partnership with the IRS where volunteers assist in filing taxes for free for those who qualify. VITA was able to process 789 federal tax returns in 2025, saving $144,405 in tax preparation.
FINANCIAL SECURITY
Family Promise of Greater Kingsport – Family Self-Sufficiency Program ($15,980) enhances the lives of those experiencing homelessness in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia by providing families with children temporary shelter and assistance so they may become self-sufficient.
Literacy Council of Kingsport – Tutoring Program for Adults ($33,796) helps improve the literacy and/or English language skills of adults who struggle to read, write, do math, or use technology above a third-grade level through one-on-one tutoring with trained volunteers.
Oasis of Kingsport – Core Program ($14,100) provides education, mentorship, support groups and training to at -risk women in the community through classes and case management.
Salvation Army – Social Services Program ($56,400) provides a wide variety of services including rent/mortgage/utility assistance, clothing assistance, food assistance, referrals, and case management.
Salvation Army – Emergency Shelter Program ($28,200) provides lodging, meals, personal hygiene items, clothing, counseling, job placement, and financial planning, to assist individuals/ families in becoming self-sufficient.
Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency – Community Service Neighborhood Assistance Program ($22,596) Provides rental and utility assistance, and employment needs for the prevention of homelessness through financial literacy and life coaching.
.png)
UWGK’s 2025 campaign theme was “United is the Way" focusing on United Way of Greater Kingsport’s impact across the areas of the youth opportunity, financial security, healthy community and community resiliency. Thank you to every donor, volunteer, and service provider in our area who helped raise the $2.7 Million for this year’s campaign! Because of your generosity, we can continue to make the life of every person in our community better.
Data from 2025 unaudited financial records. Copies of the 2025 audit and 990 will be available June 2026. Copies of previous audits are available at the United Way of Greater Kingsport office.
2025 Board of Directors and Staff
