United Way of Collier and the Keys

06/17/2026

Thank you, Gulf Coast News & Jack Keenan, for helping share the latest ALICE data. 🎥⬇️

The biggest takeaway: nearly 4 in 10 Collier County households - 67,868 households in total - are struggling to afford the basics despite being employed.

When 40% of households are below the ALICE Threshold, it means a significant portion of our workforce is living one emergency away from crisis. These are hospitality workers, healthcare support staff, retail employees, and other essential workers who keep our community running every day.

This isn't just a household issue - it affects workforce retention, economic stability, school readiness, and overall community resiliency. Understanding ALICE helps us better understand the challenges facing our neighbors and the solutions needed to create lasting change.

Learn more: https://uwcollierkeys.org/alice/

United For ALICE

06/15/2026

More than 50 volunteers showed up for our Day of Action beach cleanup on Saturday, working alongside United Way of Collier and the Keys, Women United, and Keep Collier Beautiful to help protect our coastline.

From moldy old socks to fishing hooks, nets, grocery bags, straws, and cigarette butts - our shoreline told the story of what washes in and what gets left behind. Every item collected is one less hazard for marine life and a step toward a cleaner, safer beach for our community.

These cleanups are part of a broader commitment to community resiliency - protecting our natural spaces while strengthening the places we all call home.

Interested in upcoming volunteer opportunities? Sign up now! https://www.volunteeruwck.org/

06/12/2026

WHEN WORKING ISN'T ENOUGH.

Many families are doing everything right - working hard and still struggling to make ends meet.

In 2024, a family of four needed $106,776 in Collier County and $108,948 in Monroe County just to cover basic necessities.

Even with both parents working full-time in two of Florida's most common occupations - a cook and a bank teller - a family would still fall $35,302 short in Collier County and $37,474 short in Monroe County of meeting basic needs.

These are the realities facing ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households every day as the cost of essentials continues to outpace wages.

Learn more at uwcollierkeys.org/alice.

06/12/2026

4 in 10 Collier County households are struggling to afford the basics. Behind every statistic is a real family making difficult decisions every day.

For Elsa Pedro, that meant stepping away from work because childcare costs were simply too high. "I decided to stay home because childcare was so expensive. By me going back to work, it just wasn’t smart at the moment."

Today, Elsa and her family are preparing to close on their first home through our partner, Habitat for Humanity of Collier County’s affordable homeownership program.

Thank you to WINK News for sharing stories like Elsa’s and helping shine a light on the challenges many working families face: https://www.winknews.com/news/crime/4-in-10-collier-households-struggle-with-basic-costs/article_a6109285-86ac-4efe-9b48-4f3ce821d58c.html

Explore the new ALICE Report: uwcollierkeys.org/alice

According to United For ALICE and United Way of Collier and the Keys, 40% of Collier County households struggled to afford basic necessities in 2024. That includes 29% of households classified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), and another 11% living in poverty.

06/11/2026

In 2024, tens of thousands of households in Collier and Monroe counties were working but still struggling to make ends meet.

67,868 Collier County households and 15,073 Monroe County households faced this reality, highlighting the continued gap between wages and the cost of basic living.

Tomorrow, we’ll break down what it takes to meet a household survival budget and what’s driving these challenges locally.

You can also explore the full new ALICE Report, find resources if you need help, ways to get involved, and see how United Way of Collier and the Keys is supporting local families: https://uwcollierkeys.org/alice/

06/10/2026

Brand new ALICE data reveals that too many households in our community are struggling to afford the basics.

In 2024, 40% of households in Collier County and 44% of households in Monroe County were living below the ALICE Threshold or in poverty.

ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) represents hardworking households who earn above the Federal Poverty Level but still can't afford essential expenses like housing, child care, food, transportation, health care and technology.

Throughout the week, we'll be sharing new local ALICE data and insights that help tell the story behind the numbers and the challenges facing working families across Collier and Monroe counties.

Explore the latest data and learn more at https://uwcollierkeys.org/alice/.

06/09/2026

Just a few days until Day of Action 2026: Beach Cleanup supported by Women United and Keep Collier Beautiful!

Spend your Saturday morning making a difference for our coastline and community. Whether you come on your own, with family, friends or coworkers, every helping hand counts.

📍 Vanderbilt Beach
📅 Saturday, June 13
⏰ 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Sign up today: https://www.volunteeruwck.org/need/detail/?need_id=1266864

06/09/2026

Sunshine Ace Hardware President Michael Wynn presented the proceeds May 28 to four local organizations. See link below ⬇️

📸 Provided by ACE Hardware

06/08/2026

Our Spring 2026 Board Retreat brought together board members and staff from across Collier and Monroe counties for a day of learning, collaboration and connection at our Naples office.

The retreat focused on our strategic plan and priorities, leading through change, understanding UWCK’s work, telling our story, and maximizing impact as board members. It was energizing to see new and seasoned board members and staff engaging in meaningful conversations and sharing ideas to strengthen our mission.

A special thank you to those who traveled from the Keys to join us, and to UWCK President and CEO Tiffani Mensch, Board Chair Todd Lyon, and Chad Oliver, Chief Communications Officer for Collier County Public Schools and President of the Sunshine State School Public Relations Association, for helping lead the retreat.

While not every board member was able to attend, we were grateful for the strong participation and engagement throughout the day. Thank you to everyone who contributed to a productive, inspiring and impactful retreat!

06/04/2026

United Way of Collier and the Keys’ Tiffany Pellicier recently represented UWCK at United Way’s Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day.

The forum brought together leaders from local United Ways, state associations, 211s, and community partners to discuss emerging policy issues, strengthen advocacy skills, and share strategies for creating lasting community impact.

Through training sessions, policy briefings, and meetings with lawmakers, participants explored ways to advance solutions that support local communities and improve lives.

Tiffany met with policymakers and community leaders from across the country, including Representative Byron Donalds and Representative Carlos Gimenez to discuss issues impacting the communities we serve.