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United Way Awards More Than $500K To Local Agencies

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A call for action generated thousands of dollars that will help some of the hardest hit areas during the Baltimore City unrest. Because of your generosity, the United Way announced it will award more than $500,000 to local agencies.

Marcus Washington with more on who benefits from the donations.

WJZ asked viewers to donate. You did. Now we see those donations in action.

Whether you consider the unrest in Baltimore as a crime or a cry for help, people were watching and listening and wanted to help.

Tuesday morning, the United Way of Central Maryland announces more than $500,000 in grant money raised, benefiting the people and communities hardest hit.

"It shows that nobody is here alone. We are not alone. The organizations trying to do good in the community are not alone. We are in this together," said Mark Furst, United Way of Central Maryland.

More than $530,000 will benefit 23 front line organizations, including schools, churches and nonprofits. And 71 percent of the money is earmarked for youth, including tutoring, mentoring and summer programs.

"With this grant, we will be able to have incentives that we've never had before," said Carla Hayden, Enoch Pratt Free Library. "And we will be able to provide meals, too. So they will be feeding their minds and also their stomachs."

Many of the organizations have been working in the community for years. But with this donation, they are actually able to help even more.

"Be able to reach a larger amount of people. Instead of being able to serve 50 families, we are able to serve now 300 senior citizen individuals," said Bryant Smith, Flight 1 Carriers.

As part of WJZ's continuing community commitment, we partnered with United Way to get the message out -- and you heard it.

United Way says 80 percent of donations came from businesses, but the rest came from people watching the unrest unfold -- wanting to help.

"Individuals giving a few dollars, to a few hundred, maybe even a few thousand dollars from individuals who want to help and knew we would find really great programs to help people who are suffering and to really help restore Baltimore," said Furst.

Some organizations have already received the grant money. Just Tuesday, PNC Bank donated $5,000 to the Maryland Unites fund.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

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