United Way Northwest Indiana’s Level Up program has been changing countless lives by helping Region residents acquire the resources they need to progress in both their personal and professional journeys.
Built as a holistic approach to help struggling, working households find a better future, Level Up offers customized pathways to career success and financial stability.
The program pairs participants one-on-one with a navigator to address financial, career, social, and other obstacles to stabilize the household and access better paying jobs. The program is client driven and their success is dependent upon how much effort they put in.
“They teach and help people with learning financial and new job skills, childcare needs, etc.,” said United Way Northwest Indiana Board Member Jim Dye. “There's a gamut of services that we provide individuals who work and make money but don't necessarily qualify for subsidies or government programs.”
A longtime member of the United Way Northwest Indiana community, Dye has watched the Level Up program grow from humble beginnings in 2019 to the success it sees today. The idea of the program was first brought to him by former CEO of Lake Area United Way Lisa Daugherty, and Dye has actively championed the program since.
Dye has always been an avid supporter of education. He is a founder of the James W. and Betty Dye Foundation, which gives over 150 Indiana college scholarships annually to Region high school students. Level Up shared his foundation’s passion for helping others receive the education they need to better their lives, and he knew it would be a perfect fit to include with the foundation.
Now, the money Dye donates is used for schooling and certification programs, and he’s been able to see firsthand how much his contributions are making a positive impact on the community. Watching people who were once struggling now make monumental strides has been a heartwarming experience.
“We began donating and it's been pretty successful,” he said. “We've had 9 graduates who have bought houses now, and that's real philanthropy when you're doing something of that nature.”
What is especially intriguing to Dye about the Level Up program is how it caters to careers of all kinds, especially the trades.
“There are a lot of jobs, but there aren’t a lot of people with the skill sets for those jobs,” he said. “Learning a vocation today is very important. These jobs are no longer looked down on, and they're really great jobs. Their pay levels are the same as college students going into the workforce or even better. A truck driver can make over $100,000 a year—you can support a family on that. That's why we're doing this.”
Besides CDL programs, clients seek vocational careers in computer coding, nursing, welding, and other programs.
While monetary donations are crucial to program success, Dye is also aware that local support is a huge factor. Dye encourages others to get involved in any way they can to strengthen their community to better the workforce and future of Northwest Indiana and beyond.
“We just want to see Level Up be successful,” he said. “There are a lot of families who could be affected by our program. I'm donating some money, but it certainly isn't enough to solve the problems in all our communities. We need a large number of people to step forward and really get involved with this program. It's a great program.”
Level Up is available to residents in Jasper, Lake, Newton, Porter and Starke counties. For more Level Up information and to donate, visit unitedwaynwi.org/level-up.
