BUTLER TWP — The United Way of Butler County recently approved $742,000 in grants to 32 programs and initiatives in 21 partner agencies for the 2013-14 fiscal year beginning Monday.

Grants are made on a two-year basis so agencies getting funds in this first year also will receive the same amount in the second year unless there is a dramatic change in campaign receipts, according to a United Way news release.

In addition, the United Way will distribute about $620,000 in donor-designated funds to nonprofit organizations both locally and nationwide, and it will distribute an additional $90,000 in special funds through the Butler Emergency Relief Initiative, which provides utility and other emergency assistance; a grant from XTO for building school community partnerships and a pilot program with partnering agencies in elementary schools; mentoring programs through Women United; and the Red Apple Awards for teachers.

The United Way also has an operations budget of $539,650.

Funding decisions are made by a committee of volunteers who review funding applications of agencies.

Here is the money allocated to agencies and programs by the United Way of Butler County from its 2012-13 fundraising campaign.This $742,000 is distributed in three areas: education for people, financial stability to help people and connecting people with services.<B>Education</B>Butler County Family YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Butler County, $20,000Glade Run Lutheran Services, Butler Family Counseling, $10,000Lifesteps, Child Check, $42,000Victims Outreach Intervention Center (VOICe), children’s program, $52,000Lifesteps, children’s services, $15,000Community Care Connections, children’s services, $21,000Paul Laurence Dunbar Community Center, Dunbar Kids Klub, $40,000Lifesteps, Early Care and Education Council, $2,500Mental Health Association, Education Advocacy/Summer Program, $20,000Lifesteps, Families Forever, $2,000Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania, Girl Scout summer campership for girls in the county, $8,000Butler County Children’s Center, inclusive child care, $40,000Moraine Trails Council — Boy Scouts of America, Scoutreach Initiative, $10,000Butler County Family YMCA, Strong Kids Campaign, $10,000Moraine Trails Council — Boy Scouts of America, traditional scouting, $25,000Total for education: $317,500<B>Financial stability</B>Butler County Children’s Center Inc., child care scholarships, $55,000The Salvation Army in Butler, comprehensive emergency assistance, $13,000American Red Cross, West Central PA Chapter, disaster services, $65,000Mental Health Association in Butler County, guardianship and advocacy, $22,000Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Butler office, housing and homeless case management, $30,000Community Health Clinic of Butler County, primary health care to uninsured county residents, $20,000Butler County Home Ownership, Housing Authority, SHOP, $30,000The Lighthouse Foundation, transitional housing, $25,000Center for Community Resources, utility integrated point of contact, $40,000Center for Community Resources, volunteer income tax assistance, $30,000YWCA of Butler, YWCA personal care residence, $20,000Total for financial stability: $350,000<B>Connecting people</B>United Way of Allegheny County, 2-1-1 Funding, $30,000Community Care Connections Inc., adult services program, $16,000Butler Collaborative for Families, $7,500Mental Health Association in Butler County, Compeer, $4,000Grapevine Center, drop-in center, $12,000Grapevine Center Inc., Warmline, $5,000Total for connecting people: $74,500