Key Points
- United Way of Pinal County has served Pinal County for 45 years, offering programs at no cost to residents.
- About 11% of Pinal County residents live below the poverty line, earning less than $25,000 per year. Villalobos said when combining multiple financial hardship measures, roughly 150,000 residents are affected.
- Education programs include free books for children, caregiver training, and GED scholarships.
- Financial stability programs provide bicycles, vehicle repairs, workforce training, and financial education.
- Free tax filing is available at MyFreeTaxes.com; prescription savings cards are also available through United Way.
- The organization holds a Platinum Transparency rating from Candid and a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, two independent nonprofit watchdog organizations that evaluate financial accountability and program quality.
- Vice-Chairman Serdy urged residents to donate locally, not to the national United Way organization.
Pinal County, AZ — United Way of Pinal County CEO Allen Villalobos presented a full update on the organization’s programs and services to the Pinal County Board of Supervisors during a work session. The presentation highlighted education, workforce development, financial literacy, and community support programs available at no cost to Pinal County residents, as the organization marks 45 years of service.
Who United Way of Pinal County Serves
Villalobos said Pinal County now has approximately half a million residents. He said about 11% of the population lives below the poverty line, which he described as earning less than $25,000 per year. He added that less than 25% of residents follow a budget, and approximately 25% of households pay more than 30% of their income on housing.
“The 27% and the 25% — we’re talking about 150,000 people,” Villalobos said, referring to several statistics he cited during the presentation, including third-grade reading proficiency and the share of households spending more than 30% of income on housing. “It sounds like a small percentage, but when we turn it into individuals, it’s 150,000 people actually being affected by these programs.”
Villalobos described the organization’s mission as improving the quality of life for everyone in Pinal County by mobilizing resources and fostering partnerships. All programs are provided at no cost to county residents. He also said the organization plans to present to every city council in Pinal County throughout the year.
Education Programs
United Way’s education initiative focuses on early childhood literacy and adult credential attainment. Villalobos cited the following county statistics: only 27% of third graders read at proficiency, 14% of adults lack a high school diploma, and 26% of residents between ages 16 and 19 are not enrolled in school and also lack a diploma.
Reading by 3rd Grade Initiative — In partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the program has mailed more than 130,000 books to children across all 21 Pinal County zip codes — from Apache Junction to San Manuel to Maricopa, Villalobos said. Currently, 3,300 children are enrolled.
Family, Friend & Neighbor (FFN) Program — This program provides training and resources to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and others who have taken on the responsibility of raising a child that is not their own. Villalobos said it is funded through First Things First tobacco funding. First Things First was established by Arizona voters in 2006 through Proposition 203, which increased the state tax on tobacco products to fund early childhood development and health services. He said reduced funding a couple of years ago lowered enrollment from 350 to 250 families. To date, 4,050 families have been served, with 250 currently enrolled.
Path to Success GED Scholarships — Villalobos said United Way has delivered 398 GED vouchers to individuals seeking a high school diploma or equivalency credential. The organization works closely with all branches of Central Arizona College. “We send the money directly to their accounts, so the student gets credited by that — and that’s how we actually help people,” he said.
Education partners include Central Arizona College, Universal Technical Institute, National Technical Institute, EVIT, The Refrigeration School, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, First Things First, and Kids Need to Read, among others.
Financial Stability Programs
United Way’s financial stability initiative addresses transportation, workforce training, and financial education.
Transportation Assistance — The program provides new bicycles — including a helmet and lock — and vehicle repairs to residents who are actively employed or seeking work. Referrals come from case managers at partner agencies including Arizona@Work, Horizons, and Casa Grande Alliance. According to the presentation, the program has delivered 358 bicycles and repaired 42 vehicles. Deliveries are handled through Amazon, allowing United Way to reach residents countywide. “If an individual in San Tan needs a bicycle, all I need to do is go to our Amazon account and send a bicycle to them,” Villalobos said.
Skilled Workforce Program — Villalobos said the program launched about a year and a half ago, after United Way found that many individuals nearing completion of the GED program were also looking to enter trade and vocational careers. It provides up to $3,000 per student toward trade or vocational programs lasting two years or less. He said funds cover tuition, computers, boots, tools, and other equipment needed to start work immediately. Currently, 52 students are enrolled across 15 trades, including electrical, HVAC, cosmetology, barbering, and plumbing. Villalobos said Pinal County is experiencing growth in energy, electric vehicles, AI technology, and construction — and that the program is designed to help residents access those opportunities.
Financial Education — Villalobos said United Way hired a dedicated financial educator in October 2025. That educator has since delivered 59 classes to 547 children and adults. According to the organization, 90% of participants report they will spend differently as a result. “Financial education is a tool that is needed here in Pinal County to improve people’s lives,” Villalobos said. “It’s not a very popular program when it comes to funding, but we are planning to actually make it popular.” He added that United Way plans to use program data to approach financial institutions and banks for funding support.
Financial stability partners include LUCID, SRP, Hexcel, Arizona Complete Health, Pinal County, Arizona@Work, and Casa Grande Alliance.
How Programs Are Funded
Villalobos said United Way of Pinal County funds its programs through a combination of corporate partnerships, grants, and online donations. Corporate partners listed in the presentation include LUCID, Florence Copper, SRP, APS, Cox, Hexcel, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, Gila River Indian Community, Ivanhoe Electric, Invenergy, and Resolution Copper, among others. The FFN program is funded through First Things First, and the Randolph scholarships are administered on behalf of SRP.
Other Community Services
MyFreeTaxes.com — United Way offers free tax preparation services through MyFreeTaxes.com. Residents with income under $89,000 can file their own taxes using the self-preparation option. Those earning under $69,000 can have their taxes prepared by an IRS-certified VITA specialist. Both options include the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and additional state credits.
SingleCare Prescription Card — United Way distributes the SingleCare prescription savings card, which according to the presentation offers up to 80% off prescription drug costs. The card is not insurance. “So far, we have saved over $3 million in our prescription drug program,” Villalobos said.
VolunteerPinal.org — United Way operates VolunteerPinal.org, a platform connecting volunteers with local nonprofits. Organizations can post volunteer needs and communicate with volunteers via text and email notifications. According to the presentation, 173 volunteers are using the platform and 20 organizations are posting needs.
Community Resource Events — United Way plans and participates in community events throughout the year. Villalobos said the organization will host a Community Connect event on March 25 in Casa Grande, providing health services, barbers, and other family resources. He said United Way will also cover the cost for residents who need to update or obtain a new ID. A Back to School event in July provides school supplies to children across Pinal County school districts; he said more than 1,000 families have attended each event in Casa Grande. Additionally, Villalobos said United Way administers $400,000 in post-secondary scholarships for residents of the Randolph community or their descendants, on behalf of SRP. He said that administration will continue for the next 17 years, with 52 applicants currently in process. United Way also distributes water and hygiene kits to police departments and nonprofits during summer heat, and has funded gardens and books for elementary schools in Coolidge, Eloy, and Arizona City. “Every time there’s a disaster either here or anywhere in the United States, United Way puts a link to anyone in Pinal County who wants to donate,” Villalobos said. He noted that during past electricity blackouts in Coolidge and Arizona City, United Way coordinated with local corporations to raise donations for affected residents.
Residents can apply for programs online at unitedwayofpc.org. Villalobos said United Way developed its online application system during the pandemic to extend reach across the entire county. All programs are exclusive to Pinal County residents.
Transparency and Accountability
According to the presentation, United Way of Pinal County is audited annually by an independent accounting firm. The audit is publicly available on Candid.org and CharityNavigator.org, as well as the United Way website. The organization holds a Platinum Transparency 2026 rating from Candid and a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator. Villalobos said the organization has maintained those ratings for approximately four years.
Local vs. National: A Distinction Supervisors Raised
Vice-Chairman Jeff Serdy raised a concern about the relationship between local and national United Way operations. “There is a national United Way and local, just like Chamber of Commerce,” Serdy said. “The National Chamber of Commerce doesn’t always work in our favor, whereas the local ones do because they’re local.” Serdy said he believed the national United Way had crossed into territory that conflicted with the values of a board like theirs.
Villalobos explained that United Way of Pinal County is an independent organization. He said it contributes only 1% of its total income to United Way Worldwide, which in turn provides marketing support and corporate relationships. He acknowledged Serdy’s concern directly. “There are some issues and some things that United Way International has adopted that Pinal County United Way — and personally I — do not agree with. Here, we do our decisions based on the climate of our organizations and our community, and that’s how we’re going to keep it.”
Serdy urged community members to direct donations locally. “If you donate, donate local, do not donate international — because all of the money stays here.”
Supervisors Respond
Chairman McClure reflected on the financial vulnerability facing many residents. “If they had minimal jobs, they’re making $850 a month in Social Security — and there’s two of them. That’s great until one of them passes away. Then all of a sudden it’s $850 a month and how do you survive on that? You can’t pay rent, you can’t pay utilities. Do I buy food or do I buy my prescriptions? How do I get around? It’s tough.” He also noted the impact of workforce training on financial mobility. “Some of the people in the Copper Corridor — they’re making $12,000 a year. And they come out making $60,000 a year. Then, whoa — what do I do with it? And it is amazing to see that transformation.”
Supervisor Stephen Miller thanked Villalobos. “Allen, I’m thankful for all the work you do, and you can always contact my office if you need anything.”
Supervisor Rich Vitiello, who said he spent 23 years in the bicycle industry, offered to help United Way reduce costs on bicycle purchases. He said he recognized brands such as Hyper among United Way’s purchases and offered to leverage his industry experience to find savings. Villalobos accepted the offer.
The Board took no formal action. The item was informational only.
