Black History Month Spotlight: Dr. Dawnté Early, President and CEO of United Way California Capital Region
Each February, we take time to honor the achievements and leadership of Black community members who have shaped our history and continue to strengthen our region. This month, we are proud to spotlight our President and CEO, Dr. Dawnté Early, whose work reflects our mission to improve opportunities for local children and families.
KCRA 3 recently featured Dr. Early in its Black History Month spotlight, sharing her story and the values that guide her leadership. The segment highlights what our staff, partners, and community see every day. Dr. Early brings both personal experience and professional expertise to this work, along with a deep commitment to equity and access for all families in the Capital Region.
Watch the KCRA 3 story on Dr. Dawnté Early.
Leadership Rooted in Experience and Community
During her KCRA 3 interview, Dr. Early spoke about growing up in a single‑parent household and the challenges her family faced navigating systems that often were not designed with families like hers in mind. These experiences continue to shape her leadership today. She understands firsthand the barriers many families face and remains focused on building pathways that truly support children and caregivers.
Dr. Early believes deeply in the potential of every child when communities work together. Her leadership centers family voice, strengthens partnerships across sectors, and keeps long-term impact at the heart of every program.
Advancing Lasting Change for Local Families
Since joining United Way California Capital Region, Dr. Early has championed initiatives that drive long-term success and measurable outcomes. Her work emphasizes:
Engaging families in shaping programs and services
Strengthening relationships with schools, nonprofits, and community groups
Using data thoughtfully to understand needs and guide decision-making
Removing barriers and expanding opportunities throughout the region
Through this approach, United Way continues to grow its impact and support more families with the tools they need to thrive.
Representation That Inspires
As one of the few Black women leading a major regional nonprofit, Dr. Early brings representation that matters. Her story shows young people across our region, especially young Black girls, that leadership can come from every neighborhood and every background when communities invest in every child’s potential.
Celebrate Black History Month With Us
As we honor Black History Month, we celebrate leaders like Dr. Early who are shaping the history of today through vision, service, and action.
Throughout February, we are also sharing additional profiles of influential Black leaders on our social media channels. Be sure to check them out and join us in celebrating the individuals who continue to inspire our region.
Thank you for celebrating Dr. Early with us and recognizing the many contributions of Black leaders in our community.
Belief, Stability, and Community: Jeneses’s Journey Through the Collegiate Guaranteed Income Program
Only 3% of foster youth earn a four-year college degree. Many navigate college without financial stability or a consistent support network.
United Way California Capital Region’s Collegiate Guaranteed Income program helps remove those barriers by providing monthly financial support and connection to a caring community.
One of the students moving this statistic forward is Jeneses, a sociology major, a first-generation college student, and an aspiring special education teacher.
Watch Jeneses talk about her journey here.
Finding Stability and a Fresh Start
For Jeneses, earning her degree carries deep meaning. “Going to college means everything to me. I’m the first one to graduate in my family, and it’s really inspiring to be the first one to do that.”
Her path has not been easy, and she reflects honestly on the challenges. “All the setbacks, all the tears, all the breakdowns. It means that I did it, and I get to start fresh.”
The guaranteed income provided through the program has helped her focus on school instead of struggling to cover basic needs. “Getting the guaranteed income has changed my life. It made me more positive and gave me a better outlook on life.”
The support she feels is just as important as the financial stability. “I didn’t really have anybody believing in me before. Now I have people reaching out, and people I can call on if I need to.”
Finding Purpose in the Classroom
While earning her degree, Jeneses works as a paraeducator supporting students with disabilities. The work has become a major source of purpose. “My favorite part is that the reward is so satisfying. Seeing them accomplish multiplication or division when people said they couldn’t do it is amazing.”
Moments like these strengthen her commitment to becoming a special education teacher. “Every single day they are doing something the world has told them not to.”
Growing, Healing, and Taking Up Space
Jeneses has also grown personally during her journey. She reflects on what she wishes she could tell her younger self. “I would tell myself to breathe and that everything is going to be okay. Everything works out the way it is supposed to.”
She encourages other foster youth to embrace who they are. “Take up space. Be loud, be vibrant, and be who you are. Somebody is going to love you. Somebody is going to believe in you.”
She hopes her story reminds others that support matters. “Every foster success story has someone who believed in them.”
A Future Filled With Possibility
Jeneses shares deep gratitude for the community that has supported her. “United Way is the biggest thank you. I didn’t think I would be sitting here.”
Her message is clear and full of hope. “We can dream. We can take up space. When you find your right community, you will soar.”
👉 Learn more about Women United who help support this work: Women United
United Way CEO Featured on The Nonprofit Podcast Network: A Conversation About Ending Poverty
We’re excited to share that our President & CEO, Dr. Dawnté Early, was recently featured on The Nonprofit Podcast Network for a powerful conversation about our mission and the evolving role of United Way in today’s world.
Watch the video version of the podcast discussion here.
For more than a century, United Way California Capital Region has been a trusted partner in creating lasting change. In this episode, Dr. Early dives into how we’ve intentionally transformed from a traditional community funder into a hands-on, direct-service organization that meets families where they are with solutions that work.
What You’ll Hear in the Episode
Ending Poverty: What it really takes to break generational cycles and why education remains the strongest ladder out.
Early Childhood Literacy: How programs like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library are changing outcomes for families.
Kindergarten Readiness & Tutoring: Closing opportunity gaps after COVID and preparing kids for success.
Guaranteed Income for Former Foster Youth: Why $500 a month can mean the difference between dropping out and graduating.
Free Tax Preparation: Returning tens of millions of dollars to local families who need it most.
Collaboration & Policy Change: Why poverty is also a policy issue and how we’re working upstream to create systemic solutions.
The Nonprofit Landscape: The growing pressure nonprofits face as safety-net funding tightens and what leadership looks like in this moment.
Why This Matters
United Way’s work touches every stage of life from early literacy to college completion to financial stability for working families. This conversation offers a clear look at how layered, connected solutions create real, measurable outcomes and why collaboration is no longer optional in today’s nonprofit landscape.
If you care about education, housing, economic mobility, or the future of our nonprofit safety net, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
Watch the public service announcement for this campaign.
As local food banks’ resources are stretched thin to serve record numbers of people experiencing food insecurity, Sierra Health Foundation and United Way California Capital Region are launching the Match for Meals campaign. All donations made through Match for Meals until January 31, 2026, will be matched up to $300,000 by the two organizations to benefit Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, Interfaith Food Bank of Amador County, El Dorado County Food Bank, Feeding the Foothills in Placer County and Yolo Food Bank. To donate, visit www.MatchForMeals.org or text Match4Meals to 41444.
Sierra Health Foundation will match donations up to $200,000, and the local United Way will match donations up to $100,000, encouraging individuals and institutions to support the region’s five food banks.
Watch the Match For Meals full announcement press conference.
“We launched Match for Meals because the need for nutritional assistance is greater than ever,” said Chet P. Hewitt, president and CEO, Sierra Health Foundation. “Matching initial donor funds doubles the support for local food banks that are working tirelessly to fill the gap left by cuts to critical safety net resources. This is our moment to make a real impact when it matters most. Together, we can make a difference for our neighbors in need.”
The announcement was made at a press conference at Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, which supports more than 110 local agencies, including food pantries, community meal sites, senior centers, schools and nonprofits. On average, nearly 320,000 people rely on Sacramento Food Bank’s 200 distribution sites each month. In October, the food bank broke a 49-year record, serving more than 372,000 people. Across the state in 2024, food banks distributed more than 950 million pounds of food and served more than 6 million people per month, according to the California Association of Food Banks. Currently one in five Californians – almost 9 million – experience food insecurity.
“When one in five Californians is struggling to put food on the table, we are reminded that hunger isn’t just a statistic, it’s a reality for our neighbors, our friends and our families,” said Dr. Dawnté Early, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “It impacts children trying to learn and working families striving to make ends meet and put food on their table. Together, through Match for Meals, we have the power to turn compassion into action and make sure every family has the nourishment they need during the holidays and beyond.”
Sierra Health Foundation is a private philanthropy investing in and serving as a catalyst for ideas, partnerships and programs that improve health and quality of life in Northern California and the San Joaquin Valley. Learn more: www.sierrahealth.org.
United Way California Capital Region has been a driving force across the region for more than 100 years, listening, responding and taking comprehensive action to meet local needs. From advancing youth opportunities and helping kids excel in school, to strengthening local communities and investing in families’ financial security and health, United Way mobilizes communities to build a future where everyone can reach their full potential and thrive. Workingacross Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties, the local United Way provides books and literacy tutoring, addresses housing and food security, leads the region’s largest tax preparation initiative, works with foster youth across school districts, launched the region’s first guaranteed income program and leads the Community Schools initiative in West Sacramento. Learn more: www.YourLocalUnitedWay.org.
Holiday Volunteer Opportunity
We are looking for a volunteer to help us during our distribution event on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at In-Shape Family Fitness in Natomas.
We are inviting local families in need to our special Season of Giving Holiday Market, where they can pick up toys and household items generously donated by our community. This festive market is a wonderful opportunity to spread joy and support those who need it most during the holiday season and includes pictures with Santa, activities for kids and of course an opportunity for families to select holiday gifts for their children. Let’s come together to make this holiday season brighter for everyone!
All toy donations and financial donations through this drive support our local United Way’s including United Way California Capital Region, United Way of San Joaquin County and United Way of Stanislaus County. You can drop off a toy at a participating partner location, can shop our Amazon wish list or can donate by clicking here! All funds will be used to purchase additional toys, games, household items and more that will be distributed to families in our respective communities.
Sac State Report Shows Local Guaranteed Income Program Improved Financial, Housing and Food Security
Local United Way and City of Sacramento partnered on program
SACRAMENTO – A report released today by Sacramento State shows United Way California Capital Region’s guaranteed income program improved financial, housing and food security from July 2023-June 2024, with an additional white paper showing some continued gains six months after funding ended. United Way’s second cohort of its guaranteed income program launched in July 2023, providing 80 randomly selected households in the City of Sacramento who met income requirements with $500 a month of unconditional guaranteed income for one year.
“In a time when resources are limited, we must be strategic and that means investing in programs that deliver real results. Guaranteed income is one of those programs, and this report gives us the evidence to back it up,” said Dr. Dawnté Early, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “Families experienced measurable gains in financial stability, housing security and food access, and those improvements held steady even six months after funding ended. This is more than a pilot – it’s a model for how we build lasting change.”
The one-year evaluation report showed 49% of program participants reported being financially better off by the end of the program, as compared to 16% of the control group. While 24% of control group members received a notice to pay rent or be evicted, only 13% of those selected for the program received such a notice. By the end of the year of funding, food insecurity among program participants decreased from 51% to 37%, and twice as many households could pay cash for an unexpected $400 expense.
Sacramento State also released a white paper reporting on gains six months out from the end of the program, which showed food security remained stable among participants. Financial security was still significantly stronger than the control group, with 41% of participants still seeing themselves as financially better off six months after funding ended compared to 10% of the control group.
United Way opened the second cohort of its guaranteed income program when the City of Sacramento allocated $750,000 in American Rescue Plan dollars to expand the program beyond its first cohort that opened in July 2021 and was the first of its kind in California’s capital region.
“We look forward to seeing our local United Way use the results and learnings from this city-funded guaranteed income cohort to grow their work,” said Amy Williamson, financial empowerment manager, City of Sacramento. “These reports will also inform the city’s various other collaborative efforts to help local residents build their financial well-being.”
United Way partnered with Sacramento State University’s School of Social Work to conduct a detailed evaluation study of the second cohort. An initial survey was sent in June 2023 to the 80 participants and more than 10,000 applicants to learn about their finances, housing and food security, as well as other factors. In June 2024 and December 2024, participants and a control group of original applicants were surveyed again. Sacramento State is evaluating United Way’s additional guaranteed income cohorts, which include a fourth currently in progress with the County of Sacramento and two guaranteed income cohorts with former foster youth studying at Sacramento State and UC Davis. For the full report and additional white paper, as well as more information about United Way’s guaranteed income program click here.
United Way California Capital Region has been a driving force across the region for more than 100 years, listening, responding and taking comprehensive action to meet local needs. From advancing youth opportunities and helping kids excel in school, to strengthening local communities and investing in families’ financial security and health, United Way mobilizes communities to build a future where everyone can reach their full potential and thrive. Working across Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties, the local United Way provides books and literacy tutoring, addresses housing and food security, leads the region’s largest tax preparation initiative, works with foster youth across school districts, launched the region’s first guaranteed income program and leads the Community Schools initiative in West Sacramento. To make a donation click here.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Launches in Sacramento County
United Way California Capital Region and Sacramento County Office of Education partner to bring free books to local kids.
Watch the full press conference coverage of the announcement.
Sacramento County children from birth to age 5 now can receive one free book in the mail each month, regardless of family income, through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which launched in Sacramento today through a partnership between United Way California Capital Region, Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) and The Dollywood Foundation. Residents can sign up by clicking here.
United Way California Capital Region also manages Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Yolo County, which today presented its 100,000th book to a participating family.
“When we invest in a child’s imagination, we invest in their future,” said Dr. Dawnté Early, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is more than books. This program is about opening doors, sparking dreams and imagination, and making sure every child – no matter their zip code – has access to books from an early age.”
United Way and SCOE aim to enroll 65,000 children in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library across the county – 65% of the population eligible – within five years.
“The Imagination Library is a simple idea with a powerful impact,” said David W. Gordon, Sacramento County superintendent of schools. “By mailing a free book each month to children from birth to age 5, we’re giving families the tools to build strong reading habits from the start. This program supports our Sacramento County READS literacy initiative and reflects our commitment to literacy, equity and early learning – because every child deserves the chance to thrive.”
The program has received funding from United Way California Capital Region, Sacramento County Office of Education, City of Rancho Cordova, City of Sacramento, Kellogg Family Foundation, Rotary Club of Elk Grove and Laguna Sunrise Rotary Club, and is seeking additional funders to meet their goal of serving all children in Sacramento County under age 5. To learn more about supporting the program, click here.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library began in Sevier County, Tenn., where Parton grew up, and has since expanded internationally. In California, the Imagination Library is also supported by a 50% state match, administered through the California State Library.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Sacramento County, home to our state capital and nearly 100,000 little learners,” said Hallie Anderson, community engagement coordinator, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of California. “This partnership with United Way California Capital Region and Sacramento County Office of Education is a powerful investment in early childhood literacy, bringing Dolly’s dream to life for many more children and inspiring a love of reading across the county.”
United Way California Capital Region has been a driving force across the region for more than 100 years, listening, responding and taking comprehensive action to meet local needs. From advancing youth opportunities and helping kids excel in school, to strengthening local communities and investing in families’ financial security and health, United Way mobilizes communities to build a future where everyone can reach their full potential and thrive. Workingacross Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties, the local United Way provides books and literacy tutoring, addresses housing and food security, leads the region’s largest tax preparation initiative, works with foster youth across school districts, launched the region’s first guaranteed income program and leads the Community Schools initiative in West Sacramento. To make a donation click here.
The Sacramento County Office of Education plays a leadership role in the delivery of quality education to the students in Sacramento County, which is home to the California state capital comprising 1.4 million residents and seven cities. SCOE directly educates more than 30,000 children and adults each year – including thousands of district teachers who attend training sessions and workshops. It provides support services to more than 253,000 students in 13 school districts, four of which are some of the state’s largest. SCOE provides technical assistance, curriculum and instructional support, staff development, legal and financial advice, and oversight to Sacramento County school districts. Its programs and services are available to schools, districts and other county offices of education across the region. Considered a leader of the Capital Service Region – a 10-county area consisting of Alpine, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties – SCOE is one of 58 county offices of education in California. SCOE staff work year-round providing services that complement and supplement those offered by public school districts in Sacramento County. For more information about SCOE’s Sacramento County READS literacy initiative: www.scoe.net/sacramentocountyreads.
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has gifted more than 280 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and local community partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 3 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month from birth to age 5 at no cost to families. Parton envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to dream more, learn more, care more and be more. The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information: https://imaginationlibrary.com/.
