2020: Taking Action Together
In a year of challenges and uncertainty, your local United Way has been there to help. It sounds quaint, but we believe that we can all do more when we work together, particularly during periods of strife and hardship like we have seen in 2020. Keep reading to learn more about some of the ways we have had an impact on our community in 2020.
COVID-19 Response
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- We partnered with the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond to support the Central Virginia COVID-19 Response Fund, which delivered immediate assistance to local nonprofits and other organizations on the front lines of the pandemic relief effort. We offered $100,000 in matching dollars to incentivize donations to the Fund made through YourUnitedWay.org.
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- We launched a COVID-19 Resource Toolkit, which provided information to help individuals, families and employers navigate this challenging time. This toolkit includes information for those experiencing a job loss, support for parents who are navigating a changing school landscape and more.
Click below to read more about our COVID-19 response:
COVID-19 Response Fund COVID-19 Resource Toolkit
Programs
We rapidly restructured our programs to continue helping the community in a safe and healthy way:
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- When Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites were closed due to COVID-19, we quickly shifted our focus to offer this program online. Our IRS-certified volunteers helped low- and moderate-income families file their taxes for free in a risk-free virtual environment.
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- Our Kindergarten Countdown Camp program shifted to an online format that increased access and family engagement, helping us make sure more young children were ready for kindergarten.
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- We launched a new Cards of Encouragement volunteer opportunity, which empowered people to safely share positive messages with essential employees and organizations helping our community through COVID-19.
Click below to read more about our programs:
Virtual VITA Virtual KCC Cards of Encouragement
United Way Equity Data Series
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- We launched the United Way Data Equity Series, which unpacks the numbers behind some of our region’s toughest challenges. The first edition focused on equity in education in our area, a particularly important topic this year.
Click below to read more:
Funding
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- We delivered nearly $3 million in funding to more than 50 local nonprofits, providing much-needed resources during an unprecedented and challenging year. In 2020, programs we fund helped more than 90,000 people in our area, including: More than 3,300 babies and young children (0-4), 30,080 school-age kids (5-17) and more than 13,100 older adults (65+).
Click below to find out more about our funding throughout the region:
EnergyShare
In partnership with Dominion Energy’s EnergyShare program, more than $3,500,000 in utility bill assistance was provided to nearly 8,500 households in the areas we serve. EnergyShare expanded its guidelines and funding to provide even more energy bill assistance to those in the community facing financial hardship caused by the pandemic. In addition, EnergyShare allocated $500,000 to provide relief to small businesses, non-profits, and houses of worship impacted by the pandemic in our areas.
211 Virginia
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- We helped connect more than 100,000 people with critical services through 211 Virginia. This free assistance line helps people in need find shelter and housing, employment assistance, health care and more.
Click below to find out more about 211 Virginia:
Community members like you make our work possible.
If you have already donated to United Way in 2020, either on your own or through a workplace campaign, thank you for your support. If not, or if you would like to make an additional gift, please click below to donate.
We do not know what the future holds. But we do know that we cannot continue this work without you. As 2020 draws to a close, please make a gift to help us in the year ahead. We need your support now more than ever.