Connected Community
United Way of Greater Charlottesville connects, convenes, and supports the collaboration of organizations in our community. With this network, we are able to identify needs in the community and work toward collaborative goals and solutions. We believe that a connected community makes us strong and resilient in times of difficulty, helping us lay the foundation for success in the future.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Community Table
Our Community Table events provide a platform for people to come together around a table to share a meal, a conversation, and build common ground, rooted in equity and respect. The new relationships, perspectives, and understanding that come from these events inform how the United Way identifies solutions to issues challenging our community. In 2019 we hosted two Tables, one a partnership with the Tom Tom Summit & Festival in April, and one in partnership with Unity Days C’ville in August.
Charlottesville Better Business Challenge
United Way joined area businesses who are going greener by taking on a challenge organized by the Charlottesville Climate Collaborative. United Way replaced aging HVAC units with high-efficiency units, added programmable thermostats, installed weather stripping, replaced old lighting, and improved our recycling practices. These changes are lowering our energy costs, reducing our carbon footprint, and allowing us to maintain a more sustainable and eco-friendly workplace.
United Way Day of Caring
The annual United Way Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring is our community’s biggest volunteer effort and one of the largest annual volunteer events in the country. In 2019, nearly 2,000 volunteers donated 9,383 hours of service, valued at $258,000. Approximately 150 companies and organizations formed volunteer teams, which completed more than 200 service projects benefitting 200 nonprofits and schools in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Louisa, Nelson and Greene.
United Way Equity Toolkit
United Way of Greater Charlottesville teamed up with United Way Worldwide to produce the United Way Equity Toolkit aimed at improving lives and institutional practices by understanding, balancing, and addressing complex, historical, and systemic inequities in the way resources and opportunities are allocated. In order to achieve our vision of all individuals and families achieving their potential, it is our responsibility to strive to understand and address factors that impede progress based on race and ethnicity, and create more inclusive organizations and communities. Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee has been tasked with both auditing and creating current and future processes for staffing, grantmaking, and board appointments to tangibly reflect this commitment to equity. The Toolkit is a part of our Blueprint for becoming a Modern United Way; to “model diversity, equity, and inclusion” as we continue to pursue more equitable processes and outcomes.
Relay 4 Community Health
This family-friendly relay race and island-themed celebration was a partnership between the United Way and the Piedmont Family YMCA. Teams from families, businesses, neighborhoods, and other groups came together to raise funds to improve health equity, while encouraging healthy lifestyles.
Multicultural Health Celebration
In October of 2019, we partnered with UVA Midlife Health, UVA Latino Health Initiative, Sin Barreras and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women to present a community health fair. The event included free health screenings, demonstrations, and talks covering heart disease, pregnancy, benefits of exercise, and mental health.