The 35th Annual Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring will take place on Wednesday, September 16, 2026!
Thank you to this year’s Presenting Sponsors, University of Virginia and Sentara.
Click here for more info on registering as a volunteer or to receive volunteer support.
About Day of Caring
Every year, Day of Caring is our region’s most significant volunteer effort! Since 1992, we have engaged almost 50,000 Day of Caring volunteers to complete more than 5,000 projects that benefit local nonprofits, schools, and more – totaling more than $5.3M in estimated value of service! Last year, volunteers donated close to $365,000 in time, labor, and materials to our community at the 2025 Day of Caring, presented by Sentara and University of Virginia! We can’t wait to see how much we are able to accomplish at this year’s event, and we hope you join us this September!
Watch the video here to learn more about Day of Caring!
2026 Day of Caring Schedule of Events
Mark your calendars! We are excited to expand Day of Caring to multiple events this year. Below are some important dates to keep in mind as we continue to fine tune this year’s Day of Caring program:
- Project Host Registration Opens: Wednesday, May 13 for schools; Monday, June 1 for nonprofits and faith-based organizations
- Volunteer Registration Opens: Monday, June 1
- Deadline for Volunteer Registration: Tuesday, August 4
- Volunteer Team Leader Training: Thursday, August 6, Zoom OR Friday, August 7, Zoom
- Deadline for Project Submissions: Friday, August 7
- Project Selection Day: Wednesday, August 19
- Day of Caring Kickoff Breakfast (with the Caring for Community Awards): Wednesday, September 16, 8am, Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital
- Day of Caring: Wednesday, September 16 (time and location dependent on assigned volunteer project site)
- Nonprofit Fair & Volunteer Celebration: Week of September 21, time and location TBD
Please check back for more updates on the 2026 Day of Caring schedule of events!
Interested in Participating in the 2026 Day of Caring?
There’s a role for everyone at Day of Caring! You can find a resource folder with more information on the Day of Caring processes here. Please reach out about any of the following:
Contact Markiana Smith at msmith@unitedwaycville.org if you’d like more information on registering a volunteer team! Volunteer teams are easy to assemble and require one team leader to coordinate with us as the event gets closer. Teams can be formed from any group, including office teams, neighborhood associations, sports teams, nonprofit groups, and more! We can also accommodate individual volunteers. Please reach out to learn more or click here to read the FAQs!
Contact Markiana Smith at msmith@unitedwaycville.org if you’d like more information on hosting volunteers at a project site! Projects must be for a nonprofit, public school, government office, faith-based organization, or other tax-exempt organization in the Greater Charlottesville region (most outlying counties included). We aim to offer projects that accommodate a wide range of skills, interests, and abilities. Please reach out to learn more or click here to read the FAQs!
Sponsoring
Contact Ben Wilkes at bwilkes@unitedwaycville.org if you’d like more information on Day of Caring sponsorship opportunities! This event is a great platform for local businesses and organizations to get their name and logo in front of thousands of volunteers, project hosts, and local media, while also supporting our community! We are happy to work with your organization’s goals and budget to make a collaboration work. Please reach out to start the conversation!
Goals for the 2026 Day of Caring
Last year, we hosted 2,100 volunteers and 115 projects at nearly 100 local organizations including nonprofits, public schools, faith organizations, and more. In 2026, we hope to continue growing our project base even further with a focus on surrounding rural areas of our community. If you know an organization that is based in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, or Orange and could use a helping hand, please reach out! Likewise, if you are part of a business or group that might like to volunteer together, please let us know.
Inaugural Host Committee
For the first time ever, we are inviting local leaders to support Day of Caring through our inaugural Host Committee. Representatives from businesses, nonprofits, and other community groups will support United Way staff with outreach to potential project hosts and volunteer teams, as well as support the promotional and sponsorship efforts of the United Way. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to Ben Wilkes, Director of Development, at bwilkes@unitedwaycville.org.
2026 Host Committee Members:
- Bernie Boone, Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital (Co-Chair)
- Kevin McDonald, UVA (Co-Chair)
- Ben Allen, UVA Center for Community Partnerships
- Ed Basham, Atlantic Union Bank (Retired)
- Heidi Burnette, Manning Family Foundation
- Annie Campbell, TELUS Digital
- Ali Christoph, Apex Clean Energy
- Cherry Dale, Virginia Credit Union
- Kelley Fanto Deetz, James Madison’s Montpelier
- Sabrina Guerin, Virginia Credit Union
- Lakecia Hembry, Charlottesville Area Community Foundation
- Sudha Kamath, UVA Health
- Rijul Kochar, TELUS Digital
- Carol Koontz, Dominion Energy
- Joe Lusk, Timberwood Tap House
- Jackie Martin, UVA Health
- Valeria McFarren, Chaski Global
- Sarah Mullen, Environmental Defense Fund
- Carolyn Rainey, Bank of America Charlottesville
- Tamara Ryan, Albemarle County
- Kimberly Skelly, Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation
- Leslie Lynn Smith, Charlottesville Area Community Foundation
- Harry Stillerman, Piedmont Virginia Community College
- Olivia Walter, MicroAire Surgical Instruments
- Brooks Wellmon, Piedmont Housing Alliance
- Janine Williams, UVA Community Credit Union
- Anthony Woodard, Woodard Properties
Thank You to our 2026 Sponsors!
Presenting Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Community Sponsors
