DAY OF CARING KICK-OFF SUCCESS

Volunteers gathered for celebratory breakfasts and campaign kick-offs on Tuesday, September 19th at the 4-H Center in Bridgewater and on Friday, September 22nd at New York Life Insurance Company in Lebanon, to celebrate the kick-off of the annual United Way ‘Day of Caring’. This year’s event was slightly different, however, as Somerset County United Way and United Way of Hunterdon County have joined forces to organize different volunteer projects around their respective communities and by extending the traditional day to a full week. Volunteer projects will continue into the fall.

More than 100 people attended the Somerset County United Way breakfast last Tuesday, including the Chairmen of both United Ways, Paul Grzella of the Courier News and Frank McElroy of ExxonMobil. “We are so proud to see people come out as stewards of the community,” said Mr. Grzella. “They give the treasure of their time and their talent in order to help improve the lives of everyone.”

“We’re really excited about working more closely with Somerset,” said Bonnie Duncan, Executive Director of the United Way of Hunterdon County. “Our teams work well together and are devoted to improving lives in the communities in which we live and work.”

The collaborative effort behind year’s event, coordinated by Somerset County United Way’s Lisa Galonardo and United Way of Hunterdon County’s Heather Holland came about when the two of them realized that people who live in Hunterdon County often work in Somerset County and vice-versa.

“This collaboration will continue as United Ways are transitioning to Community Impact,” said Ms. Holland. “We believe that Day of Caring has a huge impact on non-profits, the clients they serve and most importantly, the communities in which we all live and work.”

“Each year, we all come together to harness our caring power into volunteer efforts that help many of our local agencies,” said Mr. McElroy.

In Hunterdon County, nearly 60 projects took place the week of September 18 – 22, 2006, and throughout the fall, at 21 non-profit agencies. Over 450 volunteers, from nearly 30 companies, schools and/or individuals participated during the week and will continue throughout the fall. The value of all volunteer hours contributed as well as materials donated total approximately $67,000 in Hunterdon County.

Somerset County will have the benefit of approximately 100 projects, with over 1,500 volunteers from 24 companies and other organizations helping at 38 non-profit agencies. The value to the community will be well over $200,000 in volunteer hours and donated materials for the projects.

“This weeklong volunteer endeavor is a tremendous benefit to both Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. Corporate and community support and generosity has been truly inspiring” said Ms. Galonardo. “With the support of Somerset County program sponsors: sanofi-aventis, Ethicon, Inc., Phillips-Van Heusen, Wegman’s, as well as the many other corporations, organizations and individuals participating, the 2006 Day of Caring is more successful than ever.”

In addition, a special thank you to all companies, in Hunterdon County, who sponsored this year’s event: 3M, Bemis Company, BOC, Commerce Bank, ExxonMobil Research & Engineering, Gebhardt & Kiefer, Herder-Tarricone Associates, Hunterdon County Democrat, Hunterdon Medical Center, Medisys Health Communications, Merck & Co., Inc., New York Life Insurance Company and Peapack Gladstone Bank.

An independent nonprofit organization that acts as a catalyst for positive change, Somerset County United Way currently funds 95 programs through 57 affiliated health and human service agencies that improve the quality of life for people who live and work in Somerset County.

The United Way of Hunterdon County is focused on supporting programs that lend assistance to children at-risk, people with disabilities, families in crisis, the elderly and the hungry and homeless. In the past year alone, nearly 40 % of the people who live or work in Hunterdon County benefited from a program supported by United Way. The United Way of Hunterdon County funds over 50 programs through 27 member agencies.

September 26, 2006