Today, United Way of Summit County announced the release of its new engagement calendar for 2017. The document, which is available on United Way’s website, lists more than a dozen volunteer events available to corporate groups, as well as individual volunteers, throughout the coming year.
This year’s calendar features a wide variety of volunteer opportunities – from two Smart Start Community Baby Showers in May and September, which give baby supplies to new and expecting mothers, to the Page It Forward Book Drive, which distributes free books to Akron Public School students. Each event is specifically designed to advance one or more facets of United Way’s mission to improve Education, Income and Health in Summit County.
Each event is also designed to accommodate large groups of corporate volunteers. Studies show that businesses who encourage their employees to participate in volunteer activities enjoy the benefits of improved employee job satisfaction and performance, as well as increased recruitment and retention.
The broad slate of volunteer events – many of which premiered last year – is representative of United Way’s redoubled efforts to expand its impact in the community. By mobilizing the efforts of Summit County’s most talented and passionate individuals and businesses, the organization can make tangible improvements to the lives of local residents.
As United Way’s volunteer opportunities continue to grow in number, so too will their impact on the local community. Last year, United Way engagement events brought together 164 local companies and more than 1,800 volunteers. In total, they collected 88,975 supplies and distributed them to thousands of children and families across Summit County.
With more events scheduled for 2017 and a large pool of caring and compassionate volunteers to draw from, United Way looks forward to exceeding those numbers in the year ahead.
"It makes a tremendous difference when members of this community – and especially local businesses – roll up their sleeves and get involved,” says Sarah Catherine Teixeira, vice president of corporate and community engagement for United Way.
“At United Way, we work to identify the most pressing needs of the local community. So whether you’re a corporate leader looking for a way to attract talent and invest in the future of Akron, or an individual looking to make a difference, our volunteer events ensure that you can make a real, lasting impact.”
To view United Way of Summit County’s 2017 engagement calendar, or to learn more about upcoming volunteer opportunities, visit uwsummit.org/volunteer