The United Way of the National Capital Area will kick off its annual giving campaign Tuesday with a day of volunteering at CentroNia in Columbia Heights. More than 100 volunteers from Washington-area businesses will spend the day working with students at the nonprofit, which provides education and family support programs to local residents.
The local United Way’s annual campaign is significant for Washington-based nonprofits, which each year depend on the fundraiser to fund specific programs. For example, last year CentroNia raised $14,000 through the United Way campaign. The dollars went directly to the center’s literacy program.
The campaign raises funds by encouraging employees of local companies, such as Verizon and PEPCO, as well as nonprofit organizations and local governments to deduct money from their paychecks on a regular basis.
In 2004, United Way raised more than $38.5 million for local nonprofits.
“We’re excited about the start of this year’s annual giving,” said Chuck Anderson, CEO of United Way of the National Capital Area, in a statement. “United Way of the National Capital Area offers local residents the opportunity to direct funds to where they are needed most in our communities — to care for children while their parents work, teach disabled adults job skills, send low-income children with HIV/AIDS to summer camp, and much more.”
