2009 United Way Community Campaign Kickoff

Nearly 150 friends of United Way gathered at 30 Laurel Street in Hartford on Friday, September 11th, to take a stand for the community by supporting the United Way Community Campaign.

After a moment of silence in honor of the day, a ladder truck from the Hartford Fire Department boosted Chief Charles Teale high above the crowd to reveal the 2009 campaign goal, set at $25.5 million. Chief Teale is one of three co-chairs leading the effort this year. He is joined by Shaun Mathews, executive vice president at ING Investment Management, and Jennifer Rizzotti, head coach for University of Hartford women’s basketball.

The Community Campaign theme this year is “everyone has something to give,” and on the day of the campaign kickoff, more than 5,500 volunteers gave their time and effort while participating in the 18th annual United Way Day of Caring (click here for photos).

For 85 years, the United Way Community Campaign has been raising funds to address the community’s most important needs and priorities. A joint effort of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and Community Health Charities of New England, the campaign is the largest annual health and human service fund-raising effort in Connecticut and the second largest in New England. More than 900 workplaces throughout our region LIVE UNITED each and every year by participating in the United Way Community Campaign. Gifts made to United Way Community Investment through the campaign support a wide range of health and human service programs across the 40 towns of central and northeastern Connecticut to ensure children are successful, families are financially stable and healthy and that a safety net of services is available for everyone in need.

To contribute to the 2009 United Way Community Campaign, click here.
To view the campaign video, click here.
To learn more about United Way Community Investment, click here.

Pictured top:
Kickoff festivities at 30 Laurel Street: Brad Drazen of NBC Connecticut (far left); Ray Dunaway of WTIC-AM (center left); Community Campaign Co-Chair Shaun Mathews of ING Investment Management (foreground) with United Way Day of Caring Co-Chairs Beth Stafford of Manchester Area Conference of Churches and Paul Kuehn of the Northeast Utilities System.

Chief Teale addresses the crowd at Kickoff Onlookers watch Chief Teale ascend to the banner $25.5 million goal unveiled!