HARTFORD—The 2011 United Way Community Campaign got off to a rockin’ start with a Battle of the Bands at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza Sept. 7 and the announcement of the $25.8 million campaign goal, while more than 1,000 people volunteered for the 20^th Annual United Way Day of Caring.

Volunteers from 26 local workplaces completed 20 signature volunteer projects across central and northeastern Connecticut—including in Hartford, West Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, New Britain and Avon—as part of United Way’s 20th annual Day of Caring.*

Meanwhile, supporters of the United Way Community Campaign banded together to kick off the organization’s annual campaign with a Battle of the Bands at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in downtown Hartford. The Battle featured bands from local companies that support United Way: the Hartford Steam Boiler All-Stars, the Pratt & Whitney Screamin' Eagles Jazz Band and the Street Vipers from Day Pitney. Voting for the Battle of the Bands will remain open until Sept. 14. Visitors to unitedwayinc.org/bandtogether are encouraged to vote for their favorite.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman and Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra spoke at the event. Mayor Segarra spoke about the important role volunteers play in the community:  “Day of Caring is a true mobilization effort where thousands of volunteers across the region change lives by helping different nonprofit organizations with a number of different projects. I would like to thank the Day of Caring volunteers for digging in and getting their hands dirty to better their communities and create lasting change.”

2011 United Way Community Campaign Chair Bert Scott, president of U.S. Commercial Markets for Cigna, spoke about United Way’s work in the community throughout the year. “This is not just a one-day event or a three-month campaign,” Scott said. “It is an inspiring movement that changes lives in every community across our region.”

United Way Day of Caring, which began in 1992 with 430 volunteers, is a massive volunteer effort aimed at changing community conditions in central and northeastern Connecticut. The 20^th annual Day of Caring, also launches a Year of Caring, with volunteer projects continuing through the year. Nearly 8,000 volunteers from 90 companies are expected to complete 325 projects during the Year of Caring. Year of Caring projects will focus on United Way’s interest areas—education, income and health, including a safety net of services. Volunteers will read to children, prepare meals for the hungry, assist with community cleanup projects, recruit volunteer budget coaches, and more.

More than 54,000 people and 600 workplaces participate in the United Way Community Campaign, a joint effort of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and Community Health Charities of New England. The United Way Community Campaign provides the building blocks of a good life – education, income, and health, including a safety net of services – for everyone in the 40 towns of central and northeastern Connecticut.