UNITED WAY KICKS OFF DAY OF CARING PREPARATION WITH 'ORIENTATION,' PROJECT FOR SCHOOLS

The host of the Bridgeport region's first Kosher Mexican Fiesta helped United Way of Eastern Fairfield County kick off 2004 Day of Caring activities May 6 with a corporate, school and agency orientation event at Taco Loco Mexican Restaurant. Miguel Tomasio, who's 2003 Day of Caring project featured a Kosher fiesta at the Jewish Home for the Elderly, welcomed dozens of Day of Caring partners to the official kick off to 2004 activities.

The event also included introductions of the 2004 Day of Caring chair, Dan Carney of Lamar Outdoor Advertising, the 2004 United Way Community Campaign Chair, John Dobos of the Southern Connecticut Gas Co., and the launch of a special Day of Caring project for area school service groups and educators.

United Way has enjoyed a unique partnership with Tomasio, himself a former board member, since last year when he launched a restaurant gift card program that generates a 25 percent donation back to the agency's Community Impact Fund for every gift card purchased. According to Carney, beginning Monday, May 17 and extending through June 18, educators and school groups are invited to sell $10 gift cards as an early Day of Caring project.

"This year's Day of Caring is set for September 9, and we know the schools in our area will still be settling into their new routines at that time," Carney said. "So we're giving schools, educators and school-based service groups a project they can do now, before school is dismissed in June. Since so many of our programs and partners support children who attend these schools, this is a fantastic opportunity to bring the caring power of school communities full circle - right back to helping these children!"

Carney said the Community Impact Fund is United Way's only discretionary fund supporting key programs in its service area like pre-school programs, food pantries and crisis intervention services.
Educators and school service groups can participate in the Day of Caring project by contacting United Way at 203-334-5106 ext. 314, or by emailing jcannon@thewaytocare.org. Corporate organizations and local nonprofit agencies looking to participate in the Sept. 9 Day of Caring can also use these contacts to request their respective application kits, Carney said.

"Every year it gets more challenging for service agencies to meet the needs of their clients and the community," Carney said. "And too often, these small strategic projects tap resources that may otherwise be allocated to direct services. So this coming Sept. 9, we're looking for even more corporate and commercial partners to step up and help our community service agencies with chores like painting, general clean-ups and other projects to help enhance client support and agency morale.

Carney said he knows from experience as last year's Day of Caring chair, that it only takes a few volunteers and a few hours of donated time to make a huge difference. And the efforts work wonders building morale among corporate volunteers.

Beginning May 11, United Way will offer Day of Caring application kits for Corporate Action Teams and Agencies looking for project partners both via regular mail and through its website: www.thewaytocare.org .

Day of Caring participants need not be affiliated with United Way to benefit from or participate in the annual service day initiative.
For further information, please contact: Andrea Kovacs, Sr. VP, Marketing and Community Relations at United Way, 334-5106, ext. 309 or via email (preferred) at akovacs@thewaytocare.org.