Numbers are still trickling in from the United Way of the CSRA’s annual fundraising campaign that kicked off in August 2020.
“Our biggest companies typically report later. Those companies who ran late were so much later,” said Brittany Burnett, the organization’s president and CEO. “One of our biggest companies reported Tuesday, and their campaign kicked off in September.”
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Burnett said she expects to release a total raised this week. She knows that last year’s campaign was a success, but in light of COVID-19, the organization had set its fundraising total lower than it had in previous years. The 2020 goal was $2.17 million. In 2019, the organization raised $2,586,180 with a goal of $3.15 million.
In an effort to keep donors up to date, the charity recently released an impact report. The United Way of the CSRA is a central fundraising agency that distributes funds to 38 programs at 26 organizations in 12 area counties.
While it’s great to announce a dollar figure raised, Burnett said it’s more meaningful to donors to know what their contributions are doing and how they are helping people.
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The big number in the report is that more than 265,000 people “were impacted in 2020 by programs and other initiatives supported” by the United Way of the CSRA.
Some highlights of the report include 8,050 kindergarteners through third graders developed vital skills through early learning or literacy programs; 45,023 underinsured residents received healthcare services; and 6,438 young adults gained life and career skills through training programs.
The organization also spearheads initiatives such as Stuff the Bus, which collects school supplies for area children, a book bash and Project Serve, a day when volunteers go to area agencies and participate in one-day projects. Sometimes, Project Serve volunteers paint walls or do other types of refurbishments that aren’t in non-profits’ budgets.
“There’s more to what we do than just fundraising,” she said.
Area agencies receiving funding from the United Way of the CSRA include Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Senior Citizens Council, Forces United, The Family Y of the CSRA, Golden Harvest Food Bank, Boys and Girls Clubs of the CSRA and Easterseals East Georgia.
Burnett said 2020 was a challenge to her agency in other ways.
Her agency doesn’t usually provide direct assistance to people, but COVID-19 thrust the United Way into that arena, she said. It operates the 2-1-1 referral service.
People wanted to give to help their neighbors in the community who’d lost income due to COVID-19. The United Way partnered with the Community Foundation of the CSRA for the CSRA COVID-19 emergency response fund.
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More than $1,900,000 came into the fund helping more than 112,000 families. Of that amount raised, $1,286,750 went to food, shelter and basic needs, $345,600 went to physical/mental health, $207,200 to educational enrichment and $62,600 went to childcare, the report said.
The organization also worked to distribute tons of personal protective equipment, she said.
Multiple crates of hand sanitizer, masks and gloves were donated to the organization, which supplied its agencies with the items. Burnett said offices in her building were wall-to-wall with PPE at one time. The donations helped non-profit organizations which didn’t have the extra resources to keep the items in stock.
Also, the agency is responsible for a new initiative.
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Augusta-Richmond County received a $6 million emergency rental and utilities assistance grant and chose the United Way of the CSRA to administer it. A link is available at uwcsra.org for those who need assistance in Richmond County.
And the agency is working to provide emergency transportation through a partnership called Ride United with Lyft. Since February, more than 400 rides have been given through the program, she said.
Burnett said the organization is planning for an in-person kickoff at the Bell Auditorium Aug. 23.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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