Governor Patrick Proclaims September 15 Statewide United Way Day of Caring

Boston - On September 15, nearly 15,000 employees across the state will set aside their standard to-do lists and take to the community to participate in United Way's Day of Caring, an effort to advance the common good through single-day projects while fostering long-term volunteer engagement. This is the first time Massachusetts 18 United Ways have joined together for a single coordinated volunteer day.

The occasion will be marked by a proclamation from Governor Deval Patrick stating: "The Governor of Massachusetts recognizes and honors the significant contribution the United Way has in our Commonwealth and applauds the volunteers who give of their time and talents to make our community better. I hereby proclaim Wednesday, September 15, 2010 to be the UNITED WAY DAY OF CARING IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS."

Volunteers have become increasingly important as human service organizations try to save money under rising costs of operating and a growing community need. According to the most recent research from the Corporation for National and Community Service, about 63.4 million Americans, or 26.8 percent of the adult population, gave more than 8 billion hours of volunteer service in 2009, worth an estimated value of $169 billion.

Today United Way's 15,000 volunteers will give their time to nearly 350 project sites throughout the region. Projects include:

• Volunteers from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston will be conducting "mock interviews" at the International Institute of Boston.

• Volunteers from Bank of America will work with youth from Chelsea's Roca Inc. to remove graffiti and do planting in the city of Chelsea.

• Philips Healthcare volunteers will help the Catholic Charities Food Pantry in Lowell unload and sort a large shipment of food for distribution.

"I am thrilled that we are making this happen. Regardless of where you live, somehow, your community will be better because of the work this cadre of volunteers will do on Thursday. This is what it means to LIVE UNITED," said Tim Garvin, Tim Garvin, Chair of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts United Ways

Participating companies include: State Street Corporation, National Grid, Brown Brothers Harriman, Bank of America, The Federal Reserve Bank, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Ernst & Young, Tufts Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and IBM.