The 25th Annual Week of Caring kicked off on Monday, June 19th and ran through Friday, June 23rd. Over 1800 volunteers from 48 businesses and organizations completed 201 projects across Northeast Tennessee. The financial impact of this year’s Regional Week of Caring was an astounding $260,712 for a cumulative 10,800 hours of volunteer work.
Week of Caring is an annual event during which volunteers across the region from local businesses and organizations demonstrate their care for our communities by partnering with nonprofits to complete projects during the week that improve facilities and/or provide direct services to clients. This year had 30 projects in Bristol, 6 in Carter County/Elizabethton, 151 in Greater Kingsport, and 14 in Washington County, TN. Participation in the Week of Caring builds company pride, understanding of community needs, and a renewed willingness to financially support local United Way campaigns. The Week of Caring has been a tradition since 1992.
The week kicked off on June 19th with a breakfast hosted by the week’s sponsor, Bank of Tennessee, and held at the Bank of Tennessee Operations Center. Attendees included Bank of Tennessee staff; staff, board chairs, campaign chairs, and volunteers from the United Ways of Bristol TN/VA, Carter County/Elizabethton, Greater Kingsport, Greeneville, and Washington County, TN; nonprofit member agency directors and staff; and other community leaders. The keynote for the event was Dr. Brenda White Wright, sharing a message of the importance of “living united.” At the event, Bank of Tennessee showcased their pacesetter Week of Caring projects: painting at the Coalition for Kids in Johnson City, spring cleaning at the Bristol YWCA, working with guests at the Adult Day Services in Elizabethton, and preparing 250 bag lunches at Meals on Wheels in Kingsport. “Giving back to the communities that we work and live in is part of the culture at Bank of Tennessee and in the hearts of our employees,” said Craig Denison, Market President and Executive Vice President of Bank of Tennessee. “United Way is a leader in supporting many of our nonprofit agencies and their programs. They are also an integral part of bringing together community assets so that we can maximize outcomes. We are happy to partner together with the various United Way offices to sponsor the Week of Caring. It is a great kick off for our upcoming campaigns that begin in the Fall.”
Hosting the Regional Week of Caring rotates between several local United Ways (United Way of Bristol TN/VA, United Way of Carter County/Elizabethton, United Way of Greater Kingsport, and United Way of Washington County, TN). This year’s host was the United Way of Greater Kingsport. “This has been a phenomenal week,” said Danelle Glasscock, Executive Director for the United Way of Greater Kingsport. “This year saw the highest number of projects, as well as the highest number of volunteer participants. We are proud to have a front row seat to the generous volunteer spirit of our community.”
--United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.--
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