September 14, 2006

United Way marks 15th community care day

Over 1,025 corporate employees volunteer at 60 projects in Boston region

BOSTON – When more than 1,025 corporate workers from 36 Boston-area companies arrive ready for “work” today, they’ll be crossing the thresholds of programs offering child care, after-school activities, job training and affordable housing instead of walking through the doors of their companies. The employees will be participating in United Way of Massachusetts Bay ’s (UWMB) 15 th AnnualCommunity Care Day, an effort to educate volunteers about issues facing the community, foster long-term volunteer engagement and match companies with volunteer projects in issue areas they are most interested in.

“United Way’s vision is to make this region the best place in the country for children,” said Milton J. Little Jr., president and chief executive officer at United Way of Massachusetts Bay . “Today, this vision will be brought to life by the energy of over 1,000 volunteers in dozens of neighborhoods in greater Boston . This city-wide volunteer effort is a tremendous signal to children and families that we as a community are committed to improving social, educational and economic opportunities for everyone.”

Among the 60 Community Care Day projects happening in Greater Boston:

• More than 50 volunteers from Liberty Mutual will participate in early literacy projects at the Crispus Attucks Children’s Center in Dorchester . The volunteers will be reading to young children, helping children to make books and illustrations that tell a story and assisting preschoolers with literacy interactive software.
• Volunteers from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston will help the Hispanic Office of Planning and Evaluation in Jamaica Plain plan a college fair for neighborhood youth.
• Volunteers from State Street Corporation will participate in a clubhouse cleanup at the South Boston Boys and Girls Club. This effort will include painting, landscaping and general cleanup.