PROVIDENCE – The United Way of Rhode Island this week launched its annual campaign, #iHELP, aiming to aid 90,000 households struggling to meet basic needs.
The fundraising and awareness-boosting effort is supported by 400 workplaces in Rhode Island, with campaign presentations that kicked off during the week.
The campaign goal is to raise $12.5 million dollars, with gifts to the community impact fund directly supporting Rhode Island programs. The organization’s fundraising costs are covered 100 percent by a permanent trust.
The United Way coined the #iHELP hashtag as a way to promote and expand fundraising efforts. The organization asks community members who give to share their stories using the Twitter #iHELP hashtag, and to encourage others to contribute in whatever ways are meaningful.
“One of the many things that make United Way of Rhode Island unique is our approach to fund proven programs that produce results,” said Anthony Maione, president and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island.
“In the year ahead, with thanks to the business community’s support of our campaign, we will continue to focus on programs that get results, including growing the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative, further supporting the creation of affordable housing, and expanding use of the volunteer tax assistance program,” he said.
Through the annual campaign, the United Way also raises awareness by sharing the top needs and concerns heard in the last year from 197,000 requests to its call center, United Way 2-1-1 in Rhode Island, as well as sharing stories of people who once needed the help of a United Way program, and today are giving back in significant ways.
To view the campaign story, view the United Way’s 2015-16 Campaign video at uwri.org/give.
Some of the United Way’s accomplishments last year include serving 11,500 Rhode Islanders who earn less than $53,000 annually through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, which provides free tax preparation services. The program returned more than $17 million to the local economy in tax refunds and credits.
United Way also supports the goals of “Zero: 2016” to eliminate chronic and veteran homelessness in Rhode Island. Last year, the agency invested $573,000 in programs to stabilize households in crisis, along with $874,000 to support programs that address temporary and permanent housing.
