WATERBURY, CT – United Way of Greater Waterbury hosted its annual campaign kickoff breakfast on Thursday, September 5, at La Bella Vista, 380 Farmwood Rd., in Waterbury, welcoming donors, volunteers, partner agencies, corporate partners, town leaders, and many more members of the community.

David Ferraro, president of Carpin Manufacturing, Inc. and 2024-2025 United Way campaign chair, addressed an audience of almost 400 people.  He explained, “I, and some of my fellow Carpin employees, recently joined the United Way on some of their impact tours.  We visited partner agencies and saw, firsthand, the great work they are doing and we also met the great people doing that work.

“For example, at Waterbury Youth Services we met the teacher and a student in the Linking Academics to Life program which teaches youth financial literacy: training kids on critical life skills that typically are under-learned in vulnerable communities, giving them a great foundation and understanding to help them in their adult lives. They showed us one of their tests, and let me tell you, the kids are learning a lot more than basic literacy.  A lot of what they were learning are fairly advanced concepts that I had to dig into the memory banks to remember.  Very impressive program.”

“We are not just doing something - we’re doing something big - and impactful - for thousands across our 10-town region,” he said of United Way.

As Kristen Jacoby, CPO and president of United Way, unveiled the ‘Find It In Your Heart’ campaign theme, she pointed out that United Way coordinates volunteer efforts in addition to monetary donations, such as the Carpin employees that served more than 200 families through United Way’s mobile food pantry.  She thanked dozens of volunteers at the breakfast, “Just look around at the people getting ready for the Day of Caring, our annual event leveraging your volunteerism matched with partner agency needs.”

Those who attended the breakfast heard how volunteer councils help United Way strategically invest resources in more than 50 programs and initiatives to support the 10-town region of Bethlehem, Cheshire, Middlebury, Prospect, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott & Woodbury.

In addition, the community heard how United Way leverages relationships and networks to make it easier for people to find help when they need it.  This includes the United Way 2-1-1 website and phone number, which operates 24/7 in multiple languages by compassionate, highly trained community specialists.  These specialists connect callers with resources such as health care services, shelter, and transportation.

Those leaving the event walked past tables loaded with over 1,000 towels that attendees brought to the breakfast in order to supply local shelters, which need the linens to help those who are struggling to get back on their feet and into their own homes.

“A successful annual campaign is vital to the work we do in the community,” Ms. Jacoby said.  “Together, we can do so much more than any one of us can do alone.”