Q&A talks with Paul Kuehn about United Way’s Day of Caring. Kuehn is co-chair of the event, along with Beth Stafford, executive director of Manchester Area Conference of Churches. This is the seventh year he has co-chaired the event. His ‘other job’ is as supervisor-construction cost and scheduling at Connecticut Light and Power, a subsidiary of Northeast Utilities System.
Q: What was the genesis of United Way Day of Caring, which was held Sept. 3? What has led to its continuous growth since 1992?
A: United Way Day of Caring began in 1992 with just 430 volunteers from 37 workplaces. Day of Caring was and continues to be the day when we kick off our annual Community Campaign, raising more than $25 million in funds to help provide the basic building blocks of a good life — education, income and health, including a safety net of services — for everyone in central and northeastern Connecticut. This year, more than 5,600 volunteers from 55 companies volunteered at 139 nonprofits across our 40-town region, a 14-fold increase since 1992. It’s amazing to visit with the volunteers and see how committed they are to the work they are doing on Day of Caring. The growth is truly a testament to the caring communities in which we all live.
Q: The efforts of United Way Day of Caring volunteers are estimated at $900,000 for 2010. How did United Way arrive at that figure?
A: Each year, Independent Sector determines the worth of one hour of volunteer time across the country and in each state. In Connecticut, one hour of volunteer time is worth $27.27 to a nonprofit organization. If each volunteer gives an average of six hours of volunteer time on United Way Day of Caring, we can say that more than $900,000 is invested in our community by the volunteers participating in Day of Caring. Over the last 19 years, approximately $4 million has been invested in our communities by Day of Caring volunteers.
Q: This year volunteers went to more than 270 sites. That seems to disprove the belief people would rather give $10 than 10 minutes of their time. Why is the volunteer level so high?
A: Volunteering is at an all-time high and we should be very thankful for that. A push by President Obama has led many to volunteer their time when they might not have otherwise. Many people in the younger generations have grown up knowing the importance of volunteering and it’s a regular part of their lives. There are also many studies that show that people who volunteer also support the same organizations with a financial contribution. We hope this will ring true for the United Way Community Campaign this year, and that people will connect their volunteering with the work we are doing to advance the common good through critical, well-run programs and initiatives.
Q: Can this event exist without corporate support? How big would it be if people weren’t getting paid by their companies?
A: This event would not exist without the support of our workplace volunteers and their companies, along with our corporate and media sponsors. This year we had 35 corporate sponsors and 35 media sponsors and we couldn’t hold this event without them either. While many volunteers do receive a specified number of hours to volunteer on company time, some take vacation days in order to volunteer on United Way Day of Caring. They are truly dedicated to making a difference in their community, and we appreciate their commitment to the United Way Community Campaign and the programs that are supported when they contribute to the campaign.
Q: How many companies are involved in United Way Day of Caring?
A: This year there were 55 companies who participated in United Way Day of Caring. They ranged from large companies such as Northeast Utilities, The Hartford, Travelers, Bank of America, Cigna and Hartford Hospital to smaller companies like Permatex, American Eagle Federal Credit Union and Unison Engine Components. Some companies have nearly 1,000 volunteers who participate, while others have less than five volunteers.
Q: What was the biggest single project of United Way Day of Caring?
A: This year we had projects that hosted a variety of groups, from three volunteers through 300 volunteers. For many years, the Hartford Marathon Foundation has hosted nearly 300 volunteers to help them stuff the goodie bags that are provided to marathon participants. The ING Hartford Marathon brings tens of thousands of people into downtown Hartford each year, providing a positive experience for many people who otherwise might never set foot in the city. And every year, the marathon staff tells us how appreciative they are of the Day of Caring volunteer help.
