The 2022 Trident United Way school supply drive received the support of 19 company drives and 397 donors, securing a total of over $58,000 worth of backpacks and school supplies which will equip 2,700 elementary students across seven Tri-County Title 1 schools for the 2022-2023 school year.

On August 9^th and 10^th, over 80 volunteers gathered to pack 2,600 backpacks with school supplies, including paper, pencils, erasers, folders, glue sticks, crayons, colored pencils and scissors. On August 11^th, the final 100 backpacks were packed at Firefly Distillery during the Young Leader’s United Socialize & Serve event. On August 12^th, UPS personnel loaded the backpacks into their trucks and delivered them to principals and school staff for distribution to the students.

Having had the privilege to work in the nonprofit sector for 35 years, I have seen first-hand the incredible power philanthropy has to intervene and catalyze change in ways no other force can. The United Way model as we know it today was a uniquely American experiment that has now been replicated in communities around the globe.

At Trident United Way, we embrace our “duty of care” to the community by addressing complex challenges with local solutions. Our system of effective benefaction allows us to address 360 degrees of support for those who desire it.

Serving Trident United Way alongside my extremely talented colleagues, leadership, volunteers and partners has been the highlight of my career. My heartfelt thanks to the Tri-County community for allowing me the honor of serving your Trident United Way. Together we have done the most possible good for the greatest number of people in the most effective ways. Trident United Way’s commitment to increasing community impact has not wavered for nearly 80 years, and your continued partnership ensures that our consequential work to advance the common good will endure.