United Way's annual Day of Action become a Week of Action this year! More than 300 volunteers participated in 10 events from September 12 through 16 and kicked off the 2011 fall fundraising Campaign by Living United.

Volunteers painted, landscaped, cleaned, made block toys for young children, packaged food, stocked shelves, read to children, built dressers, played games with older adults and shopped for household supplies to help worldwide refugees begin life anew in our region.

See Week of Action photos on Flickr!  

Read about it in the Petersburg Progress-Index! 

THANK YOU to each of the volunteers who gave an estimated 1,000 hours of effort to our partner agencies!   

Your partnership with United Way is making a difference in our community. The 2011 fundraising Campaign gives you the opportunity to continue making a difference by pledging your financial support to United Way, its partner agencies and impact initiatives.

With your support, we are commited to raising at least $17.5 million over the next year. We can't do it without you!

"Our fundraising goal is really the community's goal - a goal that asks us to stretch, work together, and create lasting change," said Campaign Chair Slaughter Fitz-Hugh, a member of United Way's Board of Directors. 

The impact you're making is visible in our community - not just at our partner agencies but also on local billboards and in radio spots on Lite98 this fall!

October Lunch & Learn

Preparing for the

Age Wave

Wednesday, October 5 12:00 p.m. 

RSVP online 

Today people are living longer, healthier lives. What will it be like in our community in 20 years, when 1 out of 4 of us is 65 or older? A local coalition - lead by United Way and Senior Connections - is actively working to answer this question with a regional plan that meets the challenges and opportunities of the coming Age Wave. Join us for a roundtable discussion of the issues and hear which issues are most urgent in the eyes of local stakeholders.

For lunch: Enjoy pizza, dessert and a beverage provided by United Way, or bring your own.

Speakers will include:

• Sara Link, Director of Older Adult Initiatives for United Way
• Thelma B. Watson, Executive Director for Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging 

Location: United Way, 2001 Maywill Street, Suite 201, Conference Room 204.

Register online today! 

Board of Directors

Names Interim CEO

On September 30, we will say goodbye to Sherrie Brach, Chief Executive Officer of our United Way since 2000, as she heads to United Way Worldwide to become the Executive Vice President, Investor Relations.

The Board of Directors has selected Claiborne S. Mason to

Claiborne S. Mason

serve as interim CEO upon Brach's departure.

Mason, owner of the strategic planning and marketing firm C.S. Mason Consulting, has been a member of our Board since 1996. She served as Chair from 2006 to 2008, and she served as the first Chair of the Women's Leadership Initiative in 2007.

"Claiborne's years of volunteer service with United Way make her the ideal person to lead the organization during this transition," said Stephen

Stepher Scherger

Scherger, United Way Board Chair and President, Beverage and Consumer Electronics at MWV Corp. "Her experience will help facilitate the work of our United Way's strong staff, management team and Board."

The search process to find the next CEO is under way. Scherger and Board Chair-Elect Gail Letts,

Gail Letts

Central Virginia regional president and CEO at SunTrust Banks Inc., will co-lead a search committee. comprised of United Way Board members, community leaders, nonprofit leadership and local government leadership. A national firm will partner with the search committee to drive the process.

Sherrie Brach

Our region has been strengthened by Sherrie's passion and vision, and we are very pleased that she will be sharing her talents with the entire United Way system. We wish her all the best.