Step up to the plate with the York Co. United Way’s annual campaign

In York County, our location in Pennsylvania’s heartland provides us ample opportunity to enjoy baseball at multiple levels, including our own York Revolution. If you haven’t had a chance to catch a game as summer wanes, consider an invitation to join another winning team — one that all sports fans can agree on.

On August 30, United Way of York County will kick off York County’s largest annual giving campaign. I welcome our residents to root for our home team at United Way of York County, which boasts a winning record for community impact that’s more than 97 years old.

United Way of York County’s mission is to build a stronger, caring community by cultivating financial generosity, volunteerism and advocacy. The need is tremendous as our population continues to grow and almost 44,000 of our neighbors live in poverty. It is your efforts, together with thousands of individuals in our community, that make our work possible — to bat a thousand, you might say.

More:United Way of York County names new leader

More:United Way Day of Action connects volunteers

Through your generous donations to the Community Fund, we’re able to support 74 programs across our 37 United Way Partner Agencies. Together, these programs impact the lives of 1 in 3 people in York County in our three focus areas of education, health and financial stability. Our focus on these three areas and how they work together to build a strong community is a winning combination that ensures every person in our community has the opportunity to thrive.

Every dollar counts toward our ability to connect people in need with programs that help: A family seeking high quality early childhood education for their 4-year-old son; a single mother in need of food assistance to get them through a difficult month; an older adult who can remain in his home with a few minor adjustments.

A pledge of just $1/week provides blankets for 10 people to stay warm after losing everything in a home fire. A contribution of $3/week provides a Girl Scout starter kit for a girl participating in Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, including everything that she needs to begin her Girl Scout experience. And, $10/week helps a victim of domestic violence or sexual violence obtain a court order providing them with enforceable legal protection against their abuser.

We’re fortunate again this year to have a strong team of heavy hitters behind the annual campaign, a roster of nearly 40 professionals who have been drafted for the United Way of York County’s Campaign Cabinet. These volunteers are already meeting with company owners and managers throughout our community, encouraging hundreds of companies and thousands of workers to get involved through their workplace giving campaigns. Their generosity with their time and talent provides the opportunity for all of our workplace donors to make a direct impact on the community where they live.

Building a stronger, caring community is a team sport: It takes everyone working together to have the biggest impact. At United Way of York County, we invite you to get involved through volunteer opportunities, our Giving Societies, and of course participating in the annual campaign. Great things happen when we LIVE UNITED.

For more information on the Campaign Kick-Off event this month and to see how you can step up to the plate, please visit the United Way of York County website at www.unitedway-york.org.

We hope to see you on the 30th.

Eric Menzer, president of the York Revolution, is chair of the United Way of York County Campaign Cabinet.