800 volunteers set to help agencies on United Way’s Day of Caring Aug. 25

“It’s a godsend to get them.” That’s how Jim Rianoshek, executive director of Attention Homes in Boulder, describes the volunteers of the Foothills United Way Day of Caring.

These volunteers have done a variety of work for the nonprofit that provides sheltering and counseling services to youth in a homelike environment. Projects range from renovating the shelter to taking the kids on a nature hike.

“Our kids think no one cares about them,” Rianoshek said. “Through Day of Caring activities they see that people really do care.”

For four hours on the morning of Friday, Aug. 25, volunteers from around Boulder County will partner to complete projects for at least 35 health and human service agencies like Attention Homes. Last year’s event involved just under 600 volunteers who helped 28 agencies with 67 projects. Day of Caring coordinator Stacey Moscow expects almost 800 volunteers to participate this year.

Most volunteers participate as part of a team from their company, though Moscow said they have engaged faith groups to participate, and individual volunteers are also welcome.

“Day of Caring is an opportunity to get the community involved, to see what is happening in agencies and with programs that people have been supporting financially for so long,´ said Barbara Pingrey, executive director of Foothills United Way.

“Maybe you’ve given through the workplace, but the chance to see your investment in action and be part of it is incredible,” she said.

Roz Brown, media relations manager for Ball Aerospace & Technologies, heard feedback like this when her company participated in the event for the first time last year, when Ball’s 30 participants helped six organizations. This year the company is planning to double its number of volunteers.

“Our employees found it very gratifying that the small things they did made a tremendous difference,” she said.

This year marks the 13th annual Day of Caring for Foothills United Way. Because the event continues to grow larger, the organization is for the first time opening the event to city and county agencies in addition to United Way partner agencies.

Participants can choose from a range of projects, from indoor, clerical tasks to creative projects to outdoor, labor-intensive work. Moscow said the activities try to appeal to a variety of interests and talents.

According to Pingrey, the national average value of a volunteer hour of work is $18.02. Based on that figure, she estimates this year’s Day of Caring will result in approximately $57,664 of time worked.

“A group of people that are such hard workers that want to make a difference at one time is such a gift,´ said Kristin Aslan, executive director of Project Yes in Lafayette.

Aslan works with a very small staff who doesn’t have time to do everything that could be done. She said last year’s team members went above and beyond, even going to their own homes to get more equipment, to give the center a yard it could enjoy and be proud of.
Not only is Day of Caring an opportunity to give back to the community, but it is also a chance for employees to get to know co-workers on a different level from the work environment, said Dan Willis, spokesman for IBM. The company typically has 150 to 200 Day of Caring participants.

Pingrey said a lot of companies use Day of Caring as a team-building opportunity. Plus, it is a nice kickoff for United Way’s fall campaign, when a bulk of its fundraising is done.
In addition to seeing where their dollar is going, participants are also introduced to organizations they might not otherwise be aware of.

“It’s awesome to see that many Day of Caring participants continue their involvement with nonprofits,´ said Jennie Arbogash, development director for Attention Homes.
Foothills United Way uses sponsors to cover costs and make it as great an event as possible for all involved, said Moscow. This year’s event had eight sponsors at press time. Agere Systems, American National Bank, Faegre & Benson LLP, IBM, Longmont United, Pasta Jay’s, Premier Members Federal Credit Union and Roche Colorado each participated at the $3,000 level.

“Because of our sponsor’s generosity and the current size of our event, we expect with the permission of our sponsors to apply some of those funds to future events,” Moscow said.

Moscow said teams and individuals can still register to participate at doc.unitedwayfoothills.org/volunteer/register.asp. Projects typically last from 8 a.m. to noon. Afterward participants are invited to a picnic at Gateway Park Fun Center in Boulder.

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