More than 1,400 University of Virginia and UVA Health employees participated in United Way of Greater Charlottesville’s 35th annual Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring on Wednesday, volunteering on more than 100 teams and taking part in 80 projects in and around Charlottesville. UVA is a sponsor of the event. 

The day also marked the launch of “Give Where You Live,” a new partnership between UVA and United Way that gives faculty and staff another avenue to support the Charlottesville community.

UVA employees can pledge donations to participating local nonprofits through payroll deductions or credit or debit cards. The campaign, which runs through Dec. 18, supports roughly 100 organizations, including those focused on food security, literacy, education, community health, veterans services and animal welfare.

The Day of Caring has grown significantly since it began 35 years ago, when just 50 volunteers spent part of their day serving their neighbors. 

“The growth since then is remarkable – and this year, we’re celebrating our largest Day of Caring since 2013,” Ravi Cooper, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Charlottesville, said. “But I think what’s even more remarkable is what Day of Caring has become: a platform for connection between businesses and nonprofits, institutions and communities, and people and the causes they care about.”

Guests and volunteers from UVA line dancing.

Guests and volunteers from UVA line dance during WorkSource Enterprises’ second annual Special Needs Prom, held as part of United Way of Greater Charlottesville’s Day of Caring. (Photo by Kavya Shah, University Communications)
Celeste Hill of the University of Virginia Police Division serving lunch.

Celeste Hill of the University of Virginia Police Division serves lunch at WorkSource Enterprises’ Special Needs Prom. (Photo by Kavya Shah, University Communications)
Close up of paintbrush in yellow paint and Brooke Venatzki paining a parking space.

UVA Health employees, including Brooke Venatzki, right, scrape and paint parking blocks at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. (Photo by Lathan Goumas, University Communications)
Raymond Brown cleaning a window.

UVA Human Resources employee Raymond Brown cleans windows at the Virginia Discovery Museum. (Photo by Lathan Goumas, University of Virginia)
Elizabeth Feola cleaning a merry-go-round.

UVA Human Resources employee Elizabeth Feola cleans a horse on the merry-go-round outside the Virginia Discovery Museum. (Photo by Lathan Goumas, University Communications)
Trevor Williams painting a doorway.

UVA Human Resources employee Trevor Williams paints a doorway at the Virginia Discovery Museum. (Photo by Lathan Goumas, University Communications)
Group clearing a trail at the Moormans River fishing area.

Nurses from UVA Health’s Stem Cell Transplant Unit clear a trail at the Moormans River fishing area. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
Marti Coles raking at left and Dave Strite in the woods at right.

UVA employees Marti Coles of University Communications, left, and Dave Strite of Information Technology Services clear paths at the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont. (Photos by Lathan Goumas, University Communications)

Media Contacts

Traci Hale

Managing Editor University Communications

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