The 2021 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign is underway and University of Virginia employees have once again demonstrated both their generosity and willingness to make an impact in the local community.
Since the campaign launched in early October, more than 600 UVA employees have donated more than $300,000 to a wide range of nonprofits. Among the charities receiving donations from UVA employees, all of the top 10 support the local Charlottesville community. To date, employees from every school and a considerable number of units from both UVA Health and the broader University have participated.
While many UVA employees have given, the need among local nonprofits has never been greater. The pandemic placed significant strain on community organizations, as demand for services increased and funding decreased. Even as some aspects of life return to normal, however, many nonprofits in Charlottesville continue to struggle after almost two years of financial hardship.
One such community nonprofit, the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, weathered a range of challenges during the pandemic. According to Angie Gunter, the organization’s CEO, these obstacles included everything from cancelling events and fundraisers to briefly closing the SPCA Rummage Store, an important source of funding for the organization.
