Skipping Stones
by D. Colin, Capital Region Poet, Artist and Activist
When we recover,
we start as a stone,
unfinished and flat.
Sometimes we are thrown for a loop, overwhelmed by the long list of work left to do to make us better
to sustain progress towards progress
but we press on,
sharp enough to cut water.
We collaborate and hope.
We innovate and cope.
We build solutions in a vast void. Strengthened by our community,
our collective consciousness,
we tap into the heart of change and healing so when the world crumbles, together
we find that scars are only evidence
we have survived.
Galvanized by our times into action,
we are a rock that has learned
how to bounce off water
become light enough to fly.
We are an infinite circle expanding
like the ripple we will leave behind
and together, we press on
united.
This year once again has shown the resiliency of our great Capital Region communities.
Over the past year, we have all endured some level of crisis as we contended with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, we remain inspired by the way our community has rallied to support one another throughout these challenges. That’s the power of our local United Way – 20,000 people coming together through donations, volunteerism, and advocacy – FROM THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
United Way gives every individual in our community the power to make a difference, making philanthropy accessible to everybody. When we harness the power of the community for good, we can work to unlock everyone’s potential, no matter what.
Last year, your contributions:
- Supported 32,000 children and families through our network of Family Neighborhood Resource Centers (FNRCs);
- Served 429,054 meals through the Summer Meals Collaborative across seven counties – an 82% increase over 2019 totals;
- Convened over 7,000 participants in the 21 Day Equity Challenge;
- Provided referrals for basic needs and COVID-19 related concerns through the 211 call line, which saw call volumes double during the pandemic;
- Helped us reimagine a more equitable funding process to get more resources to frontline organizations making a major impact in our neighborhoods.
From The Community, For The Community
United Way gives every individual in our community the power to make a difference, making philanthropy accessible to everybody. When we harness the community for good, we can work to unlock everyone's potential, no matter what.
2021/2022
Campaign Cabinet
Lee McElroy, CHAIR
Associate VP & Director of Athletics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Beth Beshaw, VICE CHAIR
Market President, M&T Bank
Ashley Brown
Director of Marketing, Metabolic Fitness
Rabbi Matt Cutler
Senior Rabbi, Congregation Gates of Heaven
Mark Emanatian
Executive Director, Capital District Area Labor Federation
Justin Gregaydis
Inventory Manager, CDTA
Codie Montanye
Assistant Vice President of Human Resources, Pearl Companies
Angelique Powell
Community Manager, The Blake Annex
Brian Sano
Director of USNY Eastern Division Gas Operations, National Grid
We don't do our work alone and we can not do it without you
Please join us - From the Community, For the Community - because when we #LIVEUNITED, we can reimagine and rebuild a more resilient future for the Capital Region.