United Way of Rhode Island Seeks Volunteers for Day of Action

PROVIDENCE, RI – On Saturday, June 21, United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI) will open the doors of its Providence headquarters on Valley Street to welcome members of the community for the annual Day of Action. In preparation, the organization is currently recruiting volunteers to help sort, label and package thousands of books for distribution to local children.

Now in its sixth year, Day of Action is a worldwide United Way event that brings together people and organizations across the globe, inviting them to LIVE UNITED by harnessing the power of volunteerism to focus on the work of local United Way organizations. In Rhode Island, 60 percent of children living in low-income families have no books at home, and where 1 in 3 fourth graders are not proficient in reading, UWRI is working with Books Are Wings to reverse this trend by encouraging children to build libraries of their own through receiving free books.

“The passion that Rhode Islanders have for volunteering and giving back to the community is one of our state’s most important resources,” said Anthony Maione, president & CEO of United Way of Rhode Island. “This year’s Day of Action is a great opportunity for individuals to give of their time in support of an important cause; we’re hoping for a great turnout.”

Those interested in volunteering on June 21 may sign up online at www.LIVEUNITEDri or contact Carolyn Watkinson at carolyn.watkinson@uwri.org. The 2014 Day of Action will take place at UWRI’s headquarters, located at 50 Valley Street in Providence beginning at 8:00 a.m.

UWRI’s annual Children’s Book Drive, now in its third year, was created by the organization’s Women’s Leadership Council and Books Are Wings. It began on May 1 and continued through June 13 to coincide with the end of the school year and the start of summer learning programs.

The drive’s goal was to collect 30,000 books for distribution to children statewide through Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative programs, as well as at afterschool programs in the fall. The Hasbro Summer Learning initiative, established in partnership with United Way of Rhode Island, provides children with an opportunity to avoid summer learning loss by engaging in hands-on, experiential and service learning projects.

About United Way of Rhode Island

United Way of Rhode Island has been working to improve the quality of life in Rhode Island communities for over 80 years. UWRI’s mission is to mobilize the caring power of the community to improve the lives of people in need and address the issues Rhode Islanders care most about. For more information, visit www.LIVEUNITEDri.org.

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