‘A great convening:’ United Way announces new fundraising efforts ahead of 518 Day

TROY, N.Y. — The United Way of the Great Capital Region (UWGCR) announced their new online fundraising efforts for 518 Day Thursday, a month before the 6th annual Day of Giving.

“The day is going to harness the power of community to connect our non-profit organizations with new and existing donors while raising funds and awareness for the nonprofit community,” said Peter Gannon, UWGCR president and CEO. “Whether you can come in at a buck, five bucks, (or) 500 bucks we are asking for your support on 518 Day to help make philanthropic history here in the Capital Region.”

This year, they’re aiming to raise $518,000 for local nonprofits in a day, on May 18. It also encourages people to volunteer for local groups, pulling about 1,000 volunteers each year.

This year, Gannon said they know that non-profits are struggling and need an influx of cash more than ever, especially as people are fatigued from fundraising during and in the aftermath of the pandemic. 518 Day is a motivation for donations, just like a golf outing or a fashion show.

“As lives are busy, we want to cut out all the middle nonsense,” he said referencing those kinds of events. “(Bringing a) generous person (or) philanthropist right to the organization that’s doing the most best work in the community for our neighbors.”

Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello brought up neighbors and neighborhoods several times at the event Thursday as well, hosted in the Capital Roots Community Garden on 8th Street in Troy. It’s also all about partnerships, she said, and UWGCR is a facilitator of partnerships.

Thursday morning gathered representatives from MVP Health (518 Day’s presenting sponsor), National Grid, Capital Roots and Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region Director of Operations as well as Gannon, Mantello and Assemblymember John McDonald. McDonald, before heading back to the Capitol to work on the budget, called UWGCR “a great convening” of the region year-round.

Gannon also said they candidly recognize that 518 Day is only one day but it doesn’t move the needle much. But by building these connections and having people start somewhere, he said they can extend it further than May 18.

“Our hope and our intention behind it always at United Way was to use it as a catalyst to get people to volunteer all year long,” he said. “We’re really proud to be the catalyst behind that.”

In 2018, it started with the 20-person UWGCR staff and board going to Washington Park and raking up pine needles, Gannon said, and in a debrief meeting afterward, set a goal for 2019 for 330 projects. The next year it was 550 projects, and despite a pandemic, Gannon credited the staff and sponsors — some in attendance Thursday — with keeping the momentum going, moving it virtually and allowing 518 Day to grow and continue to build momentum.

“If you ever need an example of kind of like what’s possible, right, we are sitting here adjacent to an exit ramp from a highway in the middle of an urban neighborhood here in the beautiful city of Troy,” Gannon said. “I can see the CDTA bus garage over there moving people to where they need to be to work and live here in our region.

“And then,” he continued, “back in the middle of all of it, this little postage stamp size of the earth here, piece of the earth is what’s possible, right? This little community garden program.”

Ruth Kassel, the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region director of operations, also referenced the garden as an analogy for UWGCR, saying that good dirt grows its flowers without being seen. Communities need their dirt — structures and ecosystems like that UWGCR provides — for nonprofits and residents to grow.

“It takes a village to improve a community,” said Brian Sano, National Grid regional executive and UWGCR board chair. “It’s not just government that makes it happen. It’s the people within the community so this right here (518 Day) is the conduit to do so.”

He reiterated what Gannon said: if people need a reason to get their hands dirty or need a name to write on their check, 518 Day is a place for that. Gannon also emphasized that 518day.org is the best place to find resources and more ways to volunteer throughout the year.

“People always ask me what’s the greatest part of Troy?’” Mantello said. “Yes, we have a waterfront, the greatest farmer’s market…We have great neighborhoods, a bustling downtown, but at the end of the day, it’s the people.

“For people to come, partner, build our community, build that pride as Peter (Gannon) stated,” she continued. “We’re part of a bigger picture. If we can build our neighborhoods, build that backbone, that spine, it’s going to grow into greater things for our region.”