(Friday, September 9, 2011) A record breaking number of volunteers rallied to Shine a Light on our community and kick off the 2011 Campaign.

More than 1150 volunteers from at least 45 companies poured across the Greater Topeka community and completed 86 projects for non-profit agencies for the 2011 Nancy Perry Day of Caring.  The number of volunteers was a record for the annual event.

"More than 6,000 hours are being put back into this community on a single day," said Jeff Beasley, Westar Energy, and 2011 United Way campaign chair as he spoke to a crowd of approximately 500 at the kick off breakfast.  "If you took the amount of work and broke that down for a single person, it would take one person working full-time three years with no holidays or sick days to do what we are together on a single day."

The kick off breakfast was at the Agricultrual Hall at the Expocentre and served to rally and unite volunteers before going to service projects. The event also kicked off the 2011 annual giving campaign.

The United Way of Greater Topeka campaign begins in September and runs through December.  Through this season, many companies hold internal employee campaign. 

Estimated Day of Caring Numbers:

• Number of Volunteers:  1150
• Number of Projects:  86
• Number of Agencies participating:  45
• Approximated dollar value of service time:   $130,000

Presenters:

Jeff Beasley, Westar Energy, 2011 United Way Campaign Chair
Nancy Perry, retired United Way president
Diane Loiselle, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Caring Hearts Program

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