United Way kicks off 2022-23 annual campaign with volunteer, impact and fundraising goals

After surpassing goals for last campaign year, co-chairs stay on to do even more  for community, families

DETROIT — August 26, 2022 — United Way for Southeastern Michigan will officially launch its community volunteer and giving campaign on Friday, August 26 at 7:00 a.m. at Beacon Park in Detroit. 

For the 2022-23 campaign, the volunteer and fundraising goals will once again be 40,000 hours of volunteer time and $40 million in donations raised through individual, corporate, and philanthropic community contributions.  

United Way will use these resources in coordination with its broad network of impact partners to provide essential support and services to people every day across Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties.  

The 2022-2023 campaign will once again be led by co-chairs Bishop Edgar Vann, pastor of Second Ebenezer Church and Jerry Norcia, Chairman and CEO of DTE Energy who led last year’s successful effort. This partnership represents both the corporate and community-based sectors which are vital to the success of the campaign and the work done to help families throughout the year.  This leadership structure is designed to enhance United Way’s unique ability to bring community members, businesses, and service organizations together to address unmet needs. Together, the co-chairs will work to elevate the mission and impact of United Way for Southeastern Michigan, encourage donations, and promote volunteer engagement across the region.

“We’re proud to host United Way of Southeastern Michigan’s 2022-2023 Community Giving Campaign kickoff event at Beacon Park and honored to co-lead the effort again this year with Bishop Vann,” said Mark Stiers, president of DTE Vantage and chair of the board at United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “DTE has partnered with United Way for decades, funding initiatives like the utility assistance program, generating volunteer support for schools and community service agencies, and helping to guide the future of this important organization by serving on United Way’s board and campaign cabinet. Last year, we raised over $43 million to support our community and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together this year.”  

“We are thankful for the leadership of Bishop Vann and Jerry Norcia in helping us reach an ambitious goal last year that is already helping so many people in our communities,” said Tonya Adair, chief people, equity, and engagement officer, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “At a time when too many are still struggling to make ends meet, it is even more important than ever to remember our neighbors and friends in need.” 

2021-22 Campaign Highlights: 

• Reached our $40 million campaign goal. 
• Closed out another successful 21-Day Equity Challenge with more than 8,000 participants from across the region.  
• Launched our first-ever Volunteer Honor Roll to recognize the important contributions  volunteers make to non-profit organizations, schools, faith-based organizations and the community at-large. 

• Distributed mini grants to 13 nonprofit and community organizations to fund volunteer project supplies in conjunction with the 2022 MLK Day of Service, 2022 National Volunteer Week and the June 2022 United Way Day of Action. 
• Logged nearly 40,000 volunteer hours. 
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan is named Crain’s Detroit Business 2021 Best Managed Nonprofit. 
• 244,507 contacts were made to 2-1-1 via call, chat, and web, and 302,122 referrals were made to services like food, housing, COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, and utility assistance 
• Issued more than $6.5 million in direct utility assistance to 9,010 households through our MEAP (Michigan Energy Assistance Program) since Oct. 1, 2021 

• Hundreds of families served through winter relief funds, addressing critical needs such as car repairs, winter gear, and food assistance. 
• Year one of the first Community School cohort has implemented staff and programming to support 2005 students and 911 families across 5 schools.  
• More than 60,000 books went home with children through our My Home Library program.  
• Partnered with Macomb Community Action (MCA) to review 10,611 Covid Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) applications. Those efforts have recently allowed us to extend assistance through a new partnership with Homeless Action Network of Detroit (HAND). 
• Launched the Financial Well-Being Innovation Challenge in February 2022 with an aim to invest more than $1 million into design and implementation of bold new solutions to the barriers standing in Detroiters’ way of reaching financial stability. 

• Hosted our sixth annual Women of Influence Summit in March 2022, presented by DTE Energy. All told, the summit has raised nearly $1 million to support early childhood education initiatives in our region. 
• Established our Crisis and Recovery Fund and invested nearly $500,000 in emergency grants to organizations providing families with resources, legal support, and flood remediation in the wake of historic flooding in June 2021. 
• Launched the Racial Equity Fund, granting more than $1 million to BIPOC-led organizations, as well as providing training and support. 
• Expanded Connect4Care Kids to all of Wayne County, serving 1,065 families in FY22. 

For the 2021-22 campaign, DTE has committed an additional $4 million to help meet increased demand for MEAP (Michigan Energy Assistance Program) – which is designed to help low-income households reach energy self-sufficiency and is an impactful partnership between United Way and DTE. In January, United Way announced a $2.25 million gift from DTE to support this program.  

“We depend on the generosity and commitment of our community partners to impact thousands of families across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties,” added Adair. “We want to continue to work with the community to help families become more stable, so our young people can thrive and succeed.” 

Media Contact: Jerome Espy, director of public relations, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, (248) 417-9567 or jerome.espy@liveunitedsem.org  

About United Way for Southeastern Michigan    

United Way for Southeastern Michigan, a member of the United Way Worldwide network and an independently governed 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, works to help households become stable and ensure children have the support they need to thrive. For more than 100 years, United Way has been a leader in creating positive, measurable, and sustainable change in communities throughout southeast Michigan. United Way works in partnership with donors, agencies, corporate and municipal partners to help families meet their basic needs of housing, food, health care and family finances, and ensure children start school ready to learn and graduate ready for life. To give, advocate, volunteer or learn more, visit UnitedWaySEM.org.