Together, we can make this holiday season a time of hope and support for our Tri-County families!
Help us reach our goal of raising $100,000 - every dollar raised will be matched up to $50,000!
Join us for Trident United Way’s holiday campaign, Ignite the Light. This campaign invests in Trident United Way’s Resource Connection Centers: trusted hubs that have lifted up families in Berkeley and Dorchester counties for over 30 years. Your support will help enable the opening of new Charleston County locations.
About our Resource Connection Centers
Trident United Way Resource Connection Centers offer connections to programs and nonprofit partner organizations that can help with utility bills, SNAP benefits, affordable housing, support for employment and more. They also offer help with immediate needs like clothing vouchers, school supplies or an emergency food box, as well as longer-term solutions, like connecting clients to employment, education assistance with a partnering agency or providing funding for a one-time purchase that can enable steady employment for the foreseeable future through our Barriers to Employment Program.
The need is greater now more than ever
Research from United for ALICE tells us that nearly 40% of households in the Tri-County struggle to make ends meet. These households are referred to as ALICE, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE families work hard, but never seem to get ahead, and are often just one unexpected expense away from a cycle of financial instability.
This fall, United for ALICE released a report with a focus on children, highlighting that 53% of children in South Carolina live in households that are experiencing financial hardship.
The number of individuals going through our Berkeley and Dorchester Resource Connection Centers continues to increase. This past year our centers have served 6,038 households, representing 12,251 individuals. This is an increase of over 30% from 2023.
Trident United Way is committed to helping families in our region achieve and maintain financial stability. One of our most important tools is our Resource Connection Centers.
Your support is needed to Ignite the Light
This year, with the help of a generous donor match of up to $50,000, we hope to raise a total of $100,000 to kickstart the expansion of our centers in Charleston County and broaden our reach to support as many of our Tri-County neighbors as possible.
Thanks to your generous support we've raised $60,753 as of December 20!
Ignite the Light in Your Network
Every voice and every action helps us build a stronger, more united community.
You can help meet our match and support our Tri-County neighbors by sharing with your network. Follow the directions below to set up your own fundraiser to Ignite the Light.
How to set up your own campaign
- Enter your name
- Add a photo (128x128px or leave blank)
- Select your personal goal
- Edit message (or keep what's in there!)
- Adjust the goal date to 12/31/2024
- Select continue
- Enter your email address to receive a verification code
- Select continue
- Enter the code from email (enter on keyboard, it does not take copy and paste!)
- Enter your first and last name
- Start Fundraising!
There are buttons for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and email that pre-populate images and links to your fundraising page. You can use those OR you can customize how you share*!
You will also receive an email with a link to your campaign to share with your network, and a link to make edits and track donations on your fundraising page (there is a link that reads "Open my fundraiser" towards the bottom of the email).
Graphics and suggested social copy provided below. It's recommended that you use your own words when encouraging your network to give - no one knows your network better than you!
Social Media Graphics
To save a social media asset, click an image above. Once the page opens, right click on image and select "Save image as..."
Social Media Copy
As noted above, please add your own words to posts if you are comfortable. You know how to best speak to your network/community!
Sample Post
"Together, we can make this holiday season a time of hope and support for our Tri-County families. Your contribution will help enable the opening of a new Charleston County Resource Connection Center location.
This new location will join the Berkeley and Dorchester Resource Connection Centers in offering essential services such as food distribution through FoodShare and resources for financial assistance for those in need of a helping hand.
Join me in supporting our community through a donation to Trident United Way!"
Be sure to tag Trident United Way in posts!
Facebook: @Trident United Way
Instagram: @TridentUnitedWay
LinkedIn: @Trident United Way
*Please note, you cannot click on links in Instagram posts. If you would like to utilize Instagram, please add your specific fundraising link to your bio and direct followers to your bio in your post. You can, however, add links to an Instagram story. To do so, select the sticker icon, locate the Link sticker, and add the full URL to your fundraising link. You can customize the sticker with language to encourage your network to give! Please reach out to Kelli at kmorse@tuw.org if you have any questions or need assistance with sharing your fundraiser on social media!
For questions or additional information please email bchhina@tuw.org.