The campaign aims to raise $50,000 to support its program initiatives that serve over 53,000 children and families in our community each year
San Diego – Feb. 14, 2025 – To help close the gaps in education and financial security in our community, local nonprofit United Way of San Diego County (UWSD) will launch its first-ever “Live United. Give United.” peer-to-peer fundraising campaign starting March 1.
Through this 31-day fundraiser, UWSD aims to raise $50,000 to support its programs, which serve over 53,000 children, individuals, and families across San Diego County each year—helping them achieve educational success and financial security. Through UWSD’s education and economic mobility initiatives, the organization offers comprehensive, community-focused support to help children, individuals, and families thrive. Its program United for Literacy provides young students with essential literacy resources, while the STEAM-to-Careers Afterschool Program introduces students to high-demand STEAM careers. UWSD’s SparkPoint program offers money management workshops and personalized financial coaching, and the San Diego County Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition delivers free tax preparation services that helps San Diegans get essential money back through tax credits. Additionally, Bank On expands access to free, reliable banking options. Together, these programs create pathways to educational success and financial security.
“With the uncertainty many nonprofit organizations face around federal funding and support, United Way of San Diego County remains committed to our community partners and the individuals and families we serve,” says UWSD President and CEO Nancy L. Sasaki. “For over a century, we have been a steadfast source of support, focusing on education and economic mobility. To continue our mission, we call on the community to help us reach our fundraising goal so we can continue making a difference for local children, individuals, and families who need the support to build pathways to success.”
Ways to Participate in “Live United. Give United.”:
- Start your own fundraising page: Individuals can show their support by creating a fundraising page and sharing the campaign with their friends, families and colleagues, encouraging them to donate.
- Make a donation: Individuals interested in supporting UWSD can make a direct donation to the campaign.
- Become a corporate partner: Corporate partners will receive a dedicated fundraising page for employee participation, along with their company logo featured on the official website.
- Host a fundraising event: Host an event and donate the proceeds to the campaign.
Every dollar makes a difference to help UWSD drive transformative initiatives that break down education and economic barriers in our community. Supporting the “Live United. Give United.” fundraising campaign will amplify the organization’s community impact with every donation creating a ripple of change across the region.
At Escondido High School, Angie Tran was set on becoming a dentist—until she joined
UWSD’s STEAM-to-Careers program. This afterschool initiative exposed her to diverse STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) career paths, opening doors she never imagined. Over 12 weeks, Angie explored workshops and mentorships, gaining clarity about her future. A pivotal SDG&E field trip sparked a passion for earth and space sciences, steering her away from dentistry.
Her dedication led to the DREAM with STEAM summer program, acceptance into prestigious programs at MIT, and a transformative NASA internship where she designed a lunar base and learned to code in Python. Today, Angie continues pursuing internships with NASA, envisioning a future in aerospace while giving back to her San Diego community.
“STEAM-to-Careers has been a valuable part of my high school experience,” Angie shared. “Without it, I may have never realized my interests in space science or pursued opportunities like my NASA internship, which led to some of my favorite memories ever. I am forever grateful to STEAM-to-Careers for allowing me to discover my passion for space.”
Contributions to UWSD’s “Live United. Give United.” campaign help students like Angie discover and achieve their dreams while ensuring programs like STEAM-to-Careers continue inspiring more students across San Diego County to dream bigger and reach further.
For more information on UWSD, its fundraising campaign and corporate partnership opportunities visit giveunitedsd.org or connect with Amelia Hartley at amelia.hartley@uwsd.org or 858-636-4154.
About United Way of San Diego County
For over 100 years, United Way of San Diego County has remained devoted to its mission of sparking breakthrough community action that elevates every child, individual, and family toward a brighter future. Today, in partnership with local organizations, leaders, and community members, UWSD uses innovation, leveraged resources, and community-based strategy to resolve inequities and transform lives. United Way of San Diego County is passionately committed to addressing institutional disparities through the implementation of economic and educational initiatives.
Supporting United Way of San Diego County means investing in children’s success from an early age and providing holistic family economic support so that all San Diegans can thrive. The nonprofit’s current programs focus on education and literacy support for early learners, college and career pathways for high school students, and tax
assistance initiatives that enhance economic mobility for individuals and families. United Way of San Diego County believes that together, we can face critical challenges and build a stronger, more equitable community. United with community partners, UWSD cultivates a collective passion for deep systemic change, and impacts the lives of San Diegans county-wide. Learn more and get involved by visiting uwsd.org and following @unitedwaysd on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.
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Media Contact:
Ann Marie Price
Scatena Daniels Communications
annmarie@scatenadaniels.com
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