United Way Campaign Raises $104K For Greater Hartford Nonprofits

HARTFORD, CT — A regional giving campaign led by the Hartford-based United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut raised more than $100,000 in its first year, drawing hundreds of donors and supporting dozens of nonprofits across the Hartford area.

The inaugural "860Gives" event generated $104,816 from 843 donors over a 48-hour period, benefiting 88 participating organizations, according to United Way officials.

“860Gives showed us something remarkable,” said Eric Harrison, president and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. “In just 48 hours, our region demonstrated that when we unite behind our nonprofits, we can create real, measurable change. Organizations filled critical funding gaps, donors discovered new causes to champion, and our entire community rallied around a shared purpose.”

The campaign began March 31 at 6 a.m. with a “Power Hour” kickoff that awarded $1,500 in prizes to the three nonprofits that secured the most unique donors in the first hour.

Additional cash and in-kind prizes were distributed throughout the event, with 14 organizations receiving awards as fundraising continued.

Organizers said many of the most successful participants prepared in advance by securing matching gifts, launching peer-to-peer campaigns, and coordinating outreach during the limited fundraising window.

Among them was the Prudence Crandall Center in New Britain, which raised $12,749 from 38 donors.

“I loved the concept of 860Gives from the minute I heard about it,” said Carolyn Jasper, the organization’s chief development officer. “We raised $12,749 from 38 donors, but the real win was visibility. As Connecticut’s first agency serving domestic violence survivors and the only program serving a 9-town region in central Connecticut with housing programs available to survivors statewide, we need people to know we exist. 860Gives gave us that platform. Every donation, every page view gets us closer to connecting survivors with the support they need.”

United Way officials said funds raised through the campaign will support services such as food assistance, housing, and other community needs across the region.

The organization plans to build on the campaign’s initial success, positioning 860Gives as an ongoing effort to expand local philanthropy and nonprofit visibility.

For more information on the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, click on this link.

From March 26: 'Area United Way To Host Massive 48-Hour Fundraising Campaign.'