Press Release: 6/20/2025

Day of Gratitude 2025: Purpose in Practice and Collective Action

 



BY LUISA MUÑOZ



JUN 19 2025





 



Rising prices aren’t just headlines, they’re daily challenges. Families are stretching every dollar, and so are the organizations that support them. From childcare to summer and afterschool programs, our partners are being asked to do more with less. In times like these, the old saying “it takes a village to raise a child” feels truer than ever. 



 



 



That’s where United Way’s Day of Gratitude steps in—showing up for that village and meeting the moment. 



 



 



Last summer, we launched our first Day of Gratitude, delivering 1,000 personal hygiene kits to individuals facing housing insecurity. This summer, we built on that effort by assembling 2,500 snack packs for children and youth enrolled in United Way partner programs across six Boston neighborhoods. These packs were distributed through 11 local agency partners—including West End House, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, YMCA of Greater Boston, Youth Enrichment Services, Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester, Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center, Sociedad Latina, YouthBuild Boston, Children’s Services of Roxbury, Friends of the Children, and Madison Park Development Corporation—reaching kids from low- to moderate-income families who struggle to access healthy snacks when school is out and costs are high. 



 





 



Thanks to our generous sponsors—J & M Brown, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Toast, Breckinridge Capital Advisors—and in-kind partners including Madison Park Development Corporation, Hibernian Hall, UPS, the Boston Red Sox, and Westin Seaport, we raised over $13,500 and welcomed nearly 70 volunteers to support Greater Boston families. 



 





 



BUILDING A CULTURE OF GIVING, YEAR-ROUND 



 



Community needs don’t pause after the holidays—and neither does our commitment. Volunteer events like Day of Gratitude are part of United Way’s year-round effort to connect people, resources, and purpose through immediate, tangible support. It’s about more than one day of service—it’s about building a culture of empathy, generosity, and sustained action. 



 



 



Day of Gratitude is more than a volunteer event—it’s a hands-on response to urgent needs. By participating, companies and donors can: 



 




  • Strengthen relationships with United Way and community partners through shared purpose 









  • Engage employees in meaningful service that builds team spirit and connection 









  • Make a direct impact by assembling snack packs that support local children and families 








 



Engaging corporate and individual partners is a powerful way to create lasting change. Together, we’re bridging resource gaps and building stronger, more connected neighborhoods. That’s the power of showing up—and that’s what Day of Gratitude is all about.