United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

10/13/2026

was proud to be part of the 2026 PA Latino Convention in Easton, where Marci Martinez Howey helped moderate the session, “Leading Through Difference: Equity-Centered Capacity Building in Practice.”

Alongside Robyn Weaver of Lehigh Valley Community Foundation and Guillermo Lopez, Marci helped guide a conversation focused on leadership, equity and building stronger organizations and communities. We’re grateful for opportunities like this to learn, share perspectives and connect with leaders from across the region 💙

10/12/2026

For more than 30 years, Flor and Robert Velez called the same Allentown neighborhood home. Then, in a matter of moments, a six-alarm fire changed everything.

As smoke filled the Second Ward and families tried to understand what was happening, Flor and Robert’s first instinct was to check on their neighbors. Soon, they realized they were facing the same uncertainty themselves. “Many of us were still going through the shock of the fire when United Way arrived,” Flor shared. “We felt that we were not alone.”

That feeling became the foundation for what happened next.

UWGLV worked alongside community partners to connect families with support and established a relief fund for those impacted by the fire. In less than a month, neighbors, businesses and organizations across the region came together to raise more than $50,000 for families working to recover and rebuild.

For Flor, Robert and their neighbors, that support meant more than financial assistance. It meant knowing their community was standing with them. When crisis strikes, your support helps connect families with stability, resources and hope when they need it most.

Read more, https://tinyurl.com/3skubjyv 🔗

10/09/2026

A moment of crisis can change everything. For Rick and Amy Bucher, that moment came when their daughter, Arden, was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma as a young child. While their family faced an unimaginable journey, they were surrounded by a support system that helped them focus on what mattered most. That experience shaped the way they see community and the importance of being there for others. As 2026 United Way Campaign Chairs, Rick and Amy are helping share a simple message: no one should have to face life’s biggest challenges alone.

Through United Way and our community partners, neighbors have access to the support and resources they need when unexpected moments arise. The Shine Bright Campaign is about all of us coming together to help our community thrive.

Learn more and get involved: https://tinyurl.com/ymt3zxav 🔗

10/08/2026

What does it take to meet the changing needs of our community?

’s Erin Connelly recently joined Margaret McConnell WDIY 88.1 FM’s Valley Voices to talk about the work happening across the Greater Lehigh Valley—from addressing housing and food insecurity to responding when disaster strikes. Erin also shares how United Way listens, adapts and invests resources to help neighbors access support before challenges become crises.

Tune in to hear more about the impact happening across our region: https://tinyurl.com/ym3uz5xf 🔗

10/06/2026

Sometimes the most powerful support comes from someone who truly understands.

Through the partnership between , PA 211 East and Bloom for Women, individuals with lived experience are helping connect neighbors to the resources and support they need during some of life’s most challenging moments.

PA 211 specialists provide compassionate, one-on-one resource navigation, helping community members find assistance while creating meaningful opportunities for fellowship participants to give back and find purpose in their work.

When we bring together the right resources, the right partnerships and the right people, we create stronger communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

10/05/2026

Housing challenges require all of us at the table.

is proud to support the upcoming Housing for All Summit, bringing together developers, municipal leaders, philanthropists and community partners to explore practical solutions around affordable land acquisition, financing and housing development.

The event will also mark the launch of the Northampton County Housing Landscape Map, giving attendees a new resource to better understand housing needs and opportunities across the county. If you work in housing, development, local government or community investment, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Register with the link below!

We hope you can join us to continue the conversation about making housing attainable for all in our county. Don't miss the launch of the Northampton County Housing Landscape Map, thanks to the GIS specialists at the Lehigh Valley Justice Institute and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Register here! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/attainable-housing-summit-northampton-county-tickets-1999095545591?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/02/2026

Another campaign season is officially underway with one of ’s longtime community champions 💙

We were proud to join PPL Corporation for its 2026 Leadership Campaign Kickoff, bringing employees and leaders together around a shared commitment to supporting families and strengthening communities across the Greater Lehigh Valley. Year after year, PPL continues to show what meaningful partnership looks like through giving, volunteerism and community leadership.

Thank you to the entire PPL team for continuing to stand with United Way and help move our region forward.

10/01/2026

“What we take for granted can often be the very thing someone else is hoping for.”

In a recent conversation on WDIY 88.1 FM’s A Closer Look, 2026 United Way Campaign Chairs Rick and Amy Bucher joined Jill Wheeler to discuss this year’s campaign and the personal experiences that shape their commitment to giving back.

The conversation explored the importance of community, the impact of coming together and why supporting our neighbors matters now more than ever. Listen to the full conversation from WDIY’s A Closer Look: https://www.wdiy.org/🔗

09/30/2026

A big thank you to our Bronze Sponsors — AAA East Central, Highmark Blue Shield, Just Born, Inc. and Quandel Construction Group, LLC 💙

Their support helped make a powerful day of service possible, bringing volunteers and nonprofit partners together to make an impact across the Greater Lehigh Valley. We’re grateful for their partnership and commitment to strengthening our community. Thank you for helping make Day of Caring 2026 a success!

09/29/2026

A special thank you to the in-kind contributors who helped bring to life!

B. Braun, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Turnstone Creative, Wawa and Working Dog Press each supported the day in meaningful ways, helping our volunteers and partners have what they needed to make an impact across the Greater Lehigh Valley.

We’re grateful for their generosity, partnership and commitment to . Thank you for being part of such an incredible day of service!