Over 40 million dollars … thousands upon thousands of service hours … lives touched … countless lives. This is the story of a vital community partnership. This is the story of the men and women of the Savannah River Site (SRS), who have clearly demonstrated their care for those in need in Aiken County over the last 68 years.
Originally known as the Aiken Community Chest, the United Way of Aiken County recognizes its primary founder as the late Senator Strom Thurmond. He approached the SRS leadership in 1952 and they were happy to rally employees to donate over $50,000. Each year, the annual donation has grown, and today over $1,000,000 is given to address needs in Aiken County from the men, women, and companies working at SRS.
Sharon Rodgers, United Way of Aiken County President, has first-hand knowledge of the level of care demonstrated by the SRS employees and companies. She said, “There wouldn’t be a United Way as we know it without the Site. It is more than just the money they give. We have had Site representatives on our Board of Directors every year since we began in 1952. The Site as a whole has given their time, talent, treasure, and testimony.”
According to Sharon, approximately 40% of her budget is received from
SRS employees and companies. This money is vital in helping achieve the missions of the 30 member agencies and 45 program initiatives that receive United Way funding.
In addition to money, SRS employees have volunteered for leadership positions over the years. Sharon said 21 site employees have served as Chairman of the Board of Directors, and 25 have served as Campaign Chairs. Many others have served in leadership roles in a variety of committees and special programs. A similar level of commitment can be found for other United Way agencies in the CSRA.
Sharon is quick to point out that this is only part of the story. She knows that nearly all of the charitable agencies in our community receive donations directly from the companies working at SRS. She said, “The Site’s commitment to their work, their safety, and their community is truly amazing.”
This is especially evident one special day each year, known as Day of Caring, when SRS employees join forces on their day off to volunteer their time and talents to local nonprofits. Suzanne Jackson, Executive Director of Area Churches Together Serving (ACTS) said, “Each year we have a large, talented SRS team come to us to work at our two locations. It is amazing how much they can get accomplished in a single day. Because of their willingness to help us at no charge, we get our necessary facility repairs. With their donation of skilled talent, we can put potential repair dollars back into program services for our clients.” According to Sharon Rodgers, the 2020 Day of Caring included over 300 employees with a value of over $50,000 in donated labor at 27 project sites.
Throughout the year, the generosity of Site workers extends itself through the United Way’s Project Vision Program, in which assistance is provided to low-income disabled and senior citizens in need of repairs to their homes. Teams of Site employees volunteer to take on a multitude of tasks including building wheelchair ramps, roof repairs, and minor plumbing, just to name a few.
Simply put, the people of SRS care. They care about individuals in need. They care about transforming lives. They are committed to making a difference. Without a doubt, they represent some of the warmest hearts in our community.
