United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ) has joined Verizon and 13 other local United Ways across the country to launch United We Prepare—a multi-year initiative supporting disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in vulnerable communities. On August 23, UWGPSNJ sponsored a kickoff event at Cruz Recreation Center in Philadelphia, bringing together community leaders, volunteers, and emergency management representatives. Families built their own "go-bags," explored a fire truck, and learned how to stay safe in emergencies—all part of a citywide push to equip neighborhoods with the tools they need to withstand and recover from crises.
"Through a partnership with Verizon, our work has expanded further to include developing disaster preparedness workshops for community residents and non-profits; optimizing resource allocation … and launching education campaigns to boost awareness of preparedness best practices."
With Verizon's investment, United We Prepare strengthens community resilience by mobilizing volunteers, expanding emergency preparedness training, and boosting local response capacity. This builds on Verizon's long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility and United Way's century-long legacy of convening partners to meet community needs. "Poverty alleviation and disaster preparedness go hand-in-hand," said Bill Golderer, President and CEO of UWGPSNJ. "Families already struggling to make ends meet are the least equipped to withstand a crisis. By preparing our communities before disaster strikes, we not only help them weather emergencies but also strengthen their long-term stability. Resilience is an essential part of breaking the cycle of poverty."
UWGPSNJ's participation ensures that communities across Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey will have greater access to disaster readiness resources, especially for families most vulnerable to the impact of emergencies.
Learn more about United We Prepare here.