In just twelve days, United Ways all across the country will host a “Day of Action.” It’s a simple idea but a powerful one, and they explain it best themselves,

June 21 is the longest day of the year. More daylight hours than any other. More time for volunteers to bring sun into someone’s life. More time to help elected officials see the light. More light to shine on United Way’s solutions to community issues. June 21 is a perfect day for United Ways across the country to let their actions speak louder than words. To show, by example, what it means to LIVE UNITED.

Each local United Way is hosting its own day of volunteering, each with a unique agenda. The Aloha United Way is refurbishing affordable homes, the United Way Capital Area in Austin, TX is hosting block parties and a LIVE UNITED film festival, the United Way of Nashville is having a book drive, and the United Way of the Midlands is providing free blood pressure screenings.

As the political season grows more and more partisan, it’s refreshing to see such a visible organization as the United Way attempt to put the emphasis back on volunteering and engagement. It’s a goal and an event that I, personally, will be proud to support.

And, as a postscript, if you haven’t gotten a chance to see United Way of America’s new ad campaign, take a look:

Underneath everything we are, underneath everything we do, we are all people: connected, interdependent, united. And when we reach out a hand to one, we can influence the condition of all. That’s what it means to Live United. [Music: We Belong]