LA County’s issues have only been exacerbated as the COVID-19 pandemic has raged on. We set out to tell a clear and compelling story about the struggles, victories, and character of our neighbors in LA County. Through individual highlights, we’ve been able to put faces to the seemingly insurmountable obstacles our county faces. Through programming—now almost entirely virtual—we foster a direct link between problem-solvers, visionaries, funders, and the public, and open spaces where Angelenos can share their stories directly.

The pandemic demanded urgent action, which our government, sadly, did not provide. In the immediate aftermath of the first stay-at-home orders in LA County, we helped launch the Pandemic Relief Fund to help families and small businesses stay afloat. The response was incredible.

Through a virtual telethon, over $2.2 million was raised right off the bat. In total, more than $10 million in funds raised went directly to local initiatives such as meal and grocery distribution, rental assistance, 1 million masks distributed to individuals experiencing homelessness, and education grants to local organizations supporting low-income families through distance learning. At its most desperate hour, LA County came together to help its most vulnerable weather the storm.

Few could have anticipated the sudden changes brought about by COVID-19 and its accompanying stay-at-home orders. As in-person events went digital, we studied up and added “virtual event producer” to our resumes. Through the perfect blend of planning calls, tech rehearsals, and back-end programming, our online programming has reached thousands and counting. From virtual panels discussing support for tenants impacted by the pandemic, resources to assist low-income families with distance learning, to a school board candidates forum, we’ve stepped in to ensure that Angelenos continue to receive reliable, firsthand information regardless of whether we can gather in person.

United Way tackles its work through a three pillar approach that individually addresses 1) Housing & Homelessness, 2) Economic Mobility, and 3) Education. The challenge is harnessing each of those efforts and their respective offshoots in a singular, cohesive voice for social media, all while keeping stakeholders in mind. Our objective is to maintain a feed that is well-researched and technically useful, while remaining accessible and engaging to all audiences. We’re grateful to stay in touch with many grant recipients and volunteer staff, which allows us to keep our audience updated with incredible success stories, humanize the impact of the pandemic, and showcase the important progress being made. Our team performs daily scans to ensure that ongoing organic developments in each of the three pillars are highlighted for our audience, and our language team works to issue event announcements and flyers in English and Spanish.

HomeWalk is the largest annual 5K to end homelessness. In a typical year, thousands congregate to walk, run, and demonstrate their support for housing-first solutions to address the homelessness crisis. Of course, 2020 was not a typical year. Stripped of the opportunity to gather in a central location, our challenge was to engage participants in a cause-based 5K from the safety of their own neighborhoods. Through a mixture of giveaways, including an NFL partnership, innovative ads placement, and a 1:1 sponsor match, the event ultimately raised over half a million dollars towards solutions for our unhoused neighbors.

Due to the tireless efforts of community partners, donors, and active bystanders, the millions of dollars raised through United Way’s Pandemic Relief Fund went a long way towards softening the blow of the pandemic. Over 113,000 bottles of hand sanitizer, nearly 1 million face masks, and thousands more essential health and hygiene items were distributed to individuals experiencing homelessness and the first responders who care for them. 196 organizations across the greater LA area were able to build capacity, and fortify their ability to serve our most vulnerable neighbors. That’s 5 million meals for families and 16,000 meals to individuals staying in emergency shelter sites.