United Way is grateful that UPS has donated $2 million to our COVID-19 relief effort. This will help the most vulnerable populations receive critical financial and social service support during this global crisis.
Across industries, commerce is suffering as people remain in their homes. Hourly and tipped workers with little to no savings are already losing vital income, and as the economic impacts spread, many jobs may be at risk. As schools close, children who receive free meals at school are in danger of going hungry and low-income college students may not be able to afford transportation home as universities shutter their campuses. Read more about UPS' support here.
This is just the latest example of UPS' community support. Together, UPS and United Way have been building stronger communities across the country since 1982. Every day, UPSers are volunteering, donating and speaking up to make their communities better places to live and raise families.
UPS was the first global corporate partner to raise $1 billion in contributions to United Way. In 2018, our partnership helped almost 80,000 children get literacy support, more than 34,000 youth with job skills training, and connected some 1,200 veterans with jobs. At the same time, UPS partners with United Way across the country to put an end to human trafficking, training their drivers and community agencies to spot the signs and donating to that cause.
UPSers are making a difference across the nation. In Boston, UPS support has helped the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley provide financial stability coaching and services to thousands of people. So far, 25,881 people have gotten jobs and another 4,390 have advanced in employment thanks to new job skills and opportunities.
And the United Way Center on Human Trafficking & Slavery has been working with UPS to train hundreds of community leaders across the country to spot and respond to human trafficking signs. Together, we're working to mobilize a collaborative effort across sectors, building public and political will needed to spur greater action to end human trafficking in our generation.
That's just one reason United Way has recognized UPS with our inaugural Gamechangers Award. We're celebrating their leadership and long-term commitment to fighting human trafficking.
At United Way's Community Leadership and Impact Conference Brian Gallagher, President and CEO of United Way Worldwide recognized UPS for their long-time support of United Way.
UPS
Check out this video about UPS' great community work.