100% of donations collected will support United Way’s Rapid Response Fund, which is providing emergency funding to Triangle-area nonprofits supporting residents needing critical resources during the crisis.

Raleigh, NC — Friday, April 3, 2020 — WRAL and United Way of the Greater Triangle partnered on a virtual telethon yesterday that raised $655,820 to support Triangle-area nonprofits providing residents with critical resources including food, hygiene supplies, childcare, and housing support during the COVID-19 crisis. While phone lines are now closed, donations can still be made by visiting United Way’s Rapid Response Fund donation page at www.unitedwaytriangle.org/rapidresponse.

“In this unprecedented time, it would be easy for Triangle residents to have ignored our call to action to support our neighbors who need it most but you stepped up big time. You stepped up for the residents who don’t know if they’ll have the job at the end of this. You stepped up for the workers who are struggling without childcare support. You’re helping to change a ‘what now’ to a ‘we can do this,’” said Eric Guckian, President and CEO of United Way of the Greater Triangle. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

During the telethon, more than 186 individuals called in with donations and another 277 individuals gave directly through United Way’s website, through text-to-give, or through Facebook. The telethon’s success would not have been possible without generous contributions from corporate partners and foundations including Coastal Credit Union Foundation, Google Fiber, GSK, Pinnacle Financial Partners, PNC, Nationwide Foundation, NetApp, Novozymes, RTI International, Triangle Community Foundation, Truist Foundation, and Wells Fargo Foundation.

“WRAL viewers have been so generous in supporting our neighbors who need it most during this global health crisis. Last week, they helped to raise more than $350,000 to support the NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund and this week, helped to raise another $655,820 to support Triangle-area residents who find themselves out of jobs, needing childcare, at-risk of losing their housing, and so much more,” said WRAL-TV Vice President and General Manager Joel Davis. “Thank you for being the best viewers we could ask for.”

United Way of the Greater Triangle launched the Rapid Response Fund on Monday, March 16. The organization will announce on its website funding opportunities for Greater Triangle nonprofits offering critical resources as described above. To learn more about funding opportunities, click here.