United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area Your United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area is a completely local, totally autonomous, community-driven fundraising organization that brings together the many faces of our community ¿ volunteers, business leaders and community leaders. We are governed by a local Board of Directors - we are not a chapter of a larger organization. We raise money locally and invest in programs that help people right here in our community. We expect the highest level of accountability from ourselves and from the programs we fund. For more than 60 years, we have had our finger on the pulse of the community, connecting people with the resources they need and volunteers with opportunities to help. Your United Way, serving the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson since 1943. The Volunteer Center is a community service of the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area, connecting people to volunteer opportunities for more than 20 years. The Volunteer Center also coordinates the annual United Way Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring.