As you enjoy the final weeks of summer, your United Way is preparing to launch one of its busiest seasons yet - the 2016-17 workplace campaigns.

As we embark on our 59th campaign season, we are reminded of how much we have been able to do in this region with your help. Last year alone, roughly 120 local workplaces and the University of Florida helped us to raise more than $3,000,000.

The veritable Who's Who of leading local campaigns include companies you know and love such as Publix, UF Health, Nationwide, Enterprise Holdings, RTI Surgical, AvMed, GRU, Alachua County Public Schools, Campus USA Credit Union and the City of Gainesville.

Some of the campaigns were especially creative with RTI launching an internal workplace volunteer hour goal. Others like VyStar Credit Union and Saliwanchik, and Lloyd and Eisenschenk included feedback from its staff to make the campaign season even more special.

We all know the way we work and give today is very different than just 15 years ago. Today, we have choices. Today, we give through a variety of tech-savvy ways, but what hasn't changed is the mission your United Way: We are still here working everyday to change lives and change what's possible.

So, look for us this fall. We are coming to a workplace near you and asking you #WhatWillYouGive to help change someone's life for the better.