UWSWA Sets 2015 Campaign Goal
In front of roughly 275 donors, volunteers, community leaders, and community partners, United Way leaders kicked off the United Way of Southwest Alabama’s (UWSWA) 2015 campaign.
Don Keeler, Vice President of Human Resources at Austal USA and UWSWA’s 2015 Chairman of the Board of Trustees, opened the program by sharing some updates that have occurred at United Way over the summer, including the launch of the new UWSWA app.
“This is an exciting time to be a part of United Way of Southwest Alabama,” said Keeler. “The new app quickly and seamlessly connects individuals who are seeking to give, advocate, or volunteer within the United Way network. It also provides free and easy access to the United Way 2-1-1 database of local community services available for those in need. This app demonstrates United Way’s commitment to improve the quality of life in southwest Alabama.”
Keeler also introduced the new UWSWA President and CEO, Clifford Grimes, who was present at today’s event.
Building on the success of the last three campaigns, which have all surpassed their goals and produced nearly a ten percent increase in pledges, Mark Fillers, South Alabama CEO at BBVA Compass and UWSWA’s 2015 Campaign Chair, officially announced the 2015 campaign goal as $5,104,471. Fillers challenged those present to accept the One Percent Challenge, which requires a campaign increase of one percent over the 2014 campaign total of $5,053,932.
To assist in reaching this year’s goal, UWSWA conducted their pacesetter campaign throughout the summer. Since April, the pacesetter campaign raised more than $1,300,000, which is roughly 4% of the total campaign goal for 2015.
“For the past two years we have challenged our community to a one percent increase in our campaign and each time our community has met – and exceeded – the challenge,” stated Fillers. “I am pleased with the success of the pacesetter campaign, but there is still much work to be done. I encourage everyone in the community to support United Way because the dollars given in southwest Alabama stay in southwest Alabama. Those contributions fund many local programs and services that help more than 600,000 local people each year.”
UWSWA also recognized volunteersfrom organized Labor and Mobile County. The Mobile County Heart of Gold community volunteer awards came from United Way Volunteer Connect. The awards are focused on the four building blocks for a better life: health, education, financial stability, and essentials. Clarke and Washington counties will be presenting the awards to local volunteers during their county kick-offs later this month.
- Labor awards:
- O. Mozingo Community Service Award: Swan Cleveland, Sheet Metal Workers Local 441
- Red Leachman Award: UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 119
- Volunteer Heart of Gold Awards (Mobile County)
- Health: Natasha Dysart
- Education: Angelia Poellnitz
- Financial Stability: Jim Brewer, Mary Ann White, Jayne Kennedy, Paul Bergman, and Chad Newton
- Essentials: Mike Marshall
- UWSWA Volunteer Awards:
- Outstanding Community Partner: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile
- Outstanding Corporate Partner: Alabama Power
- Volunteer of the Year: Walter Brand
UWSWA’s new President and CEO, Clifford Grimes, closed the event with a few remarks. “It is a pleasure and an honor to be accepting the position as UWSWA President and CEO and to be standing before you this morning,” Grimes asserted. “I am thrilled to be embarking on this new journey and helping lead this organization in changing lives right here in southwest Alabama. United Way can’t do it alone, though. It takes the community of southwest Alabama working together to improve lives. With your help, United Way can unite and mobilize resources to support our building blocks for a better life.”
The event was sponsored by Kimberly-Clark and free of charge to all in attendance. It was held at UWSWA partner VIA Health, Fitness, and Enrichment Center in Mobile for the fourth year in a row.
UWSWA’s 2015 campaign will be conducted until mid-November. If you are interested in participating in this year’s campaign or learning more about UWSWA, please contact the UWSWA office by calling 251-433-3624 or visiting www.uwswa.org