United Way Announces Their 2021 Volunteer and Campaign Award Winners
On Wednesday, September 1, United Way of Southwest Alabama (UWSWA) announced its 2021 Volunteer and Campaign Award recipients as part of its Annual Community Campaign Kickoff. Each year, UWSWA recognizes and celebrates the people, organizations, and workplaces that work tirelessly to change lives and save lives in Southwest Alabama. Fox 10 newscasts highlighted the award recipients, and UWSWA highlighted them in four Facebook Lives.
“Volunteers play a vital role at United Way of Southwest Alabama, and volunteer involvement provides a critical and irreplaceable asset in making long-term change happen in our region,” said UWSWA President & CEO Jill Chenoweth. “When we partner together, we amplify each other’s voices and lend crucial support to each other’s efforts. The Annual Community Campaign Kickoff allows us to shine the spotlight on the individuals, agencies, and companies that enable United Way of Southwest Alabama and our partner agencies to successfully make an impact in our community.”
The Heart of Gold Awards and our other volunteer awards, recognize volunteers for their dedication and service in the areas of education, health, financial stability, or essentials. The engagement of the hundreds of individuals who volunteer with us each year is critical to the success of both UWSWA and our 45 partner agencies. In 2020, UWSWA had 519 volunteers provide 5,513 service hours resulting in an economic impact of $139,216.
During the 2020 Annual Community Campaign, UWSWA raised $3,268,260 from businesses and individuals in Choctaw, Clarke, Mobile, and Washington Counties. A successful campaign is not possible without the hundreds of campaigns run throughout Southwest Alabama. Each year, UWSWA recognizes individuals and organizations that have provided obvious support to UWSWA from top management, who operate with strong, well-organized Campaign Coordinators, who follow our Best Practices for executing their campaign activities and have active engagement from their employees. Campaign Award recipients also participate in the Annual Community Campaign in a variety of ways. They may provide a corporate gift, may provide a sponsorship, may provide funding to a particular UWSWA internal program, may run an effective employee campaign, may provide an in-kind gift or service, and/or may provide a Loaned Executive. These types of strong leadership companies and their teams set good examples for others to follow.
The following individuals and companies received special recognition:
Outstanding Achievement Awards:
- Outstanding Community Partner – Feeding the Gulf Coast
- Volunteer of the Year – Sharon W. Murrill, Alabama Power Company
- Inaugural Martin Family VITA Award – Donna Martin, VITA Volunteer
- Emerging Leader Award – Allie Leavitt
- Volunteer Connect (UWSWA Partner Agency) – Caitlyn Latiolais, University of South Alabama Student
- Volunteer Connect (Non-Partner Agency) – Devin Bromley, University of South Alabama Student
2020 Campaign Awards:
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- Outstanding Campaign Coordinator – Karen C. Wilson, Springhill Medical Center
- Outstanding Corporate Partner (Under 50 Employees) – McKinney Petroleum Equipment, Inc.
- Outstanding Corporate Partner (Over 50 Employees) – Regions Bank
- Outstanding Campaign – Hancock Whitney Bank
Philanthropist of the Year – Jim Fuchs, Budweiser-Busch Distributing - Spirit of the Gulf Coast – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
Labor Awards:
- O. Mozingo Community Service Award – Cindy Raby, Heat & Frost Insulators Local 55
- Red Leachman Award – Alabama State Building & Construction Trades Council
Choctaw County Award Winners
Heart of Gold
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- Myra Abson, Print N Press
- Pat Hall, Choctaw County Public Library
- Lyle Meador, Southern Choctaw High School
- Jacqueline Underwood, Choctaw Health and Wellness
Outstanding Community Partner Award – Williams
Clarke County Award Winners
Heart of Gold
- Peggy Brening
- Grove Hill Baptist Serve Team
- Richard Shauger
- Cynthia Tatum, Alabama Power Company
Outstanding Campaign Coordinator – Alesia Burrell, International Paper – Pine Hill Mill
Outstanding Community Partner Award – Westervelt Lumber
Outstanding Campaign Award – Thompson Tractor Company – Thomasville
Mobile Heart of Gold Award Winners
- Nan Livingston
- Dean Naritoku, MD
- Charles and Shirley Walker
- Martha Wright
Washington County Award Winners
Edith Wilcox Volunteer Award – Lynn Harrell, Alabama Department of Public Health
Heart of Gold
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- Dawn Adams, American Red Cross
- Jamie Lay, Howardtown Baptist Church
- Betty McCain, Millry Baptist Church
- Lillie Steiner, Town of McIntosh
Outstanding Campaign Coordinator – Sarah Hansen, Clarke Washington Electric
Outstanding Campaign Award – Tate & Lyle
2021 Sponsors: Calagaz Printing, Shoe Station, Alabama Media Group, Publix Super Markets Charities, Lamar Advertising, Mobile Area Water & Sewer, Hancock Whitney Bank, AARP of Alabama, Louisiana Pacific, Southwest Alabama Labor Council, Tate & Lyle, Williams, Bishop State Community College, Burton Property Group, Cottage Hill Chiropractic, Harper Technologies, Middle Bay Boat Company, Mobile Airport Authority, Fox 10, and iHeart Media
