UA Exceeds Its 2023 United Way Campaign Goal

• December 11th, 2023
• in United Way

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UA Exceeds Its 2023 United Way Campaign Goal

by Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro
Communications Specialist, Division of Community Affairs

As the campus community prepares for the season of giving, the UA United Way Campaign leadership announced success in the 2023 campus campaign, sharing that the campus community exceeded its $400,000 goal by raising $401,643.09* to support families and individuals in need.

With Big Al leading the drum roll, Dr. Sebrena Jackson, Dr. Lewis Lee, and Carrie Turner, campaign co-chairs, along with Brie Campbell, loaned executive, revealed the total during the campaign celebration at Little Hall lawn on Thursday, Dec. 7.

“This year’s theme, ‘Supporting a Stronger World: United for Impact,’ captures the essence of the School of Social Work and our campus, as well as the importance of working together to support those in need throughout our community and the West Alabama area,” said Turner. “Thank you again for making this campaign such a success.”

The 2023 theme reflects the mission within the School of Social Work (SSW), host unit for the 2023 UA United Way campaign. Campaign leadership thanked the campus community for “supporting a stronger world” through their giving to United Way.

“United Way [of West Alabama] touches all of our lives, and fundamentally the social work profession is intrinsically aligned with these goals, mission and vision to impact lives in the community,” said Dr. Schnavia Hatcher, dean of SSW. “Individuals, both children and adults, as well as families, will be in a better position to experience enhanced living conditions because of your commitment to this campaign.”

UA President Dr. Stuart R. Bell thanked Social Work for its role in this year’s campaign and the Division of Community Affairs for its support of the campaign, also acknowledging the generosity of faculty, staff and retirees. He also thanked campaign coordinators for their leadership.

The following 11 units reached or exceeded their unit goal and were also recognized: Advancement; Community Affairs; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Graduate School; Honors College; Law School; Office of the President; School of Social Work; OTIDE; TUARA (Retirees); and University Libraries.

Jackie Wuska, CEO of United Way of West Alabama (UWWA), and Chris Gunter, 2023 UWWA campaign chair, also expressed their gratitude for the University community uniting to support individuals and families in need throughout West Alabama.

“You are the heart and soul of this campaign, and it’s such a wonderful reflection on the University and the Capstone we love so much,” Wuska said.

The campaign will continue through the end of the semester. Donations can be made through the secure online giving portal through Monday, Dec. 18. Those who prefer to give via pledge card may do so through Friday, Dec. 15. Donations of at least $60 will qualify for a donor rewards card containing offers from a variety of West Alabama businesses.

The Division of Community Affairs leads the annual UA United Way Campaign with a structure that provides opportunities for UA colleges and administrative units to host the campaign each year. The United Way of West Alabama has 30 partner agencies and plays a vital role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Partner agencies from Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties provide a variety of education, income-related, health and emergency-response programs to citizens throughout West Alabama. 

*Author’s note: At the conclusion of the 2023 calendar year, the final giving total was $406,422.09.  

UA Reaches 95 Percent of United Way Campaign Goal; Campaign Continues Through End of Year

• December 6th, 2022
• in United Way

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by Dr. Elisabetta Zengaro
Communication Specialist, Division of Community Affairs

With the holiday season approaching, the UA United Way Campaign leadership announced giving to the 2022 campaign has reached 95% of the $405,000 goal.

Dr. Colleen Geary and Dr. James Hardin, campaign co-chairs, shared during the UA United Way Campaign celebration on the Autherine Lucy Hall lawn on Thursday, Dec. 1, that while the journey to goal is ongoing, the finish line is in sight.

This year’s theme, United in Lifting Lives, mirrors the mission of the 2022 host college, the College of Education (COE), by capturing the importance of working together to support individuals and families in need throughout the community and the West Alabama area.

“We know that when we make one life better everyone around that person gets lifted as well, and in a way, we all get a rise,” said Dr. Peter Hlebowitsh, dean of the COE.

UA President Dr. Stuart R. Bell thanked the COE for its role in this year’s campaign, as well as the Division of Community Affairs and campaign coordinators for their leadership, and faculty and staff for their generosity. He also recognized 12 units that reached or exceeded their unit goal, as well as the impact of the UA United Way Campaign in inspiring UA students to become involved in their communities.

“Lifting others through the United Way this year, I think, is the way that we’re all exhibiting that for our students,” Bell said. “Students learn how to be philanthropic when they’re on our campus. When that thermometer goes to the top, they see that. That’s this university that’s giving back in so many ways.”

Jackie Wuska, CEO of the United Way of West Alabama (UWWA), and Jheovanny Gomez, 2022 UWWA campaign chair, also noted the impact of UA’s support for United Way by lifting lives in West Alabama.

“This community changed my life, and with your contribution and what you do, you’re making a huge impact on the West Alabama community,” Gomez said.

“Because of the generosity of the employees at The University of Alabama, we are traditionally the largest contributor to the United Way of West Alabama’s campaign,” said Dr. Samory Pruitt, vice president for Community Affairs. “We are almost there but will need more employees in the UA family to contribute, so that we can meet our goal and fulfill our commitment to our community.”

The campaign will continue through the end of the calendar year. Donations can be made through the secure online giving portal through that time. Those who prefer to give via pledge card may do so through Wednesday, Dec. 21.

The Division of Community Affairs leads the annual UA United Way Campaign with a structure that provides opportunities for UA colleges and administrative units to host the campaign each year. The United Way of West Alabama has 26 partner agencies and plays a vital role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Partner agencies from Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties provide a variety of education, income-related, health and emergency-response programs to citizens throughout West Alabama.

UA Announces Success for Annual UA United Way Campaign

• November 5th, 2021
• in United Way

by Diane Kennedy-Jackson
Publications Coordinator, Division of Community Affairs

University faculty and staff, as well as United Way of West Alabama (UWWA) and partner agency representatives, gathered on the Gorgas Quad October 14 — a picture perfect day — to learn the giving total for the annual UA United Way Campaign.

The Capstone College of Nursing (CCN) served as the host college for the 2021 campaign, and they wanted to put a spotlight on their dedicated nursing students and the hard work they have done alongside their faculty and staff mentors throughout the pandemic. And so it was only fitting that the students, along with Big Al, revealed the total — $406,720.84 — a figure that exceeded the $400,000 campaign goal!

Dr. Nicole Prewitt, campaign champion, gave the opening remarks and introduced Dr. Suzanne Prevost, dean of CCN, who welcomed those present and thanked all — from campaign co-chairs Dr. Michelle Cheshire and Dr. Michele Montgomery, to unit coordinators, UA President Stuart R. Bell, and all who contributed — for their roles in once again making this annual campaign a success.

“For everyone on campus and everyone here today who has made a personal contribution or a pledge to support the United Way, I just want to thank you for your teamwork and support,” said Prevost. “And I want to thank our University president for his long-standing commitment and role modeling to support the campaign every year.”

Dr. Bell reflected on the caring spirit of UA faculty and staff. “What another great year to come together and to celebrate what our campus has done,” he said. “I thank our faculty and staff on this campus every year that I have had the pleasure of serving as president, that I am able to come out and have so much gratitude for what this campus does and the heart that they (the faculty and staff) have to care for those who are in need. Once again, our faculty and staff have demonstrated that.”

President Bell thanked CCN for its role in this year’s campaign, expressing that when he thinks of those who serve, he thinks of nurses. He thanked the Division of Community Affairs for its leadership in this annual campaign, as well as the campaign coordinators, noting that it’s those department-level leaders who serve the essential role of making sure that faculty and staff remember to make their pledges and donations. “Thank you all for taking on that leadership role and making every year such a success for us,” he said.

Dr. Bell also thanked United Way of West Alabama CEO Jackie Wuska and her staff for ensuring that seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year, people are working to ensure that the resources made available by our fundraising efforts reach those in need.

Longtime campaign treasurer Caroline Railsback acknowledged those from her office whose support and assistance allows her to take time away from her job to work on this annual campaign, as well as Prathima Gilliam, who in a very short period in 2020 created the online giving platform now used for the campaign.

“I’d like to call out some specific divisions this year,” said Railsback, “which I typically don’t do, but I think that they need to be recognized. We have three divisions that have a higher than 90% contribution rate. That’s Advancement, Community Affairs and Strategic Communications. I also want to call out the retirees from The University of Alabama. We quite simply could not make our goal without their contributions. They gave over $50,000 this year.”

Campaign co-chair Cheshire shared, “We at the Capstone College of Nursing have been honored to be a part of this campaign. We have always had a strong relationship with many of the United Way agencies, and this campaign has allowed us to advocate for them. The theme we chose — Committed to Caring for those in Need — resonated with us, as we hope it did for all of you.

“For years, faculty and staff at the Capstone College of Nursing have had the opportunity to introduce our students, many of whom are not from the West Alabama area, to the amazing services provided by United Way agencies. We have been able to use these agencies as clinical placements for nursing students to learn to provide patient care outside of the hospital setting. We have been able to expose them to the great work of the United Way agencies and given them a front-row seat to witness the impact of the services these agencies provide. We can lecture in the classroom about the need for nurses to be servant leaders in their communities, but the United Way agencies have allowed them to see firsthand what servant leadership looks like, through the volunteers and the staff who are the boots on the ground in these agencies.

“Being committed to caring for those in need is exactly what employees of the University are passionate about. We are thankful that the College of Nursing has been able to be a part of this campaign. Since 2020, life has changed dramatically, and the needs of many in our community have increased exponentially. What the dean and Michele (Montgomery) and I have witnessed and monitored weekly, is that the generous spirit of UA employees is alive and well. Thank you for letting us be a small part of the huge impact that your generosity will have on West Alabama.”

Wuska and Sandra Hall Ray, 2021 Campaign chair for UWWA, thanked the University for consistently rising to the challenge, whatever that might be, by bringing together the talents, skills, enthusiasm and generous hearts of its employees to support the community each year through this annual campaign, which is the largest for employee gifts in West Alabama.

The campaign will continue through the end of the semester, and donations can be made through the secure, online giving portal at http://communityaffairs.ua.edu/2021-united-way-headquarters/ through Friday, Dec. 3. Those who prefer to give via pledge card should contact Elizabeth Hartley at ehartley@ua.edu. Donations of at least $60 will qualify for a Donor Rewards Card containing offers from a variety of West Alabama businesses.

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The Division of Community Affairs leads the annual UA United Way Campaign with a structure that provides opportunities for UA colleges and administrative units to host the campaign each year. The United Way of West Alabama has 26 partner agencies and plays a vital role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Partner agencies from Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties provide a variety of education, income-related, health and emergency-response programs to citizens throughout West Alabama.

Giving at Ninety Percent of Goal as United Way Campaign Continues

• November 20th, 2020
• in United Way

Missed the celebration?

Watch the 2020 UA United Way Campaign celebration on the CCIS facebook page!

Watch here.

By Diane Kennedy-Jackson
Publications Coordinator, Division of Community Affairs

As the campus community prepared for the rapidly approaching Thanksgiving holiday, UA United Way Campaign leadership shared an update on the 2020 campaign giving total to date. On Thursday, Nov. 19, Big Al joined Dr. Adam Brooks, campaign co-chair, in the WVUA studios to announce that this annual campaign, which supports those in need throughout our area through donations to the United Way of West Alabama (UWWA), had reached a giving total of $360,045.41, or 90% of this year’s $400,000 goal. The announcement was made from the WVUA studios via the College of Communication and Information Sciences’ Facebook page.

Joining the celebration virtually were Dr. Mark Nelson, dean of this year’s host college, the College of Communication and Information Sciences, as well as Campaign Champion Dr. Nicole Prewitt, UA President Stuart R. Bell, Campaign Treasurer Caroline Railsback, 2020 UWWA Campaign Chair Shelley Jones and Jackie Wuska, chief executive officer of UWWA.

Their unified message was to send a heartfelt thank you to every member of the University community who has given or will give to this ongoing effort, and to everyone involved in running the campaign.

Nelson thanked Adam Brooks and Lynn Brooks for serving as campaign co-chairs, as well as Dr. Samory Pruitt and his staff in the Division of Community Affairs for their behind-the-scenes role in this annual campaign. He also thanked Dr. Bell for the opportunity to host the 2020 campaign. “And to each of you, our faculty and staff, who shared your kindness with our community, thank you,” said Nelson

Bell thanked Dean Nelson and CCIS for leading the campaign this year, noting that the last time this college hosted the campaign was in 2011 following the spring tornadoes that year. “I promise that we will do our best to make the next time you host a year like any other, rather than a year like no other,” said Bel, who went on to thank the United Way of West Alabama, both for the work they are doing and for allowing the University the opportunity to be a partner in service to the community. “And to all who have donated or are still planning to, I thank you,” said Bell. “This year more than ever, our community is counting on us.”

Wuska spoke to the importance of the University’s role in this annual campaign, saying “Thank you so much to those of you who have paid your blessings forward by making a gift to the United Way of West Alabama. The need for our partner agencies’ services has never been greater, and we could not come close to making an impact in the community without the support of The University of Alabama. During this challenging time, we are grateful that you have faith in us to allow us to make a difference.”

Railsback thanked all donors for their generosity, as well as the UA facilities department for quickly setting up the drop box behind Rose Administration to accommodate those who wished to drop off pledge cards. She gave a special nod to Prathima Gilliam and her team in OIT who built the online giving platform, which was new this year. “We quite literally could not have had this year’s campaign without her,” said Railsback.

Prewitt noted that when she was asked to serve in this role this year, she welcomed the opportunity, in part because she knew she would have a great campus coordinating team, but also because she knew the generosity and kindness of the UA family.

“Since the COVID-19 outbreak in March, more people have sought assistance from the United Way of West Alabama than ever before — many of them for the first time,” said Prewitt. “I want to thank every member of the UA family who has already made or will make a contribution to the 2020 campaign. Your generosity and kindness are certain to have a lasting impact on our community.”

In a year that has brought unique challenges for us all, the global pandemic has shone a spotlight on the importance of sharing what we have with those in need, and in letting kindness be our story.

The campaign will continue through the end of the semester, and donations can be made through a secure, online giving portal at http://communityaffairs.ua.edu/2020-ua-united-way-headquarters/. Those who prefer to give via pledge card should contact Elizabeth Hartley at ehartley@ua.edu. Donations of at least $60 will qualify for a Donor Rewards Card containing offers from 34 West Alabama businesses.

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The Division of Community Affairs leads the annual UA United Way Campaign with a structure that provides opportunities for UA colleges and administrative units to host the campaign each year. The United Way of West Alabama has 26 partner agencies and plays a vital role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Partner agencies from Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties provide a variety of education, income-related, health and emergency-response programs to citizens throughout West Alabama.

University of Alabama to Launch 2020 United Way Campaign

• October 6th, 2020
• in United Way

Each autumn, The University of Alabama conducts its annual UA United Way Campaign in support of the United Way of West Alabama (UWWA). The campaign, like so many things in 2020, will look a little different this year, but the goal — to support UWWA and, by extension, its 26 partner agencies — remains the same.

This year’s host college, the College of Communication and Information Sciences, will utilize the WVUA studio to share the 2020 UA United Way Campaign Kickoff via the College’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/UACCIS) on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m.

All are invited to join WVUA news director and anchor Lynn Brooks and director of the Communication Studies speaking studio Dr. Adam Brooks, who are serving as campaign co-chairs, as well as University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell, Dr. Mark Nelson, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences, other members of the campaign leadership, and Big Al.

We look forward to connecting with you on Facebook as together we launch another exciting United Way Campaign at The University of Alabama.

Contact: Nicole Prewitt, nbprewitt@ua.edu, 205-348-9819

Giving for United Way Highest in UA’s History

• November 27th, 2019
• in United Way

UA Launches 2019 United Way Campaign

• September 20th, 2019
• in United Way

UA Crushes Annual United Way Campaign, Reports Largest Giving Total in Campaign History

• November 29th, 2018
• in United Way

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Athletics Director Greg Byrne welcomed more than 100 people to the UA United Way campaign celebration Nov. 28, thanking all who worked on the campaign for their efforts in making 2018 another successful year. He gave a special nod to Intercollegiate Athletics, this year’s host, as well as to the Division of Community Affairs, the campus coordinators and all who contributed financially.

“United Way touches so many wonderful organizations,” said Byrne, “and that benefits our community, that benefits our youth, and people who really just need help to do things in their lives that a lot of us take for granted on a daily basis. It’s wonderful that the University supports the United Way. It’s wonderful what the United Way does for our community.”

Caroline Railsback, operations coordinator in the Office of Finance and UA United Way campaign treasurer, noted, “Normally we have a static presentation of the total, but this year we are going to have a moving presentation.”

Railsback was referring to the logistics of the event, which began in the North Field Suite at Bryant-Denny Stadium and culminated with a host of University and United Way representatives, UA pep band, cheerleaders and Big Al in the north end zone for the big reveal.

Utilizing the technology available at Bryant-Denny, Intercollegiate Athletics raised the bar for this annual event. As the presentation check was revealed, the final total was also displayed on the Jumbotron screens throughout the stadium. That check, for $469,483, provided a visual reminder of what happens when champions unite to crush a $385,000 campaign goal.

“Championship teams have quite a few characteristics,” said Marie Robbins, senior associate athletics director and co-chair of the UA United Way campaign, “Among them are great talent, working together and maximum effort, and you know we had all of those things here with the teams we put together.

“We were inspired from the beginning with our theme, Champions United: A Tradition of Caring, Serving, and Giving,” she continued. “We embraced that as a host division.”

Following the check reveal, a pre-recorded video thank you featuring Jackie Wuska, president and chief executive officer of United Way of West Alabama, and Jordan Plaster, 2018 campaign chair, was shared via Jumbotron while the names of the 26 United Way partner agencies appeared on the electronic ribbon that surrounds the field.

It was a fitting celebration for a campaign that realized the highest dollar giving total in UA’s United Way campaign history.

The Division of Community Affairs leads the annual UA United Way Campaign with a structure that provides opportunities for UA colleges and administrative units to host the campaign each year. The United Way of West Alabama has 26 partner agencies and plays a vital role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Partner agencies from Bibb, Fayette, Green, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties provide a variety of education, income-related, health and emergency-response programs to citizens throughout West Alabama.

UA Aims for Record Goal in 2016 United Way Campaign

• October 17th, 2016
• in News, Spotlight, United Way

Members of the University community joined the College of Continuing Studies (CCS), host of the 2016 United Way campaign, on Thursday, Oct. 6 for a Campaign Kickoff event at the Ferguson Center Plaza on campus. This year’s goal is a record $365,000 — a $20,000 increase from the 2015 goal — with an additional emphasis on increasing the percentage of employees participating in the campaign.

The tailgate-themed event brought beautiful, unseasonably warm weather as UA campaign administrators, partner-agency representatives and leadership-level donors gathered to launch the annual effort.

“The theme for this year’s campaign, UA CARES: UNITED WE THRIVE, represents the spirit of the faculty, staff and students as demonstrated through our service and generosity toward those on our campus as well as those in our surrounding communities,” said Dr. Stuart R. Bell, UA president, in a letter to the campus community. “Our partnership with the United Way of West Alabama plays a vitally important role in our efforts to improve the quality of life for individuals in West Alabama.”

UA is consistently the largest institutional contributor to the United Way of West Alabama campaign, holding the distinction of being the No. 1 employee campaign in total dollars pledged since 2001. Additionally, the University is the current SEC leader in percentage of employees contributing to local United Way campaigns.

CCS Dean Craig Edelbrock, in welcoming those in attendance, took a playful swipe at the “orange and blue” institution “down the road” for using UA’s United Way success as motivation to increase its participation … “and they moved up from fifth to second. What a great competition between two universities in Alabama!”

Bell spoke of the importance of the campaign and how it knits together organizations that help the community. “Thank you for what you all do, every day,” he said, acknowledging partner-agency representatives at the event.

Jackie Wuska, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of West Alabama, thanked the University community for its support, recognizing the service leadership attitude at UA. “We are the envy of everyone in the SEC,” she said. Then, in reference to that school down the road mentioned earlier, she good-naturedly encouraged UA to “crush the Lee County spirit.”

Campaign co-chairs from CCS are Bill Elrod, director, business development and college relations; Dixie MacNeil, director, academic outreach; and Dr. Robert Prescott, director of corporate engagement. The campus coordinating committee supporting them includes representatives from the Division of Community Affairs, UA Printing, Auxiliary Services, Financial Affairs and Facilities, as well as the Faculty Senate, the Professional Staff Assembly, the Student Government Association, The SOURCE, The University of Alabama Retirees Association and a host of committee members and department-level coordinators.

United Way of West Alabama has 26 partner agencies and covers Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties. These agencies provide a variety of education, income-related, health and emergency-response programs to citizens throughout West Alabama. For more information about United Way of West Alabama, visit uwwa.org.

Get weekly updates on the campaign progress.

The University of Alabama, the state’s oldest and largest public institution of higher education, is a student-centered research university that draws the best and brightest to an academic community committed to providing a premier undergraduate and graduate education. UA is dedicated to achieving excellence in scholarship, collaboration and intellectual engagement; providing public outreach and service to the state of Alabama and the nation; and nurturing a campus environment that fosters collegiality, respect and inclusivity.