It’s a busy time at United Way of Coastal Georgia, from hosting fun events like the Spelling Bee(r) and the upcoming Kickball for a Cause on October 22 to the truly impactful work helping to create positive, meaningful experiences for so many neighbors. United Way works hard every day to understand the issues and opportunities unique to the communities we serve. By convening leaders from nonprofit, business, and government sectors as well as listening and providing assistance to those in need, we are able to invest in and co-create solutions that have the most impact.
Fun at the United Way Spelling Bee(r)
We like to say that we are the “stop talking, start doing, band together and take on the impossible task masters.” That means we work to address problems that no one organization can solve alone. We bring together the right partners not only to address immediately identifiable needs, but also ensure we are investing in long-term solutions to eradicate the root cause issue.
The community’s support of United Way has driven meaningful impact throughout the Coastal Georgia region for over 65 years! This month, we kick off our annual campaign, raising funds to invest right here in Coastal Georgia. We ask our community to, once again, UNITE with us and support our vision to create a community where all individuals and families have the opportunity to achieve their maximum potential. United Way is the one way that we can all come together to support each other with a safety net of programs, services, and pathways to maximize our potential, as individuals and as a region.
In the last few years, we have raised over $2.2 million dollars through our annual campaign. While that is a lot, it doesn’t tell the whole story of our impact. Because of our network and reach, our involvement as the backbone organization in a variety of community initiatives, additional community engagement including disaster relief efforts, and our ability to source outside investment opportunities, the true value of our impact in Coastal Georgia is more than double that number. When you invest in United Way of Coastal Georgia, you leverage your investment to create the most good throughout our region.
Not only do we invest in the tremendous work of our partners, we also invest directly into the community through a variety of programs and services, including a couple of new initiatives. Youth United, a service-oriented youth leadership development program launched last month with 20 participants from three area high schools. We have also been working very hard as the core organization for a multi-year collective impact initiative with several community stakeholders committed to raising awareness of the unacceptable prevalence and enduring harmful effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and developing equitable solutions that will create a stronger, more resilient region.
We would love for you to join our cause by signing up to volunteer, making a donation, or participating in our fundraising events. Join us for the 6th Annual Kickball for a Cause Tournament on Saturday, October 22 at Mallery Park on St. Simons Island. Space is limited, so register your team today! Deadline is October 15. See details about this event as well as additional information about United Way of Coastal Georgia and they ways you can get involved at uwcga.org. Thank you for LIVING UNITED for Coastal Georgia!
By Justin Callaway, President & CEO, United Way of Coastal Georgia
