United Way of West Alabama Aims to Raise $4.8 Million for Tuscaloosa Area Nonprofits

An organization that aims to raise critical funding for vital Tuscaloosa area nonprofits announced its most ambitious campaign goal to date on Tuesday.

The United Way of West Alabama exists to collect resources for its 30 partner organizations, all of which aim to assist local families and children in need. 

Benefitting organizations run the gamut, from the American Red Cross of Alabama, the Black Warrior Council Scouting agency, Child Abuse Prevention Services, the Success By 6 intervention program for at-risk 4-year-olds preparing for kindergarten, Turing Point and the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center and dozens more.

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On Tuesday, campaign chair Josh Hayes welcomed a sold-out crowd to the kickoff event at the Bryant Conference Center and thanked all past, present and future donors for their support.

The invocation was delivered by Harper Williams, a recent graduate of the "Success by 6" program, who may not have been able to read the prayer without the help she received. A stirring speech also came from the survivor of a 2023 sexual assault who found strength and support at the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center.

Though one speaker is just starting kindergarten and the other was a soon-to-be 45-year-old mother, both have had their lives positively changed by organizations funded by the United Way.

"Chances are you know someone who has benefited from one of our United Way programs because the studies show that one in four West Alabamians are impacted by the United Way and our partner agencies. That is not simply a statistic - those are your neighbors. That is someone sitting at your table today."

This year, the United Way of West Alabama aims to raise $4.8 million to then distribute to the dozens of agencies it helps fund, giving those organizations more time to assist their clientele, whoever that may be.

"United Way's campaign allows our 30 wonderful partner agencies to focus on their own individual missions, and they're all amazing agencies who do amazing work," Hayes said. "Without having to focus all of their time on raising money, they can devote themselves to the important programs they use to touch so many of us across our community."

The Tuesday lunch also honored this year's Homer S. Butler, Jr. Agency of the Year - the Y of Tuscaloosa, whose CEO, Jeff Knox, said they likely would not be around without the money they receive from the UWWA.

Individual donors give major contributions every year, but the UWWA also works with employers to solicit recurring donations and also inform local workers about the services their partner agencies offer.

Learn more and sign up to support the United Way at their website here, and for more coverage of news in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.