The University of Alabama has, for the 17th year, exceeded its United Way campaign goal. The 2016 goal was $365,000, or $1,000 per day for each day of the year. The total pledged — $431,715.73 — was announced at a Dec. 8 celebration held at the Bryant Conference Center.
The College of Continuing Studies hosted this year’s campaign, led by campaign co-chairs Bill Elrod, director of Business Development and College Relations, Dixie MacNeil, director of Academic Outreach, and Robert Prescott, director of Corporate Engagement. Antoine Bell, manager of Business Development and College Relations and the loaned executive for the project, assisted them.
Jackie Wuska, president and CEO of United Way of West Alabama, thanked those present for the work that went into making the campaign a success. She noted that United Way had always been able to count on The University of Alabama’s generosity. “It’s going to make such a difference in small and big ways,” she said, referring to several of the partner agencies whose clients will benefit from the funds raised.
The campus coordinating committee supporting Elrod, MacNeil and Prescott included 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.