United Way of Central Alabama

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United Way logo.png

The United Way of Central Alabama is a non-profit organization which coordinates fund raising and community charity work throughout central Alabama. Its offices are located in Highland Office Park at 3600 8th Avenue South.

The organization was founded in 1923 as the Birmingham Community Chest, benefitting thirty-one agencies and with an initial fund-raising goal of $450,000. The symbol for the campaign was a red feather. For most of its history, Community Chest offices were located in the Downtown YWCA.

In 1955 Community Chest president James Mills proposed instituting the practice of having business owners offer payroll deductions as a means of making contributions to the annual drive. In 1956 the name of the organization was changed to United Appeal. The group was invited to expand into Shelby County in 1969 and into Walker County the following year.

In 1985 the group was renamed United Way-Community Chest of Central Alabama. In 1992 it was shortened to its present name. United Way of Central Alabama merged with Chilton County United Way on January 1, 2021.

Chief executives

Fund raising

United Way of Central Alabama holds a major annual fund-raiser which now supports 80 health and human service programs across the area. Typically each year's fund-raising goal is raised beyond the previous year's collections.

Year Chair Goal Pledge
1939 Crawford Johnson Jr $450,000.00 $466,757.44
1954 $1,201,779.65
1955 William Hulsey $1,308,998.17
1958 Henry Goodrich $1,899,900
1975 Houston Blount
1984 Willie Warren
1977 William Rushton III
2003 C. Alan Martin $31,625,000 $31,704,546
2004 $32,000,000 $32,800,000
2005 $33,500,000 $34,100,000
2006 $34,400,000 $34,800,000
2007 $36,200,000 $36,600,000
2008 $37,250,000 $37,260,000
2009 $37,260,000 $37,270,000
2010 Dudley Reynolds $37,270,908 $37,271,302
2011 Robert Aland $37,280,000 $37,285,124
2012 Gordon Martin $37,500,000 $37,535,315
2013 Fred McCallum $37,900,000 $37,903,729
2014 Mark Drew $38,250,000 $38,255,109
2015 Nancy Goedecke $38,755,000 $38,801,031
2016 Rich Bielen $39,000,000 $39,000,612
2017 John Owen $38,000,000 $38,000,214
2018 Kennon Walthall $38,000,000 $38,000,000
2019 Jeff Stone $36,500,000 $36,825,000
2020 Greg King $34,500,000 $36,000,000
2021 Doug Colthorp $36,000,000 $36,250,000
2022 Emmett McLean $36,500,000 $39,009,527
2023 Dow Briggs $37,000,000 $38,613,100

External link

References

  • "Payroll deductions held Chest solution." (September 28, 1955) The Birmingham News, p. 31
  • "United Way of Central Alabama." (January 2007) Birmingham Then & Now Special Promotion, Birmingham Magazine Vol. 47, No. 1, p. 127
  • Faulk, Kent (December 10, 2009) "United Way of Central Alabama makes goal." The Birmingham News
  • Rebman, Stephanie (November 18, 2020) "Two Alabama United Ways join forces, launch regional nonprofit." Birmingham Business Journal