| River Region United Way

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On Saturday, May 11^th, River Region United Way, United Way Worldwide, Campbell Soup Company, Publix and others will join forces with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to support Feeding America and help Stamp Out Hunger across America. Now in its 21st year, the annual food drive helps provide assistance to millions of Americans struggling to put food on the table.

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive benefits Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the country, which includes affiliates like the Montgomery Area Food Bank. In 2012, letter carriers collected food donations from 10,000 communities, helping to put millions of meals on the tables of Americans in need.

YOU can help by leaving a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods items next to your mailbox on Saturday, May 11. Letter carriers will be collecting items like these:

Canned soup

Canned vegetables

Pasta

Peanut butter

Rice

Cereal

The nation’s 175,000 letter carriers, representing nearly 1,500 NALC branches in more than 10,000 communities, will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail and take them to a local Feeding America food bank or hunger-relief organization like the Montgomery Area Food Bank.

Thanks for helping the hungry in our River Region!

Posted By: River Region Un...

05/01/2013 - 8:24pm

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Harmons honored for outstanding community service

River Region United Way presented the 2012 Jean & Adolph “Bucks” Weil Award to Barrie and Laura Harmon at its annual meeting on April 17th. This award recognizes individuals and organizations who continue to provide outstanding community service to the River Region United Way.

Barrie and Laura Harmon served as 2011-2012 Co-chairs of The Tocqueville Society of the River Region United Way. This philanthropic group of individuals and private foundations formed in 1987 to foster, promote and recognize the vital importance of voluntary community service and personal giving at an exceptional level.

Under the Harmons’ leadership, The Tocqueville Society grew from 43 to 91 members. Collectively, The Tocqueville Society membership contributed over $1.2 million to the annual campaign in 2012 -- 23% of the total funds raised last year.

In addition to their service and commitment to the River Region United Way, the Harmons have volunteered and served in leadership positions with many local nonprofit organizations, including the Jackson Hospital Foundation, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the Central Alabama Community Foundation, the Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and numerous other organizations that serve our community.

We are most grateful for their service, not just to United Way, but to the entire River Region.

Pictured above are Laura and Barrie Harmon with Russ Dunman, CEO of RRUW (photo courtesy of Frank C. Williams).

Posted By: River Region Un...

04/25/2013 - 10:39am

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Happy 90th RRUW!

More than 175 supporters came together to commemorate River Region United Way’s 90^th Anniversary at its Annual Meeting on April 17th. The event was attended by City leadership, current and former United Way volunteers, annual campaign contributors, as well as board and staff leadership from United Way’s 46 affiliate agencies.

Roger Spain, RRUW Board Chair and Chief Volunteer Officer, said, “Today we celebrate 90 years of United Way’s presence in the River Region. Over the years, and under a number of different names, River Region United Way has continued to advance the common good by working to address the needs of our communities.”

Throughout its 90-year history, United Way has had thousands of volunteers serving the needs of individuals and families in numbers too large to count. Two of these volunteers were honored at the meeting as the 2012 recipients of the Jean and Adolph “Bucks” Weil Award. Barrie and Laura Harmon received the award for their exemplary leadership and commitment to community service. The Harmons served as 2011-2012 Co-Chairs of The Tocqueville Society, a group of benefactors of the River Region United Way, whose membership doubled under the Harmons' leadership.

Montgomery County District Attorney Ellen Brooks delivered an inspiring keynote address about volunteerism and the importance of community involvement. Brooks shared how she was first exposed to United Way as a young child, when her mother served as the Director of Public Relations for the United Appeal (one of several names that the organization has had over its 90 years). Brooks has a history of volunteer service with United Way, having served on its Board of Directors, Community Council and as Professionals Co-chair of the Campaign Cabinet, as well as on the boards of several United Way affiliate agencies.

Roger Spain closed the meeting with a focus on the future and with a special presentation to 10-year old Payton, who participated in our NFL Play 60 Day and is pictured on the cover of the 2012 Annual Report.

To view the 2012 Annual Report, click here.

To our many supporters, we thank you. We look forward to the next 90 years of serving the River Region.

Pictured above: Roger Spain, RRUW Board Chair, and 10-year old Payton H.

Pictured below (l to r): Laura and Barrie Harmon, 2011-2012 Co-Chairs of The Tocqueville Society, with Russ Dunman, RRUW President & CEO.

With special thanks to AUM photographer, Frank C. Williams.

Posted By: River Region Un...

04/18/2013 - 3:57pm

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Thank You to Our Board Members

River Region United Way could not impact 140,000 lives in the River Region without the commitment and dedication of its many volunteers. This includes those serving on our Board of Directors. We wish to thank those who recently completed their terms of service (l to r): Heather Coleman, Carnell McAlpine, Bruce Murphy, John Veres III, Carter Papke and Lance Hudson.

(Not pictured): Gene Crane, Andrea Foye, William Harris, Jodie Hughes and Richard Younger. Serving in an ex officio capacity were Brad Armagost, Barry Cavan, Alan Hackel, Katherine Jackson, Martha Jinright and Bobby Weil.

Thank you for your service, for sharing your time and talents, and for helping us advance the common good in the River Region!

Posted By: River Region Un...

12/16/2012 - 4:57pm

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Dr. Alan Hackel Recognized for Community Council Leadership

Dr. Alan Hackel was recognized recently at RRUW's Community Council meeting for his service as 2011-2012 Community Council Chair.

President and CEO Russ Dunman made a special presentation to Dr. Hackel in recognition for his many years of dedicated service and his commitment to improving the quality of life in the River Region. Dr. Hackel, who retired as dean of the Division of Continuing Education at AUM, has volunteered with River Region United Way for more than 15 years. He will continue to serve on the Community Council as Immediate Past Chair in 2013.

Regina Meadows, BONDS Program Director, will follow Dr. Hackel as chair of the Community Council, and Derrick Cunningham, Chief Deputy of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, will serve as vice chair.

The Community Council is currently planning a Community Needs Assessment of the River Region. The results of this assessment will help to identify and prioritize the greatest needs in our community and will also help inform the direction of future funding allocations.

Pictured above (l to r): Regina Walker, Director of Community Impact, Dr. Alan Hackel, 2011-2012 Chair of the Community Council, and Russ Dunman, President and CEO of RRUW.

Pictured below (l to r): Regina Meadows, Derrick Cunningham and Regina Walker.

Posted By: River Region Un...

12/04/2012 - 3:51pm

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Kid Rock LIVES UNITED at United Way Thanksgiving Halftime Show!

It’s an NFL kind of Thanksgiving! As we give thanks to all of the donors and LIVE UNITED leaders who support our cause, Detroit native Kid Rock will hit the stage at the 2012 United Way Thanksgiving Halftime Show during the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans game (11:30am CT on CBS) to rock the movement.

At this special halftime event, the live performance will give thanks to the millions of donors, advocates and volunteers who, over the years, have helped United Way advance the common good. Be sure to tune in and watch all the way to the end for a special 125th Anniversary card stunt and new PSA featuring clips from LIVE UNITED champions.

Have a rockin’ Thanksgiving!

Posted By: River Region Un...

11/22/2012 - 9:43am

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Thank You River Region!

We give thanks . . .

For our 46 affiliate agencies dedicated to serving the needs of our community.

For the hundreds of United Way volunteers giving so generously of their time and talents.

For the 10,000 individuals and businesses donating to RRUW and advancing the common good in our River Region.

On behalf of the 140,000 people whose lives are impacted by the River Region United Way every year,

We thank you.

Posted By: River Region Un...

11/21/2012 - 8:34am

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River Bank & Trust Contributes $33,109 to Campaign

River Region United Way is pleased to receive a contribution of $33,109 from River Bank & Trust. Their contribution to the 2012 United Way Campaign will impact the lives of 850 people in the River Region.

Jimmy Stubbs, President and CEO of River Bank & Trust, said, “Our employees understand the importance of giving back to the community and especially finding ways to help those in need. We hope that our commitment to the United Way will encourage other businesses to step up and help make a difference in the River Region through the United Way Campaign.”

In addition to its financial contributions, River Bank & Trust is committed to showing its support of United Way through volunteerism. Jimmy Stubbs currently serves on the Board of Directors of River Region United Way (RRUW), as does Mike Lamar, Senior Vice President at River Bank. Lamar also leads the 2012 Campaign for RRUW/Autauga County. Gene Crane, Executive Vice President of River Bank, currently serves on the RRUW board as Immediate Past President. Eric Jacks, Vice President of River Bank, is involved as a current member of the RRUW Community Council as well as the Budget & Allocations Committee.

River Bank & Trust is a locally owned and operated community bank with locations in Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery counties.

Thank you River Bank & Trust!

Pictured above (front row): Leah Cox (AVP, River Bank & Trust), Sharon Foster (Lending Assistant, River Bank & Trust), Jimmy Stubbs (President & CEO, River Bank & Trust), and Mike Lamar (Senior VP, River Bank & Trust); (back row): Jimmy Hill (Director of Resource Development, River Region United Way), Gene Crane (EVP, River Bank & Trust), and Eric Jacks (VP, River Bank & Trust).

Posted By: River Region Un...

11/09/2012 - 6:10pm

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Skilled Healthcare and Social Work Volunteers Needed!

The American Red Cross of Central Alabama has some immediate volunteer needs in response to Hurricane Sandy. The following professionals are needed: RNs, LPNs, Mental Health Nurses, and Social Workers/Case Workers.

Please contact HandsOn River Region at 334-264-3335 (or at volunteer@handsonriverregion.org) if you are interested, qualified and available for deployment (possibly within the next 3 days).

With leadership from United Way of New York City, United Ways along the Eastern Seaboard have established the

United Way Hurricane Sandy Recovery Fund to address near-term and long-term recovery needs of communities most affected by the hurricane.

Posted By: River Region Un...

11/02/2012 - 3:05pm

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Campaigning for Our Community

At an event complete with red, white and blue bunting, balloons and campaign signs, anyone who stepped into the Council Auditorium on October 18th might have thought they’d walked straight into a political rally!

Roger Spain, Chair of the Board of Directors of River Region United Way, explained, “Today we’re not campaigning for a candidate. The River Region United Way is Campaigning for a Cause. We are Campaigning for Our Community.”

The River Region United Way marked the mid-point of its annual fundraising campaign with an “Ol’ Time Campaign Rally” style meeting. Mayor Todd Strange of the City of Montgomery hosted the event at City Hall in the recently renovated Council Auditorium. EMERGE Montgomery member Keith Buchanan made arrangements for some special inspiration from Alabama State University – Dr. Tonea Stewart, Dean of the College of Visual & Performing Arts, as well as performances by cast members from the gospel musical, “Crowns,” and a step show by Student Orientation Services (SOS).

Of course, the real reason everyone had gathered was to hear about campaign progress from 2012 Campaign Chair, Robert S. Weil II, and his Campaign Co-Chairs. As of October 18, 2012, the community had donated $2,644,171 to the River Region United Way for its annual campaign – 49% of our $5.4 million goal!

Russ Dunman, President & CEO of River Region United Way, said, “At a time of year when everyone is talking about campaigns, Democrats, Republicans, red states, blue states . . . it sometimes seems as if nobody can agree on anything. But one thing we can all agree on is that supporting the River Region United Way is more crucial now than ever. When political campaigns are finished dividing ‘them’ and ‘us,’ the needs of our community will still be here.”

To support RRUW and its 46 affiliate agencies, there are multiple ways you can give:

Make your donation through payroll deduction if your employer has a United Way workplace giving campaign.
Make your gift securely online with your credit card by clicking here.
Mail your check, payable to “River Region United Way,” to RRUW, P.O. Box 868, Montgomery, AL 36101.

Thank you, in advance, for your support!

Posted By: River Region Un...

10/30/2012 - 8:38am

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