Batter Up!

No matter how you slice 'em, these Biscuits are the best! 

The Montgomery Biscuits and the Biscuits Charities celebrated Charities Night on August 26 at Riverwalk Stadium with proceeds from the evening's "Take the Shirt Off Our Back" Jersey Auction benefiting the River Region United Way.

From the opening pitch, thrown out by 2011 River Region United Way Campaign Chairman Daniel Hughes, the entire evening was all Biscuits - all the time.

After the pre-game festivities, it was off to the radio booth where 2012 incoming Board President Roger Spain was interviewed by local sports legend Doug Amos. Doug was no stranger to the United Way himself and shared how he had seen the impact United Way agencies have made on our community. Thanks Doug for a great interview - done right in the middle of a third-inning Biscuits scoring spree no less! 

The Carolina Mudcats even added to the night by taking a whooping from our hometown Biscuits by the score of 12-9. At the conclusion of the game, the Biscuits Charities, represented by Biscuits General Manager Marla Vickers presented a check in the amount $4120.00 to the River Region United Way representing the proceeds from the Jersey Auction.  
 

The evening was capped off with fireworks and concluded an absolute fantastic night at the ballpark.  What more can we say?  Great game, great food, great baseball, fireworks and a wonderfully generous check to support the United Way and the agencies we serve.

Thank you Montgomery Biscuits.  You hit it out of the park!

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The ECA Way!

Education Corporation of America owns and operates private institutions of higher education throughout the United States, serving thousands of students and providing qualified employees to businesses in the communities we serve.  Among those fine institutions is Virginia College in Montgomery. 

The staff and instructors at Virginia College met today to discuss their plans for the 2011 United Way campaign and how the ECA Way is the United Way. 

The local campaign, led by Leigh Ann Fletcher and Chris Ducote (shown here) gathered all team members together to hear from Ms. Cynthia McCaghren (shown below) from the Children's Center in Montgomery - a United Way agency.  Cynthia shared that because the Children's Center works with mentally and physically handicapped children, it often requires many types of specialized equipment which is purchased with funds provided by the local River Region United Way.  Without those monies, many of the physical barriers that affect these children could not be overcome.  Instead, because they have the necessary funding these kids are granted the opportunity to grow and develop as any child would in the public school system.


Perhaps the most impactful part of their meeting was the impromptu speech shared by one of Virginia College's own faculty.  She shared that the United Way had touched her family many in many ways and she challenged others to think about how they had seen the United Way working in their community through the YMCA or Girl Scouts or Hospice.  Her remarks were quite touching.

Thank you Virginia College and ECA for what you do for our community.  Not only are you educating our future leaders you are showing us what real leadership looks like in the present.  Thank you for living the ECA Way!



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Swingin' with SABIC

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

The Sabic Innovative Plastics facility in Burkville, AL is conducting our annual United Way Campaign.  The United Way gives us all an opportunity to give back to our local communities, and we are proud of our on-going strong and enduring tradition of helping people in need. We believe now more than ever that we can show a real commitment to the communities where we live and work.

As a part of this year’s fund-raising campaign, we will be conducting a golf tournament at Arrowhead Country Club in Montgomery on Sept. 23 that will be open to the public.  We are anticipating over 60 players to participate in this tournament and look forward to a great fundraising opportunity to benefit the River Region United Way.  All proceeds from these tournaments will go directly to the River Region/Dallas County Chapters of the United Way.

We would like to extend an invitation to your company to participate in this charitable event in a couple of different ways highlighted below:

1. Playing in this United Way Fundraising Tournament!
1. Entry fee per player is $60.
2. Tee times are at 1:00 on Friday September 23, 2011
3. Format will be a 4-Man Scramble.
4. Please make checks payable to the “Burkville Employee Community Fund”
5. Please turn in player names and entry fees to Randy Boyd.

                          i.      Email – randall.boyd@sabic-ip.com

                          ii.      Address - One Plastics Drive, Burkville, Al  36752

2. Sponsoring a hole of the tournament!
1. Hole sponsorship can be acquired for $150.00 per hole
2. Company name will be displayed on a 2’ x 3’ sign at the designated hole during the

      tournament for all players to see.

3. Please make checks payable to the “United Way”
4. Please turn in sponsorship requests to Randy Boyd.

                            i.      Email – mailto:randall.boyd@sabic                

                 Note: Make check payable to “Burkville Employee Community Fund”

                    Memo “Hole Sponsorship” and send it to the address below.

                            ii.      Address –  Sabic Innovative Plastics,

                                      C/O Connie Ivey

                                      One Plastics Drive, Burkville, AL 36752

Sabic Innovative Plastics is committed to helping our communities be successful and welcomes you to join the cause to help United Way.  Participation in this event is strictly voluntary and in no way impacts any future business decisions at Sabic.  We are looking forward to this opportunity to make a difference…Live United! 

Printable Golf Flyer & Registration 

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Good Knight!

Headmaster Mike Petite sets the standards high for the quality staff of Macon-East Montgomery Academy. This team of educators believes every child has the potential to be a leader, educator, community-builder, entrepreneur, and steward. 

The Macon-East staff led by example, taking time out of their busy preparations for the 2011/2012 school year to pledge their support to communities served by the 48 partner agencies of the River Region United Way. 

The Macon-East family knows the importance of the “small-town” feel of community.  Good job Knights and thank you for your support.

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UPS Delivers!

You can look at his face and tell that Brian Turner is one happy man.  For six years in a row now UPS employees and friends have taken to the links at the Robert Trent Jones course in Prattville to benefit the United Way. Taking the reins from Randy Allen who coordinated the tournament last year, Brian did a great job and must have paid the weatherman because it was a picture perfect day at RTJ.

Brian shared his thoughts with his team and everyone that assisted him in making the 2011 Tourney a HUGE success.  Thanks BT for being a role model of how to LIVE UNITED.

REPRODUCED FROM AN EMAIL:

All,

I know I only have some of the email address’ of the players and volunteers for the 6^th Annual UPS United Way Golf Tournament, but I wanted to take the opportunity to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone.  This was my first year as Tournament Director and I learned very much.  The tournament was a bigger success than I initially thought thanks to the support from Jimmy Hill, Campaign Director for the River Region United Way, Ken Harms, our District Manager, all UPSers and their friends and family that played and volunteered.

I wanted to personally thank Bret Holladay for creating this great event six years ago and his continued support by driving over 750 miles to play in this year’s tournament.  I owe a large portion of the success of this year’s tournament to Randy Allen and his advice he shared with me over the last several months.  Behind the scenes support of this tournament started months ago with the help of Walter Lynch, Dean Lambert, Harold Blizzard, Jay Estes, Keith Washington, and Scott Wade getting sponsors, gifts etc. The tournament would not have been successful without a tremendous amount of help from Shay Turner (my wife), Gary Garvin, Jennifer Will, Charles Herbst,  Chuck Moseley (and his entire family: Amy, Kyle and Kelly), Cristie Cassell, Kris Bliss, and the entire staff at Robert Trent Jones Capital Hill!

I sincerely hope everyone had a good time and I am already looking forward to the 7^th Annual Tournament supporting our River Region United Way!  Many of you came and played with your family and friends, please forward this email with my appreciation to anyone that played or volunteered that I may have missed.  If they would not mind, they can email me directly and I will add them to my Golf Tournament mailing list.  In addition to UPSers.com,  I will look to be sending out save the date invitations and updates next year prior to the tournament.

Sincerely,

BT

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Go Trojans!

 

Saint James School prides itself on being a welcoming community ready to help students make great strides in their academic and personal growth, make good choices, and learn how to solve problems for today’s changing world. They are focused on developing self while at the same time caring for the needs of others. 

 

With helping others in mind, the Pacesetter campaign at Saint James School began at their Back-to-School Teacher In-Service with more than 90 people attending. Loaned Executive Paula Mathis and Roger Spain, president-elect of the River Region United Way Board of Directors, spoke and introduced the 2011 United Way campaign video.

 

Director of Development Kim Hendrix served as the Employee Campaign Coordinator and announced that the campaign would run through mid-August. She encouraged all teachers, especially those who sponsor student volunteer groups, to consider United Way agencies for their school projects throughout the year.

 

Many thanks to Melba Richardson, Head of School, and Susan Atkins, the High School guidance counselor, for providing time during their busy back-to-school schedule to host us and thank you for showing us all how to LIVE UNITED.

 

 

 

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New York Life

He shoots...he scores! 

While he may not be as famous as his Auburn University Basketball teammate Wesley Person, ole' #33 Michael Hardin knows a thing or two about good offense.  He used to fill up the rim at Beard-Eaves in the 90's but now he is pounding the hardwood and touching lives across the River Region as the Managing Partner with New York Life Insurance in Montgomery.

Michael and his team at New York Life recently made a very generous contribution to the River Region United Way. Their teamwork as evidenced in their staff, make it possible for many people in our River Region to receive much needed services and assistance.

Thank you Michael and everyone at New York Life for your support of our community. It's great to have partners like you in the River Region.

(From L to R):New York Life Team Member Stephanie Manning, Managing
Partner Michael Hardin, River Region United Way Executive Director
Russ Dunman and Team Member Tara Legendre

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Our Name is our Mission

Now that's a true statement!  ServisFirst President & CEO Carl Barker, Employee Campaign Coordinator Joanni Kelly and the entire staff at ServisFirst Bank are all about mission.  They recently met for an early morning breakfast and discussion about the United Way and the 48 partner agencies that serve our River Region. 

ServisFirst understands that it takes all of us together to assist the 140,000+ people that need the services of a United Way agency each year.

Carl stressed to his team members the importance of the work of the United Way and how that work is everyone's responsibilty.  And while Carl talks the talk, he also walks the walk through his own annual gift and by "loaning" ServisFirst executives like Amanda Spiers and Michael Wilbur to assist in the campaign each year.

Thank you ServisFirst for being on mission - not only for your customers but for the United Way as well.  You're the best!



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Thank you Catholic!

Catholic Preparatory School President Anne Ceasar knows all about "Excellence".  With nearly 25 years of prior teaching experience, Anne assumed her current post at Catholic in 2008 and has set high standards and lofty expectations ever since.

The same can be said for her attitude about the River Region United Way. Knowing that Catholic sets a standard for our community, she recently challenged staff members to do their part in supporting the 48 agencies that partner with the United Way. "If it is to be done, then do it well" could be a summary statement for Catholic and its President.  

Thank you Anne and everyone at Catholic Preparatory School for what you do each day to make our community better.  Well done good and faithful servants!


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WoWAlfa!

WOW is about all you can say if you've ever attended an ALFA Insurance Company United Way employee kickoff event.  They know how to throw a party!

The 2011Campaign event was managed by referee Terrence Alexander and a whole team of ALFA employees dedicated to driving home the United Way message with a sports related theme.

It was obvious they had spent months gathering door prizes and collectables for give-a-ways and it all culminated in a fantastic event on August 4.  Over 1000 employees attended four back-to-back meetings where they heard from various United Way speakers and Mrs. Jackie Buck of the Central Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross.  

Jackie was able to share with ALFA team members stories of the response of the Red Cross to the recent tornados in Tuscaloosa and north Alabama and how ALFA employees professional work and personal contributions were being used to positively impact the lives of those who were affected. 

Executive Vice-President of Operations Mr. Lee Ellis shared with team members that this represented, "his favorite day of the year" because he was able to speak with every employee and share with them his passion for the United Way. His leadership by example and encouragement to do something bigger than yourself is one of the many reasons that ALFA leads the way in supporting the River Region United Way.

Thank you ALFA and that somehow doesn't seem sufficient but it's the only words we know.  Thank you for all you do.  You really are "making a difference" each and every day.   

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