Leading the way once again to support the West Alabama community, University of Alabama faculty and staff raised $406,720.84 for UA’s annual United Way Campaign.
The goal-smashing fundraising total was revealed in mid-October on the Quad where University faculty and staff, as well as staff from the United Way of West Alabama and its partner agencies, gathered to celebrate.
Dr. Suzanne Prevost, dean of the Capstone College of Nursing, this year’s campaign host college, addressed the crowd as CCN students and Big Al presented the good news.
“For everyone on campus and everyone here today who has made a personal contribution or a pledge to support the United Way, I just want to thank you for your teamwork and support,” said Prevost. “And I want to thank our University president for his long-standing commitment and role modeling to support the campaign every year.”
UA President Stuart R. Bell thanked CCN for its role in this year’s campaign as well as the Division of Community Affairs and campaign coordinators for their leadership, and faculty and staff for their unwavering spirit of giving.
“What another great year to come together and to celebrate what our campus has done,” he said. “I thank our faculty and staff on this campus every year that I have had the pleasure of serving as president, that I am able to come out and have so much gratitude for what this campus does and the heart that they [faculty and staff] have to care for those who are in need. Once again, our faculty and staff have demonstrated that.”
Bell also thanked United Way of West Alabama CEO Jackie Wuska and her staff for ensuring that 365 days a year, people are working to provide resources made available by these fundraising efforts reach those in need.
“Being committed to caring for those in need is exactly what employees of the University are passionate about.”
Campaign co-chair Dr. Michelle Cheshire said it was an honor for the College to be a part of the campaign.
“For years, faculty and staff at the Capstone College of Nursing have had the opportunity to introduce our students, many of whom are not from the West Alabama area, to the amazing services provided by United Way agencies. We have been able to use these agencies as clinical placements for nursing students to learn to provide patient care outside of the hospital setting. We have been able to expose them to the great work of the United Way agencies and given them a front-row seat to witness the impact of the services these agencies provide. We can lecture in the classroom about the need for nurses to be servant leaders in their communities, but the United Way agencies have allowed them to see firsthand what servant leadership looks like, through the volunteers and the staff who are the boots on the ground in these agencies.
“Being committed to caring for those in need is exactly what employees of the University are passionate about. We are thankful that the College of Nursing has been able to be a part of this campaign. Since 2020, life has changed dramatically, and the needs of many in our community have increased exponentially. What the dean and Michele (Montgomery) and I have witnessed and monitored weekly, is that the generous spirit of UA employees is alive and well. Thank you for letting us be a small part of the huge impact that your generosity will have on West Alabama.”
The campaign will continue through the end of the semester, and donations can be made through the secure online giving portal through Friday, Dec. 3. Those who prefer to give via pledge card should contact Elizabeth Hartley at ehartley@ua.edu. Donations of at least $60 will qualify for a donor rewards card containing offers from a variety of West Alabama businesses.