A Message From the President & CEO

LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE TEAM

This month’s message is all about the team I am honored to work alongside each day! You can have confidence that our team at United Way is working tirelessly to help the neighbors we serve in our 8-county footprint. 



The gift of the team I work with is that each one of them genuinely cares about the neighbors we serve. When someone calls or knocks on our door for help, the United Way team is ready to listen and assist. During our team meetings we talk about respect and how it is important to respect one another, and that respect and care begins in our office and expands to how we interact with the neighbors we serve, our donors, community partners, program partners, and volunteers. 



Whether it is working to recruit new volunteers for our United Way run programs, collaborating with community partners, communicating with our corporate partners and individual donors, being good stewards of donors’ dollars, managing a special event or lending a helping hand after a disaster, the United Way team is steadfast in their devotion to our community and each other.

READ UNITED WEEK

COMING SOON!

READ UNITED week will take place April 14th-17th this year, and we're hoping to see you there! UWBB started READ UNITED in 2010 to encourage a love of reading in children and to provide resources to get them started on their own literacy journey.

Reading can open new worlds and enrich the lives of the children in our community. READ UNITED promotes the spirit and value of volunteerism and demonstrates what people working together for the good of the community can accomplish.

UWBB recruits community volunteers to read classic tales and new stories in pre-kindergarten through first grade classrooms across the Big Bend area. Every class that participates receives brand new, FREE books to add to their class library. Since the beginning of the program that’s over 40,000 books!

Stay tuned for more information about this year's program, and contact Sarah Myhre at (850) 487-2087 or email communityimpact@uwbb.org with any questions!

GET IN THE SWING OF THINGS AT OUR 27th ANNUAL COMMUNITY GOLF CLASSIC

Our Annual Community Golf Classic at Southwood Golf Club will be on April 25th, 2025! Join us in supporting United Way of the Big Bend and the community we serve. Enjoy a day of fun, camaraderie, and giving back. Don’t miss this exciting springtime event! Sponsorship information is now available, so click the link below to get your team together!

UNITED WAY OF THE BIG BEND PLEDGES $40,000 TO MADISON COUNTY HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS

It's been several months since storms tore through Madison County, and recovery efforts are still ongoing. The long-term effects of natural disasters continue to be prevalent long after initial impact, so we've pledged $40,000 to Madison County Strong's Long-Term Recovery Group. This money will provide much-needed support to Madison County families and help them resume their normal lives.

PINNACLE AWARD PRESENTED TO UWBB PRESIDENT & CEO BERNEICE COX

Our team is proud to celebrate our President & CEO, Berneice Cox, a recipient of the 850 Business Magazine Pinnacle Award, given to women who exemplify leadership, innovation, and influence in their industries. Congratulations to Berneice and all of this year's recipients!

NEW YEAR, NEW DIRECTORS

On Thursday, March 20th, United Way of the Big Bend's Board Members met for their annual meeting and to vote on a new slate of officers. The Board voted to install Beth Corum of Capital City Bank as our new Board Chair, replacing outgoing Board Chair Rhett Bagwell of Publix.

Our Board Officers have helped United Way of the Big Bend hold true to our commitment to the Big Bend through their philanthropic efforts, connections to the community, and willingness to volunteer time out of their busy schedules to help us achieve our goals.

Thank you to Rhett Bagwell for his years of fantastic service as our Board Chair, and a warm welcome to Beth Corum! We can't wait to see how you help UWBB continue to improve the Big Bend!

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO BE COUNTED!

It's not too late to make an impact! If you'd still like to contribute to our campaign, click the GIVE TODAY button below to make your mark!

Interested in running a United Way Campaign at your workplace? Contact Angela Gibbs at angela@uwbb.org.

Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient community, and we couldn't do it without your support.

POWER OF THE PURSE IS A SUCCESS!

This year's event was a major success and we'd like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors from around the Big Bend who helped make this event happen, as well as our dedicated Women United Chair Dr. Andrea Friall and our Power of the Purse Event Chair Amanda Morrison!

To everyone who lent a helping hand to make this event as spectacular as it possibly could be, thank you! Our friends and attendees had a magnificent time and celebrated the true Power of the Purse.

Find this year's photo recap link below and relive all of the fantastic memories from this year's Power of the Purse.

ReadingPals VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Donate one hour of your time per week to help change the lives of struggling readers in the Big Bend

As we head into the Spring semester, ReadingPals mentors are needed now more than ever! Your encouragement and support help a struggling reader practice important reading skills, improve vocabulary and fluency, and gain self-confidence. With your help, your pal makes the gains they need to move on to the next grade. We provide the lessons, materials, and training - you provide your time and energy. Together, we help our little pals succeed!!

For more information about our ReadingPals Program and how to get started, contact Samantha Sager at (850) 414-0856 or email communityimpact@uwbb.org.

MATHPALS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Our MathPals program needs volunteers to work with children, grades K – 3, who need support for practicing basic math skills. We provide fun materials and activities for you and your pal to work on together helping to reinforce the skills they are learning in their classroom. One hour of your time adds up to improved outcomes for your little pal. And when our children succeed, our community thrives!   

For more information about our MathPals program and how to get started, contact Samantha Sager at (850) 414-0856 or email communityimpact@uwbb.org.

WELCOME, ALIX!

We'd like to take this opportunity to welcome our newest team member, Alix Kalfin! Alix is our new Donor Engagement Manager, and she's excited to hit the ground running and make connections throughout the Big Bend! Alix comes to us with a background in communications and marketing, and has two boys with her husband, Alex. She enjoys tending to her plants and loves exploring the local restaurant scene, as well as spending time with her family.

Welcome, Alix! We can't wait to see how you shine! 

UPCOMING EVENTS

APRIL 14TH - ReadUNITED Week

APRIL 25TH - Annual Community Golf Classic at Southwood Golf Club

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

JANUARY-APRIL - VITA Program

WEEK OF APRIL 14TH - ReadUNITED Week

JANUARY-MAY - ReadingPals program ongoing

JANUARY-MAY - MathPals program ongoing