See why United Way is going virtual for the 2020 Campaign, and how you can help

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Every year for nearly a century, committed volunteers fan out into our community to meet face-to-face with neighbors, co-workers and businesses to ask for support on behalf of the United Way of Central Alabama.

This personal community-based appeal is one of the hallmarks of the Annual Campaign.

2020 will be much different due to the coronavirus pandemic.  

Fortunately, this year’s Campaign Chair Greg King, United Way’s staff and countless volunteers are prepared to meet this daunting challenge. See how.

Birmingham Guy

“I’m a Birmingham guy.” 

That’s the way King, an Executive at IBERIABANK, described himself when we recently met remotely. 

A native of Vestavia, King graduated from Vestavia Hills High School and stayed close to home, earning degrees from Birmingham-Southern College and UAB’s Collat School of Business MBA program.   

He Knows the United Way

Since his formative days in banking two decades ago with AmSouth Bank, King has been involved with nearly every aspect of the United Way.

“From a banker’s point of view, so much of what you do is reinvest in the community.”

That’s why I got involved with United Way—first as a donor, and then I was encouraged to get involved and was in a position to do so early on.”

King knows everything about the United Way, inside and out.

For years he served on the board and chaired Pathways, a United Way agency that combats women and children’s homelessness.

He has served on United Way Visiting Allocation Teams, the United Way Community Impact Board and the United Way Board.

In 2013, he led the Pacesetter Campaign, which gave him an opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a Birmingham Barons game.   

Hope Happens

This year’s campaign theme is “Hope Happens.” When asked to share a special story of hope that he has personally experienced through United Way, King immediately told us about Janet Gillispie.

“I remember Janet distinctly from my time at Pathways. She had been a client for a while—homeless and other things. She worked really hard and made the decision that she wanted to change and took what we offered through Pathways. Later, Gillespie earned a top employee award from UAB, her employer at the time.

For all of us that was a special day. It’s a great example of what is possible. The campaign this year is ‘Hope Happens.’ I can’t think of a better example of hope happening.”

The 2020 Campaign

This year’s 2020 United Way Annual Campaign is like no other.

Once King and the folks at United Way realized the world was going to change back in March,  they started reaching out to individual and corporate donors. They did a “check in” to see what United Way could do for them or any of their employees during such an unusual time.

It also gave them the opportunity to get some feedback about this year’s United Way campaign. 

Their input was invaluable on how to move forward.

“No one has a playbook that can direct you through a pandemic; we’re all working on a campaign in an alternative way,” said King.

In a nutshell, gone are the days (at least this year) of the breakfast “biscuit” meeting used to enlist the support of  50-100 employees, or that face to face meeting with the CEO of a company and their team. 

In its place, United Way and their volunteers are using virtual platforms and meeting technology like never before. 

“We’ve come up with some creative ways to try to drive messaging when we can’t be there in person to do so,” added King.  “We’ve really had to pivot how we do things. In a strange way it’s been fun—everyone has really had to tap into their creative side.”

Support Needed Now More than Ever

Because of the pandemic, our community needs the United Way more than ever.  

There are food shortages and agencies that were working on shoestring budgets to begin with are stretched thin.

As a lifelong resident of Birmingham, Greg King and countless community volunteers are prepared and ready to boldly ask the community to make “Hope Happen.”

“The need is great and we’ve got to have folks give like they never have before.”

Will you make Hope Happen?

 Join the United Way. There are so many ways you can contribute. It’s easy

Visit the Campaign Center.  See where you can help.

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