Find out how one local organization changed two families’ lives, plus how to get involved

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Philip Richards of Hoover and Letitia Means of Birmingham know firsthand how life-changing the partner agencies that United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) supports can be.

UWCA’s annual campaign raises millions to support local nonprofits such as United Ability, ARC of Walker County and many more. Read on for two inspirational stories of families whose lives UWCA and its partners have changed forever and how you can be a part of the good work they do every day.

United Way provided a lifeline for Letitia Means

United Ability is a longtime partner agency of United Way of Central Alabama that provides a wide range of services for children and adults with disabilities, connecting them to their communities and helping them live their fullest, productive lives. Last year alone, UWCA allocated more than half a million dollars to the organization.

When Letitia Means needed help for her son RJ, she didn’t have to pay a penny.

When RJ was three years old, he was having problems interacting with others and behaving in the home. He became nonverbal at one point. When he was diagnosed with autism, his parents had no clue where to turn.

“What will an autistic adult look like? Will we need to support RJ? Will he always need someone to take care of him? What does life look like for us now? We had so many questions with what felt like no one to answer.”

Letitia Means

Fast forward to 2018 — RJ graduated high school and was at a crossroads. His parents wondered what they could do for him and how they could get him the help he needed. This is when Letitia heard about United Ability.

“They offered job services, helped him build a resume, helped him get multiple jobs; then they went along with him when he got those jobs to make sure he was doing it right.

United Ability changed RJ’s life and gave him the courage to do things he wanted to on his own.”

Letitia Means

RJ had the courage to follow his dreams

RJ came to his parents about six months ago and told them he wanted to be a security officer. Because of the skills he learned at United Ability, he was able to confidently go out on his own, upload his resume, secure interviews and land the job.

“We are so proud of him and so grateful for United Ability. There’s a proverb that says ‘Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ That’s exactly what they have done for RJ. My charge to each and every one of you is to look into these organizations and give, advocate and volunteer.”

Letitia Means

Make a difference. Give to United Way today.

Phillip Richards never expected to need help from United Way

Phillip Richards is so proud of his daughter. (United Way of Central Alabama)

Phillip Richards is very active in the community, having been a United Way of Central Alabama volunteer for 30 years.

“I am probably not the person that you think of when you think of who you’re helping when you give to United Way. I’ve been involved with UWCA for over 30 years. Just like you, I wanted to help other people. I never thought that my family would need help from United Way.”

Phillip Richards

This all changed in 1994.

That December, Philip and his wife Gina got a call and had the chance to adopt a beautiful little girl who they raced to meet and named Elizabeth Anne. He said you couldn’t have scripted a better Christmas than that first one with their daughter.

Six months later, Gina, who was a special ed teacher at the time, recognized that Elizabeth Anne wasn’t reaching her developmental milestones as she should have. They took her to multiple doctors to learn what was going on.

“I can remeber what I was wearing and where I was standing when we got the call that said that Elizabeth Ann has a brain disorder and there was nothing we could do. There was nothing that would cure her. As a dad, that was tough to take.”

Phillip Richards

28 years later, Elizabeth Anne will light up any room

Elizabeth Anne will be 29 years old in December.

“She is an amazing, beautiful woman. But she can’t walk, she can’t walk, she can’t feed herself. My wife takes care of her 24/7.”

Phillip Richards

Fortunately, Elizabeth Anne got into an early intervention program provided by UWCA partner agency ARC of Walker County. Philip said that his daughter’s access to that program at such a young age completely changed her trajectory.

She learned new sounds, movements, activities and so much more. This also gave his wife time to take a break, reboot and get ready to do it all over again.

“My greatest fear in life is worrying about who will take care of my daughter when I’m gone. There’s comfort in knowing that it will be a United Way agency that looks after Elizabeth Ann, all because somebody like you helped somebody like me.

If you ever wonder if what you do makes a difference, all you have to do is see the smile on my daughter’s face and know that you changed her life forever and will give her something I won’t be able to.”

Phillip Richards

Change lives like these. Support United Way of Central Alabama’s annual campaign today..

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