Meet 3 amazing women making their mark volunteering in Birmingham

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Birmingham is no stranger to generous people, and it’s full of incredible women with a passion for serving.

We sat down with three awesome women who are involved in Birmingham’s volunteer scene to learn how they’re making a difference through their involvement with United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA).

1. Krystal Drummond

Krystal Drummond is Vice President of Community and Government Relations for Drummond Company, where she leads their team’s engagement with United Way and other volunteer projects.

When she served as her company’s UWCA campaign coordinator, she was emotionally moved by the impact the organization makes on people’s lives and saw the same reaction among employees, as well.

That’s when she made the switch from working as a lawyer to leading the company’s community relations.

“UWCA paves the way for people who have the desire to make a difference and allows them to get out and do it — whether it’s from reading a book to students or helping build a home for a family. They make it easy to connect your gifts and skills with ways to serve.”

Krystal Drummond

Now, her team regularly serves through several partner agencies, such as:

• ARC of Walker County
• Better Basics
• Glenwood
• Habitat for Humanity
• Workshops Empowerment Inc.

Krystal’s favorite thing about volunteering is getting to know people, such as those she’s helping or serving alongside.

Learn how you can volunteer with United Way.

2. Nancy Collat Goedecke

Nancy Collat Goedecke, former Board Chair and CEO of Mayer Electric Supply in Birmingham, has served the city in many different capacities.

She was the first woman to single-handedly chair UWCA’s fundraising campaign in 2015 and led the organization to raise $38.8 million ($600,000 more than the year before).

In addition to leading the campaign, serving on the Board of Directors and helping lead UWCA’s endowment campaign, Nancy has an extensive background volunteering with many of United Way’s partner agencies, including:

• American Heart Association
• Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama
• Pathways
• YWCA of Central Alabama

When she isn’t physically volunteering, you can find Nancy raising funds for UWCA and being a huge advocate for the organization.

“Knowing that United Way are such good stewards of the money they receive is really important to me, not only from an internal perspective but from an external point of view, too.

The money goes back into the community and the leaders are top-notch people, so it’s an incredible place to give back through serving and donating.”

Nancy Collat Goedecke

3. Kimberly Jackson

For more than 15 years, United Way has been a special organization to Kimberly Jackson, Community Relations Manager at Alabama Power Company.

She’s volunteered with many UWCA agencies that provide vital community services, such as:

• Childcare
• Hunger relief
• Mentorship
• Workforce development

Through volunteering, Kimberly has seen exactly how United Way is helping change lives and make a difference in Birmingham.

She currently serves as president of the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham, an organization focused on providing mentors for local youth.

Kimberly loves that she can go through one larger organization to serve and help so many different nonprofits that are near and dear to her heart.

She encourages all women to get involved in their communities and make their voices heard.

“Women are generally nurturers. We’re very thoughtful about how we do things, we’re great at multitasking and we don’t let much fall through the cracks.

I think it’s so important for us to get out and serve and to be at the table where decisions are being made to help shape our communities—United Way allows us to do that.”

Kimberly Jackson

Learn how you can make a difference with United Way of Central Alabama.

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