See which program made this Birmingham native fall in love with her job + how you can apply now

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When she’s not tubing down the Cahaba River or at a concert in Birmingham, you can find Olivia Hayes creating meaningful relationships with coworkers at United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) and its partners.

She found UWCA through their Loaned Executive program (which you can apply for right now!) and she hasn’t looked back since.

I sat down with Olivia to learn a little bit more about her, like which of her six animals can sing, and why she loves her job. Here’s what I learned!

Meet Olivia Hayes

Olivia Hayes grew up in Birmingham, where she graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Outside of work, Olivia serves on the Railroad Park Junior Board, scours Birmingham for live music and hangs out with her four cats, dog and bird.

Fun fact: Her bird can sing the Andy Griffith Show theme song!

Studying Public Health and Sustainable Smart Cities at UAB, Olivia always knew she wanted to work with people in the nonprofit world.

In 2020, she pursued UWCA’s Loaned Executive program. Little did she know that she’d land a full-time job because of it.

3 questions for Olivia

1. What is your favorite part about working at UWCA?

“I learn so much here. I help lead and organize the Early Learning Acceleration Institute, so I’ve learned a lot about the Early Learning sphere.

I don’t have children, so I didn’t know a lot about that sector at all, but it’s made me a lot more aware. I always knew it was critical, because if you invest in early education, you’re investing in the community’s future, but I’ve seen how many layers there are in some education systems.”

2. What’s something people might not know about UWCA?

“People see community impact as the department that fundraises, but our work goes beyond grant-making. We provide critical resources and training to partner agencies, collaborate with community experts to identify needs and lead high-impact programs such as tutoring and the Early Learning Acceleration Institute.

We also have a United Way band. It’s employee-led, and they’ll play at special events and our town halls and even for partner agencies.”

3. What stood out to you about the Loaned Executive program?

“Being part of the LE program made it really easy to advocate and fundraise for UWCA. You see firsthand how many lives UWCA touches, whether it’s through our internal programs or partner agencies.

If there’s a community need within Central Alabama, there’s a high chance that UWCA is involved.”

Join the UWCA family!

Olivia is not the first to tell us all about the amazing workplace culture at UWCA.

You can experience this yourself through the Loaned Executive program. Here are a few things to know before you apply:

• When: August 28 – mid-November
• Who: Recent college grads, retirees, consultants or people interested in making a professional transition.
• How it works: Some local companies “donate” employees of their own, while others provide funds to compensate individuals who apply to UWCA to participate.
• Requirements: Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, proof of automobile insurance + commitment to the 13-week program

Plus, there are more openings at UWCA! Check out the full list and find your dream job.

“It’s really great working in a place where the people aren’t just willing to help out the community, but willing to help out each other.”

Apply to be a Loaned Executive now through August 8, and check out all job opportunities within United Way of Central Alabama.

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