President

Every person, I believe, wants to make a difference in his or her community. But where does one begin? How does one go about giving back for a life they have been richly blessed with? For me, that journey started seven years ago, arriving in Dalton, Georgia, from the Chicago, Illinois area.

As a teenager, I heard a quote from Ronald Reagan. He stated, “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”

During this holiday season of giving and all the hustle and bustle, we can sometimes forget that not everyone has something to celebrate.

The holidays can be an unwelcome reminder to many of what they have lost, but here at United Way we help individuals and families see hope for a better tomorrow. 

At United Way, we are in the business of building better futures, not just during the holiday season, but 365 days a year.

A message from Bob Hardaway, United Way of Northwest Georgia Campaign Chairman

It’s happening all the time: nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States (https://ncadv.org/statistics). That’s more than 10 million women and men a year. Domestic violence is not just a criminal issue; it is also a public health issue. Consider these health implications:

-Only about a third of those injured by a partner receive medical care

It’s hard to believe that we are already gearing up for the 2019 United Way campaign! It seems like time goes by faster each year.  Looking back, we have had some pretty amazing things happen over the last year.

I don’t know about you, but it always seems like summer goes by faster each year.

As a parent, I know how chaotic it can be to prepare your children to go back to school.

School is out, vacation time is upon us, but here at United Way our volunteers are working hard behind the scenes and prepping for this year’s campaign which will kick off on September 17, 2019 with our Annual CEO Trike Race and Block Party at Burr Park.

On June 16, we will celebrate and honor all of the wonderful fathers in our lives. Our United Way has been blessed over the years to have many exceptional dads that have led us in our mission of

“Improving Lives. Inspiring Donors. Uniting Community.”

As I think about March being Women’s History Month, I think how blessed we are to live in a community with a legacy of so many inspiring women.

Catherine Evans Whitener was a young woman whose ideas and entrepreneurial spirit were the foundation for our local industry. Our United Way began when Mrs. M.E. Judd made a bet with Lamar Westcott. Lulu Westcott shared this piece of history with United Way in 1992.