Wiregrass United Way announces Pacesetter Campaign Kickoff

This year’s Wiregrass United Way Pacesetter Campaign Kickoff will begin at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 3 at the Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center in Dothan.

A highlight of the event is that United Way volunteers will package 30,000 meals for the Wiregrass Area Food Bank, said WUW Executive Director Walter Hill.

Each year approximately 100 area businesses and organizations agree to conduct their employee fundraising campaign for the Wiregrass United Way between early August and mid-September. These businesses are considered “Pacesetters” because they jump-start the annual United Way campaign and “set the pace” for the remainder of the year, Hill explained. “It is not too late for companies to register to be a Pacesetter.

“Pacesetters are vital to the success of the overall campaign because they allow the Wiregrass United Way to start their overall fundraising one month early,” Hill added. “The United Way’s goal is to complete all employee campaigns by the end of October to avoid raising money during the holidays.”

The Pacesetter Campaign enables the WUW to have a significant amount of money raised when the official campaign kickoff is held on Sept. 23.

Scott Bowers from AAA Cooper Transportation is the Board of Trustees Chair and Mike Smith from Servis1st Bank is the overall Campaign Chair.

There is a county board of directors for each of the six counties served. Mary Sue Cain is the Coffee County Board Chairman, Angie Sullivan is the Coffee County Campaign Chairman and Mindy Collier is the WUW Area Manager for Coffee County.

This year’s campaign will focus on the slogan, “The Way to a Better Wiregrass.” The overall fundraising goal for 2021 will be announced during the Pacesetter Kickoff event. In addition, the Wiregrass Foundation will be present to issue a Challenge Pledge to the local United Way.

During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to view the new campaign video, produced locally by Marketing Services. This year’s video features the Boys & Girls Club, which is now operating in all six counties covered by WUW and the House of Ruth.

The WUW relies on hundreds of volunteers each year in order to have a successful campaign, Hill said.

The WUW has served the Wiregrass area since 1938, currently funding 38 member agencies across Barbour, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties.

Funds raised by WUW are utilized locally in the six-county area. A committee of local volunteers determines how the funds are distributed among the member agencies.

For more information, call (334) 792-9661 or visit the website at www.wuw.org.