On Wednesday, September 6, United Way of Central Alabama kicked off its 2018 campaign at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center downtown. The campaign is how United Way generates the funds needed to support essential, life-changing services that are delivered to tens of thousands of people.
To learn more about this four-month campaign and the vital work of United Way, Bham Now sat down with Regions Bank Executive Vice President and 2018 United Way of Central Alabama Campaign Chairman Alan Register.
Supporter of United Way of Central Alabama since 2002
A Samford University graduate, Register first got involved with United Way in 2002, when he returned to Birmingham with his family after holding several corporate positions across the nation. The first committee he volunteered for was a “visiting allocation team”, a group of professionals who perform on-the-ground audits of the nonprofit agencies supported by United Way.
“I just developed a real strong respect for United Way, the way they carefully made sure every dollar was spent properly,” said Register.
From that initial positive experience, Register began a decade-and-a-half journey with United Way, joining its Pacesetter Campaign, co-chairing a committee to enlist new companies to join the United Way annual campaign, and serving on additional committees supporting the delivery of services that make a powerful difference in improving the lives of others.
A brother’s keeper community
Leading the annual United Way Campaign is a massive undertaking. More than 55,000 individuals and 800 companies donate to United Way of Central Alabama within a five-county region that includes Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, St. Clair and Walker counties.
“It’s a big deal for all the right reasons,” added Register.
“Our community is truly what I like to call a ‘brother’s keeper’s’ community. I don’t feel like we are content to sit by and watch others fail. The United Way is constantly looking at the needs on a local basis. I love that focus on local.”