New members of the U
nited Way of Central Alabama’s Tocqueville Society gathered on February 1st and 11th to celebrate philanthropy. UWCA hosted a breakfast and lunch to welcome new members of the Tocqueville Society, donors who give an annual gift of $10,000 or more. In 2018, 77 families joined the Tocqueville Society, which is the fastest growing segment of UWCA’s annual campaign.
The Tocqueville Society was founded in Birmingham in 1986 with 36 families giving $10,000 or more. As of last year’s annual campaign, over 780 families and individuals annually give at the Tocqueville level. Through this generosity and passion for improving our community, our Tocqueville Society is the 4th largest in the nation.
Sheri and Houston Cook, 2018 Tocqueville Chairs, thanked the new Tocqueville members for their contribution to help UWCA reach its goal of $38 million. Alan Register, 2018 Campaig
n Chair, explained to new members how much their donations are needed and used daily. Register said, “United Way helps someone every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day. We helped someone at 2:00 am this morning, and we’re going to do it again tomorrow.”
Alabama Power VP of Customer Services, Leigh Davis, who served on the new member team, shared her personal story. Growing up in Birmingham, Davis heard about UWCA for many years, so when her friend Sheri Cook contacted her about joining Tocqueville, it was an easy yes. Leigh said she loves being able to see so much going on in the community through United Way. Brian Pitts, CEO of iTAC Solutions, who helped recruit new Tocqueville members, was also there. He shared with the group, “I love when I give to United Way because I’m able to give to 80 plus agencies, which helps me not have to choose only one to help”.
United Way of Cent
ral Alabama President and CEO Drew Langloh shared the origin of the name Tocqueville Society, which was named after the 19th-century French diplomat Alexis de Tocqueville who admired voluntary effort for the common good. Langloh also shared a brief review of the outstanding work being done through the Bold Goals Coalition, its agency partners and direct service programs.
Tocqueville Society members are philanthropic leaders and volunteer champions in Central Alabama who devote their time, talent, and funds to create long-lasting change by tackling Central Alabama’s most serious challenges.
For more information on becoming a part of the Tocqueville Society, please contact Courtney Orazine at corazine@uwca.org or 458-2024.