United Way Pacesetter Campaign kicks off with $11.85 million goal

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Bill Smith III, Pacesetter Campaign chairman and president and chief executive officer of Royal Cup Coffee and Tea, announces the goal for the summer campaign.

Representatives from more than 50 corporations, businesses, hospitals and non-profit organizations helped kick off United Way of Central Alabama’s 2016 Pacesetter Campaign during a celebration at Lyric Theatre today. The summer fundraising campaign goal for this year is $11.85, which will set the tone prior to the organization’s larger fall campaign.

The campaign kicked off with breakfast at Lyric Theatre featuring John Scalici, Get Rhythm, who used a variety of drums, sound and rhythm to create a message and atmosphere of unity and togetherness. “We’re all bound by the fact that we have a voice and those voices want to be heard, and some of our voices are softer than others,” he said. “It takes everybody playing their part.”

Bill Smith III, president and chief executive officer of Royal Cup Coffee and Tea, is the chairperson of the Pacesetter Campaign. “We’re all in this together,” he said. “Many people are hungry for tangible opportunities to make our community successful in many ways.”

Loaned Executives play a crucial role in developing and implementing fundraising initiatives in a wide variety of situations during the annual United Way Campaign. Their participation helps keep fundraising costs low, leading to increased investments in the lives of people who need services.

Loaned Executives for the Pacesetter Campaign are:

Jacob Gordon – United Way of Central Alabama

Emily Johnson – United Way of Central Alabama

Drew Miller – Regions Financial Corporation

Jennifer Nelson – Blue Cross Blue Shield

Gage Smith – Royal Cup Coffee and Tea

Altec, inc.

Burr & Forman LLP

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United Inc.

First Bank of Jasper

Hoar ConstructionLLC

Jemison Metals

M & B Metal Products

Sirote & Permutte PC

Timberline Holdings

Vulcan Materials

American Red Cross

Arlington Properties

Balch & Bingham LLP

Bayer Properties LLC

BioHorizons Inc.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

Buffalo Rock Company

Cadence Bank

Cobbs Bank

Dunn Investment Company

EGS Commerical Real Estate

Ernst & Young LLP

Graham & Company LLC

Grandview Medical Center

Harbert Management Corporation

Innovation Depot, Inc.

Legacy YMCA

Luckie & Company

Mayer Electric Supply Company

Maynard Cooper & Gale PC

McGriff Seibels & Williams Inc.

Medical Properties Trust Inc.

National Bank of Commerce

O’Neal Industries

Pipehorn Utility Tool Company

Robins & Morton

RSM

ServisFirst Bank

Southern Nuclear Operating Company

Southern Research

Target

United Way of Central Alabama Inc.

University of Alabama at Birmingham

US Ameri Bank

Warren Averett, LLC

WBRC Television Channel 6

White Plume Technologies

YMCA of Metro Birmingham

Rich Bielen, president and chief operating officer at Protective Life Corporation will serve as the chairperson for the 2016 General Campaign chairperson. He will launch the fall campaign.

United Way of Central Alabama serves Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, Blount and St. Clair counties by providing solutions for the most important needs in the community. Through our partner agencies and community initiatives, we improve lives and community conditions by building and mobilizing resources. To learn more about United Way’s impact in your community  visit www.uwca.org.