What is United Way Campaign?

Earlier this fall, in late September, more than 350 people gathered in community for our third annual Motown Lip Sync Battle at Highland Brewing Company. Local companies and organizations donned sparkly suits, big hair, and plastic guitars, then proceeded to pretend-sing their hearts out to their favorite Motown classics for an unforgettable night together. Why in the world did we do this? To kick off our ‘Campaign Season’ together with a renewed sense of spirit and dedication for our community here in Asheville and Buncombe County. 

The Employee Workplace Campaign is one way that we’re able to continue to fight for the education, health and financial stability of our community together. Local businesses throughout Buncombe County participate by allowing us to help educate their employees on the work we’re doing to create a more equitable community and holding a fall fundraising campaign to simultaneously support our work. Many of these companies and organizations and their employees have been generous supporters, volunteers, and active community members for years, generously sharing their time, talent, financial gifts, and spirit with us and our greater community. And each company brings their unique ideas to how they rally support and funding-- from dunk tanks to chili cook-offs to flower bouquet sales and golf tournaments. Because understanding and fighting for the important issues calls for us to come together in community in fun, supportive, educative ways as well.

None of this would be possible without a strong team to help organize, educate, and rally our community to understand the issues at hand and unite to fight for a more equitable future. There are several layers of organization and support that make it all possible, including business owners and employees, our Resource Development Committee comprised of local business leaders, and our seasonal United Way Campaign Associates, serving as organizers and educators on the importance of our work in the community. 

 

One of five of our amazing Campaign Associates this year, Nathan Martin shares “ I love how engaged United Way is in the entire Buncombe County community, with large and small businesses, and with some of the most important non-profits working on health and human service issues in the county. You not only feel like you're making a difference on important issues, but you really feel like you're at the center of the action when you're working here, and gaining insights every day into how critical institutions in the city and the county function.”

 

Thank you Nathan and fellow Campaign Associates Emily Quinlan, Marc Mazza, Lucien Rosenbloom, Sherab Chodron and the rest of the team who are on the ground educating and supporting one another, unifying in community to co-create a stronger Asheville and Buncombe County together. We're also incredibly grateful to our Campaign Sponsors, without which this would not be possible, including Millhouse Logistics, University of North Carolina Asheville, U.S. Cellular Center Asheville, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Allergy Partners of Western North Carolina, Carolina Alliance Bank, Hometrust Bank, and Mills Manufacturing.