United Way Abilene is kicking off its 2015 fundraising campaign in collaboration with community partners and support from ACU students and faculty.
United Way Abilene is a non-profit organization founded in 1956. Focused on the building blocks for a good life, the organization specifically emphasizes education, income and health. The organization’s mission includes a passion to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of West Central Texas.
United Way hosted a Day of Caring event Sept. 3 as an official start to the campaign. The event served as a volunteer opportunity for the community to unite together and give back to an organization that goes above and beyond.
“During Day of Caring, volunteers were able to accomplish projects for our community partners that allow them to focus on their mission,” said Vanessa Roberts Bryan, United Way Abilene board member and Day of Caring chair, in a released statement.
The event began at 8 a.m. with breakfast and a pep rally at Action Zone.
Along with several local figures and university representatives, Ken Collums, head football coach, delivered a pep talk during the rally that displayed ACU’s involvement in the campaign this year.
Accompanied by the Cooper High School drum line and Hardin-Simmons Spurs, Collums fired up the audience by encouraging the community to connect. His words of advice included: treat people special, do more than expected and have a good attitude.
“Just spoke at the “ª#UWAbilene Day of Caring Kickoff breakfast,” Collums said in a post to his Twitter account after the pep talk. “Great organization. True servants. United Way rocks. “ª#lovelivegive.”
Along with the other 18 loyal partners, United Way President and CEO Cathy Ashby thanked the universities for their involvement in kicking off the campaign successfully.
Around 100 volunteers attended the Day of Caring to participate in work projects at 10 of the 23 agencies that partner with United Way.
“The event provided community members with a meaningful and collective volunteer opportunity and also provided a definitive start to the United Way fundraising campaign,” said Bethany Ashlock, United Way Community Impact and Marketing Director, in a released statement.
