Our Mission
United Way of Northwest Alabama is improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of the community to create lasting change.
United Way of Northwest Alabama is a leader in the community, uniting volunteers and resources to solve community-wide issues and addressing health and human service needs through the programs of our partner agencies, as well as internal programs.
The citizens of Northwest Alabama have been helping those in need through United Way of Northwest since 1939, when concerned people here decided they would pull together and become an organized fund-raising group to help the county's limited agencies that serve its people in meeting their most urgent needs. The volunteers assumed the name Community Chest of Tuscumbia. In 1955, Clyde W. Anderson filed the papers to incorportate the Lauderdale County United Fund. The Colbert County United Fund was incorporated in 1958 and United Way of Franklin County was created in 1981. In an effort to best utilize available resources and combine efforts for greater impact, the 3 entities joined to form United Way of Northwest Alabama in 2001, under the leadership of Mickey Haddock.
United Way has a long tradition of using your donations wisely, and we are trusted leaders when it comes to service. United Way makes an impact on issues that concern you, right here in your own community. We serve the people of Northwest Alabama, including the municipalities of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Killen, Red Bay and Russellville, to name a few.
Currently, 20 partner agencies - providing nearly 40 services/programs - receive financial support. United Way works in partnership with the agencies, organizations, local business and government to help advance the common good by focusing on Education, Financial Stability and Health. These are the building blocks of a good life for the citizens of Northwest Alabama: A quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health.
Our goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. We invite you to be part of the change. Together, united, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow. That's what it means to LIVE UNITED.