Centennial Stories

Our connection to United Way started about 40 years ago when we were a young couple and decided we wanted to do something for the community. We love the United Way because we feel like they have their feelers out and know what’s happening in the community. I like the fact that United Way has an umbrella approach and looks at everything and then decides where the best use of funds in energy and effort would be. It’s amazing how you can join together to create something that’s even better. -- Barbara Groome, Retired Asheville Middle School Teacher and United Way donor and volunteer. 

I have to show up because it’s important to me like it’s important to the parents, it’s important to the children, it’s important to the community for us, you and I, and everyone to show up. 

I’ve seen changes in children I’ve seen changes in parents, I’ve seen changes in the school — the ‘I expect you’ change, ‘I respect you change‘, ’I’m here change, you’re there change’, ‘I know I can count on you, you know you can count on me’, it’s like a community thing we work together and it works for us. -- Aleesha Ballard, Community Advocate and United Way Volunteer

 

Why do I need to show up for our community? Because I live here and I am invested in how well we do. I’m totally invested in making sure that this community is working and people feel a part of it and want to make things better for their neighbors and for themselves. Hopefully, we can get people to focus on what’s good for your neighbors and your friends and your coworkers and people that live on the other side of the county and really get that sense of common good, and that we ALL do better when we ALL do better. -- Ann Von Brock, retired Vice President, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County