SAVANNAH, GA (June 17, 2025) – United Way of the Coastal Empire celebrated the achievements of the 2024-2025 Campaign during a special press conference held at the Rooftop at Perry Lane Hotel. During the event, the organization shared the impact the funds make in the Coastal Empire and recognized the most generous companies that helped make this year’s campaign a success.
Dr. Yancy Ford, Superintendent of Effingham County Schools, served as campaign chair for the successful 2024-2025 Campaign. Dr. Ford, who championed the “Educate, Elevate, Unite” campaign theme, announced an impressive total of $9 million (projected) raised to support the community in Fiscal Year 2024-2025. Of that total, $4.9 million goes to the Community Fund, which fuels United Way’s work. $1.2 million was raised for designations through workplace and individual giving, and $2.9 million in additional giving was raised, including managed-funds revenue, grants, disaster relief funds, and additional restricted giving.
Dr. Ford highlighted the importance of the Community Fund, sharing that donations to this fund allow the organization to accomplish its mission to improve lives in the five-county region by providing direct assistance to thousands of community residents through United Way’s County Service Centers and 211 Information and Referral Service, supporting over 80 vital programs across more than 50 nonprofit agencies, connecting thousands of volunteers to causes that strengthen our community, improving early childhood literacy through the Read United programs, and more.
“This has been an incredible experience and I’m deeply grateful for everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s campaign,” said Dr. Ford, 2025 Campaign Chair, United Way of the Coastal Empire. “Throughout this campaign, we asked everyone in the Coastal Empire to unite together to improve lives in our region, and our community delivered.”
For the third time in the organization’s 87-year history, three corporate donors teamed up with their employees to donate more than half a million dollars each. These record-breaking donors include the people and companies of Gulfstream, Colonial Group, and Georgia Ports Authority.
“United Way’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of this community,” said Kimberly Waller, President & CEO, United Way of the Coastal Empire. “This year’s campaign is another shining example of that caring power in action.”
2024-2025 Highlights
- For the third year in a row, three corporate donors, including Gulfstream, Colonial Group, and Georgia Ports Authority, teamed up with their employees to donate more than half a million dollars each.
- When three storms hit our region in the fall of 2024, the community came together to help our neighbors in need by raising close to $1M in critical funds to support United Way’s Disaster Relief Fund efforts. Through this, United Way supported 500 families with short-term financial assistance, engaged volunteers to distribute mobile meals, and are currently working with partners to serve more families that need long-term disaster relief assistance.
- United Way’s Annual Turkey Trot was another sold-out event with a record-breaking year, raising a net total of more than $50,000 toward the Community Fund – attracting more participants than ever before, and raising the most money for the Community Fund in the event’s history.
- The Women Who Rule Event, chaired by Suzanne Kirk, set new records this year, raising a record-breaking net total of over $105,000 for critical transportation needs in our community.
- In addition to this successful fundraising year, United Way is always proud to celebrate the incredible legacy of the Herschel V. Jenkins Trust, which strengthens the organization’s work and ensures that donations to United Way go further to create even greater impact across the region.
