United Way of the CSRA held its Annual Celebration, Tuesday afternoon in the Oglethorpe Ballroom of the Augusta Marriott Convention Center, commemorating the fruits of its fundraising campaign in 2024.
The nonprofit recognized several local businesses, organizations and individuals for their fundraising, outreach and volunteer efforts, last year especially amid the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The United Way raised more than $3 million toward its programs in 2024, said board chairman Joe Klecha, who also noted that its “overall impact, including other efforts beyond fundraising, reached an impressive $5.05 million in our community.”
In her opening address, United Way of the CSRA president and CEO Brittany Burnett, while lauding the contributions of the organization’s many sponsors and community sponsors, highlighted its efforts to aid asset limited, income constrained and employed—or “ALICE”—families. She mentioned Ride United, United Way’s partnership with Lyft to offer free rides to work, school, job interviews or other important appointments.
“Last year, 82% of the Lyft rides that we booked for people in this community were people trying to get to and from work. What I will also tell you is that many of those people were getting rides to your companies,” said Burnett. “So imagine if we didn’t have a service like Ride United…. Now imagine how great it is that we do have that service, because then we can provide these rides to our community who needs them, and also they’re trying to get to places where you have businesses to keep our economy moving and keep your folks in court.”
Among the many awards distributed during Tuesday’s luncheon were three superlative awards. The Double Impact Award was presented to the Augusta Coca-Cola Bottling Co., who partnered with Airbnb to host employees displaced by the hurricane.
The Youth United Award, given to M.J. Henson, whose parents Rosa and Matt reached out to United Way when their son decided to donate one of his own toys a day, through mid-December, for less fortunate children.
The Volunteer Champion Award went to John Deere, whose employees clocked in more than 460 volunteer hours local nonprofits, matching $20 in donations for each of those hours.
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
