United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley celebrates the overwhelming generosity of the people in the Chattahoochee Valley. This generosity helps fund local programs. Funding is determined by volunteers who invest in our community and participate in a rigorous review process that ensures all programs address a need, achieve results, and are good stewards of funds invested while focusing on vulnerable populations, essential services, and advancing equity. The funding recommendations of the Community Investment Volunteers were presented to the United Way Board of Directors on May 18^th and were unanimously approved. Funding began July 1^st. United Way will help fund 44 local programs through 26 agencies in the upcoming fiscal year. Your support truly changes lives. 

“The Community Investment process is one of my favorite times of the year.,” said Catherine Budzynski, this year’s Community Investment Board Chair. “I always enjoy seeing the teams in action as they go through a thoughtful and rigorous review process to ensure that funding is awarded to programs that create a strategic and lasting impact to ensure equitable opportunities for everyone in the Chattahoochee Valley to have a good quality of life today and in the future.”   

Here is what our community did to assess United Way funded community partners this year: 

• 57 volunteers shared their time and talent during the Community Investment process. 

• Volunteers spent 1,300 hours diligently reviewing programs to ensure they are working for everyone. 

• Volunteers visited all sites and programs during the Community Investment process. 

 "This year's Community Investment process was once again a success because of our dedicated volunteers,” said Ben Moser, President & CEO of United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley. “Despite another year with some Covid restrictions, our volunteers showed up, in person and virtually, to make this process a success. Our volunteers represent every part of our community, and their decisions will positively impact the future of the Chattahoochee Valley," he added. 

In addition to the site visits, the financial position of each agency was reviewed to assess governance and stewardship of funds.  

We would like to take this time to highlight our Community Investment volunteer team as our work could not be done without them. 

 Barbara Archie, Anthem  

Kenna Arrington, Synovus  

Bradley Botkin, Aramark  

Lee Brantley, Community Volunteer  

Holli Browder, Columbus Consolidated Government  

Catherine Budzynski, Aflac  

Jessica Burch, TSYS, A Global Payments Company  

Gary Butler, Char-Broil  

Alicia Carter, Liberty Utilities  

Yolanda Chambers, TSYS, A Global Payments Company  

Jerry Coleman, Truist Bank  

Elizabeth Cook, TSYS, A Global Payments Company 

Jason Cooper, Geotechnical & Environmental Consultants Terracon  

Patrick Dietz, Publix Supermarkets  

Sebastian Dixon, Alabama Power  

Sonja Esteras, Community Volunteer  

JT Fellows, Piedmont Columbus Regional  

Keith Fryer, TSYS, A Global Payments Company  

Melissa Gauntt, BEAM  

Katy Hedge, St. Francis - Emory Healthcare  

Mark Hudson, Truist Bank  

Elaine Jacobs, TSYS, A Global Payments Company  

Karen Jakes, Community Volunteer  

Dawn Jenkins, Muscogee County School District  

Christi Johnson, W.C. Bradley Co.  

Carrie Jones, TSYS, A Global Payments Company  

Bob Kidd, Hecht Burdeshaw Architects, Inc. 

Taiasha Kimbrough, Publix Supermarkets  

Marceda Lewis, Russell County Schools  

Likitca Ligon, Russell County Schools  

Katrina Long, Muscogee County School District  

Larry Mashburn, Publix Supermarkets  

Katie McFarland, Publix Supermarkets  

Jensen Melton, Community Volunteer, Attorney  

Marianne Michael, Troy University  

David Mitchell, Columbus State University  

Lane Ogletree-Battle, The Antioch Baptist Church Inc.  

Mercedes Parham, Community Volunteer  

Kevin Peoples, Community Volunteer  

Teddy Reese, The Reese Firm, LLC  

Alicia Roberson, Publix Supermarkets 

Chris Schoonover, Synovus  

Angelia Sharpe, TSYS, A Global Payments Company  

Sam Simmons, TSYS, A Global Payments Company  

Mollie Smith, TSYS, A Global Payments Company  

Jacque Spillson, Publix Supermarkets  

Christopher Spurlock, Publix Supermarkets  

Mary Stewart, Community Volunteer  

Clark Turner, Community Volunteer  

Erica Walker, Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley  

Crystal Waye, Columbus Technical College  

Mary Weston, TSYS, A Global Payments Company  

Katie White, Thayer Companies  

Ryan Willoughby, Columbus Area Habitat for Humanity  

Cory Yelverton, TSYS, A Global Payments Company