With help from Superheroes, Lake Martin Area United Way kicks off campaign

Wednesday, August 26, 2015 By David Granger

Original Outlook story here.

A room full of superheroes and potential superheroes gathered at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center on the Central Alabama Community College campus here in Alexander City Tuesday night to hear this year’s goal for the Lake Martin Area United Way.
The crowd of approximately 150 was challenged with this year’s Lake Martin Area United Way Campaign theme “Be Someone’s Hero” and a $530,000 goal for the campaign.

“We looked at how much we raised last year and we wanted to give ourselves a realistic challenge for this year,” said Mark Spencer, senior vice president and Central Alabama area executive for USAmeriBank, before asking Mabry Cook, Lake Martin Area United Way board member and director of UAB Medicine – The Cancer Center at RMC, dressed in his superhero coveralls, to unveil the goal.

The goal was unveiled shortly after a brief video highlighted some of the Lake Martin Area United Way agencies and how they had helped individuals and families in the community. Included among the highlighted agencies were the Domestic Violence Intervention Center, American Red Cross – Alabama Lakes Chapter, Girl’s Ranch, Salvation Army and Camp ASCCA.

“Our superheroes are you, the donors, who make it possible for our agencies to do their work,” Sharon Fuller, Lake Martin Area United Way executive director, told the crowd at the end of the video.
After the individuals profiled in the video were welcomed on stage, the campaign’s two pacesetter businesses – Amtech and Lake Martin Community Hospital – announced that their campaigns had already raised $11,700 and $3,500, respectively.

Spencer said, all tolled, more than $31,000 had already been raised in the campaign, 5.6 percent of the Lake Martin Area United Way’s goal.

Lake Martin Area United Way enables the people of the Lake Martin area to care for one another in organized and unified ways. It helps support the following agencies in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties: Alexander City Rescue Squad; American Red Cross-Alabama Lakes Chapter; ARISE Inc.; Boy Scouts Tukabatchee Area Council; Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lake Martin Area; Camp ASCCA/Easter Seals; Camp Fire USA; D.A.R.E./S.A.F.E.; Domestic Violence Intervention Center; Food Bank of East Alabama; Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama; Habitat for Humanity; Head Start-Chambers/Tallapoosa; Lake Martin Laubach Literacy Council; Meals on Wheels; Rape Counselors of East Alabama; TallaCoosa Aid to the People; Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Girls Ranch, The Lighthouse of Tallapoosa County; The Salvation Army; Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center; Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama; Palmer Place Child Advocacy Center; TCR Child Care Corp.; 2-1-1 Statewide Referrals for Human Services; After the Bell; Children’s Summer Reading Program; Emergency Food and Shelter Program; Home Depot Veterans’ Home Repairs and PATH (Prosperity Again Thru Health).

For more information on the Lake Martin Area United Way, call 256-329-3600, send email to admin@unitedwaylakemartin.org or visit them on the web at unitedwaylakemartin.org.