People questioned Brittany Burnett, the United Way of the CSRA’s president and CEO, about the attainability of the annual fundraising campaign’s goal after it was announced in August 2025.
Officials didn’t propose to raise a specific dollar amount as they had done in previous years rather to directly impact 30,000 families labeled as “asset limited, income constrained, employed” or ALICE for short, by the year 2030, she said.
At its annual meeting at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center on March 10, Joe Klecha, board chair, announced that 5,687 ALICE families received help from the United Way and its partner agencies in 2025.
“How do you make an impact? You remove barriers for families,” Burnett said.
Even what might seem like small barriers can make a huge difference for people who are considered ALICE – not below the federal poverty level but not making enough to make ends meet. Burnett said that 31% of the people living in the United Way of the CSRA’s coverage area are classified as ALICE and another 17% are at or below poverty level.
The United Way provides some direct services as well as provides funding to partner agencies to fill in other gaps, she said.
Events such as Stuff the Bus, a school supply drive, can help people with a tight budget and provide a pathway to help students succeed, she said. More than 34,000 school supply items (five bus loads) were collected this year.
The United Way has a partnership with Lyft for Ride United to provide rides to job interviews or medical appointments. In 2025, 4,797 people utilized the ride sharing program.
Also, 413 ALICE households were stabilized through direct housing, utility and food assistance; 8,134 books were provided to children through a Book Bash drive with Rise Augusta and 72 families received free tax prep through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
“Progress doesn’t happen by itself. It takes all of us to do this work together,” Burnett said.
The United Way and its programs through agencies such as GAP Ministries, Golden Harvest Food Bank, The Family Y and the Salvation Army helped 76,202 people.
In addition to announcing the impact of United Way programming, the organization recognized the campaign superlative winners: the Small But Mighty Award – Diana Royal, Southern Nuclear Operating Company – Plant Vogtle; the Role Model Campaign – Queensborough National Bank & Trust; Top Fundraising Schools: Burke County High School, Burke County; Lakeside High School, Columbia County; and Hephzibah Middle School, Richmond County.
Lynne Shrader received the 2025 Alvin W. Vogtle Volunteer of the Year Award. Nominated by Child Enrichment, Inc., Shrader volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate.
The Spirit of Community Award was presented to Augusta Coca-Cola Bottling Co. UNITED, in recognition of its outstanding commitment to strengthening the CSRA through meaningful community engagement and partnership.
Southern Nuclear Operation Company was the top fundraiser, donating more than $250,000.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named Augusta Magazine’s best local writer in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
