Tuscaloosa Business Leader Chris Gunter to Head 2023 United Way Campaign
Tuscaloosa's Chris Gunter has been tapped to lead this year's United Way of West Alabama efforts to raise money for nearly three dozen important area nonprofits.
The United Way supports 30 partner agencies and offsets some of their operational costs so organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa, Hospice of West Alabama and dozens more can focus more sharply on their individual missions.
In his role as their Chairperson, Gunter will be tasked with identifying funding sources, setting campaign goals and networking with leaders across the area to advance the causes of the United Way and their partners.
He'll have a good headstart on those missions -- as a Tuscaloosa native, a Central High School graduate and with two decades of management experience at Buffalo Rock Pepsi, Gunter is already well-networked with some of the area's most influential leaders.
“Chris has worked hard to develop a broad involvement in the Tuscaloosa community,” said Matthew Dent, CEO of the Buffalo Rock Company. “He is a fabulous representative of Buffalo Rock and the Tuscaloosa Community.”
Gunter will be stepping into shoes last worn by restaurateur extraordinaire Jheovanny Gomez, who chaired the 2022 campaign.
“Chris has a true servant’s heart for our community. His positive energy and leadership style is a great source of inspiration for our staff at United Way as well as for our volunteers,” said Jackie Wuska, the president and CEO at UWWA. “While we all are feeling the impact of the increased costs of everything today, the rising costs are creating a tremendous need for those on fixed incomes or who work hard but do not make enough to meet their basic needs. We are excited to have Chris’s guidance in this year’s campaign to raise additional support to enable our partner agencies to continue to help 1 out of 4 people in our community.”
“Chris is one of those special people that you can reach out to when a need presents itself and you know he will pitch in any way he can,” said Monique Scott, UWWA VP of Campaign Development. “It’s people like him with a true commitment to our community that makes Tuscaloosa and West Alabama such a special place when it comes to helping others.”
For more information about how you can be a part of the 2023 United Way campaign, please visit uwwa.org or contact Monique Scott or Laura Green at (205) 345-6640 or campaign@uwwa.org.
For coverage of UWWA events and the progress of their fundraising campaigns as it develops, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.