ASHLEY ABRAHAM started as the sole United Way director for three Tennessee counties in 2020, not realizing she would then navigate a pandemic while managing a large nonprofit. Five years later, the 38-year-old has merged with United Way of South Central Tennessee to include seven counties and 51 ZIP codes. This expansion has provided a deeper integration of the counties and a greater ability to share resources.
United Way is a regional networking nonprofit that distributes hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants annually to needed programs and services. Abraham handles her portion of this work with the grace and professionalism of a seasoned veteran in the field. Her job is to ensure that community members stay connected to helpful organizations, businesses, churches, resources, services, and programs, because communities are “better together.”
“We strive to share resources in the community and stay educated on our ever-changing and growing counties to better learn how to serve the areas and meet needs. When you are in a difficult situation, it can be overwhelming to know where to turn,” Abraham said. “We educate businesses and other organizations on United Way’s services, along with many other local programs, in hopes of supporting our neighbors.”
Abraham has a background in retail marketing, but for several years, she worked as a volunteer for Partners for Healing. This nonprofit organization offers free health care for the working uninsured.
“They’re a wonderful and essential organization in our community,” Abraham said. “I fell in love with the nonprofit world and with being able to meet people from different walks of life. I believe we’re put here on Earth to help others and to give back our God-given talents to those around us. So that is what I decided to do.”
When Abraham started with United Way, she covered Coffee, Moore, and Warren counties. After the merger, she continued to serve these counties as the regional director. She is also part of a larger support team at United Way of South Central Tennessee, which serves seven counties: Coffee, Moore, Warren, Rutherford, Bedford, Cannon, and Lincoln.
United Way helps improve lives by funding opportunities for education, health, and financial aid for those in need. Abraham keeps locals informed about a number of resources here in Tennessee. One way she does this is by promoting 211, a free, confidential number to call to get information on any resource you might need in your area. Another resource is Benefits Kitchen, a website that lets individuals input their income and household information and generates a list of qualifying benefits.
United Way also supports programs such as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which promotes literacy for young children, and SingleCare, a free prescription discount card. Another service offered is Launchpoint, a free employment coaching program that helps people prepare for and secure jobs. Volunteer Connect helps match volunteers interested in serving their communities with nonprofit organizations.
United Way has several strong community health, finance, and wellness initiatives, such as Stuff the Bus, a school supply drive, and the Winter Shelter program, which offers safe lodging for unhoused individuals. They also organize Better Together, a monthly meeting for churches and nonprofit organizations in the region to discuss current needs.
Abraham enjoys these gatherings because they exemplify what she loves most about the Better Together group: the willingness of different organizations and religious denominations to set aside differences and work together for the common good. This initiative ensures that there is not a huge overlap in what is offered; each group focuses on its goals, and they all share volunteers, venues, and resources.
One program Abraham is excited about expanding is Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). This volunteer-driven charity recruits trained financial professionals to do people’s taxes for free.
“VITA saves so much money for people. But not only that, some people are going to be able to get more for their return, which for many, really helps with the cost of living right now,” Abraham said. “They will have trained volunteers who really know how to prepare taxes, helping them get the best possible outcome.”
Abraham said these great efforts are only made possible through the giving hearts of the community, and their success depends on us all.
“Being part of a community means giving back. It doesn’t always have to be monetary. It can be giving your time, services, and effort,” Abraham said. “Get involved in your community if you are not already; it is an eye-opener, and you meet great individuals.”
United Way of South Central Tennessee will distribute $685,000 in grants this fiscal year, while multiplying the impact of every donated dollar. Coffee, Moore, and Warren counties will distribute $70,000 of that amount. Tullahoma is home to Abraham, and she is always impressed with the generosity of this town and the counties she serves through United Way of South Central Tennessee.
“This town is so generous, and people truly do care. We get out what we put in. Investing in the communities where we reside, raise our children, and work is important to sustain growth,” Abraham said. GN
To find out more about United Way and its resources, visit https://www.yourlocaluw.org/
