United Way of Greater Knoxville

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United Way of Greater Knoxville

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We unite people and resources to strengthen communities and solve systemic issues.

10/28/2026

We recently took two teams from Regions Bank Knoxville behind the scenes to see the heart of our mission.

They visited The Camp Koinonia Foundation to see how every child is welcome at their camp and Helping Mamas Knoxville to learn how essentials are distributed to local families navigating hardship.

We love these tours because they give our generous partners a chance to see exactly how their time, talent, and gifts directly wrap around our neighbors in need.

Discover how you can join our campaign today: https://uwgk.org/2026campaign/

10/28/2026

“The lack of support can make you stay down. I needed support. People need support. It’s because of the program I’ve been able to hold my chest up and breathe.”

As a single mom in East Tennessee, Madasia wanted a career her two boys could be proud of. But without outside help or family nearby, finding the time and resources to go back to school felt like an impossible mountain to climb.

Madasia needed a village. She found it with United Way of Greater Knoxville and the East Tennessee Collaborative.

With hands-on mentorship from her mentor at YWCA Knoxville & the Tennessee Valley, Madasia pushed past every hurdle. Today, she is a proud graduate, a practicing dental assistant, and has set her next goal of owning her own home!

When we invest in our neighbors, we help them build a foundation for long-term success. We are so proud of Madasia's determination and honored to support families like hers across our community.

Meet Madasia and see firsthand how a strong support system fuels real transformation: https://uwgk.org/coaching-brings-confidence-and-a-new-career-madasias-story/

10/27/2026

Our Advancement Team recently spent time with our friends from Realty Trust Group, taking a behind-the-scenes tour of the Knoxville Area Project Access (KAPA).

KAPA is an essential space that provides healthy food, hygiene essentials, and critical resources to neighbors navigating access to medical care right in our community.

Tours like this give our generous partners a chance to see exactly how their time, talent, and gifts directly strengthen the local safety nets that our neighbors rely on daily.

When your business partners with United Way of Greater Knoxville, your dollars go further because they are backed by deep relationships and transparent, direct impact.

Message our team or click the link below to discover how you can partner, volunteer, or give today: https://uwgk.org/2026campaign/

10/27/2026

Let’s just say nobody held back at this year's Northwestern Mutual and Axiom Wealth Management United Way of Greater Knoxville campaign kickoff! 🥧💥

Watching these teams laugh together, lean into the fun, all while giving back was a moment we will not soon forget.

Every dollar raised stays right here in our community to strengthen the vital safety nets our neighbors rely on every single day. We are grateful to the leaders who took a pie for a good cause and everyone who donated to make it happen!

There are lots of ways to make a massive impact in East Tennessee without taking a pie to the face!

Join in the fun of campaign season today: https://uwgk.org/2026campaign/

10/26/2026

Enjoy a quick look back at one of our favorite weeks of the year!

Week of Caring is the perfect reminder of what happens when our corporate partners show up for East Tennessee.

Without the leadership of our presenting sponsors, PYA Accountants & Advisors and Realty Trust Group, this week would not be possible.

Their vision and the generosity of our supply drive sponsor, Erie Insurance allowed teams a chance to step away from their desks to put a fresh coat of paint on community spaces, maintain local gardens, and strengthen the spaces we all call home.

We are grateful to our Gold sponsors Phillips Infrastructure, UT Medical, and Wallace Real Estate, alongside sponsor Cakmes Dental Studio. Because of that vital support, dedicated teams from across our community, including Altar'd State Kids and TVAMP were able to roll up their sleeves and give back.

The projects are finished, but the spaces are bright, the gardens are growing, and the impact is just getting started.

Press play to take a quick look at how our community makes a lasting difference!

10/23/2026

Workplace giving starts with real people who believe in the difference we can make together.

We loved spending time with the incredible team at Edfinancial Careers! Their leader, Tony Hollin, challenged his colleagues to TennUp! and encouraged everyone to jump in and be part of the vital work happening right here in our neighborhoods.

We are so grateful for partners like Edfinancial who make giving back a shared, joyful effort. Their energy is helping us build a stronger, more stable East Tennessee for all our neighbors.

Thank you, Tony, and the entire Edfinancial team for showing up, stepping up, and being a huge part of the United Way of Greater Knoxville family!

10/22/2026

Today is ! We are proud to join the Afterschool Alliance and communities across the country to celebrate the vital role of out-of-school programs.

Through our Knox Area Afterschool Network (KAAN), we partner with local schools and nonprofits to provide safe, nurturing spaces for students after the final bell rings.

These programs do so much more than keep kids safe. They give working parents peace of mind and inspire students to keep learning long after the traditional school day ends.

Thank you to the incredible educators and mentors who keep the lights on for our children every single day.

Learn more about our Early Care and Education initiatives and see how we are supporting families across our community:
https://uwgk.org/ece/kaan/

10/21/2026

Knoxville Utilities Board employees have spent time seeing firsthand where their campaign dollars are distributed in our community.

KUB teams have taken the time to tour nonprofits across the community, including Muse Knoxville, InterFaith Health Center, Knoxville Area Project Access (KAPA), Sunshine Services Knox, and Emerald Youth Foundation to see the direct impact of their workplace contributions.

These visits offer a powerful look at how regular donations translate into real opportunities and vital services for our neighbors right here in East Tennessee.

As we work toward our United Way annual campaign goal of $9 million, workplace tours like these illustrate the power of collective giving. Every contribution, whether $5 or $5,000, directly strengthens our ability to support our community through the 105 local nonprofit organizations we fund.

Thank you to the team at KUB for your dedication, your curiosity, and your heart for our community. We truly do our best work when we do it together.

Explore the 2026 UWGK Campaign or learn how to bring a workplace giving program to your office: https://uwgk.org/2026campaign/

10/21/2026

"History repeats itself, but not this time. I am bringing generational wealth into my family. I want something to leave my kids."

Jennifer is a local single mother of four who allowed United Way of Greater Knoxville and this community to walk alongside her. She stepped outside her comfort zone and is building long-term economic mobility and a lasting legacy for her family.

When Jennifer set out to launch her own business, she encountered the benefits cliff, a systemic barrier where incremental gains in income can cause a sudden loss of essential public resources that families still rely on to get by.

With relationship-based mentorship, planning, and community support behind her, she pushed past every obstacle to open her own food truck business, SnoTopia.

Lifting up families means ensuring parents have the tools, flexibility, and support systems they need to not just survive, but thrive.

At United Way of Greater Knoxville, we are dedicated to supporting determined parents and caregivers just like Jennifer.

Read Jennifer's full story to see how personal determination and community support fuel real transformation:
https://uwgk.org/building-a-legacy-how-etc-helped-jennifer-start-her-business-and-achieve-stability/

10/20/2026

Economic mobility starts with opportunity, and so often, opportunity begins with a connection.

Last Friday, more than 100 mentors, site supervisors, community partners, and participants came together for the East Tennessee Collaborative (ETC) Capstone luncheon.

Together, we celebrated four years of walking alongside 872 local families as they work to build financial stability.

Because of this community's dedication, participant poverty dropped from 66% to 35%, bringing greater safety and stability to more than 2,000 children. Behind every single one of those numbers is a neighbor who worked incredibly hard to earn a degree, buy a home, or accomplish a goal that once felt out of reach.

The success from this work continues in our long-term Economic Mobility strategy.

To everyone who has mentored, led, or supported this journey, thank you. You are the proof that united is the way we can go further together.

We are grateful to Commissioner Clarence Carter and the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Jerry Askew, Catherine Harvey and the Urban Institute, Dr. Chandra Alston, Amy Shafer, Liliana Burbano, and our own Kaki Reynolds and Pam Hedrick for lending your leadership, wisdom, and hearts to this celebration.

Most of all, thank you to the mentors, site supervisors, and brave participants who trusted us with your journeys over the last four years. The progress celebrated last week belongs to you.

Read the full 2025 ETC Annual Report and see photos from the day: https://uwgk.org/etc/

Address

1301 Hannah Avenue
Knoxville, TN
37921

Telephone

+18655239131

Website

http://www.uwgk.org/, http://www.volunteeretn.org/

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