On Thursday, August 20, from 4:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M., United Way of Central Louisiana (UWCL) will host “The Art of Community,” the official kickoff of the 2026 Community Campaign, hosted by Alexandria Museum of Art. Sponsored by Regions Bank, the event is free and open to the public. Spirit’s Food & Friends is the beverage and food sponsor for the event. RSVP by emailing marketing@uwcl.org.
United Way of Central Louisiana is undergoing what has been coined a “recharge” period: a year for getting back to their traditional roots and reestablishing community leadership. For generations, United Way of Central Louisiana has been the backbone organization and a centralized hub connecting local nonprofits with volunteers and other nonprofits in the area to bridge gaps in programming. This campaign kickoff is integral not only to fundraising, but to reintroducing UWCL to the community at large with new leadership at the helm of a refocused and “recharged” mission.
“In the few months since joining United Way of Central Louisiana, I’ve been inspired by how deeply people care about this organization, its strong legacy, and the role it plays in our community,” said Lafe Jones, President and CEO of United Way of Central Louisiana. “Wherever I go, people share stories about United Way’s impact, their past involvement, and ask how they can get involved. The return of our Community Campaign Kickoff is a direct response to that enthusiasm, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back into the conversation and the movement.”
Red River Bank’s Director, President, & CEO Blake Chatelain and Senior Executive Vice President & COO Tammi Salazar were among the first business leaders to begin pacesetter campaigns for this season. When asked about the importance of business leadership in driving campaign leads, Blake Chatelain said, “It’s not just a business we’re trying to build; it’s a community we’re trying to build. I think from day one, we looked for opportunities like this to pour into.”
Tammi Salazar added on, “To have a strong business, we’ve got to have a strong community. I think as business leaders, we can never underestimate how much our commitment flows down to other people.”
For any businesses or organizations that wish to start a workplace campaign with us and set up payroll deductions, please contact Ananda Flanagan at ananda@uwcl.org.
Location: Alexandria Museum of Art, 933 2nd St. Alexandria, LA 71301.
United Way of Central Louisiana mobilizes resources and partnerships to strengthen education, financial stability, health, and community resilience across the region.
For more information about United Way of Central Louisiana, visit uwcl.org.