TAUW LEGENDS: ALISON ANTHONY
The TAUW Legends video series preserves the voices and stories of those who shaped our first century of service. As part of our Centennial celebration, Jesse Boudiette, president of Propeller Consulting and Centennial Committee member, sat down with Alison Anthony, president and CEO of Tulsa Area United Way.
Join us in continuing Alison’s legacy of compassion and community impact. Your gift today in honor of Alison helps write the next chapter of our story, ensuring that future generations will have access to the same life-changing services that have touched so many lives over the past century.
INterview highlights
Jesse Boudiette: Why do you Live United?
Alison Anthony: I know firsthand how care and change can lift up a whole next generation. So for me, it’s very personal. And not only just for me. Last year alone, United Way had more than 601,000 times when someone accessed the services of a United Way partner program. I think about each of those families and the resources that they were able to access to improve their lives and strengthen this community. If people can become sober, if they can have a home, I mean, that’s going to affect educational outcomes for the kids. It’s going to give them the opportunity for the next generation so that they can get a better job, they can get more schooling, and it just all builds on itself.
I try not to take myself too seriously, you know, because it takes a huge team of us to do the work, but the work is serious. And I know that lives are changed every day because not only our staff but the incredible volunteers that we work with every day. And I would say that’s been one of the most surprising and moving parts of my job as CEO of United Way is watching the leaders and the volunteers who find a way to use their time, talent, and treasure to make an impact in this community. And it’s just working with the CEOs and the leaders that have helped me run the campaign, like this year, Stephania Grober, Emeka Nnaka, and Pierce Norton. These are very busy people, and yet they’ve rolled up their sleeves, and they are trying to do their best to raise the money that this community needs to get people the services that they need. It’s my day job and yet they spend hours doing the work, and that’s incredibly motivating and inspiring to me.