Last year, I had the privilege of introducing our community to Sara and David Pennington as United Way of Northwest Georgia’s Campaign Co-Chairs. This year, I get to share something even better: they said yes again.
For Sara and David, serving as Campaign Co-Chairs was never simply about holding a title. It was an opportunity to step further into a legacy of generosity and service that has shaped Northwest Georgia for generations—and to invite others to become part of it.
Over the past year, they have stood alongside our United Way team, connected with local businesses and donors, and seen firsthand what happens when people across Whitfield and Murray counties rally around their neighbors. They have seen the needs facing local families, but they have also seen the incredible generosity of a community willing to step up and help.
That is what makes me especially excited to have them leading us again.
Sara and David aren't starting from the beginning this year. They return with a deeper understanding of the work, stronger relationships across our community, and the momentum of a year spent encouraging others to get involved.
For those who may not know them, the Penningtons have deep roots in our community. David serves on the United Way Board of Directors and Campaign Cabinet, while Sara is a member of our Women's Leadership Council and an active volunteer throughout the community. Together, they are Tocqueville Society members and have made giving back an important part of the life they are building with their three children, Ella Gray, Georgia, and Penn.
To me, that is what legacy is really about.
Legacy isn't only what we leave behind. It is what we choose to build while we're here. It's the example we set for our children, the opportunities we create for our neighbors, and the community we leave stronger for the people who come after us.
United Way has been part of that kind of legacy in Northwest Georgia for generations. Year after year, local families, businesses, and community leaders have chosen to give, volunteer, and lead because they believe our community is stronger when we take care of one another. Sara and David are continuing that tradition while helping inspire a new generation to find its own place in the story.
As we begin another United Way campaign, there is still important work ahead of us, and there are families in even greater need of our help. Across our community, hardworking families are facing difficult choices as the cost of basic necessities continues to stretch household budgets. Children need opportunities to learn and thrive. Families need pathways toward greater financial stability. And when our neighbors face a crisis, they need to know there is somewhere to turn.
United Way of Northwest Georgia brings people, partners, and resources together to meet those needs—not only by helping our neighbors through difficult moments, but by investing in solutions that create stronger futures.
That work is only possible because people choose to be part of it.
Every campaign has its own goal, but the greater goal remains the same: creating a Northwest Georgia where every person has the opportunity to thrive. And every gift, every volunteer hour, and every person willing to lead adds another chapter to a legacy of caring for this place we call home.
On September 24, we'll gather at Burr Park to officially kick off the 2026 United Way Campaign. Sara and David will join our Campaign Cabinet and Board of Directors as we reveal this year's campaign goal and celebrate the people and organizations who make this work possible. We'll also bring back some friendly competition with the Great American Trike Race and enjoy an evening together as a community.
I hope you'll join us—not just for the celebration, but for what it represents.
Sara and David said yes again because they believe in this community and what we can accomplish together. We need you and everyone else in our community to join them in “yes” so we can continue to offer the level of services needed to improve lives and build a stronger community. As we begin this year's campaign, I hope their example encourages all of us to consider the legacy we want to help build.
Whether you give, advocate, volunteer, or simply invite someone else to get involved, there is a place for you in this work.
Thank you, Sara and David, for continuing to lead the way.
United is the Way!
Sara and David Pennington are the Campaign Co-Chairs of the 2026 United Way of Northwest Georgia Campaign. Amanda Burt is the President of United Way of Northwest Georgia. The mission of United Way is Improving Lives. Inspiring Donors. Uniting Community.