UWKV has appointed TJ and Kerry Smart, a Waterville couple, as campaign co-chairs for the 2024 fundraising season beginning in September. TJ Smart serves as the chief operating officer at Milestone Funeral Partners, and Kerry Smart is the program coordinator for the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College. As campaign chairs, their responsibilities include the expansion and strengthening of community partnerships across the county starting this spring.
Having been part of the Kennebec Valley community for nearly two decades, the Smarts bring a wealth of experience and dedication to their roles.
“Our commitment to this community has been a significant part of our lives, especially through TJ’s work,” Kerry said.
“We were initially approached to chair the campaign for the Waterville-based United Way of Mid-Maine (UWMM) over a decade ago,” said TJ, referencing a time prior to UWMM’s closure and UWKV’s expansion to serve all of Kennebec County in 2021. “Our friend said, ‘If you can, you should,’ and that has stuck with us and was one of the many reasons we agreed to return to United Way to lead UWKV’s campaign this year.”
This year, the focus of the campaign is on Kennebec County’s ALICE population — those who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed but still struggle to meet the basic cost of living despite earning above the Federal Poverty Level. In Kennebec Valley, 42% of households are below the ALICE Threshold.
“Addressing the needs of the ALICE population is critical for our campaign. It’s about highlighting the real challenges faced by these individuals and mobilizing community resources so they will not be ignored,” said Kerry.
United Way’s annual fundraising efforts engage over 130 local businesses, representing more than 4,000 donors. Last year, these efforts raised over $1.9 million, supporting 58 nonprofit and school-based programs throughout Kennebec County. With the backing of the Campaign Champions, a network of local business and community leaders, the Smarts aim to expand the donor base to address the growing community needs. |