GIVE BIRMINGHAM
Our annual look at the city’s giving spirit and the organizations that put charity into action
Alabama Symphony Orchestra
Mission
The ASO changes lives through music by entertaining, educating, and inspiring audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Our concerts, community events, and free education programs are offered across the state, with a special focus on arts access for underserved communities.
Highlights
IN THE CONCERT HALL
• The ASO’s Masterworks series has something for every classical music lover, from classical’s most famous pieces to modern compositions.
• Coffee Concerts allow students and seniors to attend condensed daytime concerts.
• Our SuperPOPS! series includes pop tunes, movie screenings, Broadway hits, and more.
• A new series at the historic Carver Theatre presents intimate chamber music.
IN THE COMMUNITY
• Our season kicks off with a free Symphony in the Gardens concert at the Botanical Gardens in September.
• Our season finale, Symphony in the Summer, is three nights of free music at Railroad Park over Memorial Day Weekend!
• Music Meets Medicine offers ASO chamber performances to over 400 patients and healthcare professionals in several metro area hospitals.
• Tunes on Tap are fun, free ASO concerts at breweries in and around Birmingham.
IN THE CLASSROOM
• ASO Education fills gaps in music education through custom, standards-based concerts, lesson plans, streaming, and visits to classrooms. We serve 25,000+ students in 200 schools across 48 counties.
• Our Momentum Symposium offers free performances and professional development for all Alabama collegiate music students, with a special focus on HBCUs.
• We cultivate young talent through ASYO, which rehearses weekly and performs 4 annual public concerts.
For more than 100 years, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO) has entertained Alabamians of all ages and backgrounds, pursuing its mission to change lives through music. As the state’s only fulltime professional orchestra, our goal is to perform world-class symphonic music and increase access to the arts for communities in the Birmingham metro area and across the state.
The ASO advances economic and cultural vitality in Alabama through live performances and education programs of the highest artistic standard. Performances include traditional classical, pop music, chamber music, new compositions, and collaborations across genres. Each season, the ASO presents over 100 concerts and education programs in the concert hall and in classrooms and performs for our community in non-traditional venues, like hospitals, malls, parks, and breweries.
The ASO entertains, educates, and inspires nearly 100,000 Alabamians annually, including 25,000 students and teachers in 200 schools across 48 of 67 Alabama counties.
Upcoming Events
Masterworks Concerts: Jan. 10 & 11, Jan. 31 & Feb. 1, Feb. 21 & 22, March 14 & 15, April 11 & 12, May 2 & 3, May 16 & 17
ASO @ Carver: Jan. 16, Mar. 6
Concertmaster & Friends: Feb. 4, May 6
SuperPOPS!:
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert Jan. 24 & 25
Birmingham Does Broadway! Feb. 14
ARETHA: Song & Symphony Mar. 22
Música de Mariachi! Apr. 26
Coffee Concerts: Feb. 21, Apr. 11, May 16
Tunes on Tap: Apr. 3, May 8
Special Event: Secret Sisters Apr. 24
MISSION
Through funding partnerships and the kind donations that our communities provide, we create employment opportunities wherein those with barriers to employment and selfsufficiency can learn, develop, and grow to become productive members of the community and reach their life goals.
Alabama Goodwill Industries
Alabama Goodwill strengthens communities through the power of work and opportunity. By providing job training, career counseling, and workforce development programs, Alabama Goodwill helps people achieve independence and financial stability. Community initiatives like donation drives, thrift tours, and career fairs promote local engagement and sustainability through reuse and recycling. Every donation and purchase supports essential services, driving life-changing support and stronger communities.
2350 Green Springs Hwy S. Birmingham, AL 35205 205-323-6331 • info@alabamagoodwill.org
Birmingham
Alabama Kidney Foundation
Alabama Kidney Foundation (AKF) has been a beacon of hope for those affected by kidney disease in our state. With Alabama ranking first in the nation for dialysis patients per capita, the need for support is more critical than ever. Currently, more than 14,000 residents are on dialysis, highlighting the urgent demand for resources and assistance.
At AKF, we are committed to improving the lives of low-income dialysis patients through education, support, and financial aid. We understand the immense mental and emotional toll that comes with a kidney disease diagnosis, and we strive to offer comprehensive support to help patients navigate their journey.
Each year, we organize six walks across the state—including Birmingham, Huntsville, Shoals, Montgomery, Mobile, and Dothan—as our largest fundraising events. The funds raised from are crucial in sustaining our two key financial assistance programs:
Daily Living Needs: This program provides essential support to help patients cover basic daily expenses. We assist with prescriptions, utility bills, and other living costs, easing the financial burden that often accompanies kidney disease.
Alabama Transportation Assistance Program (ATAP): Recognizing that many kidney dialysis patients live far from treatment centers, the ATAP program offers transportation services to help alleviate the high costs associated with travel for dialysis and transplant-related appointments.
The mission of the Alabama Kidney Foundation is to serve the kidney patients of Alabama through financial assistance, education, and support services. The Foundation also provides statewide education to promote organ donation awareness and prevention of kidney disease.
Visit www.alkidney.org to learn how you can become involved or donate. Together we are transforming lives.
Mission
Our mission is to Help Oncology Patients Excel during the fight against cancer. The Alabama Oncology Foundation is committed to improving the lives of patients and families throughout central Alabama through supportive services and resources to ease the burdens faced by those fighting cancer.
Highlights
• Prescription Co-pay Assistance
• Rent and Utilities
• Groceries and comfort
• Transportation
• Bereavement
• Respite/Childcare
Fitness Support
Caregiver Support • Referrals to community resources
The AOF is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2020 with the goal of Helping Oncology Patients Excel during their fight with cancer.
We are dedicated to relieving some of the challenges experienced by cancer patients, families and caregivers so they can focus on healing and recovery.
AOF is funded by the generosity of industry partners, local businesses and individuals in our community. Funding is awarded to qualified patients on a case-bycase basis by our Board of Directors. The foundation offers a wide range of support.
The Alabama Oncology Foundation is passionately dedicated to supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of cancer patients in our community. YOU can give HOPE to someone in need. Please join us by supporting the AOF today!
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF ALABAMA
get invoLved:
• Get the Breast Cancer Research license plate. All proceeds benefit the BCRFA. Info at bcrfa.org/tag.
• Attend or volunteer at an event. Spring events include the Pink Palace Casino Night (March 1), CahabaQue BBQ Cook-Off (April 12), and Drive Out Breast Cancer golf tournament (May 19). More info at bcrfa.org/ events.
• Donate. Your gift to the BCRFA supports the state’s top breast cancer researchers and gives hope to the countless people affected by the disease. More at bcrfa.org/donate. BCRFA
Funding ReseaRch, saving Lives. Founded in 1996, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) is a local nonprofit organization with a mission to cure breast cancer by funding promising breast cancer research in Alabama and raising awareness. BCRFA investments fuel innovation at every point in patient care, from prevention to treatment. With community support, BCRFA has invested over $16 million in life-saving breast cancer research and treatments across the state. All funding stays in Alabama, but the impact is worldwide.
bcrfa.org • @BCRFAlabama • (205) 413-4600 4 Office Park Circle, Ste. 109, Birmingham, AL 35223
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Mission
To ignite passion for transformational change.
Vision
A just, prosperous, and unified region where every person is empowered to reach their full potential. Include, Innovate, Inspire, Lead.
Core Values
Highlights
PRIORITIES
Five priorities, identified based on feedback from residents across the region, guide the Foundation – Nurturing Thriving Communities, Overcoming Persistent Poverty, Creating Economic Opportunity for All, Fostering Equity and Inclusion, and Driving Regional Cooperation.
DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS
Individuals, families, and businesses can be part of our work while also supporting their favorite organizations. Through donor-advised funds, donors granted more than $27 million in 2023 to support a range of causes, from arts, education, and health to family and social services, and more.
GRANTS
Through its competitive grant-making process in 2023, the Foundation awarded $2.691 million to area nonprofits, including the Women Under Construction Network and InToto Creative Arts.
PROACTIVE INITIATIVES
To maximize impact, the Foundation implements large-scale, multi-year initiatives that address key concerns and accelerate progress. Initiatives include Mental Health, Regional Cooperation, Microtransit, Economic Opportunity, and Summer Learning Loss.
FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS
Many donors have a specific area of philanthropic interest, and a Field of Interest Fund allows them to support that cause without having to specify one organization. Field of Interest Funds include the Remy Fund for Pets and Animal Services and the Philip A. Morris Fund for the Design Arts.
Founded in May 1959 as a public endowment, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham continues to thrive on the idea that together we have the power to create transformational change. By galvanizing the passion of philanthropists, nonprofit organizations, and leaders, we empower communities, create opportunities, grow capacity, and build charitable resources. Over the past 65 years, the Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars back into our region. Taking on the fundamental issues that challenge the growth and success of the people in our communities, the Foundation serves five counties – Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, and Walker. In 2024, the Foundation moved to its new headquarters in the Nextec building at the nexus of the Civil Rights District and the Switch. The Foundation strives to be a physical catalyst and a hub of activity for the nonprofit sector, fostering partnerships and driving collective impact.
Above left: A grant to InToto Creative Arts helps support programs at Firehouse Ministries Homeless Shelter and Pathways. At left: Women Under Construction Network received a grant to support the REPAIR Angels program.
Above: The Community Foundation was awarded a grant for the launch of Via Microtransit, an on-demand shared ride service focused on connecting “high need and underserved” communities.
The Remy Fund for Pets and Animal Services at the Foundation gave a grant to Hand in Paw’s Wags for Wellness program for healthcare workers and first responders.
Birmingham
Big Brothers Big Sisters operates under the belief that inherent in every child is incredible potential. Each time a child is paired with a role model, a friendship begins that can grow into a future of unlimited potential. To learn more about how you can positively impact the life of a child, visit www.bbbsbhm.org or call 205-939-5590.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
As an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham (BBBS) has provided positive mentors for youth through its mentoring programs since 1973.
BBBS is a non-profit whose main focus is empowering Birmingham area youth. BBBS’s mission is to create and support one to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
The initiatives of BBBS bolster self-esteem and work to improve the chances that the youth served will achieve success in their academic, social, and family lives.
BBBS of Greater Birmingham operates under the vision that all youth achieve their full potential. BBBS serves youth between the ages of 7 and 18 and recruits, screens, trains, and matches volunteer mentors with youth. Each year, BBBS serves more than 1,000 youth in Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount, Chilton, Winston, and Walker Counties.
BBBS of Greater Birmingham is presently looking for volunteers to help us continue our mission. Please visit www.bbbsbhm.org to apply.
Crisis Center, Inc.
MISSION
Our mission is to serve the unmet needs of people experiencing personal crisis or mental health issues and respond with services that promote coping, emotional health, and well-being.
The Crisis Center provides support and resources to people who are in personal crisis. Our staff and volunteers are trained to provide empathy, confidentiality, and unconditional positive regard, supporting people in what is often their darkest hour. Our services empower individuals to move forward on their path to healing. When someone feels heard and knows that they are not alone, they feel safe to process their emotions without the fear of judgement or shame. At the Crisis Center we are committed to being that listening ear, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our primary service area is Central Alabama, which is defined as the six-county area surrounding Birmingham. This includes Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby and Walker counties.
Services: Our services are wide in scope, and include: Crisis Intervention & Prevention through our phone lines:
• 24-Hour Crisis & Suicide Line: 205-323-7777
• 24-Hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
• UTalk (youth hotline: 205-328-5465 (3 p.m. – 10 p.m., 365 days a year)
• Senior Talk Line: 205-328-8255
Sexual Assault Support: 24 Hour Rape Response Hotline: 205-323-7273
Substance Use Disorder Support: Recovery Resource Center: 205-458-3377 (Greater Birmingham) and 205-458-3378 (Walker County)
Mental Health Support: Representative Payee Program
Mission
Hope for Autumn Foundation is driven by compassion, commitment, and unwavering dedication to families facing childhood cancer. Our mission is to be a beacon of hope, offering support and assistance while advancing groundbreaking research in childhood cancer therapies.
Highlights
Since 2012, HFAF has financially assisted childhood cancer families in Alabama with over $500,000.
Since 2012, HFAF has provided over $350,000 to cancer research at Children’s of Alabama and UAB.
HFAF organizes the largest childhood cancer awareness day in the state in September called Give Hope Day.
In 2023, HFAF created and funds a part time Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner in the oncology unit at Children’s of Alabama.
Hope for Autumn Foundation
Assistance: We’re a financial lifeline, covering bills so families can focus on healing, not worry.
Research: We fuel groundbreaking research at leading institutions, driving progress towards cures.
Awareness: We raise our voices, dispelling myths and advocating for increased research funding.
Palliative: We’ve created a dedicated Oncology Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner position at Children’s of Alabama to provide specialized care.
Hope for Autumn Foundation Crawfish Boil, April 26, 2025 3-9pm at Ross Bridge. Tickets can be purchased online at www.hopeforautumnfoundation.org.
The Dance Foundation
The Dance Foundation is a place where everyone can embrace the art of dance. Whether you’ve had years of the finest dance training available or just beginning. Whether you are two or eighty-two years old. Whether you are disabled or fully-abled. At The Dance Foundation, you can dance. Feel joy. Gain confidence. Be creative.
Join us as we enter our 50th anniversary year! Your generosity is the key to unlocking a brighter future for more than 1,000 students who participate weekly in our classes at 20+ sites in Birmingham, as well as those who benefit from tuition assistance in our Studio Classes Program.
Lakeshore Foundation is a Birmingham, Alabama nonprofit organization serving more than 4000 unique individuals annually. Lakeshore has emerged as a world leader in health promotion, research, fitness, recreation, sports advocacy for people with a disability, veterans, seniors and parasport activities.
As a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, Lakeshore is home to the Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) which serves as the National Governing Body for USA Wheelchair Rugby, Boccia United States and U.S. Para Powerlifting making Lakeshore the only U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site serving as home to three U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee sports.
Lakeshore is also home to the state-of-the-art Lakeshore Sports Science and Performance Center. It has a focus on advancing sports science research and creating greater disability equity in sports performance. Designed first for athletes with a disability, The SSPC is a cutting edge, data-driven facility designed to help disabled and nondisabled athletes reach the next level in sports performance, training, diet and more.
Levite Jewish Community Center
We take pride in serving thousands of our neighbors as we actively partner with Birmingham’s Jewish community. As a family-oriented recreational and educational facility, we welcome people of all faiths, ages, genders, sexual identities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Our facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, a fitness center, group fitness studios, a
gymnasium, an auditorium, and indoor and outdoor tracks. Our programming includes tennis, pickleball, ballroom dancing, swimming, youth soccer, Jewish baking classes, knitting, youth flag football, tai chi, refereed pick-up adult basketball, youth basketball, inclusive art classes, extensive group fitness class offerings, discussions about Jewish history and culture, and much more.
Open to Everyone
Through the lens of Jewish identity and values, the Levite Jewish Community Center provides a welcoming, familyoriented gathering place for a diverse membership to engage in meaningful experiences of the mind, body, and soul.
A Few of Our Favorite Things
• J Camp fills summers with singing, dancing, sports, swimming, field trips, and more than a dozen specialty camps.
• We work with the VA to give memberships to veterans for aqua therapy.
• Members enjoy Thursday Family Fun Night pool parties all June and July.
• Senior programming includes tai chi, knitting circle, mahjong, and special Shabbat services, plus group fitness classes and personal training geared for senior adults.
• Our Southern Jewish Voices program uses a live-interview format to present stories about Jewish life in Birmingham.
• Some 2,000 people annually attend our Jewish Food and Culture Fest.
• Our annual Sam Lapidus Montclair Run attracts 1,700 runners, making it the largest race in B’ham
• We’ve been a B’ham fixture since 1906.
The Lord Wedgwood Charity
Mission
Our mission is to fight sudden cardiac arrest, which claims more than 250,000 lives per year. It is also our mission to raise awareness about the need for public access defibrillation in community locations and increase the importance of pre-screening in young athletes.
“Piers was a man who walked with royalty but was as kind a soul as you could imagine to anyone who he came into contact with. The Lord Wedgwood Charity meant everything to him and he always said ‘If we could save just one life, it would be so very worth it.’ We have saved many more and we will always strive to help save many in the future.” —
Frank Bromberg, III
After suffering a major heart attack while playing golf in Birmingham in 2001, Lord Piers Wedgwood, international ambassador for Wedgwood China and Waterford Crystal, and member of the British House of Lords, was inspired to give back to the community. Following his recovery, Lord Wedgwood formed the Lord Wedgwood Charity with Birmingham-based business leaders to help place Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) in high schools and community gathering places.
In, 2002, Lord Wedgwood and long-time friend and business partner, Frank Bromberg, III, along with Floyd Larkin and Robbie Robertson, created the Lord Wedgwood Blue Dinner and Wedgwood Links to Life Celebrity Golf Classic to raise funds.
Since its establishment, the Lord Wedgwood Charity has raised in excess of $600,000.00 and placed over 450 AEDs and Cradea Screen (EKG Devices) all across the US mainly Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana Pennsylvania and Texas. The charity is proud that at least five lives (and many more unknown) have been saved due to its donations and the awareness it has raised.
After the death of Lord Wedgwood in 2013, the charity has taken a more aggressive approach and got involved with the preventative side by supplying ECG devices for Heart Screenings and by funding the research from ASMI.
Each fall the charity operates The Lord Wedgwood Charity Golf Tournament and Social as a major fundraiser for the organization.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama (RMHCA) provides a comforting, supportive environment to pediatric patients and their families who travel hours to Birmingham for world-class pediatric care.
The Ronald McDonald House is located just one block from Children’s of Alabama and UAB Women & Infants Center (WIC). The House includes 73 guest suites, indoor and outdoor play areas, multiple laundry rooms, and casual gathering spots so they can socialize and be surrounded with love and support. Families can also enjoy programs and activities provided by volunteers and eat nourishing dinners thanks to our Meals from the Heart sponsors and House Chef.
The Family Life Program began in 2013, providing support and resources to guest families. In 2021, the program was selected by RMHC Global to participate in a worldwide survey and study to identify critical needs of guest families. The results underscored the value of the Family Life Program, and demonstrated a clear need to build a dedicated space where families can fully engage with the program, as well as each other.
In 2024, with the generous support of donors and using current space within the House, RMHC of Alabama proudly opened the first Ronald
McDonald House Family Life Center in the world. The program was recognized by RMHC Global in 2024 as a model for other chapters to follow while striving to serve more families, better.
The Ronald McDonald Family Room is located within the Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of UAB WIC. The main room includes a sitting area with a TV, gaming console, books, and board games; and lunch, snacks and coffee are set out in the kitchen. Guest families can also use a washing machine and dryer or shower in one of three full bathrooms. Guests who arrive overnight or otherwise need critical sleep can use one of three sleep rooms.
The commitment to caring for families and sick children is backed by research that shows supporting the entire family results in better outcomes for all.
Services are free to guest families because of the generous financial and volunteer support of the community.
Mission
RMHC of Alabama provides essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare.
Vision
A world where every family has what they need to ensure the best health outcome for their children.
Highlights
• For over 45 years RMHC of Alabama has provided comfort and care to over 50,000 families with ill and injured children.
• RMHCA receives no state or federal funding
• In 2024, 64% of the funds raised came from individuals and 59% of those individuals donated by Rounding Up their order to the nearest dollar at McDonald’s
• In 2024, 17,832 families with ill or injured children were supported by RMHC of Alabama
• In 2024, RMHC of Alabama saved families $7.4 million in food and lodging costs.
RMHC Events
• Saturday, April 12, 2025: Red Shoe Run: Rockin’ 5K presented by McDonald’s
• Monday, May 19, 2025: RMHCA Golf Classic presented by Hudson Company
• Friday, August 1, 2025: Heart of the House Gala presented by Chad and Patti Hagwood Foundation.
COMMUNITY EVENTS BENEFITING RMHCA:
• Thursday, March 6, 2025 Neon Nights hosted by the RMHCA Student Leadership Council
• Thursday, October 16: Sweet Home Brews hosted by the RMHCA Junior Board
The Arc of Central Alabama
Mission Statement
The Arc of Central Alabama serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families through comprehensive and quality programming, advocacy efforts, education, and awareness, all in an effort to ensure those with IDD have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential for the most independent life possible.
Highlights
• We accept all referrals through the proper channels and no one is turned away due to severity of disability, psychiatric diagnosis, behavioral challenges, or medical needs. The Arc supports those who are not able to be served by other providers.
• The Arc is the only provider in Alabama that can provide services for a person’s lifetime, supporting them at all ages, from birth to death.
• We are the state’s largest provider of services and also designated as a crisis center for individuals with IDD.
• The Arc of Central Alabama has been accredited by both the Council on Quality Leadership (CQL) and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
The people served by The Arc of Central Alabama are one of the most vulnerable groups often overlooked in our communities. The Arc serves 1,100+ people with IDD 24/7, all 365 days of the year through our five core programs. Community experience provides educational and adaptive life-skills training for adults with IDD. Residential services support adolescents and adults in a comfortable, safe home environment. Employment support provides training for those who desire to work and empowers individuals to be as independent as possible. Early intervention serves toddlers and their families through in-home therapy, special instruction, and resources. None of these programs would be possible without advocacy—advocating for the rights of people with IDD and funding to support their needs at the local, state, and national level.
The Learning Tree
The Learning Tree is a non-profit dedicated to serving children and adolescents ages 6 to 21 with intellectual disabilities, including autism. The Learning Tree provides residential programs in Anniston/Jacksonville, Birmingham/Pelham, Mobile, and Tallassee. Each program accommodates up to 30 children, providing 24-hour care, 7 days a week, year-round. Enrollment primarily results from the prevalence of challenging behaviors associated with their disabilities and often, inadequate family support. Programming is applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy-based and data-driven.
For more than 40 years, across Alabama, the organization has witnessed children make endless progress in an environment tailored to their individual abilities and needs. At The Learning Tree, children learn, grow, and experience their community.
To learn more or to donate, visit learning-tree. org. Your donation will help The Learning Tree to continue offering exceptional service, grow existing programs, and develop new. All donations are tax deductible, and funds go directly to provide resources for the children and young adults served.
Mission
The Learning Tree, Inc. exists to provide a warm, caring, and nurturing environment with individualized, empirically validated services and supports to persons with significant educational, medical, and behavioral challenges; helping them develop and maintain a quality of life expected by nondisabled members of their family and community.
Highlights
• Applied behavior analysis is used throughout Learning Tree programs in Alabama.
• Educational services are endorsed by the Alabama Department of Education.
• Homes are certified by the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities.
Mission Statement
Women’s Foundation of Alabama is a communitydriven foundation impacting the world around us by accelerating economic opportunity for women.
Women’s Foundation of Alabama
Women’s Foundation of Alabama is the leading voice and philanthropic engine for women in the state, driving a mission of gender and economic equity. A trusted leader in the philanthropic sector for more than two decades, in recent years, we have strategically expanded power and influence statewide and even beyond philanthropy, creating systemic change through ground-breaking research and legislative advocacy statewide.
Mission Statement
Unless U fosters the growth of adults with disabilities academically, spiritually, physically, socially, and vocationally. Our services create an environment that promotes independence.
Women’s Foundation of Alabama has invested more than $8 million in initiatives, research, and policy to strengthen our community by building equitable opportunities for women.
As Alabama’s first and only philanthropic foundation focused solely on addressing the needs of women and girls, we leverage the resources of generous individuals, nonprofits, corporate partners, and community leaders to build a world where all women thrive. 2213 1st Ave.
Unless U was founded in 2014 by Lindy Cleveland, in honor of her brother, Jordan. Unless U creates an inclusive environment that reflects Christ’s love, ensuring that every person is cherished, celebrated, and empowered as image bearers of God, thus transforming society’s view of adults with disabilities. We now serve over 150 families between our two campuses, and open the doors to our community through Unless U Scoops, our on-site ice cream shop. Our students come from twenty seven cities around central Alabama and range in age from 18 to 53 years old. It is our greatest joy to serve our incredible students and their families, walking alongside them as individuals who show us the most remarkable gifts this world has to offer.
737 Chestnut Street • Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 (205) 460-1550 • www.unlessu.org
Workshops Empowerment Inc.
Mission Statement
To enrich the lives of individuals living with disabilities and other barriers to employment by helping to ensure they achieve their vocational potential.
Program Highlights
Empower U: A dynamic program offering experiential learning for high school students, combining job readiness and skill training paired with paid internships to prepare students for future employment.
Empower Pathways: A career development initiative offering personalized training, certification attainment, and supported employment in diverse industries.
Empower Horizons: Tailored to serve individuals living with disabilities and needing more supports, this program offers customized recreational development, work simulation labs, and paid internships.
Vocational Rehabilitation: A comprehensive program supporting adults through job readiness training, career pathways, and ongoing supported employment opportunities in partnership with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services.
Affirmative Business Enterprise: Providing groupdesigned work and supported employment opportunities in a collaborative and inclusive environment.
Upcoming Events
• The Great Birmingham Bake Off, April 5. Come to Cahaba Brewing on Saturday, April 5th to participate or sample delicious baked goods made by competing teams of local bakers. www.bakeoff.swell.gives
For more than 120 years, WE Inc. has assisted people living with disabilities or other barriers to employment to live full lives by developing their full personal and vocational potential. We believe that everyone, regardless of ability, has something positive and vital to contribute to our community.
Engaging in this program provides individuals with self-advocacy skills, supported and customized training, recreation, independent living skills, and access to competitive employment. All our programs empower youth and adults to become independent, support themselves, enhance their quality of life, engage in the community, and foster competitive work skills.
