As we step into a new year, I’d like to share a few reflections on what I want our team to carry into 2025. I’d love to hear your thoughts on what you will carry forward; email me at dan.leroy@unitedwayabc.org.
Reflecting on 2024—a year of challenges, resilience, and hope feels almost surreal. In the face of so much, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County proved what we already know: we are built for these moments. When the need is great, we rise together.
Hurricane Helene was a defining moment. Three days after the floodwaters began to recede, a tractor-trailer arrived at our downtown office, filled to the ceiling with water, food, diapers, gasoline, and countless other relief supplies. Volunteers, mobilized in hours, unloaded every box into our conference room—transforming it into a distribution center for a community in need. And when it became clear we needed more, we acted.
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The very night we learned we would open a warehouse for relief supplies, our staff was on the phone with business partners asking for help. By 8:00 a.m. the following day, volunteers from Blue Ridge Power, Eaton, and Walmart were on-site, ready to lead warehouse operations. Over the next three weeks, we distributed 2,600 boxes and 76 pallets of supplies to 68 community partners powered by 430 volunteers. This was the strength of our relationships, the power of what it means to Live United.
But 2024 was about more than one storm. It was about showing up—time and time again—for our youth, our families, and our future. High on the list of things I'm so proud that we were able to do was work with our community to launch yet another school-based health center, this time in the Enka district.
And we saw that unity in action as our public schools became lifelines: housing emergency responders, distributing food and water, and even digging wells when resources were stretched thin. We united behind our students, knowing they will carry these lessons of resilience into the leadership roles of tomorrow.
Despite this year's unimaginable trauma and setbacks, United for Youth furthered its commitment to our Bold Community Goal for youth success with the selection of a new community led Leadership Team. As students, families, teachers, and school staff faced the unthinkable, yet their determination inspired us to dig deeper and keep moving forward. Because that is what United Way does—we meet the moment, no matter how hard it is.
So as we welcome 2025, I do so with gratitude and confidence: gratitude for you—our donors, volunteers, partners, and supporters—who showed up in every way imaginable; and confidence in United Way and our community, who have already proven that we are ready to face whatever comes next.
Here’s to a new year of impact, hope, and unity. As we welcome 2025, we are not just hopeful. We are confident, we are prepared, and we are united.
Because United is the Way.
Dan Leroy
President and CEO
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County
