Roy Drinkard, with the assistance of Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry, presents the 2019 Roy Drinkard Community Service Award posthumously to Cullman Today founder and United Way of Cullman County board member Tim Collins during Wednesday’s annual meeting.

This year marks the 40th anniversary for the United Way of Cullman County, and Wednesday’s United Way Annual Meeting featured a look back and a recognition of a former member of the United Way board who made a big impact on the area in a short time.

Cullman Today founder Tim Collins was posthumously awarded the Roy Drinkard Community Service Award in recognition of his service to the community.

Collins, who passed away in September, is the second recipient of the award, which was established by the United Way last year to honor individuals in the community who demonstrate exemplary volunteerism and commitment to bring hope, promise and opportunity to the lives of others.

Tim’s wife, Tiffany Abbott Collins, accepted the award on his behalf, and thanked the United Way for honoring his work in the community and the people of Cullman for embracing Tim after he moved to the area.

“I just want to say thank you for honoring my amazing husband in such a beautiful and touching way,” she said. 

Tiffany said Tim lived in several different places during his life, but he considered Cullman his home, and loved spending his time to help the people of the area.

“It’s the place that gave him a sense of community, home, family and belonging,” she said. “He loved serving his community through Cullman Today, through various service projects, and it was an absolute honor and privilege for him to serve next to so many fantastic men and women on the United Way board.”

The meeting also featured the announcement of the United Way’s 2019-2020 campaign results from Board Chair Steve Moore, who said the United Way reached its annual goal with the raising of $425,766 for the year and thanked everyone who helped reach that goal.

“Your commitment allows the United Way to make a significant impact in our community,” he said.

After announcing the campaign results, Moore passed his gavel to Chair-Elect Ross West, who will be leading the board for the 2019-2020 campaign and shared his vision for the coming year.

“It is a great honor to represent the United Way and our work to advance the education, financial stability and health of every person in Cullman County,” he said. “I look forward to building on the leadership of all the board chairs that have come before me as we continue to move this organization forward in its mission.”

Many companies and organizations support the United Way every year, and some of their biggest contributors were also recognized in the meeting and received thanks for their efforts to help the people of Cullman County.

The top 10 most generous workplaces for the 2018-2019 campaign were Publix, Walmart Distribution Center, Rusken Packaging, Rehau, Topre America, LP Corporation, City of Cullman Allocation, Alabama Cullman Yutaka Technologies, Cullman Regional and Reliance Worldwide.

United Way of Cullman County supports the following agencies: 2-1-1, 4-H Clubs of Cullman County, the American Red Cross Cullman Chapter, the Cullman County Commission on Aging, Cullman County Center for the Developmentally Disabled, Daystar House, Easter Seals, Foster Grandparents & Senior Companion Program, Girl Scouts, the Good Samaritan Health Clinic, Hope Horses, Hospice of Cullman County, the Pilot Light House, Saving Forgotten Warriors, Victims Services and the Youth Advocate Program. 

Tyler Hanes can be reached on 256-734-2131 ext. 138.