Elizabeth Waters

ELIZABETH WATERS: Give, Advocate, Volunteer, Live United

Story by Cindy Reid

Meet Elizabeth Waters, the Area Director of the Effingham County Service Center, United Way of UNITED WAY OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE The United Way is united by a VISION of the community in which all people the Coastal Empire. Originally hired as the have the opportunity to reach their full potential and families thrive. Assistant Director of the Effingham County The MISSION of United Way of the Coastal Empire is to improve lives by mooffice, she was promoted to Area Director bilizing the caring power of communities. in 2019.

Although new to the nonprofit world— A FEW FACTS she came from a financial business • By 2004, all four counties of Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty became career—as Assistant Director, Elizabeth areas serviced by United Way. helped lead a record breaking annual • In 2015, our United Way was awarded the highest level four-star rating by campaign, raising more than $400,000. Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent evaluator of charitable orSince assuming the role of Area Director, ganizations. Our United Way is among 2 percent of charities receiving this she has successfully collaborated with distinction for fiscal responsibility. community partners and has led the • 2018 marked our 80th anniversary. service center efforts to serve more than • In 2020 alone, United Way’s funded programs and services helped an esti2,000 local residents annually. mated 200,000 people in our four-county area. Imagine an impact like that—

The recent Covid19 crisis impacted the touching more than one in three people—year after year, for the past 83 years. people of the United Way service area in numerous ways.

“So many people struggle on a daily it certainly had great value. Not only has on our community and how we are basis to keep their head above water,” from staying with the same bank through able to accomplish what we do, through she says. “A huge population is only one two mergers, but more importantly the collaboration and collective impact. I emergency away from meeting their life relationships that were built through have seen how well we work together— needs. Although we knew this, the Covid the years. From customers who became businesses, nonprofits, faith-based crisis heightened our awareness of this family to community partners who became organizations, and local governments— issue and the necessity to address the friends. There isn’t a monetary value that because working together we are able to issues needed to affect change.” can be placed on that investment.” accomplish so much more.”

On a positive note, she reports “The As Area Director Elizabeth oversees the people of Effingham were extremely From Finance to United Way service center’s day to day operations, generous in contributing to United Way Elizabeth says the move from a career works with donor partners, community of the Coastal Empire’s Covid Rapid in finance to a leadership position at the collaboratives, agency nonprofits and Response Fund we established last year. United Way was “a God move, there is partners with funders. Even in a time of uncertainty “We work with many local and crisis our community is always willing to join forces and Having not only survived but thrived “ agencies,” she says, “and we collaborate with many more work together.” additionally through the United through the adversity of the past Way of the Coastal Empire.” She Georgia Roots Born and raised in Georgia, year, we are excited to move our never tires of sharing with others the work and impact of United Elizabeth has lived in focus to being Forward United. The Way of the Coastal Empire and Effingham county for more than 30 years. future is bright, and we are blessed her passion is evident in any conversation on the topic. “We moved here when I was a child because of the small community atmosphere, and today it still has that warmth and community feel it had back to be in a position to support and improve our community. “ Elizabeth says, “In addition to our community work, we are fortunate to offer an opportunity for other nonprofits to serve our Effingham residents by then. Effingham County has providing them a space to meet in kept that ambience. I went away to attend really no other explanation. Ultimately our service center. This opportunity University of Georgia, and after graduating what appealed to me was the opportunity is very valuable as it helps bridge the with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, I to make a more lasting impact in people’s transportation gap for clients. Being here was eager to come back home. Effingham lives and our communities.” in this building enables the clients, and county is my home.” She says she has learned much about the agencies, to get and share resources—a

Before to her positions at the United positive aspects in Effingham County and function we are happy to provide.” Way, Elizabeth spent more than a decade the coastal empire community in her last “The pressing need right now is rental in the financial industry serving as a three years at United Way. and mortgage assistance. This has financial advisor with Thrivent and as “I was aware of the United Way through traditionally been an area of concern, but branch manager with Renasant Bank. their annual campaign of course, but that currently the need is greatly magnified

“Even though the financial industry was barely scratched the surface. Now I better due to the Covid crisis. The second most not my intended career choice initially, understand the overall impact United Way pressing need is sustainable workforce www.EFFINGHAMMAGAZINE.com | June/July 2021 15

housing within the community and addressing housing diversity in general.”

United Way is focusing on these areas in a collective nature by partnering with others to serve, research and advocate for those in need. One such collaboration is a newly formed group, Housing and Opportunities for People in Effingham (HOPE), that works toward preventing homelessness and advocating for sustainable housing in Effingham County.

New Strategic Plan

After an extensive strategic planning process engaging more than 400 community members representing all of United Way of the Coastal Empire’s constituencies, the organization is committing to building stronger, deeper, and wider community partnerships. Elizabeth says, “We recently drafted and approved a new strategic plan, and we narrowed it down to four bold goals in order to make a more intentional focus on Safety Net and Upward Mobility.”

The focus on Safety Net is not new to United Way as that is why they were founded, by the community for the community, to aid people through all kinds of storms.

With Upward Mobility in mind, this plan recommends a more explicit focus to include goal-setting in four proposed areas: 1. Quality, Affordable Childcare 2. Ready & Resilient Workforce 3. Financially Empowered Families 4. Safe & Stable Housing

Elizabeth says, “We have four bold goals and a strategic plan that will in turn generate action for the next three to five years. Having not only survived but thrived through the adversity of the past year, we are excited to move our focus to being Forward United. The future is bright, and we are blessed to be in a position to support and improve our community.”

This community-focused plan will build partnerships across sectors to bring innovation, quality, and the determined measurable results to some of our region’s toughest problems. United Way will need the wisdom and will of key partners, as well as financial support and volunteer leadership from all caring citizens in the Coastal Empire. Living UNITED, we will strengthen the Coastal Empire region for our children and grandchildren. (from the United Way Strategic Plan)

A Good Fit

In addition to her role at United Way, Elizabeth also serves at many other community organizations. Her volunteer activities include Board member with Effingham County Victims Assistance Program, Board Treasurer with Effingham Back Pack Buddies, Secretary for Rotary Club of Effingham, Events and Planning committee for Effingham County Chamber of Commerce, member of Springfield United Methodist Church and member of Springfield UMC’s Missions Committee. She says her work has “afforded me the opportunity to meet so many people and appreciate and value the diversity we have here in our community.”

Happy Place

“My happy place is being Mom to my two boys, ages twelve and three,” Elizabeth says. “We love going to the beach, going camping and spending time with friends and family. That’s what is most important to me—friends an family.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION: The Robert H. Demere, Jr. Effingham County office is host to more than 25 local groups that collectively address the needs of the community.

United Way Service Center at Effingham County (912) 826-5300 | uwce.org/counties/effinghamcount | 711 Zitterour Dr, Rincon, GA