From the Kickoff to Point B: Galveston’s Workplace Giving Campaign Is in Motion
Driving Community Change: Galveston Kicks Off the 2026 Workplace Giving Campaign
On September 3, 2026, just over 300 people gathered at Moody Gardens to kick off the 2026 United Way of Galveston Workplace Giving Campaign.
The luncheon was a celebration, a rallying point, and a reminder that community change happens when people decide to participate.
This fall, that participation moves into workplaces across Galveston, where employees will make decisions about whether and how they want to give in 2027. The luncheon was the spark. The campaign happens next.
A Room Full of Galveston
The turnout itself told an important story.
More than 300 people came together from businesses, nonprofit organizations, foundations, schools, civic groups, local institutions, and neighborhoods across our community.
For people already connected to United Way of Galveston, the room was a visible reminder of the breadth of this work. For people who are newer to United Way, it offered a simple picture of who we are: people from many different parts of Galveston choosing to show up, contribute, and work toward something better together.
Board President Jennifer Lamm welcomed the room and helped open a campaign built around participation. President-elect Kevin Dillow helped set the stage for the work ahead.
Executive Director Lindsey White invited guests to think beyond a single fundraising event and consider the larger destination. If we are serious about driving community change, where are we trying to go?
That question became even clearer later in the program.
Start Somewhere. Stay With the Work.
Dolph Tillotson and Claire Reiswerg helped shape one of the luncheon’s most memorable moments by reflecting on Betty Massey’s example of leadership and persistence.
Dolph shared the story of Betty deciding she wanted to become a runner and asking him how to begin. His advice was simple: start slowly.
She did.
What began with that first step eventually led Betty to complete more than 10 marathons.
The story carried a lesson that reached well beyond running. Meaningful progress does not always begin with a dramatic leap. Often, it begins with one manageable step.
Claire offered another lesson from years of knowing, serving, and working alongside Betty: she stays with the work.
She spoke to the persistence required to remain engaged through complexity, setbacks, changing circumstances, and the long process of turning ideas into lasting progress.
Dolph reminded us to begin. Claire reminded us to keep going.
Together, they helped introduce not only Betty’s accomplishments, but the way she has approached a lifetime of community work.
Before Betty took the stage, a short video brought in the voices of Olivia, Jeri, and Gina, friends and colleagues who have served, worked, and traveled alongside her over the years.
Point B
When Betty took the microphone, she gave the room a simple and powerful way to think about the road ahead.
She talked about Point B: the place we are trying to get to together.
For United Way of Galveston, Point B is a stronger community. One where people have greater opportunity, local organizations have the capacity to do their best work, and we are better prepared to respond when needs change.
No single person, workplace, nonprofit, foundation, or civic organization can get us there alone.
But each of us can help move us closer.
That is the idea behind this year’s theme:
See the impact. Find your lane. Take the wheel.
The Campaign Moves Into Workplaces
This year’s Workplace Giving Campaign is about creating a practical way for people across Galveston to participate.
Some people will make a payroll deduction pledge. Some will lead a workplace campaign. Some will invite United Way into their workplace so colleagues can learn more. Others will volunteer, make introductions, share information, or help an organization they care about reach more people.
There is no single lane.
What matters is choosing one.
This year’s workplace giving video helps tell that story and shows what collective giving can make possible.
We are especially grateful to April and Cade for helping bring the workplace giving story to life through the video created for SECC and United Way of Galveston, and to Taylor Greenwalt of Greenwalt Productions for helping shape and produce the campaign video and capture the luncheon itself.
Gratitude for the People Who Made It Possible
A gathering like this depends on many people.
We are deeply grateful to our Pacesetter Sponsors: Mary Moody Northen Endowment, The Moody Foundation, and Comcast.
Our Lead the Way Sponsors were Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, Galveston College, HomeTown Bank, LightSource Grants & Business Solutions, Moody Bank, and UTMB.
We are equally grateful to our Community Lane Sponsors: ADA Women’s Center; Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston – Galveston Club; CASA of Galveston County; Family Service Center; Friends of Galveston County Museum; The Galveston County Daily News; Galveston ISD; Galveston County Teen Parenting Coalition Parenting Support Center; Moody Early Childhood Center; Moody Gardens, Inc.; Moody Methodist Church; Prosperity Bank; Rosie & Kevin Dillow; Rotary Club of Galveston; Rotary Club of Galveston Island; and UTMB.
We were especially glad to see such strong participation from the Rotary Club of Galveston and the Rotary Club of Galveston Island. Their visible support reflected the spirit at the center of the day: community service is strongest when people choose to show up together.
Moody Gardens was an exceptional partner throughout the planning and execution of the luncheon. We are especially grateful to Ben Mytelka, Tami Wallace, and the entire Moody Gardens and Encore teams for their professionalism, flexibility, and care.
We are also grateful to DJ Debbie “Kepi” Boyd, whose energy helped set the tone in the room, and to Manny Chan and Taylor Greenwalt for capturing the day in photographs.
And we are grateful to the United Way of Galveston team, including Jennifer Jameson and Amylin Hicks, whose work behind the scenes helped bring the luncheon together from planning through the final details in the room.
Photo Credit Manny Chan, Creative Photography
Photo Credit: Taylor Greenwalt, Greenwalt Productions
The Luncheon Was the Beginning
The kickoff is over.
The campaign is not.
Across Galveston, workplace campaigns are beginning now. Employees can make their 2027 pledges this fall, with payroll deductions beginning January 1.
If your workplace is already participating, this is your invitation to join in.
If your workplace is not yet part of the campaign, we would love to help you get started.
If you attended the luncheon, helped make it possible, or simply believe in what happens when a community chooses to participate, share this story.
The room at Moody Gardens showed what United Way of Galveston can look like when people from across the community come together.
Now the work continues, one workplace, one pledge, one decision, and one step at a time.
See the impact. Find your lane. Take the wheel.
Photo Credit: Manny Chan, Creative Photography
See More From the Luncheon
There were far more memorable moments than we could include here. Explore the full photo galleries from Taylor Greenwalt and Manny Chan.
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