Youth Impacting Our Community Through United Way of Williamson County

Open to any student, 9th thru 12th grade, who’s interested in community service and enhancing their leadership abilities.

Activity Calendar
Click here to see important dates and details of upcoming events!

The following are coordinators for each school:
Brentwood High—Julieanna Huddle
Centennial—Julie Albee
Fairview High—Bethany Bratcher
Franklin High—Reginia Guess
Independence—Darryl Hammond
Middle College—Jodi Melind or Harold Ford
Page High—Robbie Young
Ravenwood— Lisa Jass

The Process:
High school students across Williamson County come together to raise awareness about needs in our community. Students hold meetings, plan events, raise money and actually decide how the money raised is allocated.

Letters from YAC members:
Being a part of United Way YAC has been an amazing experience. I have learned, and been a part of many things I never knew existed in Williamson County. YAC has opened my eyes to the oppotunities around me, such as Meals On Wheels, where you can help pack or deliever the food, Waves, an organization to help the mentally challenged, and so many others (Literacy Council, and The Ark Of Williamson County) all in one building. I have had a chance to meet people who care about our community and spend everyday trying to make the world we live in a better place. I am so happy to have been a part of such a learning experience and I hope to stay connected with all of these wonderful opportunities within my own county.
-- Shelly/Brentwood High

United Way has been a wonderful opportunity for me to help others in my community who are less fortunate. If asked to describe it, I would definitely say that it's life-changing. Over the summer I had the chance to participate in Meals on Wheels. Even though I used to do that as a little girl with my mom, this time it was different. I wasn't there because my mom didn't want to get a babysitter; I was there because I wanted to help. The elderly along the route were so grateful to us for coming to see them. The food we brought wasn't the important part; it was that we were there and we cared enough to share our company. One lady in particular chatted away; glad that she could talk to someone. We were probably the only company she had that day. As the summer is gone, I have school and a job and can no longer do things in the day like Meals on Wheels, but I can help fundraise and make it possible for programs like this to exist. Giving to United Way is a small, but effective way to give back to the community.
-- Katherine/Independence High

I am so glad to be able to be part of United Way because it is such a "giving" organization and that is what im all about. Whether the "giving" means time, money, or my leadership skills I am always open to give back to the great coummunity that i live in. There are so many places that i have gotten to share my time and leaderships skills with, such as Meals on Wheels, reading at Community Child Care, donating Thanksgiving baskets, and buying Christmas presents for individuals at WAVES and delivering them and i have enjoyed every minute of it. Never did I realize that there are so many people in Williamson County that need help and i am so happy that United Way can help them.
-- Kaley/Independence High

Katrina, AIDS in Africa, sweat shops in India...these were the kind of issues that clouded my mind whenever I thought about social problems that required my attention. However, I didn't need to look farther than Brentwood. For some reason or other, community service did not seem as an immediate an issue as did natural disasters and global poverty. United Way YAC has helped me realize that those living in my own community are in as much need as those in New Orleans. They may not be suffering from the exact same problem, but this does not mean that they are to be ignored. YAC gives these people a voice that otherwise would not be heard. For example, I was part of a WAVES project, WAVES being a program that helped children who were a little behind in learning. Although WAVES, in its humble location, is hidden in obscurity behind the bustling streets of downtown Franklin, its impact on children, our future, is undeniable. Helping this program in even the smallest way was a satisfying experience. Thus, the YAC has revealed to me and many others the needs of our community. How will we solve the social problems on a global scale if we can not even improve our own? The YAC spreads this message and calls youth to action. We must first better our own community before we can go out and change the world.
-- Pearl/Brentwood High