This blog was written by Director of Corporate Relations Erica Abbenante
On August 3rd, our incredible community partner H-E-B officially launched its 2020 United Way employee giving campaign with almost 20,000 employees (Partners!) across 59 locations in the Central Texas area. Kicking off the festivities for the first time was Cathy Harm, recently named Regional Vice President for H-E-B and our brand new United Way ATX Board of Directors member!
Cathy took on her new role in early 2020, and not long after settling in, we welcomed her to our Board of Directors. We’re thrilled to have her leadership!
H-E-B and United Way have been close community partners for over 20 years. Since 2016, H-E-B Partners have consistently raised more than $1 Million every year for the Greater Austin community—last year’s record-setting campaign raised more than $1.4 Million! It’s not an understatement to say that H-E-B’s continued support and commitment to their communities has helped us to positively impact thousands of lives.
When COVID-19 hit our community earlier this spring, H-E-B responded quickly and powerfully, working around the clock to make sure Central Texans had safe access to food and supplies while managing an unimaginably complex supply chain and public health puzzle. Not only did they focus on keeping their stores stocked and safe—they also quickly launched their “Texans Helping Texans” program to help seniors get supplies delivered to their door, supporting local restaurants by selling their food in stores, and donating millions to organizations providing relief.
In June, we hosted a virtual community volunteer event to give folks a chance to share their gratitude for H-E-B. We were joined by Felicia Peña, Public Affairs Manager for H-E-B, who shared a behind-the-scenes look at how H-E-B prepared for and responded to the crisis—and continues to step up as the situation evolves. We can never say thank you enough!
As the H-E-B employee giving campaign officially gets underway, we are truly humbled by the passion and leadership that H-E-B shows in our community. Now, more than ever, they are committed to lifting up our Central Texas community during a difficult time for so many. We are grateful for Cathy’s leadership, and for the nearly 20,000 Partners who participate in the campaign, support our work, and keep us safe and fed–thank you, H-E-B!