United Way Suncoast’s Heather Navratil and Jen MacIntosh at the organization’s 102nd birthday celebration (United Way Suncoast)

For over a century, United Way Suncoast has mobilized resources, partners, and people to tackle some of the Tampa Bay area’s most complex community challenges. 

Originally formed as the Tampa Welfare League in 1924, the regional nonprofit organization enters its second century – it turned 102 on January 10, 2026 – by pairing its legacy with a clear-eyed focus on the future. The result is a renewed emphasis on visibility, relationships, and shared impact, brought to life through new digital tools and a time-bound community campaign designed to get more people involved in volunteer work and community service.

At the center of the effort to modernize philanthropy in an increasingly personal and data-driven world is Go United, a digital platform designed to transform how donors and volunteers connect with the organization and see their community impact. 

United Way Suncoast Chief of Staff Heather Navratil says when a user signs up for Go United through the organization’s website, the platform allows them to see their total giving, track volunteer hours, and “visualize the collective difference they’ve made in the region, all in one place.”

The idea emerged from a candid internal assessment of how people experience United Way. Historically, many relationships were built through workplaces and corporate campaigns. The missing piece was a direct, ongoing connection with individuals.

“We realized that our relationships were built through the companies but not through the individuals themselves,” Navratil says. “So, United Way took a step back and asked, ‘What can we do to reimagine that connection? What if we could engage people with United Way in a different way that is modern, digital, and personal?’ Go United is a way to bring the United Way experience into the digital world and also build around the individual supporter.”

The platform is intended to tell a story over time.

“Go United is about turning your generosity into something you can see and feel,” Navratil says. “It’s really more than just a receipt you get or a thank-you note. It’s a living story of your impact.”

United Way Suncoast spent more than two years developing the tool, bringing in RevStar as a digital transformation partner in 2025. For RevStar, the project stood out.

“Go United is not just another donor platform,” says RevStar product manager Priya Rudrasas. “It’s a bold vision from the CEO and the chief of staff to reimagine philanthropy in a more impactful way. Most donor experiences are transactional. What Go United does is make that more relational. This platform reflects the impact and the heart of the work, which is people helping people.”

102 Days of Impact

The launch of Go United aligns with another milestone effort, 102 Days of Impact, a community service initiative marking the organization’s 102nd anniversary. United Way Chief Communications Officer Ernest Hooper says the campaign highlights a range of key initiatives and events, spotlights the organization’s 102 years of service, encapsulates its volunteer programs, and, hopefully, boosts registration for the Go United platform. He says United Way Suncoast’s earned media specialist, Candace Rotolo, developed the initial concept. Hooper says a plan was quickly finalized so the campaign could launch in early January, when there are ample volunteer opportunities.

United Way Suncoast’s Claire Davis, Allison Welter, and Hassan Lewis at Blind Tiger Roasters (UWS)

The launch also coincided with a 102nd birthday bash at community partner Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters, which marked the occassion by bringing back its United Way Suncoast specialty drink, the RISE Roast Latte, with a portion of the proceeds from each sale going to the nonprofit.

The full slate of activities in the 102 Days initiative is designed to show the many ways to make an impact in the community, from volunteering to small moments of everyday generosity. Details are available at 102 Days of Impact

Community connections

Asked to name the organization’s top achievements over 102 years, Hooper is hesitant to boil it down to a simple list.

“With such a long history, I don’t know if we can enumerate all the achievements,” he says. “But we’re certainly proud of how we’ve evolved, where we are today, and where we’re headed.”

That evolution is evident in the organization’s integrated approach. Hooper says the organization’s emphasis on its focus areas – educational opportunity, financial security, and community resiliency – “has us poised to create an interconnected path of success for community members” by “providing the tools and guidance they need to create the life they imagine for themselves.”

That community connection also shows in United Way Suncoast’s partnerships with local businesses. One example is its participation in the 1905 Family of Restaurants’ Community Harvest, an initiative created by the Gonzmart family, owners of the iconic Columbia Restaurant, to benefit local nonprofit organizations. 

Hooper says the arrangement is less a partnership than an extension of the generosity of the family-owned business’s CEO and President, Richard Gonzmart. Each September, the company contributes five percent of the bill for each group of dining guests to purchase gift certificates that will be donated to nonprofit organizations the guests select from a ballot of options. Community members who sign up to participate in the 102 Days of Impact initiative have a chance to win one of those gift certificates.

.Collective action on community issues

At its core, United Way Suncoast’s efforts are focused on creating collective action on community issues.

“It’s the sense of community we foster in addressing major issues that should earn support, whether it’s through donations, volunteering, or some other form of community care,” Hooper says. “Now more than ever, we have to come together, and United Way can convene and collaborate leaders and stakeholders to make a difference.”

One misconception he hopes to dispel is the idea that United Way’s role is narrow or outdated.

“We do a lot,” he says. “It’s a simple statement, but if you peruse our website, you’ll discover that we’re manifesting our impact in so many different ways across our five-county footprint.”

There is also a strong return on investment. Hooper says. Every dollar United Way Suncoast invests in its community programs creates $2.75 in community impact, he says.

Leadership change, looking ahead

While United Way Suncoast navigates a leadership transition following the departure of CEO Jessica Muroff for Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the organization remains focused on continuity.

“United Way consistently meets change by exploring strategic possibilities,” interim CEO Bronwyn Beightol said during a recent episode of the organization’s Freedom To Rise podcast. “We are well seasoned in the art of adapting and thriving.”

She emphasized that the organization’s strength is in its systems, partnerships, and people who sustain it.

“Thanks to Jessica’s leadership, the many leaders who came before her, the team we now have, and our many trusted community partners and valued volunteer leadership, United Way Suncoast is well-positioned to extend our 102 years of philanthropy and successfully continue to move forward into our second century of service,” Beightol said.

For more information, go to United Way Suncoast