{"id":125980,"date":"2026-01-21T05:52:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T05:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/125980\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T05:52:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T05:52:10","slug":"united-way-suncoast-honors-legacy-reimagines-philanthropy-for-future-83-degrees-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/125980\/","title":{"rendered":"United Way Suncoast honors legacy, reimagines philanthropy for future \u2013 83 Degrees Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"United Way Suncoast\u2019s Heather Navratil and Jen MacIntosh at the organization\u2019s 102nd birthday celebration (United Way Suncoast)<\/p>\n

For over a century, United Way Suncoast has mobilized resources, partners, and people to tackle some of the Tampa Bay area\u2019s most complex community challenges.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Originally formed as the Tampa Welfare League in 1924, the regional nonprofit organization enters its second century \u2013 it turned 102 on January 10, 2026 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

United Way Suncoast Chief of Staff Heather Navratil says when a user signs up for Go United through the organization\u2019s website, the platform allows them to see their total giving, track volunteer hours, and \u201cvisualize the collective difference they\u2019ve made in the region, all in one place.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe realized that our relationships were built through the companies but not through the individuals themselves,\u201d Navratil says. \u201cSo, United Way took a step back and asked, \u2018What 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?\u2019 Go United is a way to bring the United Way experience into the digital world and also build around the individual supporter.\u201d<\/p>\n

The platform is intended to tell a story over time.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo United is about turning your generosity into something you can see and feel,\u201d Navratil says. \u201cIt\u2019s really more than just a receipt you get or a thank-you note. It\u2019s a living story of your impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo United is not just another donor platform,\u201d says RevStar product manager Priya Rudrasas. \u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

102 Days of Impact<\/p>\n

The launch of Go United aligns with another milestone effort, 102 Days of Impact, a community service initiative marking the organization\u2019s 102nd anniversary. United Way Chief Communications Officer Ernest Hooper says the campaign highlights a range of key initiatives and events, spotlights the organization\u2019s 102 years of service, encapsulates its volunteer programs, and, hopefully, boosts registration for the Go United platform. He says United Way Suncoast\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n

\"\"United Way Suncoast\u2019s Claire Davis, Allison Welter, and Hassan Lewis at Blind Tiger Roasters (UWS)<\/p>\n

The launch also coincided with a 102nd birthday bash at community partner\u00a0Blind 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n

Community connections<\/p>\n

Asked to name the organization\u2019s top achievements over 102 years, Hooper is hesitant to boil it down to a simple list.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith such a long history, I don\u2019t know if we can enumerate all the achievements,\u201d he says. \u201cBut we\u2019re certainly proud of how we\u2019ve evolved, where we are today, and where we\u2019re headed.\u201d<\/p>\n

That evolution is evident in the organization\u2019s integrated approach. Hooper says the organization\u2019s emphasis on its focus areas \u2013 educational opportunity, financial security, and community resiliency \u2013 \u201chas us poised to create an interconnected path of success for community members\u201d by \u201cproviding the tools and guidance they need to create the life they imagine for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

That community connection also shows in United Way Suncoast\u2019s partnerships with local businesses. One example is its participation in the 1905 Family of Restaurants\u2019 Community Harvest, an initiative created by the Gonzmart family, owners of the iconic Columbia Restaurant, to benefit local nonprofit organizations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hooper says the arrangement is less a partnership than an extension of the generosity of the family-owned business\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

.Collective action on community issues<\/p>\n

At its core, United Way Suncoast\u2019s efforts are focused on creating collective action on community issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the sense of community we foster in addressing major issues that should earn support, whether it\u2019s through donations, volunteering, or some other form of community care,\u201d Hooper says. \u201cNow more than ever, we have to come together, and United Way can convene and collaborate leaders and stakeholders to make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

One misconception he hopes to dispel is the idea that United Way\u2019s role is narrow or outdated.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do a lot,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s a simple statement, but if you peruse our website, you\u2019ll discover that we\u2019re manifesting our impact in so many different ways across our five-county footprint.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Leadership change, looking ahead<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnited Way consistently meets change by exploring strategic possibilities,\u201d interim CEO Bronwyn Beightol said during a recent episode of the organization\u2019s Freedom To Rise podcast. \u201cWe are well seasoned in the art of adapting and thriving.\u201d<\/p>\n

She emphasized that the organization\u2019s strength is in its systems, partnerships, and people who sustain it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to Jessica\u2019s 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,\u201d Beightol said.<\/p>\n

For more information, go to United Way Suncoast<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n


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