Jun. 18, 2026
United Way of Greater Knoxville presented its annual report to stakeholders June 18 that outlined community-changing success in 2025, thanked the fundraising co-chairs for their significant contributions and announced the 2026 campaign.
In 2025, United Way of Greater Knoxville (UWGK) invested in 118 nonprofit partners through two-year Community Investment Grants and flexible Community Solutions grants that gave organizations the operational stability to retain staff, strengthen infrastructure, respond to emerging challenges and plan for long-term impact. The footprint of UWGK covers five counties: Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox and Union.
“Our annual report reflects both a tangible record of success and a demonstration of our commitment to the communities we serve,” said Chrystal Armstrong Brown, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Knoxville. “Our work is made possible through our partners, donors, dedicated staff and the kindness and generosity of East Tennessee. It is an honor to lead this organization, and I extend my gratitude to everyone who contributes to the success of the United Way of Greater Knoxville.”
Highlights include:
- The 118 nonprofit partners leveraged United Way funding into $12.8 million in additional support to expand programs, strengthen operations and deepen community partnerships to more than 429,000 people across the five-county footprint.
- 872 families, including nearly 2,000 children, were supported on their journeys to self-sufficiency through the East Tennessee Collaborative.
- 6,435 students were served at 16 Community Schools.
- Nearly $1 million was mobilized through Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program, led in partnership with the Real Good Kitchen Foundation and KCDC.
- 5,533 volunteers were connected to more than 13,000 opportunities, with an estimated community service value of $866,000.
- More than 14,000 families were provided emergency food assistance through a coordinated, rapid response to the 2025 federal government shutdown and pause in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Greg and Kim Gheen, the 2025 co-chairs, led the successful campaign to raise $8.3 million for UWGK. The lifelong Knoxvillians have supported the United Way for nearly 40 years.
“The relentless effort of the Gheens is a significant reason for our success in 2025,” Armstrong Brown said. “Becoming the co-chairs of an annual campaign takes tremendous commitment and time, reflective of a deep love for this community. Our community is better because of the willingness of leaders like the Gheens, who champion the transformative power of philanthropy and partnership anchored by United Way.”
United Way of Greater Knoxville now will shift its focus to the 2026 campaign, which will be co-chaired by Mike Keith, Assistant Athletics Director for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the “Voice of the Vols,” and Jim Atchley, Knoxville Market President for First Horizon Bank, the “Bank of the Vols.” The 2026 campaign theme, “United is the Way,” emphasizes the teamwork across sectors that can move our community toward deeper impact, as Keith and Atchley advance this year’s fundraising goal of $9 million.
“Every dollar invested through United Way is multiplied by the work of more than a hundred local nonprofits,” said Jim Atchley, First Horizon Bank’s Knoxville president. “Our goal this year is $9 million, and reaching it means real, measurable change in the place we all call home.”
The 2026 community campaign will officially launch Sept. 10 with a public event in Downtown Knoxville, and Sept. 21-24 will be designated as a Week of Caring, with volunteer service opportunities across the community. The campaign start coincides with the first month of Tennessee football and aligns with the co-chairs’ volunteer spirit.
“United Way serves as our community’s quarterback,” Keith said. “This organization is where people turn who feel pressure – a need – because they know the United Way sees the field and can get the ball up the field. They get the offense running properly by bringing together the right people, agencies and resources. And once the plan and the full team are in place, the United Way of Greater Knoxville gets the ball to the right people.”
UWGK’s philanthropic leadership traces back more than a century. The first community-wide fundraising campaign occurred in 1922, when the organization was called Community Chest of Greater Knoxville.
To give to UWGK, individuals can visit the website at uwgk.org to make a one-time or monthly recurring gift. Local companies often offer workplace campaigns with payroll deduction options; employees are encouraged to ask their employers, and business owners can contact UWGK to start a campaign. Anyone with questions about donations, including but not limited to major gifts, may contact UWGK directly at 865-523-9131.
For more information and to donate, visit https://uwgk.org/.
About United Way of Greater Knoxville
For over a century, United Way of Greater Knoxville (UWGK) has been a pillar of support in the Knoxville community, driving meaningful change and building partnerships to tackle vital challenges such as food insecurity, economic mobility, and access to childcare and education.
