With Gratitude: Reflections From United Way NEXT CEO Carole Peters
United Way NEXT Friends,
November is my favorite month of the year because Thanksgiving is a cherished holiday for me. I still enjoy reminiscing about our family trips, as a little girl to Northern Wisconsin, in the back of a packed station wagon that my mom drove to my grandma’s house. Along the way, I would lean forward, with my arms and head propped up over the front seat, talking to my mom and watching as she drove the rural country roads to Medford. My eyes were wide open looking for the white stuff – the snow. Seeing snow meant that first thing in the morning, my siblings and I would jump out of bed early to play outside making snowmen and sledding in our grandma’s front yard. The joy snow brought to us children was thrilling. So many years later, the most cherished part of this treasured holiday, besides the delicious turkey, stuffing, gravy, and sweet potatoes, were the family members we saw each year. Visiting my countless cousins, aunts and uncles, and my grandma was pure joy.
The moment the calendar turns to November every year, I immediately think about the people who have touched my life. From family to friends, former colleagues, neighbors, and acquaintances – no matter our relationships – it’s the people who I have met along the way that have truly blessed my life.
As CEO of UW NEXT, it is so important to me to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all the people who have so generously given from the heart. Making meaningful connections and forming new friendships is what makes being a part of UW NEXT so rewarding. This feels like the perfect time to share my words of appreciation with each of you.
UW NEXT Board of Directors, Staff, & Volunteers at 2025 Board Retreat.
I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our 2025 UW NEXT Board of Directors, especially our executive committee and officers: Ed Rivera, Outgoing Chair; Paul DeBassio, Board Chair; Ann Fox, Incoming Chair; Kerri Strauss, Secretary; and DJ Hampton II, Treasurer. Thank you for your leadership, investment of time, and generous support. You are treasured leaders of our UW NEXT community.
To all of our Board Members, Dick Aft, Deborah Bayle, Keith Barsuhn, Paula Gilberto, Kiran Handa Gaudioso, David Nicole, Neil Parekh, Dona Ponepinto, Rodney Prunty, Rob Reifsnyder, Darlene Slaughter, Terry Tolan, Jeffrey Wilcox, and Jim Yu. Thank you for your service, commitment, and generous support. You are treasured leaders of our UW NEXT community.
To the countless volunteers, who serve on work groups, as mentors, authors to articles, guest speakers, planned giving faculty, and peer-to-peer connectors to Local United Way staff. You are cherished and so highly regarded by all whose lives you have touched. None of what we do could be done without each of you.
To the Leadership Giving Circle members, thank you for your commitment to supporting UW NEXT with such generous hearts. This has allowed for UW NEXT to continue connecting our members together through exceptional programming, valued resources, and this treasured community.
35th Anniversary Tribute Gifts as of November 2025.
To all who have honored a United Way colleague through our 35th Anniversary campaign, thank you for your generous tributes and sharing your appreciation of the impact these people had on your life and UW career. It is so heartwarming to see the names of all who have been honored so far and sense the belonging these individuals created.
To our Consultant Collaborative Founding Members, thank you for your new investment in UW NEXT to collaborate, connect, and provide needed support to all who will benefit from connecting with you. Pure joy is seeing the successful launch of this program and how you all have embraced being early adopters, and spreading the word so more people can join us.
To the United Way NEXT staff, Ivy Cirillo and Kerstin Rust, you are simply the best! Our community is so blessed by the presence of these two amazing women who are fully vested in UW NEXT. I will be forever grateful to have such talented professionals to work alongside. I would also like to offer a special thank you to Michelle Endvick, Kate Farrell, Regina Manning, Jen Minn, Amy Welnak, and our newest contractor Alyssa Broussard, who are all a part of our extended team at UW NEXT. They each hold a key piece of the big puzzle, behind the scenes with mail pick up, check deposits, newsletter edits, website support, and bookkeeping. We appreciate each of you!
To our members, you, thank you for being a part of this community. Our community is blessed by all the talented, caring, and very generous UW former and current professionals who choose to be a part of United Way NEXT. To our retirees who have served long-standing careers all over the country, thank you for your dedication and commitment! To our alumni who have been a part of this amazing network for one-to-many years and treasure their experiences in the United Way, thank you for joining us. To our current United Way employees, thank you for opting in early and being a part of this community who embraces you. We are cheering you on today and always!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you! I am proud of the culture within UW NEXT where we can create space for open conversations, meaningful connections, and a real sense of belonging. My days at UW NEXT are so rewarding, filled with joy, and you truly make me feel like a part of this United Way family.
I hope to see you at our final event of the year, and to thank you once more as we celebrate 35 years of United Way NEXT! Be sure to register for our 35th Anniversary Social Hour hosted by Paul DeBassio and Ann Fox.
With Appreciation and Admiration!
Your friend,
Carole Peters
UW NEXT CEO
PS. If you haven’t renewed your 2025 Individual or Local United Way Membership yet, please make your renewal today!