Dr. Richard Brown has always enjoyed volunteering with the United Way of Greater Chattanooga. For the last 25 years, he has worked with United Way agencies, served on the allocations committee, chaired the education campaign for K-12 and higher education, and held a cabinet position for several campaigns. For the last eight years, he has served on the United Way Board of Directors, and for ten years, he led the United Way campaign at UTC.
His steady service and generous support were recognized when Brown was selected for the United Way of Greater Chattanooga Leadership Hall of Fame. His name will be added to a plaque that is displayed in the United Way Community Room, as “a reminder of the loyal and generous citizens of our community who have gone above and beyond in advancing the common good in the Chattanooga area.”
“I am honored and humbled to be recognized by a great non-profit,” said Brown. “When I served on the allocations committee, I saw how accountable United Way agencies are with funding and how critical the funding is. There is so much integrity in the process, it makes you more motivated to continue to get in there and help.”
Brown, Executive Vice Chancellor of Finance and Operations at UTC, and four others were honored on October 16, 2014, at a reception held at the Mountain City Club.
Some members of the UTC campus community may remember when Brown literally took the beautiful tie from around his neck, and donated not one, but hundreds of them, to an annual campus auction to support the United Way. Brown remembers the generosity of his fellow employees.
“I recall a year when there were base budget reductions and no raises. It was one of the years the campus gave the most. That was a powerful statement; we raised more than $120,000, people really stepped up. It’s never the amount of the gift that’s important, it’s the heart of the giver. Employees gave everything from $1 to $2000. It sent a message to the community that this university cares,” said Brown.
He is proud that Chattanooga is a giving community—he points to a recent statistic that shows residents give more than 50 percent above the national average. Brown encourages everyone to take that spirit and get involved in the United Way by giving to the campaign and offering to volunteer.
“The United Way helps thousands of people who are less fortunate and unable to help themselves. The motto ‘Live United’ is very powerful, meaning that all of us, regardless of where we are or who we are, are blessed to be blessings to others,” said Brown. “That has been my attraction to the United Way.”
He is an amazing man that is always giving of himself. As a GOD fearing man he has always set an example for his family and others!
Congratulations Dr. Brown! The United Way always has been an organization that has provided financial support for so many worthwhile entities. To head-up the giving campaign for UTC is most appreciated. You are to be commended on your untiring efforts.