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as such an important resource for anyone suffering from domestic abuse. These victims have a safe place to go with caring profession- als to help them as they seek to escape their terrible situation. Sev- eral years ago, our daughter, Emily Wootten, and I helped create a new fundraiser for the Family Sunshine Center called Ranch Roundup. It has been a rewarding and fun event, held at Dr. Woody Bartlett’s beautiful cantina in Pike Road. Through his gen- erosity and the support of many sponsors, funds were raised to aid many of the Family Sunshine Center’s programs. As a former board member and a current member of their Endowment Foun- dation board, I plan to continue supporting the incredible work they do for Montgomery County and six other surrounding coun- ties. W HY U NITED W AY ? With so many agencies funded by the United Way, anyone in- terested in volunteerism and philanthropy can find a worthy non- profit to support. Jimmy and I can’t stress enough the importance of being involved in the River Region United Way through either financial gifts or personal involvement or both. It is humbling to be able to help others and to feel that you can be the difference in making someone else’s life a little better. One thing we do know for certain is you can trust that River Region UnitedWay is a fiscally responsible organization that handles donations in a careful and thoughtful way. Their agencies are fully vetted and worthy of any- one’s time and money. Often, as we age, our world begins to shrink inward, and that is something we need to be aware of and fight against. There are so many people around us that need a smile, a helping hand, or a lis- tening ear. Endeavor to reach out and find ways to effect positive change in the world. Ninety-five years later, River Region United Way is doing just that – improving the quality of life for those it serves -- and we are proud to support such a vital organization. A donation to River Region United Way is a sure and certain invest- ment in our community. As River Region United Way commemorates its 95th Anniversary, AL- Metro360 i s featuring a different “changemaker” each month for the re- mainder of 2018. n 38 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com Margaret & Jimmy Lowder Carter Photography & Design