LIVE UNITED Award

LU Awards

LIVE UNITED Award

The LIVE UNITED Award is given to the individual or group that exemplifies the pillars of United Way:
Give, Advocate, and Volunteer.

United Way of Greater Baytown Area and Chambers County works to bring the community together, create new possibilities, and equip our neighbors for success, and the LIVE UNITED Award was established to recognize exceptional commitment and dedication toward United Way's mission.  As the pinnacle award presented during our Annual Members' Meeting, the LIVE UNITED recipient is selected for their direct involvement, continued support, and selfless service to the community.  This is a chance each year to celebrate how far we have come and to honor those who helped make it possible.
If you have someone you would like to be considered for this award, send a general but descriptive reason for the nomination, including their involvement with United Way. Nomination must also include the person's first and last name and contact information. Send to admin@unitedwaygbacc.org.

2024 LIVE UNITED Recipient:
Bethany Credeur

Bethany has been a strong advocate for our work and has been instrumental in ensuring that we always stay true to our mission to be collaborators and partners with the community, as we all work to tackle community-wide issues. One nominator described her as the one who helps the Board understand how it can provide funding for programs and grow the effectiveness of Team United’s work, while also helping to identify areas that need to be worked on – and then pitches in to make it all work! Bethany is a donor and a sponsor, she is an active volunteer, leading the finance committee, serving as treasurer and an officer of our organization. She is an advocate for United Way and the community.

2023 LIVE UNITED Recipient:
Kaley Smith

Kaley fulfills various roles as a donor, advocate, and volunteer with United Way GBACC. Not only is she a valued member of our Board of Directors, but she also leads as the Community Impact Committee Chair. When asked about her commitment to United Way amidst her numerous responsibilities, she expressed, "I recognized the United Way's impact in Chambers County and felt compelled to ensure representation for my community. Volunteering my time to aid others in my locality brings me genuine fulfillment." We extend our heartfelt gratitude to volunteers like Kaley!

2022 LIVE UNITED Recipient:
Rusty Senac

Rusty Senac received the 2022 Live United Award from the United Way of Greater Baytown Area and Chambers County at the organization’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Lunch Thursday at Lee College.

Senac is fairly new to United Way. He first got involved when he was a Chambers County commissioner and served on the steering committee for the United Way’s response to Hurricane Harvey.

Since then, he has joined the United Way board of directors and is a member of the finance committee and campaign cabinet.

“I like to say that we’re neighbors helping neighbors, giving them a hand up,” Senac said. “That’s the way we do it in Texas. It’s also part of United Way.”

Rusty Senac

 

2021 LIVE UNITED Recipient:
Guido Persiani

Guido Persiani has been a supporter of UWGBACC for over 40 years.  As an enthusiastic and regular volunteer, Guido has been a cornerstone of community impact!  He has served on the Board of Directors, on the BACC-DR Task Force as Chairperson, and as Campaign Chair for multiple terms. 
Guido's never-ending passion for United Way is admirable and evident to all who meet him.  We are honored to present the LIVE UNITED award to such an inspirational person!

Guido Persiani at Annual Meeting

 

2020 LIVE UNITED Award Recipient:
BACC DR

The Baytown Area & Chambers County Disaster Recovery Program (BACC DR) was created to manage the recovery and rebuilding process following Hurricane Harvey in August 2017.  BACC DR provided guidance to include processes, policies, fundraising, and volunteer management through a time of uncertainty and supported recovery efforts throughout greater Baytown and Chambers County.  When the program ended, 88 homes had been restored and thousands of individuals received assistance through a network of services.  With such great accomplishments, the Baytown Area & Chambers County Disaster Recovery Partnership was given the LIVE UNITED Award to acknowledge the efforts of the Steering Committee, Volunteer leadership, and the Community Support Group.

 

 

Disaster Recovery shirt

 

2019 Live United Award Recipient:
Patti O'Neill-Burn

Patti O'Neill-Burn was recognized as having gone above and beyond expectations as an active donor and volunteer.  As a member of the Board of Directors, Patti led UWGBACC as interim CEO, served as vice-chair for Baytown Area and Chambers County Disaster Recovery partnership, secured several grants to fund recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey, and is an active member of Women United's Steering Committee.  She has made an enormous difference to our community and United Way is excited to recognize her dedication!

 

 

Patti O'Neill-Burn and Jim Burn

 

2018 LIVE UNITED Award Recipients:
Nick and Paula Jared

As avid volunteers, Nick and Paula set the example of how to give back to their community.  Throughout their lives, this amazing couple were part of every possible opportunity to volunteer and support local programs.  For their selfless gifts of time, talent, and treasure, Nick and Paula Jared were selected as the first ever recipients of the LIVE UNITED Award.  They set the bar high for all award recipients to follow!

Nick and Paula Jared