Motivational speaker and former college football coach Bill Curry will headline United Way of Central Georgia’s Campaign Kickoff Luncheon. The annual event happens Thursday, August 24 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Mercer University’s Hawkins Arena. Doors open at 11:30.

Curry draws from his career as a former professional football star and college head coach when he speaks about leadership, perseverance and self-motivation.

As a coach, he built up the program at Georgia Tech, was named national coach of the year at Alabama and became the first head football coach at Georgia State. As a pro-bowl NFL player, he competed on two Super Bowl winning teams. Curry was also the lead college football announcer for 11 years on ESPN.
The 2017 Volunteer of the Year, Jeff Battcher, will also address the audience. Battcher not only volunteers with United Way, but he has participated for the past several years in Daybreak’s annual Sleepout to help the homeless. Jeff serves on the national board of Depaul USA, which includes Daybreak and five other homeless shelters, as well as on the Otis Redding Foundation board.

He spearheaded bringing Major League Baseball’s RBI youth baseball and softball program to Macon.

Macon RBI served more than 325 boys and girls this past year, and is a partnership between United Way, Macon Little League and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Georgia.

United Way of Central Georgia President and CEO George McCanless said this year’s campaign theme is “Be the One.”

“That’s more than a slogan at United Way because we have seen how transformative one act can be,” McCanless said. “We want to make sure that people understand how every single contribution, every hour spent volunteering, can make a difference in the lives of other Central Georgians.”