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Knoxville radio legend Hallerin Hilton Hill helped kickoff the United Way of Hamblen County campaign at First Presbyterian Church Thursday.

Hill, author, television and radio talk show host, motivator, Grammy-award winner and member of the Tennessee Radio Broadcast Hall of Fame , kicked the 2023 campaign off in style.

“Give more than you take, fix more than you break,” he said, quoting memorable his father.

Drawing a parallel between his mother always conserving enough servings of a family meal not knowing who would need a plate, Hill said United Way and its partner non-profits are doing the same thing: fixing a plate for someone they may not know needs it yet.

“It’s always and only through the generosity of our community that we can successfully support our 21 partner agencies,” the United Way said in a public statement.

Among the event’s highlights were a presentation of colors and the pledge by area scouts, The Star-Spangled Banner as sung by Associate Professor of Music at Carson-Newman University Laurissa Backlin, remarks from Campaign Chair Justin Cook & Board President David Slack, an update on Pacesetter & Leadership fundraising from Drew Rowe and recognition of Loaned Executives from Jessica Mills McClure, and

Jersey Girl Catering – sponsored by Morristown Utilities – provided the catering for the event.

Selected by Cook, Senior Vice President of First Horizon Bank, this year’s campaign theme is straight from the heart: “Life Loves On.”

Inspired by a story he read in The Atlantic about a family devastated by the loss of a loved one in the collapse of the Twin Towers on September 11th, 2001, their devotion to solidarity to overcome something so terrible is a reminder that we all face our own share of difficult times.

In those times, United Way and its partner agencies are here to help.

This year the campaign fundraising goal for 21 partner agencies has been set at $1,350,000.

The campaign is already a third of its way to that goal.

Between the Pacesetter Campaign and early Leadership Gifts, $482,815 or 36% of the campaign goal has been raised so far. the Pacesetter goal of $122,000 has been exceeded.

Colortech, Inc., Sonoco Products, and Lakeway Container raised a combined total of $139,568 or 114% of goal.

Representatives from each Pacesetter company were presented with plaques recognizing their successful participation and continued support at the event.

Colortech had 28 Leadership Givers contributing $64,103. Eight of their employees who were previously in the McNabb Center’s “Jail to Work Program” also contributed to this year’s campaign.

Lakeway Container had 100% employee participation, total increase in giving of 88%.

Sonoco had 10 Leadership Givers and total increase in giving of 22%.