Waste Management presents $30k to UWA, $10k to City of Livingston
LIVINGSTON, Ala.—The University of West Alabama and the City of Livingston have each received a capital gift from Waste Management corporation, whose local facility is located in neighboring Emelle, Ala. Officials from Waste Management were on the University campus Wednesday to make the special presentations.
The UWA Foundation received a $30k gift from Waste Management, a renewal of the company’s long and faithful commitment to the University.
“We had the opportunity to acquire some funds that we feel, in working with the legislators and leaders here, would be contributions that would enhance the quality of life not only in Sumter County, but the Black Belt region as well,” explained Rene Fauxcheux, senior manager of government and community affairs for Waste Management.
“We had a couple of requests earlier to try to help the City and the University, and we thought we were not going to be able to honor it,” Mike Davis, senior district manager of the Emelle plant told the crowd gathered. “Out of the blue, the Lord answered our prayers and we were able to work with a different group to do this. I’m quite pleased that we could help the City and the University by gifting these contributions to everybody’s efforts.”
UWA Provost Tim Edwards spoke to the crowd, which included several elected officials from local and state government.
“We share with all of you here a sense of unity and of common purpose to make this area the best it can be,” Edwards said. “We like to say that higher education is the chief economic engine in the State of Alabama, and we firmly believe that.”
Edwards said that is a driving force behind UWA’s efforts to provide quality education and opportunity to the region.
“Our mission is to empower people to gain the knowledge, skills, and ability to be successful in their careers and throughout their lives, but we can’t do that alone. We need and welcome friends in the private sector who wish to give back to their community. We need friends like Waste Management.”
The provost went on to say that Waste Management has done much in the last few decades to be a friend to the University, supporting the City, and being an overall generous community partner.
Edwards recognized several officials present at the announcement, including Senator Bobby Singleton, Representative Ralph Howard, Representative Elaine Beech, Sumter County Commission Chairman Marcus Campbell, Livingston Mayor Tom Tartt, Livingston City Administrator Bird Dial, Sumter County Commissioner and City of Livingston representative Pat Ezell, and UWA Foundation Board Chairman Jimmy Collins, several of whom spoke to the crowd expressing gratitude to Waste Management for the encouragement of their financial support. Waste Management also presented $10k to the City of Livingston, a contribution that Livingston’s mayor said is a reflection of the corporation’s dedication to improving the community.
“The history of Waste Management, this city, this University, and this county goes back a long, long time,” Tartt explained. “They made a commitment 35 years ago nearly that they were going to be a good corporate citizen, somebody we could be proud to have in our community and in our county. They have stood true to their word and to their mission. We are proud to have them to continue being here, and we stand ready to support them in any way that we can.”
To know more about how the UWA Foundation supports projects at the University, call 205-652-3533 or email rupchurch@uwa.edu.