Courtney Duke Hudson, who recently took the helm of Covington County United Fund, said she is motivated to raise money for good causes.

Traditionally, the local United Fund has relied upon individual and corporate pledges to raise money for local charities. As a board member, Hudson came up with the idea for United Fund’s only fundraiser, the Red Nose Reindeer Dash held during Candyland last year, and said that the 5K will be a focal point of overall fundraising for 2019.

“I noticed that United Fund didn’t have a fundraiser,” Hudson said. “So I thought that this would be a good idea to raise money for the organizations that we support.”

Hudson said her main goal, as president is to get United Fund’s name out in the community.

“We have to get our name out there if we want people to donate,” Hudson said. “That is another reason to have the 5K, so people can associate United Fund with a fundraiser.”

CCUF came up short of its fundraising goal this year, but Hudson said that board members are working hard to meet the $100,000 goal next year.

“We are aiming for $100,000 again next year,” Hudson said. “We are working hard to reach that goal and to support all the organizations that we help.”

With the 5K being the only fundraiser that the CCUF does, Hudson wants to focus on making it better.

“We usually have a breakfast before the fundraiser and I think this year we will try and get all of the organizations that we donate to to try and come out and talk about what they do,” Hudson said.

Hudson said that as president she is ready to work hard.

“I am honestly very humbled,” Hudson said. “I have been with the United Fund for two years and I am ready to work hard to help the organizations and people of Covington County.”

Other than being president of CCUF, Hudson works at Covington County Bank.

United Fund is using the proceeds of its 2018 drive to support:

• American Red Cross, Covington County Chapter
• Andalusia Adult Activity/Nutrition Center
• Andalusia Community Christmas
• Bethesda House
• Boy Scouts
• Covington County 4-H Clubs
• Covington County Adult Training Center
• Covington County Imagination Library
• Crossover Ministries
• Florala Senior Center
• Governor’s Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities
• Lucile Pierce Family Literacy Center
• Opp Benevolence Fund
• Opp Meals on Wheels
• Public Libraries
• SAFE of Covington County
• Sav-A-Life Pregnancy Resource Center
• Tri-City Pee Wee Football – Florala.