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Today, as the doors opened on Day 1 of the United Way Worldwide Conference, something more powerful than any keynote or strategic session happened. It was the voice of leadership, bold, compassionate, and unwavering, that came through in the opening speech by United Way Worldwide CEO, Angela Williams.
Angela reminded us not only of who we are, but of why we are.
She asked a simple but profound question: “What would the world look like without United Way?”
And in that moment, the air shifted. You could feel the answer settle on the hearts of every person in that room, a world without United Way would be a world with a gaping void. A world where too many would fall through the cracks. Where the marginalized would be unseen. Where hope would flicker instead of shine.
But not under her watch.
And not under ours.
Angela’s message wasn’t just a rallying cry — it was a call to be useful, to be impactful, to be present, to be relentless. She said that United Way will not disappear from the global scene. And she meant it.
Her words were deeply personal for us from the Turks and Caicos Islands. We are a small chapter. Just a few islands, fewer than 60,000 people. We began in 2018, eight short but challenging years ago, with a dream to be more than just a name, but a movement. We didn’t have much, but we had belief. We had a burning desire to show up for the children, the families, and the forgotten corners of our communities. And every obstacle we faced, from hurricanes to economic strain to the limits of being new and unknown, only strengthened our resolve.
Why?
Because the children of Turks and Caicos need us to be there for them. Because when they fall behind in school, we step in. When they face hardship at home, we offer support. When their dreams feel too far away, we build the bridge. Our work is their lifeline. And our presence matters.
Hearing Angela speak today, meeting her in person, shaking the hand of a woman who not only leads from the top but uplifts from the heart, was a moment we will never forget. Her strength mirrors the strength we try to hold onto in our work. Her belief in the mission renews our own. She spoke today as a global leader, but her words wrapped around our little islands and told us, You matter too.
Angela, from the smallest chapter in the Caribbean, we want you to know, we see you, we believe in you, and we stand with you. Turks and Caicos may be small, but we are mighty. And under your watch, and under ours, the torch will not go out. We will light our corners of the world, and together, we will shine.
Because United is the Way.
And that way… is forward.
Mark A Fulford
Chairman
United Way TCI
