Alyce Kemp DeWitt Award
2009 Alyce Kemp Dewitt Winner~ Brother Redfern, CityLight Ministries
This year’s award goes to a man who has not only given many
hours to United Way of the Midlands, but has arguably become the official LIVE
UNITED cheerleader. He has enthusiastically captured the attention of crowds at
United Way kickoffs, company rallies and training sessions. For more than a
dozen years, this man has served as a catalyst inspiring hundreds of United Way
supporters to give, advocate and volunteer from a number of vantage points. He
has served on the board of directors, chairing the volunteer services
committee, was the 2008 Speakers Bureau Chairman as well as the 
2009 Campaign
Coordinator Training Chair. Throughout his tenure in these roles he has logged
hundreds of hours speaking on United Way’s behalf.
In addition, he supports United Way’s commitment to homeless services, at-risk children and “men behind the walls” of South Carolina prisons. He is a “rain maker” who makes you feel good about giving. While serving as an international ministries leader, he delighted the 2008 Campaign Committee, with pictures from Africa of a local team member wearing a LIVE UNITED t-shirt outside a building his ministry was constructing. Whether at home, around the nation or the world, our 2009 Alyce Kemp DeWitt Award winner looks at opportunities to make United Way more inclusive by building bridges to the faith-based community.
While United Way has been the recipient of his volunteer services and tremendous passion for the community, he did meet his wife while presenting United Way to an employee group; she made a contribution and married him!
In 1994, the Beacon of Hope Award was created to recognize a volunteer serving the United Way of the Midlands. Alyce Kemp DeWitt was the first recipient of the Beacon of Hope award in recognition of her commitment to the Speakers Bureau. DeWitt made more than 300 presentations to civic and employee groups during 1994. In 1995, the award was renamed the "Alyce Kemp DeWitt Award" to recognize a volunteer whose creativity and passion have made a measurable impact.
