2025 United Way Campaign Focuses on Community and Connection
This year’s United Way of Norman campaign is utilizing a back-to-basics approach, focused on creating community connections and encouraging more people to be involved.
At the helm are the father-daughter duo of Mark Krittenbrink and Autumn McMahon, two longtime supporters of the United Way.
“One of the things that we’re trying to underscore with this campaign is we’re the best when a lot of people get involved,” McMahon shared. “No one person has to give a ton, but everybody should give something because that’s what makes our community so great.”
The campaign starts with the Pacesetter Kickoff on Aug. 6, followed by the Community Kickoff during the Crosstown Clash for a Cause on Sept. 5. Other key dates are the Day of Caring on Sept. 12 and Celebrity Sing on Oct. 2.
Throughout the year, restaurants participate in Dine United, donating a portion of their proceeds from one day to the organization. Participating restaurants and dates can be found at unitedwaynorman.com/dineunited or on United Way’s social media accounts.
New this year is Shop United on Sept. 10. Similar to Dine United, local retailers will give a percentage of their proceeds to benefit United Way. In addition to supporting the campaign and making the community more aware
of the work United Way and their partner agencies do, these events also benefit the local businesses.
Krittenbrink’s United Way involvement began as a Celebrity Sing participant. He then became the chair
for the event and has been involved with organizing other United Way events. When McMahon moved
back to Norman almost 16 years ago after living in Colorado, one of the first organizations she got involved
with was United Way, thanks to her dad. Krittenbrink’s son, Christopher, was involved in United Way activities growing up as well and was named the United Way Teen Volunteer of the Year as a high school senior.
“Mark has supported United Way for decades and has been engaged and involved in various aspects, and Autumn has too,” said Daren Wilson, president and CEO for the United Way of Norman. “We thought it was a neat way to show the generational span and the impact that United Way can make. They’re both high energy and have a great network, and I think they are going to bring a tremendous feel of support and dedication to our campaign this year.”
Professionally, Krittenbrink is the president and principal architect for Krittenbrink Architecture, and McMahon works as vice president for member engagement for Oklahoma Electric Cooperative.
Krittenbrink and his wife, Debra, live two doors down from McMahon’s family, which includes her husband,
Korey, and their two kids, Rose and Brink. Her family is a driving factor in McMahon saying yes to serving
as a chair this year.
“As a mother of two who’s currently raising a third generation of Normanites, it’s really important to me that we invest in the communities that we live in so that everyone has the same opportunities that I was afforded as a kiddo,” shared McMahon. “I had the unbelievable privilege of growing up in a family where I knew I was safe, where I knew I was loved, where I was nurtured and encouraged to be the best version of myself.
“As we know, not every kid has that same privilege,” McMahon continued. “And now being a mother myself,
I understand what a luxury and what a gift that is. I think it’s our job as humans to spread that gift to others, and United Way does an incredible job of building a community that makes me proud to leave to my children.”
For Krittenbrink, it’s stories like the one his wife, Debra, often tells that remind him of the impact of United Way.
Debra was a previous executive director of Bridges, a United Way agency. She shared about a student who was kicked out of her home at 16 years old and later finished her high school career at Bridges. A teacher connected her to the nonprofit, and now the student is a public school speech therapist, keeping an eye out for kids who are at risk like she was.
“You always hear that United Way changes lives,” Krittenbrink said. “That’s a life that United Way changed, and they do it every day in every organization. You don’t know when you’re going to be in need. It might be a temporary need. It might be a long-term need, but every one of those organizations provides incredible services and changes lives.”
This year’s fundraising goal is $1,550,000, an increase over the total raised last year and a stretch goal in a challenging fundraising environment, Wilson said. He encourages those who are not supporting United Way to ask themselves, “Why not?”
“People need help, and we want to make sure that our agencies have the resources they need to be able to help those in our community who need help the most,” Wilson said. “One gift can make such a huge difference in your community. Your gift is vetted, and there are eyes on it, making sure that your dollars are spent in the most impactful way. United Way is the easiest way to support your community.”– BSM
By Chelsey Koppari
