What do smoked ribs, “Legally Blonde,” “Miami Vice” and $900,000 all have in common? The 95th annual Marshalltown Area United Way (MAUW) campaign, which will raise funds for partner agencies.

After feasting on a meal of ribs and side dishes, provided by JBS and Walmart, attendees at the 2025-26 campaign kickoff proceeded into the Marshalltown Arts & Civic Center to learn about this year’s campaign and watch the debut of the annual video.

Campaign Co-chairs, Maria Gonzalez-Alvarez and Robert Maharry, debuted their video, referencing the above mentioned titles, along with the movie “Dodgeball.” The video also featured three of the MAUW partner agencies – Iowa Legal Aid, Al Exito and Big Brothers Big Sisters – and highlighted the campaign goal of $900,000. MAUW Executive Director Kendra Sorensen said it was one of the most complex videos they have shot thus far.

Gonzalez-Alvarez started the segment of the campaign by telling attendees how some of the partner agencies impacted her and her family’s life. She got married at the age of 19 and within the first year, became pregnant with their daughter.

“We were in a little bit of a pickle,” Gonzalez-Alvarez said. “Our parents taught us we should pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. You don’t ask for help. You just do it on your own. But there came a moment when she was born that both of us were at the lowest moment, I feel like, in our relationship. We were broke. We lived in a one-bedroom apartment and we didn’t have any money to feed our baby. I remember looking at him like, what are we going to do? This isn’t the fairy tale I was promised.”

Then she remembered the hospital provided her with a booklet of Marshalltown organizations which help people. Gonzalez-Alvarez began making phone calls out of desperation and anxiety from not being able to provide the desired life for their child. A woman at Child, Adolescent and Parent Support (CAPS) answered her call.

“I just remember crying at the end of the call, just tears rolling down my face,” she said. “It wasn’t because I was sad. It was because I finally felt some sort of relief. I felt I wasn’t alone and I was finally going to get the help that I needed. She helped me sign up for different programs, including Head Start with MICA.”

Gonzalez-Alvarez said they were even able to take financial classes to figure out how to save money to eventually purchase their own home.

“I was a product of many of the organizations serving this community,” she said. “It’s almost like a full circle, because of the donations given at that time, my family was able to succeed in a moment we most needed it. Whether it’s helping a young mom and dad or connecting kids with mentors or ensuring families can put food on the table, every little bit helps. Without the support for these families, they are forced to make choices that sometimes they can’t afford food or new school supplies for their children. Today, I’m proud to say my journey has brought me here.”

Sorensen explained that MAUW, which began as the Greater Marshalltown Community Chest in 1929, became affiliated with the United Way of America in 1962 to raise money for charitable agencies, and the campaign is the primary way to do that.

“Today our work continues with a clear mission – partnering with nonprofits, businesses and community members to strengthen education, expand economic opportunities and improve access to health and educational resources,” she said.

The money raised will benefit 25 nonprofits which advance MAUW’s four impact areas – Youth Opportunity, Healthy Community, Financial Security and Community Resiliency. Sorensen said each one of the nonprofits fall into one of the areas.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.