Louisville, Ky. (June 30, 2025) – For over a century, Metro United Way has served the Greater Louisville region, providing critical services to the most vulnerable in our community. Today, the nonprofit launches a new mission to lift 260,000 people in the region from hardship to hope by 2030. Metro United Way is partnering with a dynamic and bold community leader, Kim Halbauer, to chair this aspirational effort over the next year.
Halbauer is the regional president of Fifth Third Bank in Kentucky. She and her team at Fifth Third Bank are long-standing corporate supporters of Metro United Way. Halbauer’s passion for people and inspiring others to make a difference is unmatched. She is also a member of Metro United Way’s Tocqueville Society, a dedicated group of donors committed to its mission.
“Kim is a dynamic, engaged, and motivating leader in our region,” Jeremy Jarvi, Metro United Way’s Chief Development Officer, said. “We are thrilled to have her leading the charge and excited to see what we build together to make the Greater Louisville region stronger.”
Metro United Way focuses on those who need help the most. Right now, 21% of families in the region struggle to afford basic needs like food, housing, child care, and transportation. This represents 77,591 households in our community living in extreme poverty.*
Serving these families has additional economic and social benefits for the greater Louisville region, including reduced social costs associated with poverty, decreased reliance on public benefits and services, and increased local economic activity.
If Metro United Way and its partners increase the annual income of these households by an average of $5,000, it would have a nearly $776 million impact and increase the number of individuals in the workforce by more than 15,000. That is a major win for all of us.
To accomplish this mission, Metro United Way is challenging the community to contribute $75 million by 2030 to change the trajectory of lives across our region.
Halbauer will help get the ball rolling toward this goal.
“Metro United Way is uniquely positioned to improve the economic mobility of the families across our community who are struggling to make ends meet,” Halbauer said. “They have the right partnerships and are a trusted resource. I’m proud to stand by the organization and help it reach these goals to improve our community.”
From basic needs supports to policy changes to equity-driven strategies, Metro United Way works to create a better community for every person in every neighborhood. Learn more and donate today: https://metrounitedway.org/from-hardship-to-hope-campaign/.
*77,591 households live below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level in Metro United Way’s seven-county service area.
About Metro United Way
For more than 100 years, Metro United Way has been improving lives and our community, which includes Jefferson, Bullitt, Oldham, and Shelby counties in Kentucky and Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties in Indiana. We are uniquely positioned to harness the power of donors, volunteers, thought leaders, experts, other nonprofits, and government at all levels to ensure positive, sustainable change for every person in our seven-county region. Now more than ever, we are focused on three priorities: thriving kids, strong households, and an equitable community. For more information about Metro United Way, visit www.metrounitedway.org or call 502.583.2821.
About Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.