Pam Gregory, UWLES President and CEO; Mary Mengason, Vice President at Avery Hall and current UWLES Board Chair; Sonya Whited, Sr. Director of Process Engineering and Sensory at Perdue Farms and UWLES Immediate Past Chair all DID IT! They went Over the Edge for ALICE® last year AND you can catch all three of them again this May 8th , rappelling 14 stories down The Ross.
On May 8, local community members will take fundraising to new heights—literally—by rappelling
down the side of the 14-story Ross building in downtown Salisbury as part of Over the Edge for ALICE®, a one-of-a-kind event supporting families who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE).
Benefitting United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore, this urban rappelling event challenges participants to raise a minimum of $1,100 to earn their spot “over the edge,” with all proceeds staying local to support ALICE® households— working families who struggle to afford basic needs. Participants fundraise through personalized fundraising pages to tell their story and reach their goal to go over the edge. Now in its second year, the event is building strong momentum with a goal of raising $111,000 to benefit programs that provide critical support such as housing stability, childcare, food access, and financial education.
Kayla Harrison, Public Relations Specialist with Real HVAC, accepted the challenge to go Over the Edge for ALICE® last year! Join us on May 8th to see this year’s brave thrill-seekers take a big step for ALICE®!
The action starts at noon with nonprofit partners and vendors, food, and family-friendly activities. Five to six rappelers will descend each hour until about 5:00 p.m., though the final schedule is based on the total number of participants. Do you know someone brave enough?
“Over the Edge is more than just an adrenaline rush—it’s a powerful way for our community to come together and support our neighbors, said UWLES President and CEO, Pam Gregory. Every dollar raised helps United Way and our nonprofit partners support local neighbors who are working hard but still falling short of making ends meet.” ALICE® households represent a significant portion - nearly half of local households - often earning above the federal poverty level but still unable to afford basic household necessities. Events like Over the Edge help bridge that gap by funding
local programs and resources that create long-term stability.
Rappelers are welcome and encouraged to get creative and wear costumes to take the excitement up a notch. Pictured is BEACON at SU Executive Director, John Hickman accepting the challenge as Spiderman!
Participants of all backgrounds—from corporate teams to individual thrill-seekers—will suit up, strap in, and rappel down The Ross, many in creative costumes that add to the excitement and spectacle of the day. Spectators are encouraged to attend, cheer on participants, and learn more about the ALICE® population in our community. Many participants are fundraising in the weeks leading up to the event, sharing their stories and rallying support from friends, family, and colleagues. Community members can also follow the livestream and engage in the activities via the free Let’s Rallie app and PAC14.org.
Not ready to step up to the edge this year? Consider being part of the excitement by assisting with event logistics and cheering on rappelers. For more information on how to help in this special way, visit https://bit.ly/OTEHELP26.
The event is made possible thanks to sponsors and partners. Over the Edge USA, Perdue Farms, The Ross, Downtown Salisbury, TidalHealth, Black Dog Philanthropic Consulting, D3, PAC14 and WMDT 47abc. A special thank you to all the brave rappelers and every donor who supports them! To learn more, sponsor, or sign up to participate, visit givebutter.com/OTE2026. Contact Leslie Zimmerman at leslie@uwles.org or call 410-742-5143 for specific questions.
About United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore:
United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore (UWLES), celebrating 81 years of local service, harnesses the power of our community to advance health, education, and financial stability for all neighbors in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. UWLES and their community partners help empower Lower Shore residents by addressing barriers for better health, supporting educational success for learners of all ages, and strengthening economic security for local households. UWLES provides direct services, collaborates with stakeholders, and supports dozens of local nonprofits to strengthen the entire community, impacting 1 in every 3 neighbors annually. Through the Get Connected Volunteer Center, UWLES connects over 200 nonprofits with community members who want to get involved. For more information on United Way or to help make a difference visit: www.uwles.org, www.ShoreGetConnected.org, Facebook@uwles, Instagram@unitedwayles, or LinkedIN@uwles.
About Over the Edge:
Over the Edge is a special events company that provides signature events for non-profit organizations across Canada and the United States. Over the Edge and their team of professional Certified Rope Access Technicians have helped raise over $130 million with nonprofit partners, hosted over 1,300 rappelling events, and maintained a spotless safety record through their 20 years of operation.
About ALICE:
ALICE is a comprehensive set of reports, data and interactive tools to help community members, government, nonprofits, educators, and business leaders understand the community in which we all live, work and play. UWLES partners with other Maryland United Ways and United for ALICE national initiative to provide this free community resource. Across the Lower Eastern Shore, an average of 47% of all households are ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed). These are households of many sizes, ages, demographics and professions, with single parent, senior and minority households disproportionately impacted. As inflation and the cost of living continues to outpace wages, ALICE households are unable to consistently afford the basic expenses of housing, childcare, healthcare, food, technology and more, and are often can’t qualify for support programs. Raising awareness and growing resources through collaborative efforts for ALICE households will empower these neighbors to become financially secure and lead to a stronger and economically vibrant Lower Shore community where all neighbors can thrive. Learn more and access local and state data at www.uwles.org/ALICE. Contact Martin Hutchison, martin@uwles.org with questions or to request an ALICE presentation or facilitated discussion.
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