Dooley promotes giving at United Way luncheon

Barbara Dooley, wife of the legendary University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, came to Columbus Wednesday with a message for women across the Chattahoochee Valley.

"I think it's so important for women to get into philanthropy," she said during a meet and greet at the St. Luke Ministry Center. "For the first time in our history, women actually are worth 70 percent of all the wealth in our country, due not only to being widowed, but also because women are in the workplace now and they're making so much more money. And statistics are showing that in the not-too-distant future, women will control the wealth of the world."

Dooley, 73, was the keynote speaker for the Fourth Annual Power of the Purse Luncheon, which drew a sold-out crowd of more than 600 women to the center's banquet hall.

She had the crowd in stitches as she told stories about her life as a coach's wife and the typical challenges of womanhood.

"You know, Vince and I have been happily married for 50 years," she said. "That's not bad out of 55. Ladies, every year ain't a good year, let me tell you. You just have to go with it."

At the end of her speech, Dooley walked through the crowd singing Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You."

During a brief interview with the Ledger-Enquirer, Dooley said she lived in her husband's shadow for many years. But 25 years ago, she decided to chart her own course, becoming a public speaker, author and radio and TV personality.

"I stayed home with my children. I raised them because I knew he couldn't do it, and that was my first priority," said the mother of four and grandmother of 11.

"But I remember one night, going to a dinner where he was being honored. And after the dinner, a lady pushed me aside to get to him. And I don't have a very pleasant disposition when it comes to that, and I thought to myself, 'That's the last time anybody will ever push me away.' So I began doing my own thing. I determined I was going to be next to him, not behind him."

Since then, Dooley has written a book, titled "Put Me in Coach," and a second book will be released next spring based on her cancer experience. The book, co-authored with another breast cancer survivor, is titled "Breast Friends."

"The Power of the Purse" luncheon was sponsored by the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley Women's Leadership Council, an organization composed of women who donate $1,000 or more annually. The purpose of the luncheon is for attendees to bring new undergarments for women in need.

Organizers said 2,083 undergarments were donated, an increase of 599 from last year's event. Women also donated money so women at United Way agencies could get vouchers to purchase undergarments through Goodwill or J.C. Penney.

The luncheon's co-chairs, Tana McHale and Tami McDonald, said the luncheon continues to attract more women every year.

"This is the first year that it's completely sold out," McHale said. "In the last three years, we have collected almost 4,000 undergarments that have been distributed, and have given out over 300 vouchers for women to be fitted. So if someone has a special size that they need, they can go to J.C. Penney's and get like a maternity bra or something that's not the typical size."

McDonald said some women who couldn't attend the luncheon, dropped off gifts anyway.

At each table setting, there was a Women's Leadership Pledge form for women to join the WLC. Organizers also presented a "Step-Up" program, which starts at $500 the first year, jumps to $750 the second year and $1,000 the third year.

In her speech, Dooley encouraged the crowd to be intentional in giving, and she used a personal experience for inspiration.

"When I was a student at Auburn, I had no goals, none -- just have fun. That was my goal," she said. "But I married a guy who is goal-oriented, and he became a coach, and I watched him focus. I mean nothing else mattered during football season, but football.

"So I learned from him that in order to be successful, you have to set a goal," she said. "And not only set the goal, but go after it. And that's what you do when you're raising money, and when we're trying to do good things for other people."

Alva James-Johnson, 706-571-8521. Reach her on Facebook at AlvaJamesJohnsonLedger.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 10:12 PM with the headline "Dooley promotes giving at United Way luncheon ."