United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore Announces Thrilling Over the Edge Fundraiser

Salisbury, MD – United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore (UWLES) is excited to introduce Over the Edge for ALICE®, a one-of-a-kind urban rappelling adventure coming to downtown Salisbury! This adrenaline-pumping fundraising event gives participants the opportunity to rappel down The Ross while raising awareness and critical funds to support Lower Shore neighbors who are working hard but struggle each month to meet basic needs.

Slated for May 2, 2025, Over the Edge for ALICE invites brave individuals, teams, and corporate sponsors to take their community support to new heights – literally! Participants who raise a minimum of $1,080 can secure their spot as an “edger” to safely rappel down all 14 stories of The Ross.  This high-energy event is presented by UWLES in partnership with Over the Edge USA, The Ross, City of Salisbury, Perdue Farms, and WMDT 47abc.

Honoring UWLES’ 80^th Anniversary, the event aims to raise $80,000 for United Way and their nonprofit partners to help local ALICE families access resources and opportunities to become stable.  ALICE stands for Asset Limited Income Constrained and Employed and represents more than 2 in 5 local households who are working hard but struggle to afford basic necessities like housing, food, childcare, healthcare, technology and education.  “Our Lower Shore ALICE neighbors are in nearly every neighborhood, classroom and workplace – seniors, single parents, families, young professionals, and many essential employees in healthcare, education, foodservice, and retail,” shared UWLES Board Chair, Sonya Whited.

The rappelling experience is open to all ages.  Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, and all participants must be within 100-300 lb. required weight range, as per Over the Edge safety standards.  All participants will receive an event shirt, with additional recognition and incentives for fundraising milestones.  A community celebration will be held on May 2^nd for anyone to join the festivities in Downtown Salisbury to cheer on the ‘edgers’ and enjoy the family-friendly event, including music, food and nonprofit & vendor activities.

“Over the Edge for ALICE is not just about rappelling and doing something fun to celebrate our 80^th year of local impact.  Thousands of our neighbors are living paycheck to paycheck and making tough choices each month.  This event is about taking bold action to help United Way and our partners raise awareness and dollars to expand resources and opportunities for those living on the edge so all neighbors can find stability and thrive.” said Pam Gregory, UWLES President/CEO. “Whether you rappel, donate, or volunteer, everyone plays a role in making a local impact through this unforgettable experience.”

How to Get Involved:  Visit https://bit.ly/OTE4ALICE for all event details.
🔹 Register to Rappel: Sign up with a personal fundraising page, set a goal and start sharing!  Participate & fundraise on your own, or form a team towards a shared goal to support a designated rappeler.
🔹 Sponsor the Event: Affordable options include rappelling spots, recognition and opportunities for additional event day/VIP engagement. Contact Diana@uwles.org for sponsor info.
🔹 Support a Participant: Donate any amount to a brave individual or team to help them reach their fundraising goal.  Every dollar makes a local impact!
🔹 Volunteer: Be part of the excitement by assisting with event logistics and cheering on rappelers.

With limited spots available, participants are encouraged to sign up now to get started. Anyone registered by Feb. 28 will have the option to pick their rappelling time window.  

To learn more, secure your spot, donate, or sponsor visit https://bit.ly/OTE4ALICE, contact Diana@uwles.org, or call 410-742-5143.

About United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore: 

United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore (UWLES), celebrating 80 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, LinkedIN@uwles or X@UNITEDWAY_LES.

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 repelling 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.   On the Lower Eastern Shore, over 43% of all households are ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed).  In Somerset county over 54% and in Dorchester over 50% of households are ALICE.  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 uwles.org/ALICE.  Contact Martin Hutchison, martin@uwles.org with questions or to request an ALICE presentation or facilitated discussion.