The United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties has named Meredith Queen as the 2026 Campaign Chair, a role that aligns seamlessly with her professional mission and personal values. Queen, an early intervention provider, works closely with families across Harrison County, helping children overcome developmental challenges and supporting parents through difficult seasons. Her deep connection to the community and firsthand understanding of its needs make her a natural fit to lead this year’s campaign.
Queen has selected “United Lights the Way” as the theme for the 2026 campaign, a reflection of her belief in the power of relationships and collective action to illuminate paths of hope and resilience. The campaign officially launches on Tuesday, October 7th, 10am with the CKB Plane Pull event at North Central WV Airport.
“I am truly honored to be asked to serve as Campaign Chair,” Queen said. “Working throughout Harrison and Doddridge Counties with families every day, I see the needs in our community firsthand. As an early intervention provider, much of my work focuses on supporting some of our most vulnerable populations, helping children and their families find hope and growth even in challenging circumstances. Taking on this role with United Way feels like an extension of that mission. It’s an opportunity to strengthen the support system that lifts up our neighbors, to build new relationships across our community, and to do my part in making our little slice of ‘Almost Heaven’ even better.”
Her passion for service is rooted in the quiet moments spent with families—listening, encouraging, and connecting them to resources. “My work in early intervention has given me a perspective that not everyone gets to see,” she explained. “When I enter a family’s home, I’m there to support their child’s development, but over time, those relationships grow deeper. Families begin to share not only about their child, but also about other challenges and struggles they’re facing. In those moments, I often find myself connecting them to resources or simply being a listening ear. That experience, building relationships that go far beyond my role as a therapist, has strengthened my commitment to serving others. Helping people, believing in them, and working to make the world a more positive place is not just part of my career, it’s part of who I am and the work I hope to continue far into the future.”
Queen’s admiration for United Way was cemented during a crisis involving a family in Doddridge County who lost their home to a fire. She witnessed the organization’s rapid response and compassionate support. “One family I worked with in Doddridge County lost their home in a fire, it was a total loss,” she recalled. “In that devastating moment, I was able to call United Way, and within hours, they connected the family to resources that helped them get through the following weeks. Experiences like that remind me that United Way isn’t just an organization, it’s a network of relationships and a lifeline.”
Her professional experience has prepared her well for the role. “Every day I sit on living room floors with families, helping them find strategies that meet their child’s unique needs,” she said. “It’s personal, it’s relational, and it’s about building trust. That experience has taught me how to listen well, connect people with resources, and walk alongside families in both the challenges and the celebrations. Those same skills, listening, connecting, and relationship-building, are what I’ll bring into this role with United Way.”
Queen also brings leadership experience from her involvement with West Virginia Miss Amazing, an organization that empowers girls and women with disabilities. “Through that work, I’ve learned the importance of creating opportunities for people who are often overlooked and building partnerships that make those opportunities possible,” she said. “The biggest lesson I’ve carried with me is that community change doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens through relationships, when people come together, pool their strengths, and believe in one another.”
Her approach to philanthropy is guided by values that are both personal and practical. “Compassion and connection are at the center of everything I do,” she said. “I believe in meeting people where they are, whether that’s a child learning their first words or a family navigating a crisis. I also value collaboration and relationships, because lasting change happens when we truly know and support one another, and when we all pull in the same direction.”
Queen defines success not by metrics alone, but by the impact on individual lives. “It’s about a child gaining the confidence to communicate, a parent feeling less alone, or a family finding hope in a hard season,” she said. “If the work we do helps even one person feel more supported and connected, we’ve made a difference.”
She hopes her tenure as Campaign Chair will inspire others to get involved and build a legacy of service. “For me, it’s not just about raising funds, it’s about building relationships,” she said. “Whether it’s with families I work with, community partners, or neighbors I’ve never met before, I believe that real change happens when people feel seen, valued, and supported. My hope is that through my involvement with United Way, others are inspired to build those same kinds of relationships and step forward knowing their time, talents, and generosity truly matter.”
Queen credits her husband and her son’s premature birth as pivotal influences in her journey. “Walking through the children’s hospital, I noticed plaques on the walls with the names of people and organizations I knew,” she said. “People who had given generously to support families like mine in some of their hardest days. That generosity and commitment to caring for our most vulnerable populations truly inspired me and continues to guide my passion for community work.”
To those considering involvement with United Way, Queen offers a heartfelt message. “You don’t have to wonder if your time or resources will matter, they absolutely will,” she said. “Whether it’s volunteering, giving, or simply spreading the word, you’re helping to strengthen the safety net that so many of our neighbors rely on. And you never know, someday it might be you or someone you love who needs that support. At its heart, United Way is about relationships, and there’s a place for everyone to be part of that mission.”
As the 2026 campaign begins, Queen’s leadership promises to bring warmth, wisdom, and unwavering dedication to a cause that touches lives across Harrison and Doddridge Counties. The community is invited to join her at the CKB Plane Pull on October 7th and be part of a movement that’s all about lifting each other up, one relationship at a time. Under the banner of “United Lights the Way,” Queen’s vision shines brightly, reminding us that together, we can light the way forward.
Now is the time to get involved. Whether you volunteer your time, make a donation, or simply share the message, your support fuels the light that guides our neighbors through hardship and toward hope. Explore unitedwayhdc.org to learn more, sign up, and be part of the change. Together, we can make this campaign a beacon for our entire community.
