United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore Goes Over the Edge for ALICE®

United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore (UWLES) held their inaugural Over the Edge for ALICE® event on May 2nd at The Ross in Downtown Salisbury. This adrenaline-pumping fundraiser gave participants the opportunity to safely 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. This thrilling event was presented by UWLES in partnership with Over the Edge USA, The Ross, City of Salisbury, Perdue Farms, PAC14 and WMDT 47abc.



“ALICE lives on the edge, so we went Over the Edge for ALICE! An average of 47% of local households are really trying to get by but simply can’t. This also means that finding stability and getting ahead is even further out of reach. The costs of basics – housing, food, childcare, for instance – far outpace most wages. We needed to do something big to raise awareness and support for ALICE. Helping more neighbors thrive creates a stronger community for everyone.” shared Pam Gregory, UWLES President and CEO.



The event featured over 45 "Edgers” who each raised $1,080 or more to rappel down all 14 stories of The Ross. UWLES is thrilled to announce that sponsors, Edgers and their donors smashed the $80,000 goal, raising over $96,000 in this new signature event.



Gregory, alongside UWLES Board Chair Sonya Whited, kicked off the festivities with the first rappels of the day. Edgers described the experience as “very safe”, “amazing”, “thrilling”, “a fun bucket-list item”, and of course “a little nerve-wracking but worth it.” Music, nonprofit partners, vendors and the community gathered to cheer on and encourage the brave participants. Ricky Pollitt and Randy Scot emceed, with music provided by My Dirty Little Secret band post event. Catering by Dinner Express provided the delicious spread under the Hospitality tent, and Wawa and Pepsi helped fuel dozens of awesome volunteers.



“The Ross team was immensely honored to host United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore and their incredible partners at this spring’s inaugural Over the Edge fundraiser,” shared Tricia Beisler of The Ross ownership team. “Watching community members rappel down the side of our 14-story building was truly thrilling— a feeling that was only exceeded by the knowledge that the effort raised critical funds to support United Way and their partners helping local families meet their basic needs. Community is at the heart of everything we do at The Ross, and we are counting down the days until May 8th, 2026. We can’t wait to go Over the Edge again and build on the success of this year’s event to further support our neighbors, families and friends."



UWLES thanks all volunteers, partners, sponsors, and the amazing Edgers and donors for the outpouring of support. Special appreciation goes to The Ross, the City of Salisbury, Salisbury Police Department, Perdue Farms, and Over the EDGE USA for ensuring a safe, family-friendly event was enjoyed by all.

A video compilation of the experience is available on YouTube @pac14 or @UnitedWayLES. Over the Edge for ALICE will return on Friday, May 8, 2026. Follow UWLES’ socials or check uwles.org/over-edge-alice for information on becoming an Edger or supporting next year’s event.

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, or LinkedIN@uwles.