United In Hope: Meet Holly Miller
Watch Episode 31 of
The Max Loves Midland Show
Holly Miller, In His Own Words:
“I'm Holly Miller, and I'm the President and CEO of United Way of Midland County.
I moved to Midland in the late 80s. Midland is home. I have lived here longer than anywhere else. I grew up in Okemos (Go Chiefs). Back then, I knew Midland mostly from high school sports. Life eventually carried me this way because my husband worked in Grayling and I worked in Lansing. Living two separate lives was unsustainable for us and our kids. Midland was halfway. We chose it with intention.
My career started in the ad world. I was the first female in an all-male art department at General Motors. I loved the pace, the creative noise, the Nerf-fueled brainstorms, the pride of a headline that lands. But I also learned a hard truth. I woke up in the back of an ambulance in my late 20s after having a minor stroke with no underlying conditions. I was exhausted. That moment became a marker. I needed balance and purpose.
I pivoted and owned a small boutique ad agency for 16 years. I created logos, magazines, plans, and wrote, but the part that lit me up the most was integrating words with visuals. It has always been my joy. At the same time, another fire started to grow. I volunteered for numerous organizations and was serving on the Bullock Creek school board. We raised our children in a house where service was a family value.
One day, a friend nudged me. United Way is hiring a Director of Communications. I resisted. I was busy. My daughter was even on American Idol that year. Life was loud. But I applied, interviewed, and stepped boldly into nonprofit work. I have never looked back. Creativity came with me. Creativity is transferable to anything. Purpose also arrived with it. It gives me meaning to see lives impacted and to walk with someone from where they are to where they can be.
Later, I led Big Brothers Big Sisters. I lived on a diving board, I joke, because the leaps kept coming. That move gave me a needed perspective. I got to know what it feels like to be a funded partner, not just the funder. When Ann announced her retirement at United Way, my phone lit up. At first, my answer was no. I was happy working for Big Brothers Big Sisters. But my team said something I could not ignore, "You have created impact here. You can create even more there." I returned to United Way of Midland County in 2019. It has been humbling and an honor to serve Midland County.
People still ask, "What is United Way?" United Way is an impact organization. Our Fall Campaign is our "how" and not our "what". We bring the community together to change lives. We use data and we listen. If we are not listening to the people we serve, we run the risk of prescribing solutions that are not helpful. We convene diverse partners because there is no single entity that can create change alone. Impact is a team sport. I witnessed that truth during the 2020 flood as we worked alongside other community-centered organizations. I have never seen such selfless leadership. It was humbling. Volunteers poured in. Neighbors fed neighbors. A disaster team asked me if Midland was always like this. I said, "The water recedes, but the caring stays."
Our fall campaign is the season when you may see us the most. The community campaign generally runs from early September through early November. The goal this year is clear. We are seeking to raise $4.4 million. The real goal is constant. We fund programs aligned to our most pressing needs through 25 partner agencies, and we strengthen the fabric between them. Think of it like a net. Collaboration tightens the weave so people do not fall through
We also try to remove barriers with practical compassion. Call 211. You may have received a shutoff notice, a diagnosis, or a car repair that you cannot afford. You are not alone. No one should struggle alone. During the pandemic, we created LIFT (Leveraging Income for Tomorrow). We turned a "no" into a "yes" for hard-working neighbors who were over the income threshold for assistance but one crisis away from falling into poverty.
Some people wonder if a small gift matters. Join us with your two dollars, your twenty dollars, your time, or your voice. You are part of this impact story even if you never meet the person you help. Thanks to the generosity of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, your gift will be matched as a first-time donor or if you increase your gift. Additionally, Dow is offering a match for new organizations who contribute, or those who are returning or increase giving by 25%.
Outside the office, life has also shaped me. I went through a life-altering loss last year when my husband passed. I have always poured myself into others. I was not always good at letting others pour into me. I am learning to accept that. I'm starting with vulnerability. As soon as you open yourself up at a human level, it is incredible what conversations appear. On a Saturday, you might find me at the Midland Area Farmers Market, then out with my grandkids. "Nana" is synonymous with adventure. We chase frogs at Chippewa Nature Center, run through the splash pad, and sometimes we eventually end up in Downtown Midland in the Commons, where everyone can eat what they like and music drifts across the tables. I try to be an ambassador for our community. We need to make room in our circles for more people, all the time.
My hopes and dreams for Midland come from listening to our elders and from watching our children. Years ago, I asked our matriarchs and patriarchs what had not changed in their lifetimes. The power of caring, they told me. That stays. That is the legacy they handed us. I want us to protect it and grow it. We are always stronger together. I want people who feel alone to be seen. I want neighbors to know where to turn. I want our partners to flourish, to collaborate, to innovate, and to refine their approach continually.
If you want to help, start close to home. Raise your hand. Step up. Give if you can. Volunteer where your gifts fit. Share a kind word. You are planting seeds of hope you may never see grow. That is Midland, and that is United Way of Midland County. It is never about us. It is about the community we build together.”
Do you have a Midland County story you would like to tell that aligns with our vision?