Our Story

From Political Opponents to a United Force for Good

It’s a story you don’t hear often in politics – opponents in a political race forging a lasting friendship and uniting to bring good to their community. It happened in Pelham, Alabama, and that’s precisely how the Pelham Strong organization started.

In the summer of 2020, Chad Leverett and Rick Wash threw their hats in the ring for a seat on the Pelham City Council. They were running against an incumbent for Place 3 and qualified for the race very close to the deadline. As the campaign went on, Chad happened to see a Facebook post from Rick where he was mourning the loss of his dog Khol after a long battle with cancer. Chad offered his condolences, and Rick asked him to meet for lunch. After that first meeting, the two realized they had similar visions for their community. A friendship was forged, and they left the meeting feeling they had known each other for decades. They also realized they shared a strong Christian faith and the desire to do right, encourage positivity, and spread the love of Jesus Christ throughout Pelham.
Rick Wash reached the runoff, and Chad Leverett fully supported him. He even knocked on doors and worked the phones and social media for Rick’s campaign. Together, the two made a great team.
After Rick won the City Council seat, the two men continued the conversation they started months earlier. Together, they made a list of ideas to improve Pelham. They talked with many citizens to gauge their priorities. The two formed Pelham Strong, a 501c3 organization, out of those conversations.

The goal of Pelham Strong is to unite the city by planning community-oriented events and bringing residents together. The name came from a hashtag Rick used on social media during the campaign – #PelhamStrong. The men agreed the name embraced in two words what they wanted the organization to be about: all residents working together to make Pelham strong.

During the first year of Pelham Strong, Rick, Chad, and an army of volunteers organized the city’s first Christmas parade in December 2021, called “A Pelham Hometown Christmas.” In the following years, the parade evolved into a full day of family-friendly activities and is the highlight of the Christmas season for many people. Several events and service projects have been added throughout the year, including a Walk for Christ, a Bicycle Rodeo, a Toy Drive, and the funding of an annual scholarship for a deserving Pelham High School senior.

Rick and Chad are committed to doing what is right with this non-profit organization. No salaries are paid, and every dime of the money raised through fundraising and sponsorships is used for the betterment of the Pelham community. Pelham Strong thrives on support from donations and corporate sponsorships, a hard-working advisory board, and the many volunteers who bring these events to reality.

Built on a foundation of mutual friendship with a mutual desire to help bring a community atmosphere back to the city, Pelham Strong is on the path to fulfilling its mission. Won’t you join us?