Jim LaRose woke up one morning in a former dog kennel.

The sad thing was, it was an improvement in his quality of life.

Once an up-and-coming pastor with a family, LaRose lost everything - his career, his family and friends, his home, even his health - to cocaine addiction. Looking back, though, he realizes now that his problem was greater than substance abuse. It was an addiction to self. To indulgence, gratification and excess.

After the night in the former dog kennel homeless shelter, United Way agencies took hold of him. He got underwear and socks. He was fed and cared for. He got help for his drug problem.

Three and a half years later, and the owner of an international fund-raising development company, LaRose cleaned up nice for the keynote speech at the United Way of the CSRA kickoff luncheon in Augusta.

He is, today, a distinguished gentleman who helps nonprofits in 10 countries succeed by thinking about givers' needs - much as thinking about others has helped him become the person he is.

And he's a testament to what we do through the United Way.