"The spirit of man is advanced by the efforts of all combined . . .
the great band of humanity is drawn tighter."

In the spring of 1831 a young Frenchman journeyed to America. By commission of the French government he came to study the penal system in the new colonies. What impressed Alexis de Tocqueville in his travels, however, was not the subject he was sent out to examine. It was his observations of democracy in the dynamic new country, and the people who were building it, that impressed the young Frenchman and led to his writing of "Democracy in America," a work that is as insightful today as it was when it was published in 1835.

Tocqueville was particularly impressed by the numbers of people willing to help when a need arose among others in the community, and by the forming of voluntary associations for this purpose. In recognition of his vision of Americans at their best, United Way honors the spirit of voluntarism and association with the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of the Chattahoochee Valley.

Membership in the Alexis de Tocqueville Society is an opportunity to exercise the "power of association" while making a significant impact on the problems facing our community today. Individuals contributing $10,000 or more to United Way are entitled to membership in the society.

Tocqueville was a visionary and a pioneer. As an Alexis de Tocqueville Society member, you can help fulfill Tocqueville's vision of a caring America.

To distinguish Alexis de Tocqueville Society members who achieve higher levels of giving, special orders of recognition have been created to reflect the elements of democracy which Tocqueville admired in American Society: liberty, equality and the spirit of neighbor helping neighbor. These same elements are embraced in the French phrase: "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité."

• La Sociètè Nationale
  For individuals contributing $100,000 or more to the Alexis de Tocqueville Society. Contributions at this level entitle donors to membership in the National Alexis de Tocqueville Society.
• Ordre de Fraternitè
  For individuals contributing $75,000 to $99,000 to the Alexis de Tocqueville Society.
• Ordre d'Egalitè
  For individuals contributing $50,000 to $74,900 to the Alexis de Tocqueville Society
• Ordre de Libertè
  For individuals contributing $25,000 to $49,999 to the Alexis de Tocqueville Society
• Membre de la Sociètè
  For individuals contributing $10,000 to $24,999 to the Alexis de Tocqueville Society