The “Momma B” Award is named after Joanne Basinski, a beloved Alabama philanthropist and woman of true influence. This prestigious award is presented annually to a woman who represents the advancement of community care and business in Alabama and beyond.

This year, we are proud to recognize Eva Robertson as the recipient of this prestigious award. Because she embodies the very characteristics for which this award is named: her compassion, selfless generosity, and unwavering support for her community.

For Robertson, serving others isn't just one of her values, it's a way of life.

“We didn't have a can-do attitude, we didn't have a should-do attitude,” Robertson explains, referring to her work with Protective Life and her expanded career spanning more than 40 years. She held a variety of positions throughout her tenure with the company, from Director of Accounting Systems to Vice President of Investor Relations. In 2018, she became executive director of Protective Her Life Foundation, which supports hundreds of nonprofit organizations in the community.

“When it opened up, I wanted to take it. The Foundation gave me the opportunity to act from the heart of the company, and at that point I lived it and knew it. … and now I was able to show it to the outside world.”

Robertson did just that. Robertson oversaw dozens of initiatives, from education and literacy organizations to environmental projects, to improve the lives of Birmingham residents and individuals across the state.

Last year alone, the Foundation poured $4.5 million into the community, delivering donations to nearly 200 local nonprofits that selflessly serve their communities.

From replacing roofs for Northside Birmingham residents to renovating bathrooms at Birmingham's historic Alabama Theater, the Foundation's projects range from helping build better communities and a better quality of life for residents. is spreading.

For Robertson, these community projects mean more than just providing financial support.

“The giving part is a typical part of the foundation, but we really worked as a team to get personally involved. We look at some people and help them. We connect them with other people doing the same activity and leverage what they can do.”

For Robertson, these connections are critical as a way to make a lasting impact on Birmingham and beyond. While her work has supported a variety of organizations and programs, she always keeps the individual in mind.

“We show up,” she explains. “We lead people to participate not just from a distance, but personally. That act of service transforms relationships.”

With her leadership spanning hundreds of projects, Robertson's professional role required a strong commitment to her colleagues and the populations she serves. This stability comes from a surprising place: her dance background. Robertson studied modern dance as an undergraduate at Southern Methodist University, and her experience has helped her career in unexpected ways.

“Dance is about doing something difficult or impossible and making it look easy,” she says. “You can do difficult things in a storm, but the goal is to relax the audience.”

She realized she could apply those skills to all of her jobs. Her selfless service to the community, or “viewer,” that she works tirelessly to protect and improve.

Since retiring at the end of 2023, Robertson has continued to do philanthropic work in the state and will continue to do so. She has served on the boards of the Alabama Ballet, the Railroad Park Foundation, and the Alabama McDonald House Charities (RMHC).

Mr. Robertson worked with RMHC to ensure and strengthen Protective Life's continued support by helping create an annual week of service to support families with sick children in their time of need. Did. She encourages everyone to get involved and connect with local projects.

If I were to summarize Robertson's work in one word, it would be “connection.”

“The pride of my career revolves around connecting the heart of our company and the people we live and work with. We connect with others and inspire them to do the same. We have built long-standing connections and relationships within the community.”