News: 2010 Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration
United Way honors top campaigns, celebrates ’09 accomplishments at annual meeting
GREENVILLE, S.C. — United Way of Greenville County hosted
more than 950 volunteers and supporters during its Annual Meeting and Campaign
Awards Celebration Tuesday, highlighting the work the local nonprofit has done
throughout the year and recognizing the support it received from more than
38,000 donors and 700 companies during its 2009 community campaign.
Margaret Clark, 2009 chair of United Way’s Community Impact Council and newly elected chair of the UWGC board of trustees, said in addition to United Way’s continued support of 92 programs and services offered by 50 local partner agencies, the organization made big strides in its push to create long-term solutions to “root-cause” issues in the areas school readiness, high school graduation and financial stability.
“We call these our stake-in-the-ground issues because they serve as the foundation for all that we do, and I’m pleased to report that we’re seeing progress in building this cycle of success,” said Clark.
Some of the highlights include:
- significant progress in the development of the South Carolina Institute for Child Success, a planned institute for research and demonstration of best practices for child development to be located here in Greenville; work to develop a Childcare Rating Improvement System to increase quality, affordability and accessibility to early childcare;
- continued expansion and success of Graduate Greenville, now in five high schools and working with 320 high school students, to help keep students at risk of dropping out of high school on track to graduate;
- expanded efforts to increase the financial stability of Greenville County individuals and families through programs like Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), which helps low-to-moderate income families maximize their tax returns through eligible credits. VITA volunteers filed more than 1,700 tax returns last year, bringing more than $1.3 million back into the community;
- and a comprehensive response to assist members of our community
facing economic challenges and crises, including work with the Foreclosure
Prevention Taskforce, which helped prevent the foreclosure of approximately 70
homes last year; development of a Tough Times Toolkit, a resource guide to
outline key community services such as job training, unemployment, child care,
health care and financial counseling; and the launch of 2-1-1, an easy to
remember, three-digit number that connects callers throughout Greenville County
with resources to address critical health and human service issues.
“The support of each of you here today ensures all of these programs will continue to thrive in 2010 and beyond, helping people in need right now and working to eliminate future needs,” Clark said.
Also Tuesday, United Way of Greenville County President Ted Hendry and Hands On Greenville board chairman Guy Hempel announced the merger of the two organizations, a decision based on the nonprofits’ shared vision for fostering civic engagement through volunteer opportunities.
“It was clear to all involved that with United Way and Hands On Greenville working towards a similar goal, we could accomplish so much more by pooling our resources together,” said Hempel. “The decision to merge was not just based on what’s best for Hands On Greenville or what’s best for United Way. The merging of these two strong organizations together renews our commitment to linking volunteers with rewarding opportunities, championing volunteerism and civic engagement, and understanding, identifying and responding to the changing needs of our community. We believe this merger will be a benefit to our volunteers, our agency partners and the community as a whole.”
The two leaders said more details about the merger will be announced in the coming months.
During the awards portion of Tuesday’s event, more than 500 honors across four different categories were handed out. The recognitions included:
The Campaign Award of Excellence to 346 companies and organizations that met two or more of the following award criteria: 10 percent increase in employee giving; $100 or more employee per capita; 50 percent or more employee participation; one or more Palmetto Society ($1,000 or more) members; and 50 percent of the contributors give at the Fair Share Level (1 percent or more of annual salary).
The Chairman’s Award to 83 companies and organizations that met four of the award criteria listed above.
The Campaign Award of Advancement to 69 companies and organizations achieving a 25 percent increase in employee giving and 26 companies and organizations that achieved a 25 percent increase in employee participation.
The Campaign Premier Award to eight companies and
organizations completing a workplace campaign for the first time.
#1 Awards were also presented to seven companies whose outstanding support of the United Way placed them first in total employee contributions.
2 to 24 Employees: Integrated Power Systems, LLC
25 to 99 Employees: Ahold Information Services
100-199 Employees: AMECO
200-499 Employees: Baldor Electric Company
500-1,000 Employees: Michelin Americas Research Company
The Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center received a special #1 Award for its outstanding employee campaign, which became the first employee-only campaign in Greenville County to reach the $900,000 mark, finishing with a total of $919,453.
Fluor Corporation also received a special #1 Award as the single largest campaign of the year, with combined employee and corporate contributions totaling $1,321,301.
Overall, the Greenville County campaign raised more than $14 million to reach the third highest total in its history.
“I have once again been inspired and awed by the generosity and compassion of the folks in Greenville County,” said Howard Boyd, chair of the 2009 campaign. “In good times and in hard times, you continue to answer the call to help your neighbors in need by supporting United Way.”
Also during Tuesday’s event, United Way of Greenville County’s board of trustees unanimously approved the nomination of 15 leaders to serve a three-year term on the volunteer board of trustees, as well as its slate of executive committee members for the coming year. The new board members are: Jim Akerhielm, NuVox; Annette Allen, Fluor Corporation; Judith Aughtry; W. Howard Boyd Jr., Gallivan,White & Boyd, P.A.; Frances Ellison; Hunter Gibson, Easlan Capital Inc.; Flavia Harton; Guy Hempel, WHNS-Fox Carolina;Camilla Hertwig, Strom Thurmond Institute; Herb Johnson, Michelin North America – HNA1; Maureen Normoyle, GE Energy; George F. O’Brien III, SunTrust; R. Arthur Seaver, Greenville First Bank; Patricia Sullivan, Greenville Post Office; andWilliam R. Timmons III, Canal Insurance Company.
The 2010 executive committee is: Margaret E. Clark (chair); W. Howard Boyd Jr. (vice chair and chair-elect); Gene Covington (secretary); Jerry O. Chapman (treasurer); William B. Engle (immediate past chair); Dick Wilkerson (campaign chair); Annette Allen (campaign vice chair); Ann K. Robinson (Community Impact chair); and C. Frederick West (Community Impact vice chair).
The board also made a special presentation honoring Bill Engle of Baldor Electric Company, who led the board as chair in 2009.
“I’m proud to have been able to serve as the board chair, working with hundreds of volunteers to make Greenville County a better place for us all,” said Engle. “Together, we’ve made positive strides towards fulfilling our mission to improve people’s lives and build a vital, caring community.”
