News: Annual Meeting and Awards

United Way honors top campaigns, celebrates 2011 accomplishments


Howard Boyd, left, congratulates Dick Wilkerson on his election to serve as the 2012 chair
of the United Way of Greenville County Board of Trustees.


United Way of Greenville County hosted nearly 1,000 volunteers and supporters Thursday during its Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration, highlighting the work the local nonprofit accomplished in 2011 and recognizing the support it received from more than 36,000 donors and 463 companies during last fall’s record-breaking community campaign.

Howard Boyd, 2011 chair of United Way board of trustees, celebrated the organization’s 2011 accomplishments, which included reaching more than 114,000 members of the community through continued funding of 87 local programs, as well its strategic initiatives in the priority areas of school readiness for young children, high school graduation for youth and financial stability for all.

“That means your contributions touched the lives of approximately one out of every four people in Greenville County, providing encouragement to succeed in school, a warm bed on which to lay their head, a fresh start at a new career, a hot meal to eat, a little extra money to pay a rent or utility bill, or a chance lead a better life,” said Boyd.

Some of the highlights include:

School Readiness

  • Partnered with Greenville First Steps to provide Greenville County Early Child Care Scholarship to 25 families
  • Connected more than 750 families with early care and education programs tailored to their specific needs through United Way’s Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R)

High School Graduation

  • Linked more than 100 after school and out-of-school-time programs to the quality improvement network of BOOST (Building Opportunities in Out of School Time), reaching more than 3,800 children and youth.

Financial Stability

  • In partnership with the Greenville Regional Workforce Collaborative, leveraged donor dollars into more than $1.2 million in funding that will provide training to more than 500 workers in the next two years.
  • Through the Individual Development Account network, provided 3-to-1 matching funds to help 84 enrollees save for long-term assets such as home ownership, small businesses or higher education.
  • Provided free tax preparation services to more than 4,000 low to middle income families in Greenville County through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Other Highlights:
Because of the successful 2010 campaign and better than expected numbers on the organizational balance sheet, United Way provided an additional $592,000 in funding to partner programs on top of their regular program allocation.
Experienced record volunteerism through United Way Hands On Greenville, which facilitated 49,892 hours of service to the community at an economic impact of more than $1 million.

Boyd said these successes would not have happened without the community’s financial support during past campaigns, and that the successful 2011 community campaign will ensure the work can continue.

During the awards portion of Thursday’s event, 2011 Campaign Chair Annette Allen, vice president and general manager of Fluor Corporation in Greenville, helped present more than 500 honors across four different categories. The recognitions included:

The Campaign Award of Excellence to 376 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 96 companies and organizations that met four of the award criteria listed above. 

The Campaign Award of Advancement to 78 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 nine 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:  Easlan Capital Inc.
  • 25 to 99 Employees:  Gallivan, White & Boyd, P.A.
  • 100-199 Employees:  AMECO
  • 200-499 Employees:  Canal Insurance Company
  • 500-1,000 Employees:  Michelin Americas Research Company

Michelin North America won the #1 Award for the largest employee-only campaign at $1,062,415 – ahead of Fluor Corporation at $1,027,978; Greenville Hospital System at $936,711; Greenville County Schools at $527,183; and GE Energy at $526,477.

With corporate contributions included, Fluor took home the award for the top overall campaign contributing an impressive $1,591,564 to the community during the 2011 United Way campaign.

“It has been a wonderful experience serving as United Way’s chair for this important campaign,” said Allen, who will hand over the chairmanship to Jim Bourey of Elliott Davis for 2012. “Working with the volunteers and knowing the impact these dollars will have on the lives of people in our community made this a very special year for me.”

Also during Thursday’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. Elected to new terms are: Dennis M. Braasch; James F. Burns; Margaret E. Clark; Thomas Eller; P. Edwin Good, Jr.; Robert G. Hoak; Sandy McLean; Jason Richards; Minor Shaw; Susan T. Shi; John R. Soapes; Brenda J. Thames; C. Frederick West; Richard Wilkerson; and Barbara S. Wilson.

The 2011 executive committee is: Richard Wilkerson (chair); Ann K. Robinson (vice chair and chair-elect); Judith Aughtry (secretary); Jason Richards (treasurer); Howard Boyd (immediate past chair); Jim Bourey (campaign chair); Art Seaver (campaign vice chair); C. Frederick West (Community Impact chair); and Ray Lattimore (Community Impact vice chair).