Author: Lauren Forbis

United Way of Greater Greensboro Announces 2021-22 Board Members, Leadership and Campaign Chairs

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (June 16, 2021) – At its recent annual meeting, United Way of Greater Greensboro donors unanimously voted to accept the following community leaders to serve on its Board of Directors. 

  • Alana Allen, NC A&T SU and I Am A Queen
  • Anthony Boyd, First Bank
  • Tracie Catlett, Greensboro Day School
  • Tiffany Crenshaw, Intellect Resources
  • Tabitha Allen-Draft, Hands That Speak – American Sign Language Services and CODA Connections
  • Grant Ozipko, Syngenta Crop Protection
  • Denise Patterson, Guilford County Schools
  • Jill White, Womble, Bond, Dickenson

The following volunteers have accepted leadership roles:

Board of Directors Chair

  • Brian Pierce, Deep River Partners 

Board of Directors Vice Chair

  • Davida Martin, Community Leader

Board of Directors Treasurer

  • Mike Gillis, DMJ & Co.

Board of Directors Secretary/Legal Council

  • Adam Tarleton, Brooks Pierce

The following volunteers have also accepted appointments for the 2021-22 annual campaign:

Campaign Chair

  • Scott Baker, TowneBank

Tocqueville Society Co-Chairs

  • Kathleen Kelly and George Hoyle, Compass Financial Partners, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company

Leadership Co-Chairs:

  • Jacalyn and Brantley White, Community Leader and Ardmore Residential (respectively)
  • Ashley and Frankie Jones, Perry J. Brown Funeral Home and Lincoln Financial Group (respectively)

Board of Directors members provide direction, support, guidance, and governance to the organization and leverage their expertise to advance the work of United Way. Annual campaign chairs help United Way raise awareness and support throughout the greater Greensboro community.

United Way of Greater Greensboro is pleased to announce the following 2021-22 Board of Directors:

  • Darryl Aaron, Providence Baptist Church
  • Alana Allen, NCAT & I Am A Queen
  • Scott Baker, TowneBank
  • Anthony Boyd, First Bank
  • Charlie Brinkman, Merrill Lynch
  • Claudia Cannady, Community Leader
  • Tracie Catlett, Greensboro Day School
  • Tiffany Crenshaw, Intellect Resources
  • Michele Deuterman, ITG Brands
  • Tabitha Allen-Draft, CODA Connections Inc & Hands That Speak- American Sign Language Services
  • Manuel Dudley, Guilford Technical Community College
  • Mandy Eaton, Cone Health
  • Jacquie Gilliam, UNC-Greensboro
  • Mike Gillis, DMJ & Co.
  • Tom Glaser, Tapestry/Community Leader
  • Niketa Greene, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
  • Charisse Hart, Ready for School, Ready for Life
  • John Houghtby, Ecolab
  • Davida Martin, Community Leader
  • Phil McCall, Community Leader
  • Bryan McNeil, VF Corp
  • Heather Milligan, Lincoln Financial Group
  • Denise Patterson, Guilford County Schools
  • Brian Pierce, Deep River Partners
  • Allison Morrisette, Morrisette
  • Bill Morrisette, Morrisette
  • Nathan Myers, Truist
  • Grant Ozipko, Sygenta
  • Antonia Monk Richburg, Cone Health Foundation
  • Jose Sandoval, American National Bank
  • Dan Scutari, WFMY News 2
  • Adam Tarleton, Brooks Pierce
  • Tricia Teter, Cone Health
  • Jane Trevey, Community Leader
  • Jamiah Waterman, City of Greensboro
  • Jill White, Womble Bond Dickinson

Community Members Donate 600+ Basic Needs Kit to Benefit Local Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

United Way Young Leader’s Basic Needs Kits Surpasses Goal, Makes a Difference

When United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Young Leaders affinity group cabinet learned that every night in Greensboro more than 900 people go to sleep homeless, they sprang into action. United, they organized a new volunteer opportunity and invited the entire community to participate in hosting their own Basic Needs Kits drives.

Basic needs kits— with a variety of items like soap and sunscreen included in each kit—were a simple way to provide practical help to individuals experiencing homelessness. 

With community support, the drive resulted in almost 650 kits being collected! 

“Young Leaders set a goal of collecting 100 kits, so we were blown away by surpassing that goal! The response for our community was incredible and inspiring, especially during these unprecedented times,” said Tanicia Barnes, UWGG Young Leaders cabinet member, Cone Health Launch Co-Chair, and organizer of Cone Health’s Basic Need Kits drive.

“Cone Health alone collected 434 kits, supported the drive by purchasing over 200 items from the Basic Needs Kit Amazon wishlist, and collected almost 150 additional items! Cone Health was a proud participant in this initiative by way of Launch— one of Cone Health Inclusion Network groups. I’m so proud of how our Cone family upheld the iCARE value of Caring for our Community,” Barnes continued.

The following partners received kits and will distribute to local folks experiencing homelessness over the next few weeks:

  • Greensboro Housing Coalition
  • Greensboro Urban Ministry (Pathways Family Center)
  • Interactive Resource Center
  • Partners Ending Homelessness
  • The Salvation Army of Greensboro (Center of Hope)
  • The Servant Center
  • YWCA Greensboro

To learn more about upcoming volunteer opportunities with UWGG, visit unitedwaygso.org/volunteer.

United Way Promotes Volunteerism on United Way Worldwide Day of Action, June 21

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (June 3, 2021) – United Way of Greater Greensboro, in partnership with The Volunteer Center of the Triad, is promoting volunteerism on United Way’s Day of Action, June 21.

On and around June 21, tens of thousands of people across the globe will volunteer as part of United Way worldwide’s Day of Action. Locally in Greensboro, all members of the community are encouraged to make a difference. United Way’s Day of Action provides opportunities for volunteers, donors and advocates to be part of solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives.

Members of the community are invited to participate in a clean-up of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on June 21, 9 – 10:30 a.m. Visit www.UnitedWayGSO.org/Volunteer to sign up.

“As a community united, we must continue to learn and work together to create equity-focused systematic changes, which is why United Way of Greater Greensboro is using this year’s Day of Action as a volunteering and equity-focused learning opportunity. Participants will help clean up our community and learn about the history and impacts of environmental racism,” said Michael Cottingham, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Community members who are unable to attend the June 21 clean-up are encouraged to host clean-ups of their own. Visit www.UnitedWayGSO.org/Volunteer to view the Greensboro litter hotspot map, choose a location, and organize their own volunteer clean-up.

United Way and the Volunteer Center encourage everyone to create their own safe and meaningful volunteer experience, share it on social media and tag United Way of Greater Greensboro.

United Way of Greater Greensboro Young Leaders Host Basic Needs Kits Drive, Entire Community Invited to Volunteer

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (May 4, 2021) – United Way of Greater Greensboro Young Leaders invites members of the public to host “Basic Needs Item” drives.

“The volunteer leadership of United Way Young Leaders was inspired into action after learning that every night in Greensboro more than 900 people go to sleep homeless. Basic needs kits are a simple way to provide practical help to individuals experiencing homelessness,” said Lauren Forbis, Marketing and Communications Manager at United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Everyone is invited to host a “Basic Needs Item” drive with their family and friends, neighborhood, office or place of worship. Interested community members can simply assemble their kits and drop them off at United Way by May 20. Kits will be delivered to community partners for distribution to local people experiencing homelessness.

An Amazon Wishlist is also available at unitedwaygso.org/volunteer for those unable to assemble kits but still interested in supporting this important effort. Items can be shipped to United Way of Greater Greensboro c/o Lauren Forbis at 1500 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro NC 27405. Items must be delivered by May 10, 2021.

To sign up to host a drive, visit unitedwaygso.org/volunteer. A toolkit of helpful tips and a listing of needed items are available on the same web page.

Young Leaders are a donor affinity group of United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Community Volunteer Collects 4,000+ Baby Items 

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Every year, United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) hosts a variety of volunteer opportunities in partnership with the Volunteer Center of the Triad and various partner agencies to celebrate National Volunteer Week. This year, as many continue to social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic, UWGG encouraged community members to host Baby Items drives for items like diapers, wipes, and more to benefit members of UWGG’s Family Success Centers.

When Beverly Johnson learned of the opportunity to volunteer safely in this way, she knew she had to participate. Beverly hosted a porch drop-off drive and by simply inviting her neighbors and friends to participate, the collection grew beyond what she thought was possible.

“Every day I got to watch the collection grow. It was inspiring to see the kindness of my friends and neighbors who were thrilled to include a few items for this important cause,” said Beverly. 

Through her efforts, Beverly and her friends and neighbors collected over 4,680 items! All items collected were delivered to UWGG’s Family Success Center #1. Altogether, generous community members donated thousands items to support the National Volunteer Week Baby Items drive effort.

“After months of distancing, my neighbors came together to support this United Way volunteer project and we look forward to doing it again. Thanks to United Way for creating a tangible and personal way for us to get involved in your focus to end poverty. We all appreciate what United Way is doing in our greater community to ease the effects of poverty as it relates to families and children!”

UWGG’s Family Success Centers partner with families to support their transition from poverty into financial stability through personalized coaching and strategically bundled and sequenced services offered in a central location.

Since March 2020, both Family Success Centers temporarily closed on-site programming at their buildings and continued FSC programming and services virtually. Family Success Centers members are resilient in the face of difficulties. Many challenges, like accessing childcare and sustaining employment, have been amplified by the pandemic. Family Success Centers members have demonstrated inspiring commitment to helping their children adapt to virtual schooling while working toward accomplishing their own goals.

To learn more about upcoming volunteer opportunities with UWGG, please visit unitedwaygso.org/volunteer.

United Way Announces Interim Leader, Launching President and CEO Search

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Current United Way of Greater Greensboro Chief Financial Officer, Brian Graham will Lead Organizational Operations Until a New CEO is Hired 

GREENSBORO, NC (April 8, 2021) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) announced today that its current Chief Financial Officer, Brian Graham will assume the organization’s interim leadership role of Chief Operating Officer, until a new President and CEO is hired to replace Michelle Gethers-Clark who is leaving, effective April 16, to become the Chief Diversity Officer and Head of Corporate Responsibility for Visa, Inc.  

Additionally, the organization announced Charles Aris Executive Search has been selected to lead a national search for a new UWGG President and CEO. After reviewing four proposals, the executive search firm was chosen by UWGG’s Selection Committee led by chair, Michele Deuterman. Charles Aris will launch the search during the month of April. 

As Interim Chief Operating Officer, Graham will report to Gethers-Clark until her last day and transition to reporting to Kim Gatling, UWGG Board Chair, until a new President and CEO is hired. 

“I am humbled and honored to lead United Way of Greater Greensboro during this critical transition. Thanks to our board, extraordinary team, and committed volunteers, we will not pause in partnering with nonprofits, businesses and volunteers on behalf of children and families on their journeys out of poverty. The future of United Way is bright, and while we pave the way for new leadership, we will forever be grateful to Michelle Gethers-Clark for her lasting impact on our community,” says Graham.  

Since 2019, Graham has strategically managed UWGG’s Financial, Human Resources, Information and Technology, and Facility and Administration operations. In addition, Graham serves as the executive staff lead on UWGG’s Finance, Human Resources, and Strategic Planning Committees.  

Graham will serve as the voice of the organization with the Board of Directors, staff, community members, and key volunteers and will ultimately support the transition of the new UWGG President and CEO. 

Immediately prior to joining UWGG, Graham served as Controller for the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, where he was responsible for organization’s financial operations of over $1.1 billion. At the foundation, he also co-led cross-functional Resource Deployment functions overseeing all grant-making, policy and civic awareness, donor collaboration, human resources, and volunteer/board engagement. Graham’s impressive career includes extensive financial oversight and management within education and faith-based institutions and working as a Senior Auditor for Ernst & Young, where one of his primary clients was The Coca-Cola Company. 

Graham’s educational background includes graduating Summa cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from NC A&T State University and graduating with a Master of Accountancy from the University of Virginia. 

Gatling says, “In accordance with United Way’s succession plan, Brian was identified as someone with strong financial acumen and leadership skills, and who has the combination of academic and large nonprofit experience, having come from the Community Foundation of Atlanta. He has also been intimately involved with the current strategic planning process. The board has complete confidence in Brian’s abilities to maintain organizational operations and provide a seamless transition for future leadership.” 

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If you missed the March 16 press release announcing Michelle Gethers-Clark’s departure, please click here

United Way Promotes Safe Volunteerism During National Volunteer Week, April 19-23

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (April 2, 2021) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG), in partnership with The Volunteer Center of the Triad and local community organizations, is promoting safe volunteer opportunities during National Volunteer Week, April 19-23, 2021. All are encouraged to get involved in an at-home or safe in-person opportunity.

Visit www.UnitedWayGSO.org/Volunteer to sign up for an opportunity during National Volunteer Week.

Volunteer opportunities throughout National Volunteer Week that you can safely do from home or in-person include:

  • Become a mentor through UWGG’s Mentoring Matters initiative
  • Host a Baby Item Drive benefitting members of United Way’s Family Success Centers
  • Pack food backs with Backpack Beginnings
  • Unload delivery trucks with One Step Further’s food assistance program

In addition to listed opportunities, UWGG and The Volunteer Center encourage everyone to create their own safe and meaningful volunteer experience. Consider hosting your own cleanup with the City of Greensboro’s Great American Cleanup. Additional details can be found at www.UnitedWayGSO.org/Volunteer.

“United Way is thankful for the children, families and local organizations that give back. Our community always needs volunteers and National Volunteer Week is a great way to highlight a few local opportunities. We encourage everyone to volunteer this week, and stay connected throughout the year,” said Michael Cottingham, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at United Way of Greater Greensboro.

National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities.

Public Invited to Attend Virtually End Poverty: The Lunch and Learn Series Hosted by United Way Young Leaders, April 8

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (March 22, 2021) – The public is invited to attend United Way of Greater Greensboro’s (UWGG) End Poverty: The Lunch and Learn Series on April 8, 12- 1 p.m., which will focus on overcoming the impacts of student debt. The free Zoom event, hosted by UWGG’s Young Leaders affinity group, will feature speaker Demarcus Andrews. Demarcus, NC Policy and Outreach Associate at the NC Center for Responsible Lending, will answer the question, “how is the student debt crisis crippling The American Dream?”

Understanding the link between the student debt crisis and its impact on local individuals and families, UWGG recently signed onto a Public Statement of support for the Center for Responsible Lending and the NC Coalition for Responsible Lending’s Student Debt Campaign. The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the student debt crisis and petition the federal government to forgive student loan debt.

“The student debt crisis isn’t just an individual financial issue, it’s also an issue of equity. Young Leaders looks forward to bring attention to this important topic as we learn together,” said Lauren Forbis, Marketing and Communications Manager at UWGG.

Learn more about the event speaker:

Demarcus Andrews is the NC Policy and Outreach Associate for the Center for Responsible Lending. In this role, he focuses on predatory debt practices and student loan debt. Prior to joining CRL, Demarcus served as the Policy Advocate at Toxic Free NC, a non-profit organization that seeks to advance environmental health and justice in NC. While there, he built and ran coalitions for Toxic Free and engaged members of the General Assembly. Throughout his professional career, Demarcus has cultivated his skills in organizing, social media campaigns, and relationship building. Demarcus graduated with a B.A degree in Political Science from Gardner-Webb University. He also received a Master’s in Public Policy from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.

End Poverty: The Lunch and Learn Series is made possible by generous sponsorship from VF Corporation. To register and complete a quick pre-event survey, visit www.unitedwaygso.org/debt.

United Way Kicks Off 21-Day Equity Challenge, Public Invited to Participate

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Greensboro, NC (March 4, 2021) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is continuing its work to promote justice and equity with a new 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge. Members of the public are encouraged to sign up today at www.unitedwaygso.org/challenge. 

UWGG openly acknowledges that diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of living united and believes all people should live in a thriving community. It is critical to continue discussions and to promote learning opportunities.

Participants will receive 21 emails with thought-provoking content that includes local and national resources that will explore topics like structural racism, segregation, privilege, gender, and LGBTQ rights.

Daily emails will begin on March 11, and all participants will also be invited to a follow-up Zoom event in April.

“At United Way, we are challenging ourselves and others to create a community free of racism, bias, and discrimination. As we continue our work to end poverty in greater Greensboro, we are committed to creating systemic change so that everyone has equal opportunity to thrive. We hope people who participate in this challenge become champions of equity in their personal and professional lives,” said Michael Cottingham, UWGG Vice President Marketing and Communications.

This challenge comes after a series of community conversations on racial equity hosted by UWGG this past summer. On October 27, 2020 UWGG hosted a public meeting to vote on Bylaw Amendments related to diversity and equity. The amendment unanimously passed. During this meeting, UWGG unveiled the organization’s new diversity, inclusion, and equity statement. To read the statement, visit unitedwaygso.org/equity.

Seven Local United Way Community Partners Receive United Way Spirit of NC Awards

Posted on by Lauren Forbis

Winners include Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard L.L.P., City of Greensboro, Cone Health System, Guilford County Schools, Lincoln Financial Group, Morrisette Paper, and Syngenta

Greensboro, NC (March 3, 2021) – Seven local United Way of Greater Greensboro community partners were honored with Spirit of North Carolina Awards at United Way of North Carolina’s annual award event on March 3, 2021.

On a yearly basis, United Way of North Carolina recognizes organizations that have succeeded in raising funds to support their community and have dedicated themselves to being part of the long-term solution to build stronger communities. 

“This year’s winners stepped up to support local children, families, and adults even when their own business and employees faced extreme challenges. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership and care for the greater Greensboro community,” said Julia Thomas, Campaign Director at United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Leading beyond the traditional fundraising campaign, these winners created opportunities to educate employees on community needs, led by those at the top of the organizational chart; motivated campaign participants to give by exposing them to real stories of need; and provided volunteer opportunities so that donors could offer their knowledge and their hands to serve their community.

Local Spirit of NC Award winners include:

Creative Kickoff/Volunteer Event

  • Syngenta- Syngenta is no stranger to thinking outside of the box, so it did not come to a surprise that they continued to outdo themselves even in a virtual world. As one of the first companies to help kick off United Way of Greater Greensboro’s campaign, their virtual kickoff and prize giveaway was an extraordinary way to start off the year. The kickoff event’s buzz rang the length of the campaign and contributed to this year’s high participation rate. 

Building Campaign Momentum with Engaged Leadership & Employees

  • Guilford County Schools-  Guilford County Schools is a giving organization with a culture of philanthropy and community service which is exhibited not only by their Superintendent, Board of Education, Executive Leadership Team and principals but also in their more than 9,900 employees and the more than 73,000 students in grades PreK-12. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, their leadership has stepped up to be advocates in the fight to end poverty and to continue to push forward in helping those who are less fortunate. They continue to lead by example as one of the top fundraising school systems in North Carolina.
  • Cone Health System- Considering the pandemic and the pressing focus it has a health system, Cone Health’s senior leaders still made time for promoting the United Way campaign and the impact employees’ gifts can make on the community. The campaign switched to being 100% virtual this year to limit social gatherings during the pandemic, but Cone Health found a way to be creative and speak to employees. The CEO, campus presidents, campaign chairs and other high-level staff kicked off the campaign with personal videos which were shared with all staff about why they personally give and encouraging others to do the same. Senior leaders also shared about the United Way campaign in all staff meetings occurring during the campaign. The campaign’s success was due in large part to Cone Health’s many leaders.
  • Morrisette Paper– The Morrisette family have been long-time United Way Tocqueville donors. In addition to their personal giving, they run an employee campaign at their local business, Morrisette Paper, give a corporate gift and also offer a corporate match for those employees who give. For the past two years, the Morrisette’s have served as United Way’s Campaign Chairs and generously underwrote the car that United Way of Greater Greensboro offers to all donors as a giveaway incentive. Leading by example and showing their personal commitment has resonated with their employees has led to high participation in their employee giving campaign. 

Investment in Long-term Sustainable Impact

  • Lincoln Financial Group– Lincoln Financial Group has invested in United Way for nearly a century. Formerly Jefferson Pilot, they were a founding member of the Greensboro Community Chest. Not only are they generous with their longstanding corporate foundation support, but they also encourage employees’ participation in the workplace campaign and volunteering with and joining nonprofit boards throughout the community, thus ensuring a community that is supported in all aspects.  As a guiding principle, Lincoln values diversity within their organization and through their hiring practices. Because of this diversity, this mindset extends to diverse philanthropic giving and volunteerism, ensuring that their investments are spread throughout the community and resulting in high impact and strong outcomes.

Extraordinary & Courageous Community Response amid COVID-19

  • City of Greensboro– City of Greensboro has been a long-standing partner with United Way of Greater Greensboro, and we are so appreciative of their rapid response to COVID-19. Department by department, they each played a critical role in keeping their residents as safe, and healthy as possible. Early in the pandemic, United Way of Greater Greensboro and the City of Greensboro established the Greensboro Virus Relief Fund. Donations were used to support local children and families impacted by the virus. United Way and the City also formed a Virus Relief Taskforce to determine ongoing needs and fund distribution. 

Campaign/Engagement Growth

  • Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard L.L.P.- Brooks Pierce’s 2020 United Way Campaign increased totals dollars raised by about 4% in the middle of a pandemic. They also increase their participation rate by over 11%. During our current pandemic, Brooks Pierce has tirelessly worked to raise more than $100,000 for United Way to end generational poverty in the Greater Greensboro area. 

New criteria were established this year for selection of Spirit of North Carolina Winners. As local United Ways are heavily focused on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and calls for racial equity, building engagement in a virtual environment, and ensuring employee productivity and health while working from home, this change was necessary to better complement today’s reality. Individual United Ways determined their own Spirit of NC winners. All winners were selected within the 6 categories offered and met the criteria outlined. 

For more information about the Spirit of North Carolina Award and to view a complete list of winners, visit unitedwaync.org/spirit-north-carolina-award-winners.