Category: News release

United Way of Greater Greensboro Awards $1 Million in Grants to Address Local Housing Disparities – Grants will help more than 300 households recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19

Posted on by admin

GREENSBORO, NC (July 15, 2021) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is pleased to announce it is leveraging the first $1 million of philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s recent $10 million gift, to award five grants to local organizations leading programs supporting innovative solutions addressing housing disparities.

As part of UWGG’s focus on ending local poverty, selected programs are anticipated to help more than 300 local households recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. Grants were approved through a volunteer-led Request for Proposal process which began in April.


“Stable housing is the foundation of well-being. Research shows the housing industry is an economic engine and if history repeats itself, will help propel our post COVID-19 recovery. In the past, communities that made investments in housing its’ residents have experienced economic recovery after virtually every major downturn,” says Frank McCain, UWGG Vice President, Community Investment & Impact.

“We are thrilled that through this investment, 300 or more households will be provided with extra support to help them recover from the impacts of COVID-19. An investment of $1,000,000 will help local families build a future that leaves poverty behind through permanent, stable housing.”

Awarded Programs, impact descriptions, and amounts:

Agency and Program Impact Description Awarded 
Bridging the Gaps:  Partners Ending Homelessness (lead), Family Service of the Piedmont, Room at the Inn, The Servant Center, Youth Focus, YWCA Collaborative providing case management and financial assistance to clients who are precariously housed, homeless, or experiencing barriers to securing permanent housing and are not eligible for or have expenses not covered by public funding sources.   $330,000 
Emergency Assistance Program: Salvation Army of Greensboro Help individuals and families that are not eligible by federal guidelines with intensive case management, housing placement, and financial assistance for legal and court filings, tenant insurance violations, rental and utility assistance, and temporary hotel stays on the way to permanent housing.  $200,000 
Eviction Resolution Project: Legal Aid of NC (lead), Greensboro Housing Coalition, UNCG Center for Housing and Community Studies Collaborative providing supportive services in the areas of legal representation, financial assistance, tenant education, and case management to stabilize tenancies and to avoid immediate eviction.    $270,000 
Get Your HOUSE in Order: Housing Consultants Group Provides extra down payment assistance to homebuyers with lower incomes and higher housing debt through the City’s first-time homebuyer program. Also providing classes and coaching to prepare future homebuyers and to help current homeowners maintain ownership. $100,000 
Home Repair Program: Community Housing Solutions Preserves home ownership by completing critical home repairs to qualifying low-income homeowners who live in substandard housing conditions and elderly and/or disabled homeowners living in unsafe homes that cause falls or the inability to continue to live in their home.    $100,000 
TOTAL:   $1,000,000

 
Why is UWGG issuing grants specific to housing?
While significant and needed federal funds entered the community for rental and utility assistance, gaps in assistance remain. There is a need for unrestricted and flexible funding.

UWGG believes housing disparities that existed before COVID-19 must still be addressed. UWGG supports permanent housing along a continuum – from short-term crisis assistance all the way to home ownership, a critical strategy for building the wealth and assets needed for ending generational poverty.

What is the MacKenzie Scott $10 million gift?

In December 2020, Scott gifted over $4 billion to 384 nonprofits across the nation. UWGG was one of only two United Ways in North Carolina to receive funding. At the time, UWGG announced plans to utilize the funds to make innovative and transformational investments in solutions that work together to end poverty across the entire community.

END LOCAL POVERTY:United Way of Greater Greensborois leading a movement to end local poverty. We create strategic partnerships and initiatives that are coordinated and help children, adults, and families across the entire community. More than 57,000 people are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. In the City of Greensboro, one out of every four children, lives in poverty. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $26,500 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards, many four-member households need to earn around $60,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.orgLocal impact for 99 years and counting.

###

MeaningFULL Meals Helps Feed Children Over Summer Months, Public Encouraged to Get Involved

Posted on by admin

Greensboro, NC (June 23, 2021) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is mobilizing the community throughout July with its annual MeaningFULL meals program in partnership with BackPack Beginnings and The Volunteer Center of the Triad. 

Eight years ago, UWGG and The Volunteer Center started MeaningFULL Meals, a nutrition project that seeks food donations to help feed school children in need while school is out for summer. BackPack Beginnings joined the partnership six years ago and serves as the recipient of all food donations, dispersing them to children and families in the community.

In the summer months, many local children do not have access to nutritious meals and go hungry. The community is invited to be part of the solution by supporting MeaningFULL Meals this July. 

“BackPack Beginnings is grateful for the United Way of Greater Greensboro’s and The Volunteer Center of the Triad’s continued support of our feeding programs through MeaningFULL Meals. Due to COVID, we have seen an unprecedented need for our food programs, and we look forward to meeting this need with the help of partners like these.  Food items donated will assist us in making sure local children are not going hungry when school is out,” said Parker White, Founder and Volunteer Executive Director, BackPack Beginnings.

Making a big difference is as easy as 1, 2, 3: 

1.      Get a box. 

2.      Fill your box with donated food items. 

3.      Drop off collected items at BackPack Beginnings 

A helpful toolkit with printable flyers can be found at UnitedWayGSO.org/volunteer. BackPack Beginnings office hours are listed at backpackbeginnings.org/contact. 

END LOCAL POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro is leading a movement to END local poverty. We create strategic partnerships and initiatives that are coordinated and work with children adults, and families across the entire community. More than 57,000 people are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. In the City of Greensboro, one out of every four children, lives in poverty. With community support, we’re connecting people to opportunities like housing, jobs, education and healthcare. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $26,500 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards, many four-member households need to earn around $60,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.org Local impact for 99 years and counting. 

### 

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

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.” 

—

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 President & CEO Hired by Visa, Inc. to Lead Global Diversity and Corporate Responsibility

Posted on by admin

GREENSBORO, NC (March 16, 2021) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) announced today that Michelle Gethers-Clark is leaving as the organization’s President and CEO, effective, April 16, to become the Chief Diversity Officer and Head of Corporate Responsibility for Visa, Inc. 

In this newly created role, Gethers-Clark will be responsible for further elevating Visa’s approach to inclusion and diversity as a business imperative. Her role will include leading a team of more than 60 professionals worldwide who are responsible for social impact efforts to drive inclusive and equitable growth with a focus on small and micro businesses. 

In addition, Gethers-Clark and her team will lead initiatives to support Visa being a responsible, ethical and sustainable company. She will start her new role on May 3 and will report to Alfred F. Kelly, Jr., the CEO of Visa, Inc.   

Since joining UWGG in 2012 as a consultant, and then being named President and CEO in 2013, Gethers-Clark and her team have generated and distributed $90 million in financial revenue to social impact programs focused on producing positive life, health and economic outcomes for children and families in the Greensboro/Guilford County community.

In addition, under her leadership, UWGG transformed its 99-year-old regional business model from general grantmaking to a single-issue focus of solving generational and systemic poverty with significant results. To achieve this shift, the United Way team convened and galvanized stakeholders to address racial, income, wealth and social inequity through partnerships with corporations, donors, volunteers and community-based organizations. 

“I’ve been blessed to work with a tremendous team at United Way. The 26 extraordinary staff members and 34-member board of directors, were willing to boldly change the way we support our community. I thank each of them for this work on behalf of those we serve,” says Gethers-Clark. “I know the power and passion of this community will continue to push forward on the path to end poverty under the leadership of our board and in partnership with the entire United Way team.” 

UWGG Board Chair, Kim Gatling says, “Michelle’s inspiring and transformational leadership has created a lasting impact that will be carried forward in the greater Greensboro community for years to come. Thanks to her collaborative efforts, thousands of local children and families have received life-changing supports and the hope they deserve. Thanks to her solid strategies, existing and future United Way leadership will continue creating partnerships that produce meaningful, equitable and lasting impact. Speaking on behalf of the entire United Way board and team, we are excited for Michelle and wish her all the best in her new global-impact role.”

Gatling and Michele Deuterman, Chair of UWGG’s Human Resource Committee will soon announce plans to conduct a CEO search for Gethers-Clark’s successor. 

END POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro is leading a movement to END poverty. We create strategic partnerships and initiatives that are coordinated and work with children adults, and families across the entire community. More than 57,000 people are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. In the City of Greensboro, one out of every four children, lives in poverty. With community support, we’re connecting people to opportunities like housing, jobs, education and healthcare. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $25,750 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards, many four-member households need to earn around $60,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.org Local impact for 99 years and counting.

###