Category: Uncategorized

Khari Garvin has been appointed Director of the Office of Head Start at the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

GREENSBORO, NC (March 6, 2023) – Former United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) President and CEO, Khari Garvin began a new role today within the Biden-Harris Administration serving as Director of the Office of Head Start at the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Garvin announced on February 16 he was leaving UWGG effective March 3, to take on a government role in Washington D.C. At the time of the initial announcement, Garvin was unable to share specific details and said, “The new federal government role in Washington D.C. is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for which I am grateful and feel compelled to pursue.” 

Nadine Malpass, UWGG’s current Chief Development Officer, is serving as Interim CEO. 

As Interim CEO, Malpass 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. 

“I am honored to lead United Way during this transition and with the supportive talents of our board and staff, we will continue to deliver on our commitment to serve our community, partners, and the children, adults, and families who need our collaborative support,” said Malpass. 

“Nadine has been selected with the full confidence of the board of directors to lead organizational operations” said UWGG Board Chair, Davida Martin. 

Martin, and Michele Deuterman, who serves as both UWGG Board Vice Chair, and Chair of UWGG’s Human Resources Committee will soon announce plans to conduct a CEO search for Garvin’s successor.  

### 

Greensboro, NC (March 3, 2023) – Seven local United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) annual campaign partners and one volunteer leader were recently honored with Spirit of North Carolina Awards, which celebrate organizations and individuals for their exemplary partnership demonstrated through fundraising, volunteering, outstanding leadership, and creative team building.

The Spirit of North Carolina Award offers local United Ways an opportunity to nominate organizations and individuals whose annual campaign and leadership exemplify the “spirit” of their community.

Local campaign award winners include Brooks Pierce, City of Greensboro, Ecolab, Guilford County Schools, Hoffman & Hoffman, Publix, Syngenta, and volunteer Scott Baker.

United Way of North Carolina (UWNC) leads the award nomination and judging process and presents the awards annually. Between March 1-3, UWNC presented a total of 74 Spirit of NC Awards during three regional events representing 17 United Ways.

“The Spirit of North Carolina Award is a statewide honor that recognizes companies and individuals who go above and beyond for their local communities. Through their fun campaign events, employee leadership making their campaigns successful, and long-term impact on the greater Greensboro community, this year’s winners truly embody what it means to LIVE UNITED. We are also thrilled to be able to recognize an individual this year through the new United Way Community Ambassador award,” said Julia Thomas, Associate Vice-President, Development, UWGG.

Local Spirit of NC Award categories, winners, and representative quotes can be found below.

Award Category: Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity

• Brooks Pierce

During its 2022 campaign, Brooks Pierce galvanized employees in an electrifying kickoff event that followed with themed days to increase participation and generate enthusiasm. Brooks Pierce planned its kickoff and campaign months in advance and incorporated a chili cook-off event, breakfast, trivia, pie in the face contest, and raffles. As a result, employee participation increased, and Brooks Pierce surpassed its previous year’s campaign in dollars raised.

“Here’s why I give to United Way: Our law firm takes great pride in our long tradition of serving our local community. And there’s no better way to serve the local community than giving to an organization like United Way of Greater Greensboro, which has worked for 100 years to support the local residents most in need of help,” said Andy Rodenbough, Brooks Pierce Partner and United Way Committee Chair.

• Syngenta

Syngenta’s campaign committee took on an array of revenue generating special events during the 2022 campaign that included a kickoff carnival and BBQ for employees, a golf and mini-golf tournament, premier parking spot auctions, a gift baskets raffle, table massages at work, and a Kickin’ Chicken versus Piggly Wiggly Cookoff. These events created tremendous excitement around the United Way campaign. Employees also had a chance to hear firsthand from members and staff of UWGG’s Family Success Center during a Lunch and Learn hosted by Syngenta leadership which was streamed virtually to employees. Using tools like Square and Smartsheet, the Syngenta team created an online store and checkout process for all of its events, creating efficiencies and opening the events to a larger number of employees. 

“Syngenta and United Way of Greater Greensboro have had a successful partnership for many years, addressing the needs of our local community. Our partnership has provided funding and resources to help support community programs and projects, such as expanding access to healthcare, promoting education and job training. This partnership has helped to create more opportunities for residents and improve the overall quality of life for those in our community. Additionally, Syngenta has encouraged its employees to get involved in volunteering with United Way through a designated annual Syngenta led fundraising campaign and has provided matching donations to further support the organization’s efforts. Overall, the partnership between Syngenta and United Way has been a successful example of how businesses and nonprofits can work together to create positive social impact. As a Syngenta leader and outgoing chairman of the 2022 Syngenta campaign, I am personally and professionally beyond proud of our working relationship and accomplishments, this past year and look forward to many more,” said Ron Cowman, Head of North American Digital Ag Solutions and 2022 Campaign Co-Chair.

• Ecolab

Ecolab’s 2022 campaign raised an impressive 25% more than that its previous year. The driving force behind its campaign success was campaign leadership who hosted a kickoff breakfast where employees were educated about the issues of poverty in the community, and leaders shared their personal inspirations for giving. Ecolab also hosted a very successful golf tournament at The Grandover Resort and Spa, setting a record for dollars raised, and hosted a Warehouse Yard Sale where its most popular products were sold to employees with all proceeds benefitting the United Way.     

“We are honored to accept the Spirit of North Carolina Award and are proud to work with the United Way of Greater Greensboro,” said Kris Taylor, Ecolab’s vice president of Global Community Impact and president of the Ecolab Foundation. “Our company purpose is to protect people and the resources vital to life, and our work with United Way helps to support this mission.” 

Award Category: Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees

• City of Greensboro

In 2022, employees of the City of Greensboro increased dollars raised by 14% and increased its employee participation rate by over 70%. The City of Greensboro’s level of campaign excellence was achieved through impactful events, engaged leadership, and a deep desire to help their community. Greensboro’s mayor, Nancy Vaughn, kicked off the campaign with a personal video encouraging employees to join the fight against poverty by making their pledge. Leadership offered every department in the City that reached 100% participation an extra day of PTO. This generous incentive encouraged conversations and teamwork in each department and participation rates soared.

“As City of Greensboro employees helping others and building community is at the center of everything that we do, supporting United Way and pulling together to end poverty is a natural extension of our organization’s mission. The Spirit of NC Award serves as a symbolic, yet meaningful, recognition of the commitment that City of Greensboro’s employees have to ending poverty and building a stronger, healthier and more equitable community,” said Greensboro City Manager, Taiwo Jaiyeoba. 

• Hoffman & Hoffman

Working alongside Hoffman & Hoffman’s Employee Campaign Manager, company leadership helped to create a 2022 kickoff event where employees learned more about United Way and the impact of workplace giving. Campaign volunteers deployed a communications strategy that provided testimonials from individuals who have been helped through United Way and reminded employees to participate in the campaign. Hoffman & Hoffman staff created an internal community involvement group and named it Hoffman Helping Hands with the goal of quarterly service projects and becoming more invested in a partnership with United Way. Engagement from leadership and staff volunteers during the campaign helped to increase both participation and dollars raised by 33% over the previous year’s campaign. An additional show of commitment from Hoffman & Hoffman leadership is the company’s 100% match of employee gifts doubling the impact made through the employee campaign. 

“A key goal of United Way is to empower people in our local community to leave poverty behind. Investing in our community through our United Way campaign in 2022 offered our employees and our company, as a whole, an opportunity to make a meaningful difference. We look forward to challenging ourselves again this year to raise even more,” said Jim Bingham, CEO, Hoffman & Hoffman. 

Award Category: Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact

• Guilford County Schools

(On behalf of United Way of Greater Greensboro and United Way of Greater High Point)

Guilford County Schools (GCS) annually conducts an educational, engaging, and fun United Way Campaign. This year’s campaign theme was “Hidden Figures” which highlighted the impactful work that each GCS employee is doing in the community. As a result, individual participation increased over the previous year, and the campaign raised over $330,000 to support local children, adults, and families. Included in that total are student-supported campaigns, which impressively raised over $15,000. GCS is helping the community to do things “Better Together”.

• Publix

As a guiding principle, Publix believes in “doing good together” and encourages its associates to make a difference in their community. Nationwide, in 2021, Publix associates pledged more than $31 million to United Way. Publix Super Markets Charities also donated $25 million, bringing the total for the 2021 nationwide campaign to over $56 million with the money raised locally staying in the local communities. Since 2020, Publix and has run a successful local United Way campaign. In 2022, Publix’s impact on the local area continued to grow and a new distribution center was opened in Guilford County that employs several thousand associates. Along the way, Publix has provided generous in-kind donations along with financial contributions that have created a lasting impact on the Greensboro community. Publix’s leadership and associates do not hesitate to donate funds, volunteer time, and talents to improve the lives of those in the community. In addition to supporting United Way’s annual campaign, Publix employees also make a local impact through multiple volunteer projects during “Publix Serves Week” in the spring and fall.

“Our founder, George W. Jenkins, believed one of the most efficient ways to assist people was through giving to United Way, and we still believe that today,” said Jared Glover, Media Relations Manager for Publix Super Markets. “Our commitment to his vision and this community continues through our dedication to offer hope through giving to the United Way of Greater Greensboro.”  

Award Category: United Way Community Ambassador

• Scott Baker

Scott Baker is president of TowneBank Triad and is a true example of what it means to LIVE UNITED. Scott has served as UWGG’s Campaign Chair since 2021, starting as Campaign Vice Chair in 2020. As Campaign Chair, Scott has also served on UWGG’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee since 2020. During this time, Scott led efforts to help UWGG to navigate virtual campaigning during the pandemic and advocated for increased corporate philanthropic support of UWGG by soliciting donations from companies in the community. Scott was a key driver in increasing TowneBank’s own workplace campaign and corporate gift. He has also helped UWGG build its strategy to think beyond the workplace campaign and recognizes the importance of building relationships with individual investors outside of the workplace for long-term sustainability and growth. Scott’s service is driven by an underlying passion for supporting nonprofits whose mission it is to eradicate poverty in the Greensboro community. This is emphasized by his board tenure for Greensboro nonprofits, including The Servant Center, Greensboro Merchants Association, Triad Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Finance committee member at Greensboro Urban Ministry, and Vice-Chair of the board at Piedmont Business Capital.

“During my time as campaign chair for United Way Greensboro I have been impressed with the dedication and focused effort toward aggressively reducing the impact of poverty in our local community. The bold goal of transitioning three thousand families out of generational poverty by 2030 is a life-changing effort and I am honored to lend my time and energy to assist. The ongoing fight to improve opportunities for others through the Family Success Center and Guilford Success Network and our strategic partners requires broad-based support. I stand committed, working alongside TowneBank, to serve as a community asset and I am so humbled to be a part of it,” Said Scott Baker, President, TowneBank.

Results exceed United Way of Greater Greensboro’s goal to help 50 households leave poverty by the end of 2023, and supports Bold Goal to help 3,000 households by 2030 

GREENSBORO, NC (February 28, 2023) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) announced today its community-supported strategy of creating, connecting, and leading community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty has resulted in 121 local households leaving poverty. 

The results, which are made possible thanks to generous community investments and strategic partnerships, represent data collected between July 1, and December 30, 2022, and marks the first time UWGG has reported outcomes related to its community-inspired and developed Bold Goal that aims to help 3,000 households leave poverty by 2030. 

Since announcing the Bold Goal on September 1, 2021, UWGG added new data tracking elements to its annual strategic partnership requirements and set pacing goals to help 50 households leave poverty by the end of 2023, 350 households by the end of 2024, and 1,000 households by the end of 2025. 

UWGG has a single focus of ending local poverty. In addition to its nationally recognized Family Success Centers and innovative Guilford Success Network, UWGG’s strategy to end local poverty includes issuing annual Poverty Relieving and Poverty Ending Grants that fund an array of strategic partner programs across the community.

Poverty Relieving Grants support services that help people find and stay on pathways out of poverty through cradle-to-career supports and services for basic needs, access to healthcare, and financial stability. Poverty Ending Grants support services that offer clear ways for people to leave poverty by increasing their annual household income above the federal poverty threshold. 

According to UWGG leadership, Bold Goal results are well ahead of pacing goals thanks to generous community support and UWGG’s funded strategic partnerships.

“These Bold Goal results are a direct reflection of our community partnerships coming together to support a strategy rooted in the belief that local children, adults, and families shouldn’t have to face the ongoing struggles of poverty. We are tremendously grateful for the support and excited about the future of the greater Greensboro community,” said Traci McLemore, Chief Community Impact Officer, UWGG.

More about the results:

The latest Bold Goal results represent the combined efforts of UWGG’s Poverty Ending Grant focused partnerships and include:

• Households with someone who gained employment that raised their household income above the federal poverty threshold. 
• Households with someone who obtained permanent cash benefits that they were eligible for through the help of program services. These benefits are Social Security/Social Security Disability or Veterans benefits, allowing these individuals to have a regular source of income.

More about the Bold Goal:

How was it developed?

• For over a year UWGG worked with a diverse set of stakeholders representing multiple backgrounds, business, and community volunteer groups to develop the Bold Goal.
• Specifically, the goal incorporates the feedback gathered through:
• A communitywide survey completed by 1,200 people
• Community conversations about race and equity
• 70 Bold Goal committee volunteers
• Final focus group studies completed by 200 people.

Why 3,000 households?

• 3,000 was chosen as the target based on the number of households required to transition out of poverty to reduce greater Greensboro’s poverty rate of around 18.5% to match Guilford County’s overall poverty rate of around 16%.
• The metric of a household was chosen over the metric of a person (or people) so that progress can be measured using US Census and American Community Survey data.
• With an average household size of 2.37 people, achieving the goal would positively impact roughly 7,100 people living in poverty by 2030.

Why by the year 2030?

• Nine years from launch established a realistic timeframe for the Bold Goal to be achieved. It also complements UWGG’s strategic planning cycle, the 2030 Vision Plan for Downtown Greensboro and the City of Greensboro’s “GSO2040” plan.

###

GREENSBORO, NC (February 22, 2023) – Residents are invited to celebrate LIVE UNITED Day with the City of Greensboro and the United Way of Greater Greensboro by helping create a unique piece of art that displays the phrase “LIVE UNITED.” Residents are invited to paint their fingertips on the artwork from 11 am to 2 pm on March 1, at the Greensboro Cultural Center, 200 N. Davie St.

Those who participate will be treated to free Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream. After March 1, the artwork will travel to various municipal buildings where City employees will be encouraged to leave their own individual marks. The completed work will be presented to the Greensboro City Council and eventually placed on display at the Melvin Municipal Office Building.

Khari Garvin will leave United Way of Greater Greensboro March 3, Executive Team Member, Nadine Malpass Will Serve as Interim CEO 

GREENSBORO, NC (February 16, 2023) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) announced today that Khari Garvin is leaving as the organization’s President and CEO, effective, March 3, to take on a new government role in Washington D.C. A formal announcement about Garvin’s new role will be released by his future employer during the week of February 27. 

Nadine Malpass, UWGG’s current Chief Development Officer, will serve as Interim CEO upon Garvin’s departure. 

“I am eternally grateful to the community for its support during my time at United Way and count myself blessed to have been part of an organization that is without a doubt making a positive impact in the lives of local children, adults, and families. Thanks to the ongoing leadership of our board and extremely talented staff, the great work of United Way will continue,” said Garvin. “The new federal government role in Washington D.C. is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for which I am grateful and feel compelled to pursue.”  

Garvin, who joined UWGG in July 2021 with more than 20 years of national, state, and local experience designing and leading systems focused on anti-poverty, is leaving behind a lasting legacy of local impact including: 

• Launching the organization’s community-inspired and developed Bold Goal to help 3,000 households leave poverty by the year 2030 
• Launching the organization’s Guilford Success Network focused on connecting people to integrated services digitally and in person 
• Leading UWGG during its Centennial year, and 
• Committing that UWGG will publicly report its outcomes related to ending local poverty twice a year, which will be accomplished in a midyear update scheduled six days after his departure. 

“United Way of Greater Greensboro found a strong and thoughtful leader in Khari Garvin. He embraced our mission, accelerated our work and, with a committed staff, created a strategy to measure and achieve United Way’s bold goal of reducing poverty in greater Greensboro. Khari has inspired our community, investors, and strategic partners around this goal, and, while his departure to serve in Washington, D.C. will leave big shoes to fill, Khari has helped to build and motivate a strong team to continue the work,” said UWGG Board Chair, Davida Martin. 

Martin, and Michele Deuterman, who serves as both UWGG Board Vice Chair, and Chair of UWGG’s Human Resources Committee will soon announce plans to conduct a CEO search for Garvin’s successor.  

During the transitional leadership process, Malpass will assume the organization’s interim leadership role of CEO, until a new President and CEO is hired. 

Malpass will continue reporting to Garvin until his last day and will transition to reporting to Martin, until a new President and CEO is hired. 

As Interim CEO, Malpass 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. 

“Nadine has been selected with the full confidence of the board of directors to lead organizational operations,” said Martin.   

Since 2017, Malpass has managed UWGG’s Resource Development Department, creating and deploying strategies to grow new investor relationships, and annual giving including major gifts, corporate gifts, and foundation grants. 

Malpass has served on UWGG’s executive leadership team, reporting directly to the President and CEO, served as a member of the strategic planning committee, and leads the resource development committee. 

In 2020, Malpass’ leadership contributed to UWGG receiving a $10 million gift from national philanthropist, MacKenzie Scott, the largest gift in organizational history. 

Immediately prior to joining UWGG, Malpass spent 17 years rising through the ranks of the American Cancer Society, eventually serving as the Director of Community Engagement for North and South Carolina. 

As the Director of Community Engagement for the American Cancer Society, Malpass led the integration of community engagement, health systems, and corporate partner activities with a combined revenue portfolio of $18 million.  

Malpass is an inspirational leader with a proven ability to work collaboratively and strategically with boards, volunteers, and staff to drive revenue goals and productivity.   

Additionally, Malpass has served as an Adjunct Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Hampton, Virginia where she created curriculum and instructed at both undergraduate and graduate levels for Human Resources Administration studies. 

Malpass is currently an executive board member for The Servant Center and Greensboro Housing Coalition and a former commissioner on the Greensboro Criminal Justice Advisory Commission. 

Malpass’ educational background includes graduating with a Bachelor of Science, Human Resource Management from Saint Leo’s College and graduating with a Master of Science, Human Resource Management from Troy State University. 

“I am honored to lead United Way during this transition and with the supportive talents of our board and staff, we will continue to deliver on our commitment to serve our community, partners, and the children, adults, and families who need our collaborative support,” said Malpass. 

New process allows organizations to align their services with two poverty-combatting funding opportunities

GREENSBORO, NC (October 28, 2022) – United Way of Greater Greensboro (UWGG) is pleased to announce it is accepting strategic partnership applications for annual grant funds to help local children, adults, and families leave poverty. This year the competitive application process has been updated to allow organizations the ability to apply for two distinct grants for program services that are Poverty Relieving or Poverty Ending.

Poverty Relieving grant funds are open to programs or collaboratives providing services that help people find and stay on pathways out of poverty. Poverty Relieving grants will be awarded to the following areas of impact:

• Cradle-to-career supports to ensure that children and youth are hitting major milestones, from the time they are born until they find a career, on the path to leaving generational poverty.
• Basic needs and access to healthcare services to address households’ foundational needs to keep them on the path out of poverty.
• Financial stability to help adults maintain their progress and build toward self-sufficiency by safeguarding income and building assets.

Poverty Ending grant funds are open to programs or collaboratives providing services that offer clear ways for people to leave poverty by increasing and maintaining their annual household income above the federal poverty threshold. These programs will support United Way’s Bold Goal efforts to help 3,000 households leave generational poverty by 2030. Poverty Ending program examples include but are not limited to:

• Services and supports that connect adults to jobs that offer family-sustaining wages
• Skills and career development programing

Volunteer-led committees will review applications and select programs based on their abilities to produce defined outcomes that help UWGG achieve its efforts of the Bold Goal. This “open funding” model allows UWGG to invest donor gifts into local programs with proven solutions that help to end poverty.

Strategic partner grant funding will begin July 1, 2023. Application deadlines vary by grant. Grant seeker information sessions for each funding stream will occur in early November.

Interested organizations can visit www.UnitedWayGSO.org/Grants to access all grant information and register for grant seeker information sessions.

###

END LOCAL POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. 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. Our strategy builds pathways out of poverty by: Helping youth transition from cradle to career, Helping adults land jobs and increase income, Providing access to basic needs and healthcare, and Bundling services that eliminate barriers at our nationally recognized Family Success Centers and innovative Guilford Success Network. With the community’s support, we will achieve our BOLD GOAL: As a community united in equity and lasting solutions, 3,000 households will leave generational poverty by 2030. The federal government defines poverty as a family of four earning $27,750 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