Greensboro, NC (May 17, 2024) – Six 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 Truist Bank, MG Newell Corporation, Lincoln Financial Group, Carter Bank & Trust, Electric Supply & Equipment, Beacon Technologies, and volunteer Jamiah Waterman.
United Way of North Carolina (UWNC) leads the award nomination and judging process and presents the awards annually. In April, UWNC presented a total of 85 Spirit of NC Awards during three regional events representing United Ways across the state.
“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, volunteerism throughout the community, and long-term impact in greater Greensboro, this year’s winners truly embody what it means to LIVE UNITED.” said Julia Thomas, Associate Vice-President, Development, UWGG.
Local Spirit of NC Award categories, winners, and representative quotes can be found below.
Award Category: Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact
- Truist Bank
A partner in United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Bold Goal to help 3,000 households leave poverty, Truist exemplifies its purpose statement “to inspire and build better lives and communities.” Creating real and sustainable change in communities does not happen overnight. It requires long-term sustainable impact made by community partners invested in improving the lives of all citizens where they do business.
United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Family Success Centers bundle services and remove barriers to success with support such as childcare, transportation assistance and caring Success Coaches to support members along their long-term journey. Truist’s investment in these centers and United Way’s approach to end local poverty demonstrates the company’s intention to show unwavering care that creates more opportunities, lends a helping hand, and encourages people and businesses to thrive.
Truist employees not only show a commitment to making their community better for all through support of the annual United Way campaign but also by partnering with United Way to give back through supply drives and volunteer outings throughout the year. This enthusiasm for helping others alongside United Way is seen across the organization in Greensboro as local leadership champions the cause of helping others to create excitement and engage employees in the region. Truist states that “by doing our part as a corporate citizen to help build a better quality of life for the communities in which we live and work, we hope to inspire others to do the same and create a ripple effect of meaningful change.”
Award Category: Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity
- MG Newell Corporation
For MG Newell’s campaign, they organized a United Way Week, commencing on Monday with a vibrant “Margaritaville” themed kickoff. This event, featuring Margarita mocktails, Hawaiian Leis, and a Taco food truck, not only set the energy for the week but also created a platform for United Way of Greater Greensboro’s CEO Frank McCain to share remarks that offered substance and perspective to the festivities thanks to the gracious invitation from Mr. Gray and Michael Sherril.
Throughout the week, there were daily raffle drawings and creative competitions such as, the best beach outfit competition on Tuesday, the desk decorating competition on Wednesday, a scavenger hunt on Thursday and cornhole on Friday.
The results were exceptional – a company with fewer than 80 employees rallied together to raise a remarkable $30,000. Over a third of their staff pledged support, and the average gift of nearly $700 reflects the genuine generosity and commitment of each individual.
“We are incredibly honored to receive the Spirit of North Carolina Award from United Way. This recognition underscores our deep commitment to giving back to our community and supporting initiatives that create positive change. At M.G. Newell, we believe in the power of collective impact and are proud to partner with United Way to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around us.” – Gray Sherrill, President, M.G. Newell
- Lincoln Financial Group
Lincoln Financial Group had a stellar 2023 campaign season as they collaboratively executed multiple events to raise their campaign total. This year, they implemented a golf tournament that took their special events total from $4,397 last year to $39,956 this year! That meant that their total campaign increased from $441,010 to $484,635! That was impressive. Not only did they think outside of the box with the implementation of the golf tournament, but they also held a successful pancake breakfast and food truck festival, along with daily encouragement from top leadership to give. Lincoln Financial was all hands on-deck and their campaign soared. They are the true definition of teamwork, hard work, and dedication to our mission of ending generational poverty. They left no stone unturned. In addition to a successful workplace campaign, Lincoln Financial has employed several of our Family Success members and volunteered with a multitude of our strategic partners. That brings their campaign full circle and is a testament to their overall 2023 campaign success.
“Team Lincoln is incredibly honored to be awarded the Spirit of North Carolina Award! Our strong partnership with the United Way has allowed our employees to make a significant impact for the people in our community though volunteer opportunities and raising funds to help households in our community leave poverty.” – Lincoln Financial Group
Award Category: Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees
- Carter Bank & Trust
Since doing their first ever campaign in 2021, Carter Bank has grown their fundraising totals by 43% in 2022 and an astonishing 85% this year; achieving an overall growth of 267% over two years.
At the heart of Carter Bank’s success is the impactful leadership of Mr. Bob Callicutt, the bank’s branch manager. Mr. Callicutt engaged management and staff, ensuring that every corner of the bank’s footprint in Guilford County had an opportunity to participate in the campaign.
Carter Bank approached their campaign with creativity and substance, adopting the theme, “No matter how you COIN it, we need your help! …And your coins too!” This theme was featured in a letter sent to each employee, outlining local challenges with statistics, anecdotes, and a clear and compelling description of the objectives and mission of United Way Greater Greensboro.
The tangible results speak for themselves – a 50% increase in the number of donors and a 24% boost in the average gift this year alone. Carter Bank and Trust’s recent campaigns reflect the true spirit of the award. Congratulations to Carter Bank and Trust on this well-deserved recognition and thank you for your outstanding commitment to making a lasting difference in our community.
“Carter Bank is proud to have been recognized with the Spirit of North Carolina Award. Our commitment to making a difference mirrors that of the United Way of Greater Greensboro. Together, we strive to tackle the challenges of life, creating pathways for prosperity that extend beyond the workplace and into our homes. Our partnership with The United Way of Greater Greensboro is a testament to our shared vision of uplifting the community. By focusing our efforts on eradicating poverty, we understand the importance of collaboration. It is a mission that demands the strength of many, and Carter Bank is committed to standing in solidarity with the United Way. Together, we are dedicated to opening doors for more individuals in the Greensboro area, working tirelessly to foster a brighter future for all.” – Carter Bank
- Electric Supply & Equipment
Electric Supply and Equipment is the very definition of a small company with a big impact. With an excited and motivated Employee Campaign Manager, Heather Jean, this company consistently grows their campaign year after year. Implementing a highly engaged spirit week filled with a Kick-off Breakfast, Cook-off, Wacky Tacky Day, and so much more, the employees eagerly give because of the overall execution of the campaign. Concurrently, this company actively serves our strategic partners to drive the mission of the United Way home. Employees have participated in tons of service projects to truly understand the usage of their dollars. This adds to the success of their campaign. Electric Supply and Equipment has grown their campaign 2-3% every year since 2019. They are a testament to “living united.”
“ES&E is honored and humbled to receive the Spirit of North Carolina award. We love partnering with the United Way and are grateful for the opportunity to serve our community!” -Electric Supply & Equipment
Award Category: Building a Legacy of Community Engagement Through Volunteerism
- Beacon Technologies
Beacon Technologies and its employees are champions of the United Way motto: Give-Advocate-Volunteer as can be seen with an annual commitment to give back, not only through an annual United Way workplace campaign but also through countless service hours to make Greensboro a better community for all. Beacon’s leadership has instilled and values a culture that emphasizes the importance of giving back through service.
As part of the BeaconCares initiative employees are provided service hours that can be used to volunteer at a number of nonprofits throughout the year and participate in supply drives for local agencies. Each quarter, employees are provided with a number of volunteer opportunities that represent a different quarterly theme of service such as “Serving Our Neighbors”, “Advancing Education”, “Helping Furry Friends”, and “Making Spirits Bright.” Each year, Beacon employees have an opportunity to volunteer their time or provide much needed supplies to 12 or more different non-profit partners over the course of a year including Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Greensboro Urban Ministry and BackPack Beginnings to name just a few.
Embodying what it means to Live United, the BeaconCares initiative “is the heart within Beacon that beats continuously to help others. We see it as a responsibility. Giving back is a part of our core DNA, whether it’s helping out local families and non-profits, contributing to our clients’ communities, or making a difference in the lives of Rwandan children and families.”
“At Beacon, giving back is one of our core values and we view service within our community as a corporate responsibility. Through our BeaconCares program, the Beacon Team continually donates, volunteers, and offers aid to improve the lives of people in the Piedmont Triad. We are very proud of our 25 year support of the United Way, making a positive impact for our neighbors who need it most.” – Tracy Dirks, CEO, Beacon Technologies
Award Category: United Way Community Ambassador
- Jamiah Waterman, Esq.
The United Way Community Ambassador award, recognizes Jamiah Waterman’s outstanding contributions in two pivotal volunteer roles – his role as Board of Directors Chair of Human Resources and as Chair of the City of Greensboro’s United Way workplace campaign.
In addition to performing the traditional responsibilities of this role by setting policies, managing human resources matters, and providing invaluable insights into employee salaries and benefits, Jamiah went above and beyond in his board member duties by brokering meetings between the new United Way CEO and the City of Greensboro’s City Manager, facilitating discussions on the communities shared goal to end local poverty.
In his role as the Chair of the City of Greensboro United Way workplace fundraising campaign, Jamiah’s leadership was nothing short of remarkable. The City of Greensboro and Guilford County have a long history of partnering together to do joint United Way campaigns. However, this tradition has been dormant for more than half a decade. Jamiah was key in inducing excitement into this year’s campaign by reviving this tradition and organizing a successful kickoff event featuring participation from more than 25 City/County departments and United Way strategic partners.
The campaign’s achievements speak volumes – surpassing the 2022 campaign with $116,485 raised, doubling special event fundraising totals, and increasing the average gift size of City of Greensboro employees by an impressive 44%.
Amidst these accomplishments, Jamiah added a unique flavor to the campaign kickoff by bringing a now famed buffalo chicken dip, showing off his ability to infuse joy and camaraderie into community initiatives.
Congratulations, Jamiah Waterman, on being a true Community Ambassador, embodying the spirit of unity, leadership, and philanthropy that defines the essence of the United Way and the Spirit of North Carolina.
“I am deeply honored to receive the United Way Community Ambassador Award. I was born and raised in Greensboro. As a City of Greensboro employee I partner every day with thousands of co-workers who work tirelessly towards a brighter, more equitable future for all. I will continue to donate my time and money to the United Way of Greater Greensboro and enthusiastically encourage others to do so.” – Jamiah Waterman
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END LOCAL POVERTY: United Way of Greater Greensboro creates, connects, and leads community partnerships that equip and empower people to leave poverty. Nearly 52,000 children, adults, and families are living in poverty in the greater Greensboro area. 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 $30,000 per year. According to local self-sufficiency standards many four-member households need to earn around $66,000 to meet basic needs without subsidized assistance. www.UnitedWayGSO.org
