|
Home
|
|
Press Releases
Days of Caring
Making Impact for United Way
Pictured
above:
Jimmy May, Tommy
Chapman, John Mull, Ed Browning, Jeff Brittain, Brian Street, Jeremy
Luckadoo, and the homeowner in front.
Local
companies were at it again today, “getting their hands dirty” to help out
local charities. During the Burke County United Way’s “Days of Caring”,
local organizations get involved, literally, with United Way funded
non-profits while running their fundraising campaigns. Today’s participants,
Rutherford Electric Membership Co-op employees and The Foothills Service
Project.
Seven men from
Rutherford Electric worked with Foothills Service Project to build a
wheelchair ramp for a disabled citizen in Morganton this morning. In only
one morning, the results they saw are astounding. According to R. L. Icard,
Executive Director and founder of Foothills Service project, one day can
have an amazing impact on someone in need’s life. “Many individuals in our
county don’t have the means to get a ramp built for their house so they
become near shut-ins because they can’t around. There is no funding for this
sort of thing, so we combine our free labor and we purchase materials or
have them donated, spend a few hours, and the person becomes an active
member of the community again.”
Foothills
Service Project is a local agency created by R. L. Icard and several other
community members who saw the need for elderly and disabled individuals to
stay in their homes as long as they can, even though the houses may need
some modification. In most cases, the work that gets done simply makes
conditions livable again. Foothills and their volunteers make repairs and
builds ramps for over 200 individuals a year in Burke County. R. L. Icard
also points out that nearly 50 elderly and/or disabled adults are currently
on a waiting list, and without United Way support, they may not get the help
they need in time. “United Way funding goes directly to those individual
cases where we do not receive any reimbursement funding from our Community
Block Grant. Those who are disabled and don’t qualify otherwise would go
without if it were not for United Way.”
Jeff Brittain,
vice-president of
engineering for Rutherford Electric and United Way Board member, says
the program is a perfect fit. “Our employees give generously every year to
United Way and we are all very proud of that. But having an opportunity to
come out and actually taking part in helping these people directly has blown
us all away. It is a great way to really see our impact through United Way.”
Burke County United
Way’s Days of Caring matches local employers with service opportunities
within one of their 20 local agencies. Projects will be running through
October. The Campaign fundraising goal is $850,000. For more information or
to get involved call 433-0681.
Community Assessment
to Start in 2007
United
Ways are mandated to periodically conduct assessments of the community in
order to determine which areas of are greatest need, prioritize funding
levels, and focus donor’s interests on in the future. The last time Burke
County United Way did this was in 2001, when
Continuing Burke’s Vision
continued the tradition and success of
Focus On Burke.
Since then, the United Way Board of Director’s has approved funding
priorities on an annual basis. In early 2007, the current Board voted to
conduct an assessment this year.
Road Map For Impact
will help guide United Way in the next five to ten years in
what the needs and opportunities are in helping Burke County be the best
it can be. This will also allow United Way to do some long-term strategic
planning for the future on becoming a
Community Impact
United Way. A steering committee has been formed with
representatives from various sectors and expertise areas, to help shape
the process. Also a consultant, Bill Millett with Strategic Scope
Advantage, has been hired to help navigate the committee through the
process.
Over the course of the Summer and Fall, pertinent community
data will be analyzed, several surveys and focus groups will be conducted,
and much donor and community input will be recorded. United Way should
have the assessment completed by November of ‘07.
Please help us be the best we can be by giving us your
input! If you questions or want to help in the project please call
Thaddeus Huff at United Way 433-0681.
United Way Kicks off
Campaign…With A Kickoff?
Burke County United Way
is planning a kickoff surrounding its annual campaign using a football theme
this year. The event, scheduled for August 24th, 5:30 p.m. is a bit
different from recent kickoffs. “We are holding our kickoff this year before
the East Burke and Freedom football games. There is always a lot of
excitement around the start of the school year and football season, and we
want to add to it”, proclaimed Thaddeus Huff, Executive Director of United
Way.
To add that excitement,
the event will be held at Patton High School, to reach out to both sides of
the County and to promote Patton High. Sponsored by Hall and Hall Attorneys
at Law, Caterpillar PEC, and the ACC, the event should have something for
everybody.
Besides food for anyone
donning the gear from their favorite Atlantic Coast Conference School or
Burke County High School, special guests from Raleigh will help raise the
spirits of the individuals attending. One unique portion of the event is the
Pass, Punt and Kick Competition being held for adults involved in United
Way. “It will certainly be a spectacle seeing campaign volunteers and our
Board competing in this event. You won’t want to miss this one. The teams
are hungry to Score A touchdown for United Way” , quipped Huff. Prizes,
campaign materials, and even discount game tickets will be available that
evening as well.
Rod Harrelson, of BB&T,
and 2007 Campaign Chair put it like this: “Football is about teamwork,
tenacity, and talent. United Way is virtually the same. We need to use our
skills to let everyone know about the needs in our community without
stopping until we reach all those that we can. United Way is about everyone
in our community, so the greater teamwork, the more we will all benefit.”
Burke County United
Way’s goal is to raise $850,000 for twenty local agencies before
Thanksgiving. For more about United Way, call 433-0681.
Coach Jerry Moore Speaks at CEO Breakfast, June 28, 2007
Jerry
Moore, Coach of two consecutive National Champion football teams at
Appalachian State University spoke at The annual CEO Breakfast at Mimosa Hills
Country Club on June 28th. The CEO breakfast was created to better engage the
leadership of top industries in Burke County with United Way. Over fifty were
in attendance to hear our guest, a frequent visitor to Burke County, speak
about his experiences. Although he could have talked about his coaching
exploits and team success, he spoke about giving and being a community leader
instead. He mentioned several examples he has seen over the past few years of
giving back to the community that touched his heart and let everyone know that
they had the power to make the same near-miracles happen through United Way.
He mentioned his team in one instance, however. He told the story of one of
his players, from the inner-city of Miami, who has gone from barely surviving
to a college graduate because of the chance he was given. We could do that
with many more young people. Mr. Moore explained what United Way is to him and
how he truly believes in the cause of giving. “The
love we give away is the only love we keep…”,
Moore recalls from a keepsake he reads daily. We would like to
thank John Greene Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, BB & T and The Starnes Law Firm for
sponsoring the event.
Harrelson Named Campaign Chair
Burke County United
Way is off and running towards scoring a touchdown this year, thanks to
Rod Harrelson who was named Campaign Chair in the Spring. Harrelson,
Vice-President and Area Manager for BB&T has worked on the United Way in
Burke County for two previous years and many other communitywide campaigns
in other locations throughout North Carolina in his time with BB&T. “A
strong United Way Campaign takes the entire community coming together as
one. To do that, we need to keep the energy high and make it fun, as well
as tell everyone about the lives that are being changed through United
Way”, Harrelson exclaimed.
Mr. Harrelson grew up
in Eastern North Carolina, attended Western Carolina University, and has
lived all across the state due to his family moving and his career with
BB&T. Most recently he and his wife spent many years in Caldwell County
before moving into Morganton. Besides having enthusiasm, Rod and his team
have invented a catchy theme for the United Way this Summer/Fall, built
around the excitement and challenge of college football. After bringing in
Coach Jerry Moore of Appalachian State University to speak to local CEOs,
his campaign team of volunteers is also gearing up around football. In
what is known as the “ACC Fantasy Fundraising Challenge” team captains
recently held a “draft” of sorts, selecting different local companies to
contact and work within the upcoming months. How those companies do in
their fundraising campaigns will indicate how many points each team
receives. The winning team will receive a nominal prize but more
importantly, the title of champion the ACC Challenge.
The teams are as
follows: Wake Forest Demon Deacons-Marc Parham, Perry and Parham
Realty-(Captain), Shane Cook, Perry and Parham, Ryan Morgan, one to be
named. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets-Philip Moore, Wachovia Bank-(Captain),
Kelly Messenheimer, Nationwide-Bowers Insurance, Adam McCurry, Norvell
Properties, Scott Barrier, Wachovia Bank. Florida State Seminoles-Jim
Medlin, Blue Ridge HealthCare-Foundation-(Captain), Adam Wingler, Bank of
Granite, Nick Saturno, Walton Realty, Ron LaSalle, Burke Hospice and
Palliative Care. North Carolina Tarheels-Otto Woerner (Captain) and Bill
Allman, Burke Charitable Properties, Jeff Carswell, Carolina First, David
Deal, Bank of Granite. North Carolina State Wolf Pack-Regan Hennis,
Caterpillar-(Captain), Mike Watts, Premiere Properties, Trent Toner, Toner
Machining, Bruce Hershock, Retired. Virginia Tech Hokies-Jeff Morse, Town
of Valdese –(Captain), Gerald Green, BB&T, Eddie McGimsey, WPCC, a Leviton
representative.
“The campaign goal set
by the United Way Board of Directors is $850,000. I know we have the type
of community and resources to make it a million dollar campaign”,
Harrelson said, “I need your help in making it happen.”
Meet the
campaign team!
VITA Reception, April 23, 2007
  
Above Left: Bruce Putnam of
the IRS presents Thaddeus Huff of United Way with a thank you plaque.
Above Right : Tonya Waters, an
accounting instructor at WPPC, and Maureen Doughier of St. Charles share a
picture as two top site leaders in the project.
The Working
Families Partnership, a coalition of service providers focused on helping
working families build assets and strengthen their long-term financial
health, celebrated its first year as a coalition in promoting the VITA
program in Burke County. Over fifty volunteers were recognized for preparing
taxes for people considered “working poor”, at or around the minimum wage,
rather than having these citizens spending money going to paid
preparers.
According to the statistics
provided by the IRS, the coalition completed nearly 500 returns, saving
taxpayers approximately $60,000 in fees. Additionally, about $150,000 Earned
Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credits were claimed. Both of these credits
are aimed at helping people working but at the lower end of the wage scale.
Sites for The Volunteers in
Tax Assistance (VITA), included Western Piedmont Community College, a key
leader in starting this initiative, Blue Ridge Community Action, St Charles
Borremeo, East Burke Learning Alliance, and the Senior Center. All of the
sites are committed to helping people stay away from high-priced preparers,
but also to make sure
they received all available credits to them.
“The goal of this initiative
is giving people something back for their hard work, through tax credits,
education and more. The EITC is bringing money into the county that
otherwise may have gone unclaimed. For participants, we want
to start to build a culture of wealth building and education about finances,
because that is what is going to get them over the hump, not merely income”,
stated Thaddeus Huff, United Way Executive Director.
United Way, WPCC, and the
Working Families Partnership are focused on expanding these
services next year to many more sites around the county. To increase the
reach however, they need volunteers. A full two day Tax class is provided
free of charge by the IRS for all willing volunteers. Check on the website
www.bcuw.org for a job
description or call United Way (433-0681) for more information.
Youth Service Day, April 21,
2007
  
Burke County youth joined
millions of volunteers around the world for the first-in-Burke County
National & Global Youth Service Day on Saturday, April 21st. “We
envision National & Global Youth Service Day as an opportunity for every
student in the county to participate in a meaningful community service
event. We will help to foster a sense of civic responsibility and pride
among our youth”, remarked Beverly Carlton, Executive Director of Olive Hill
Community Economic Development Corporation.
The event was kicked off by Wayne Abele, County
Commissioner, who also provided breakfast from Abele’s Restaurant. He spoke
as a representative of United Way telling the youngsters how important to it
is to have a community that gives back to one another, and that it starts
with each one of us. Then the 80 youth were off to the various venues for
service projects, at places throughout the county, from New Day Christian
Church and Options, to The Foothills Service Project Thrift Store in Valdese
and Burke United Christian Ministries. After the projects, the youth had
lunch courtesy of Chick-fil-A and talked about their experiences in a
reflection session. One youth piped, “There needs to be a lot more things
for kids to do out there, more parks, a YMCA or something like that, but if you are going to spend time on a
Saturday for something, you might as well go out there and do something that
will help someone else”.
Mayor of The City of Morganton, Mel Cohen,
spoke to the group of young people as well, echoing the comments of the
youth and quoting someone from his generation, John F. Kennedy, who
proclaimed, “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do
for your country”. That quote has stayed with the Mayor ever since. He is
happy to know that the next generation is “picking up the torch” and
beginning a new chapter in volunteerism and service in our community.
For their
efforts, there were some rewards for the
students. New Morganton State Farm agent, David Jernigan, provided T-Shirts
for those who participated and there were several other attractions and
speakers. The day culminated with a performance by Morganton’s own Chris
Cates and The Master Plan”.
|
