Burke County Public Schools Honored with Award for BCUW Campaign

MORGANTON, NC – Burke County Public Schools (BCPS) was recently honored with a Best Practices Award at the United Way of North Carolina's Annual Conference in February 2025, recognizing their outstanding workplace campaign and innovative fundraising strategies that have consistently delivered exceptional results.

Under the leadership of Cheryl M. Shuffler, Public Relations Officer at BCPS and dedicated Burke County United Way (BCUW) board member, the school system has developed a model workplace campaign that emphasizes leadership engagement, creative fundraising, and meaningful personal connections.

"Burke County Public Schools demonstrates what's possible when an organization fully embraces the United Way mission and makes it their own," said Abigail Taylor, Marketing and Communications Director at Burke County United Way. "Their approach has not only raised critical funds for our community initiatives but is also educating the next generation about the importance of giving back."

Award-Winning Campaign Structure

The BCPS campaign success stems from a carefully designed organizational structure that ensures participation at every level. Beginning with strong support from the Superintendent and district leadership, the campaign flows through a District Campaign Coordinator to Building-level Campaign Coordinators at each of the district's 26 schools, ultimately engaging all 1,500 faculty and staff members and extending to the student population of 12,000. This comprehensive approach creates a culture of giving that permeates the entire school system and reaches into the broader community.

The award-winning BCPS campaign features several innovative best practices that other organizations can learn from, including strong leadership buy-in with visible support from the Superintendent extending through principals and directors. Their creative fundraising approaches encompass themed dress-up days, silly incentives like getting to tape the Principal to a wall when goals are met, and food-based fundraisers including "Livermush for a Cause." Student engagement stands as another cornerstone of their success, teaching students the importance of community support from an early age. The campaign also prioritizes recognition of volunteer coordinators through branded items and public appreciation, creating a culture of acknowledgment that sustains enthusiasm year after year.

Cheryl Shuffler, who serves as both the BCPS Public Relations Officer and the Campaign Coordinator connecting BCUW to the school system, has been leading the campaign now for a decade. Under her guidance, the Burke County United Way campaign has evolved into a cherished annual tradition throughout the schools. Burke County Public Schools has consistently demonstrated exceptional community engagement, raising an impressive $773,000 since beginning workplace campaigns in 1998. This remarkable commitment and success have established BCPS as a model for workplace campaigns in educational settings.

For more information about Burke County United Way or to learn how your organization can implement similar best practices, visit bcuw.org or call 828.433.0681.