BY DEBBIE PAGE
The Western Region of United Way organizations celebrated their partnerships with area businesses and individuals on Tuesday morning during the annual Spirit of North Carolina Awards at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville.
Kevin McDonald, a UWNC Board Member, welcomed the crowd to the event and praised the 48 local United Way organizations that serve 82 of North Carolina’s 100 counties.
“Collaboratively, they work together to advocate for community needs, fund critical agencies, and create positive change for neighbors across the state,” he said.
Brittany Pruitt Fletcher, NC United Way President and CEO, welcomed the 32 organizations and individuals, who continue to be exemplary United Way partners who were to be honored at the ceremony.
Mooresville native and Town Commissioner Eddie Karriker, guest speaker for the event, was praised by Fletcher for striving “to enhance quality of life for Mooresville residents and visitors, while engaging in thoughtful and sustainable planning for future community growth.”
In his remarks, Karriker recalled a visit to the National Cemetery in Salisbury and being awed and humbled by the service and dedication of those laid to rest there.
Karriker noted that all have an available avenue to serve others. The question, he said, is how people use those avenues to give and serve others. He added that Jesus exemplified that service as by washing the feet of the disciples.
Karriker challenged attendees to celebrate what the people being honored had accomplished in their communities, while also remembering that “every day of our lives, with breath is still in our bodies, we all have an opportunity to serve.”
IREDELL COUNTY HONOREES
The United Way of Iredell County presented several honors during the ceremony, including Doosan/Bobcat in the “impactful, engaging campaign event or activity” category.
“Doosan is a powerful partner for community impact. Their leadership team has specialized and creating fun engagement opportunities that drive education, connection, and raise funds. One example of a recent initiative was an employee group that rebuilt and refinished three old picnic tables and auctioned them off in support of United Way.”
Mooresville Graded School District was recognized for its “leading through the diversity, equity and inclusion lens” efforts.
“Mooresville Graded Schools partnered with the United Way of Iredell to bring the Longest Table event to Mooresville on October 1, 2023. This event brought 900 diverse community members around a common table to share a meal, conversation, and talk about one good thing that occurred in each of their lives during the past year. This partnership positioned Mooresville High School as a hub for the community where everyone was welcomed and valued.”
The City of Statesville and the Town of Mooresville were honored for their ”investments in long-term sustainable impact.”
“As early adopters in the creation of the Iredell Housing Fund, the Town of Mooresville and the City of Statesville have demonstrated their ability to work in partnership to create attainable housing solutions for people across Iredell County. Their leadership in this space, has attracted additional partnership and investments, expanding the word that any of our entities can do on their own.”
Kim Atwell was recognized as a United Way Community Ambassador in Iredell County.
Atwell has been “a consistent volunteer with the United Way of Iredell County for over 10 years and a served on the campaign cabinet for multiple years, co-chaired our 2022-2023 United Iredell Campaign, and has always been a huge advocate for the work as she moves through the community. She has served as a community investment volunteer and panel chair, helped us to launch our first Longest Table event, and is always willing to lend a hand when it will make this a better community.”
REGIONAL WINNERS
In the “building, momentum and sustainability through engaged leadership or employees” category, honorees included Atrium Health, Randy Souther, and Terrance Smyre, nominated by by United Way of Greater Charlotte, and Lexington Home Brands, nominated by United Way of Davidson County.
In the “impactful and engaging campaign event or activity” category, those receiving honors were Doosan/Bobcat, nominated by United Way of Iredell County; Gaston County Government, nominated by United Way of Gaston County; GreerWalker and Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, nominated by United Way of Greater Charlotte; Hexagon Agility and Rowan – Cabarrus Community College, nominated by Rowan County United Way; and Mohawk industries, nominated by United Way of Davidson County.
In the “leading through the diversity, equity and inclusion lens” category, those recognized were Anne Little and Mark Ritchie, nominated by Rowan County United Way; Lake Forest Church – Westlake and Pastor Aron Gibson, nominated by United Way of Lincoln County; and Mooresville Graded School District, nominated by United Way of Iredell County.
Those being recognized for “investment and long-term sustainable impact” included Blue Ridge Power, nominated by United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County; F&M Bank, nominated by Rowan County United Way; and the City of Statesville and Town of Mooresville, nominated by the United Way of Iredell County.
Being honored for “building, a legacy of community engagement through volunteerism” honorees included volunteer Peter Franzese and the Catawba College Dead Athenian Society, both nominated by the Rowan County United Way; Elliot Davis, nominated by the United Way of Greater Charlotte; and Food Lion Feeds, nominated by United Way of Gaston County.
In the “crisis control and community resilience” category, those recognized included the Into the Light Committee, nominated by Rowan County United Way; and Helping Hands, nominated by United Way of Lincoln County.
United Way Community Ambassador winners were Cherie Merrer, nominated by United Way of Caldwell County; Jim Behmer, Kevin Auten, Mark Lewis, and Miriam Ramirez, nominated by Rowan County United Way; Kim Atwell, nominated by United Way of Iredell County; Natalie Graham, nominated by United Way of Lincoln County; and Ron Messinger, nominated by United Way of Greater Charlotte.
SPONSORS
Fletcher thanked the winners and sponsors for everything they do to help the United Way impact North Carolinians.
Sponsors for this year’s United Way Spirit of North Carolina regional award events are United Way Worldwide, RTI International, UPIC Solutions, Atrium Health (now a part of Advocate Health), Duke Energy, Eaton, BlueCross, BlueShield of North Carolina, Williams, Overman, Pierce, LLP, ECU Health, and the Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation.