Burke County United Way falls short of 2008 goal

By: Steve Welker | Morganton News Herald
Published: February 24, 2009

Morganton, NC --

Burke County United Way missed its 2008 campaign goal of $800,000.
However, the organization celebrated a number of achievements at its annual luncheon meeting Monday at First Baptist Church in Morganton.
The campaign confronted many obstacles to success, said campaign chair Ron LaSalle, and "2008 will be a year that we will remember for some time."
Burke County United Way had to replace its executive director in July. Then a statewide controversy erupted in August over executive compensation in Central Carolina United Way's Charlotte headquarters. And, finally, the nation plunged into a financial crisis in September and finished the year in a deepening recession.
Here in Burke County, unemployment climbed to 11.7 percent at year's end.
"... Running a fundraising campaign in 2008 anywhere in America had its challenges," according to LaSalle. "With that said, the people of Burke County have a long history of taking care of their own and this remained the case, no matter how bad things got in 2008."
As evidence, Burke County United Way could point to and honor many local companies and organizations who reported outstanding campaigns.
n Gerresheimer Glass Packaging reported a 27.2 percent increase from the prior year as employees donated or pledged $10,137.
n HDM Furniture Industries had a 5.7 percent increase and an employee campaign total of $28,938.
n The News Herald had a 125.2 percent increase and an employee campaign total of $4,504.
n Bank of Granite had a 45.6 percent increase and an employee campaign total of $5,387.
n Town of Valdese public employees increased their giving by 8.3 percent to a total of $5,365.
n Burke Hospice & Palliative Care had the most-improved campaign: a 139.5 percent increase to an average of $164 per employee.
LaSalle said that, to date, United Way has donations and pledges totaling $604,588.
More is expected. Reports from the state employee campaign and a few corporate campaigns will come in next month.
United Way of Burke County on Monday also recognized individual contributions of time and energy to the campaign. Patty Queen of Environmental Inks & Coatings was honored as the employee campaign coordinator of the year. Daxton Bostian, SGA president at Mull Elementary School, won the student coordinator award.
Jeff Morse, out-going United Way board president, presented the annual T. Henry Wilson Community Builder Award to Edna Weller.
In addition to doing her job as director of outreach and development at Burke Hospice & Palliative Care, Weller served as interim executive director of the Burke County United Way while the board searched for a new executive director (Sally Learned).
Weller in 2008 subsequently served as interim director for the Burke County Chamber of Commerce.
In a prepared statement, Morse said, "As for what impact Edna has had on our community, I think many of her accomplishments will go unmeasured. But, it is certainly rare when an individual begins a new position with a new organization and agrees to help out two additional organizations that our community needs and depends on."
Also at the annual meeting, Burke County Public Schools Superintendent David Burleson officially succeeded Morse as president of Burke County United Way.
Morse remains among the officers as immediate past president. Other officers are Rod Harrelson, first vice president; Frances Hildebran, second vice president; Charles Conley, treasurer; and Jim Toner Jr., secretary.
Burleson introduced Nick Saturno as 2009-10 campaign chair. Saturno is a Realtor at Carolina Properties-GMAC.
Jeff Brittain of Rutherford Electric Membership Corp., Leonard Causby of Leviton Manufacturing and Rob Mould of Causby Realty retired from the board of directors and were honored for their service.
The guest speaker was Eric Rowles of Leading to Change, who talked about a growing program that involves young people in philanthropic projects. He also introduced members of Burke County Teens in Action who presented United Way grants to three youth-oriented programs in Burke County.
The Table Rock Middle School Jazz Band, directed by Robert Johnston, provided live musical entertainment.
BB&T Bank and Leviton Manufacturing sponsored the annual luncheon.