United Way holds annual meeting

By Staff reports
Published: March 05, 2010

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United Way's 2009 campaign has reached 95 percent of its goal of $600,000.
Rod Harrelson, first vice president of the Burke County United Way, announced at the annual meeting that $572,979 has been raised thus far. A crowd of 100-plus agency representatives, board of directors, cabinet members and representatives from local businesses and industries attended.
Following the announcement, Harrelson conducted the business of the annual meeting, electing new directors Mary Wright, Bethany Doster, Kelly Messenheimer, Nick Saturno, Maureen Schwind and Lloyd Wallace and the confirmation of officers Rod Harrelson, president, Frances Hildebran, first vice president, Tod Blackwell, second vice president, Donna Boyette, treasurer, Jim Toner Jr., secretary and Charles Connelly serving as a proxy for the past president's position.
Sally Learned presented to the group an executive director's annual report on the progress being made in the current impact areas.
She cautioned the group that with the current federal ARRA funding slated to end, the challenge to meet the needs of this community in 2010 will be an enormous task.
Learned challenged those in attendance to commit their time, talents and finances to keep the agencies and programs on task.
Katie Reid, a member of Burke Teens in Action, a youth-giving program sponsored by United Way, awarded the Patton High School Anchor Club a grant of $500 to establish a SAT tutoring program.
The 2008 recipient, "Just Fiddlin' Around" project out of Oak Hill Elementary school entertained the audience with what they had learned over the past year in a special music education program.
Nick Saturno, 2009 campaign chair, reminded those gathered that the success found in the campaign came directly as a result of building and rebuilding relationships.
Saturno then awarded several campaigns for outstanding work.
Chairman's awards were given to: Sara Lee Fresh Bakery for the most improved campaign, increasing employee and corporate giving 851.72 percent; Forest Hill Elementary for a 97.35 percent increase; Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation for the highest per capita employee giving at $160.19; Amy Rutherford, campaign coordinator for Leviton Manufacturing as coordinator of the tear and East Burke High School and associate schools for winning the division competition, raising $8,488.
Per Capita Giving awards went to: Gold ($278+ per capita), Burke County United Way and Bowers Insurance Agency; Silver ($104+ per capita or $52 non-profit), East Burke Christian Ministries, Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Packaging Corporation of America, Foothills Service Project, ALFA, Bank of Granite and BB&T; Bronze ($52+ per capita or $26 non-profit), BB&T Insurance Services, Leviton Manufacturing, Bank of America, Suntrust Bank, The Outreach Center, Appalachian Family Innovations, Town of Valdese, Lexington Home Brands and Burke Partnership for Children.
The 2010 campaign chairs, Scott Mulwee and Ken Clark were announced.
Clark said, "As we enter into this year's campaign it is important that we do a good job of educating. Things change and when someone has knowledge it is easier for them to see the bigger picture … those who give of their time and financial resources need to know about our agencies and the work they do."
Harrelson then brought the meeting to a close challenging those in attendance to "give it forward" on a day-to-day basis and don't just give of your money but find the time to go and work in the agencies … let's find a way to build our community into one."