LIVE UNITED - The United Way of Forsyth County

Overview

Earlier this year United Way of Forsyth County received a $137,500 grant from United Way Worldwide (UWW) to advance our education impact work. UWW’s Increasing Teacher Effectiveness (ITE) Challenge Grant is designed to help states and local communities develop communication and advocacy strategies focused on empowering and supporting effective teachers. Fourteen United Ways in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida have received the grant. United Way of Forsyth County joined its counterparts in Iredell, Lee, and Rowan Counties as recipients of the award in North Carolina.

We believe every child deserves an effective teacher in every subject, every year. Likewise, every teacher deserves the support and tools necessary to be successful. We know that all efforts to increase teacher effectiveness must be done in collaboration with teachers, principals, superintendents, parents, students, businesses, grassroots organizations, and communities of faith. United Way of Forsyth County is committed to working in a comprehensive and collaborative way to improve public education. To that end, we have assembled an Advisory Board for the Empowering Effective Teachers Initiative comprised of diverse representatives from the community. assembled an Advisory Board for the Empowering Effective Teachers Initiative comprised of diverse representatives from the community. The Advisory Board is charged with guiding and informing the work of the Initiative (link to Advisory Board members).

Why Teacher Effectiveness?

Research indicates that teacher effectiveness is one of the keys to students’ academic success throughout their school careers. In fact, studies suggest that there is an achievement gap of an entire grade level between children paired with the most effective teachers versus ones who have the least effective teachers (Rockoff, 2003; Rivkin, Hanushek, & Kain, 2005).

This initiative provides an exciting opportunity to build upon existing efforts in the community that are focused on making a significant impact on student success. Currently, United Way of Forsyth County invests more than $3 million annually in programs to enhance student success and youth development.. In addition, through its innovative Graduating Our Future initiative, United Way is supporting strategies that target tutoring, counseling, enrichment, and family engagement activities to help our community’s most vulnerable youth succeed. In addition to these efforts, we believe that empowering and supporting teachers is a fundamentally important component to United Way’s overall education strategy.

Our Objectives

There are two primary goals for this initiative that we hope to accomplish between now and June 2011:

Increase understanding and dialogue about how our community can best empower and support teachers in order to ensure that all children have a high quality public education; and
Mobilize the community around a relevant public policy and advocacy plan that can be acted upon both locally and in the 2011 state legislative cycle.

In order to achieve these goals, we have been in the process of eliciting perspectives on what makes teachers most effective through community-wide listening sessions. We also will be hosting a forum on Thursday, October 21, 2010 to discuss the actions our community can take to ensure our teachers are highly effective and supported in their work. If you are interested in becoming involved in the Empowering Effective Teachers Initiative, please contact Dr. T. Sharee Fowler at 336-721-9375 or sharee.fowler@ uwforsyth.org.

Listening Sessions

In order to guide the work of the Empowering Effective Teachers Initiative, we are hosting "listening sessions" with residents throughout Forsyth County. These sessions are designed to gain feedback on how community members view the role of teachers in our school system, their understanding of the challenges and barriers teachers face, expectations of teachers, and ideas on how we can best empower and support teachers. More than 150 teachers, principals, parents, students, pastors, business leaders, and other community members have participated in listening sessions during the summer. If you have not had an opportunity to participate in a listening session, we want to know about your experiences in the classroom, what you think is working in today’s schools, and how we can collaborate with educators, parents, students, and others in the community to create an environment where excellence in education can thrive.

Please contact Dr. T. Sharee Fowler at 336-721-9375 or sharee.fowler@ uwforsyth.org to learn more about how you can contribute to this important conversation.

First Tennessee Bank, one of United Way's 16 Pacesetter organizations, has completed their campaign with great results! With a total of $40,469 raised, First Tennessee surpassed its 2009 effort by $10,469 (35%)!

Congratulations and thank you to President John Fox and all the supportive employees at First Tennessee Bank!

B/E Aerospace, Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of cabin interior products for commercial passenger aircraft and business jets. The company also provides a wide range of cabin interior design, reconfiguration and certification services, including the conversion of passenger aircraft to freighter use. B/E has leading worldwide market shares in its major product lines and its customers include virtually all the world’s airlines and aircraft manufacturers.

B/E Aerospace’s Winston-Salem division is a major seat production facility with more than 800 employees.

Led by President Mike Baughan, a United Way executive committee member, B/E Aerospace annually conducts one of Forsyth County’s top United Way campaigns. Their 2009 campaign produced over $273,000, the fourth consecutive year of double-digit increases. Eighty-one Leadership Circle members contributed over $178,000. B/E Aerospace received a 2008 Spirit of North Carolina Award for Campaign Excellence for the #1 campaign statewide among similarly-sized businesses.

B/E Aerospace is the corporate sponsorship for the 2010 Wake Forest/Duke football game on September 11. United Way is kicking off its 2010 General Campaign at that game, and B/E is generously sharing the assets that come with their sponsorship.

United Way partner agencies that are regularly invited by B/E Aerospace to conduct Lunch ‘n’ Learns for employees include Consumer Credit Counseling, Family Services, Hospice, and the Mental Health Association.

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina has been selected as the recipient of the 2010 Joel A. Weston Jr. Memorial Award. The Weston Award honors a local non-profit, health, or human-service organization that has demonstrated exceptional organizational excellence. Joel Weston, for whom the Award is named, served as United Way of Forsyth County President from 1980 to 1982 and was responsible for the introduction of many innovative programs, all designed to strengthen the community. The award was established and endowed by his family and friends in recognition and honor of his vision and dedication to our community.

Joel Weston truly believed in excellence, demonstrating excellence in everything he did himself, and sought it for every organization in his community. When asked about his goals for our non-profit sector, Weston replied, "I want them to be well-run, in a business-like manner, and I want them to really do what they say they will do."

The Weston Committee, a group of community volunteers, judges the applications and determines the recipient of the $10,000 award from the Joel A. Weston, Jr. Memorial Award Endowment Fund. The 2010 winner was announced at a special event on Thursday, June 10. Goodwill plans to direct the $10,000 award toward its Outreach Scholarship Fund which provides training, job placement and tuition remission to the people it serves.

"We are humbled to join the list of outstanding Weston Award recipients,” said Art Gibel, Goodwill president and CEO. “We recognize the responsibility this honor brings to continue to raise the bar and operate efficiently to make the greatest impact in our community.”

Goodwill sells donations of clothing and other household items to support employment and training programs that help people find jobs and reach financial stability. Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina served over 40,000 people in the last year alone. For more information on Goodwill’s services, visit www.goodwillnwnc.org.

The 2010 Pacesetter Campaign is now underway. Fifteen organizations or divisions of those organizations are participating. They include:

Allegacy Federal Credit Union
BB&T
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Community Care Center
Consumer Credit Counseling Service
Enrichment Center
Exchange SCAN
Fellowship Home
First Tennessee Bank
Mental Health Association
NewBridge Bank
Novant
Southern Community Bank
Wells Jenkins Lucas & Jenkins
WFUBMC

Pacesetters are community-minded organizations that commit to grow their 2010 campaign by at least 10 percent over last year’s effort. The Pacesetter Campaign period began on June 21 and closes on August 13.

The five Pacesetters with the highest percentage increases will each receive four tickets to enjoy the Wake Forest/Presbyterian football game on September 2 from the President’s Box at BB&T Field. All Pacesetters will be recognized at the Wake Forest/Duke football game on September 11 when United Way will officially kick off the 2010 General Campaign. They will also be recognized in the Winston-Salem Journal.

A $137,500 grant from United Way Worldwide (UWW) will strengthen United Way of Forsyth County’s efforts in education. Working collaboratively with a wide range of community partners, United Way of Forsyth County is committed to improving the high school graduation rate from the current rate of 73 percent to 90 percent by 2018.

UWW’s Increasing Teacher Effectiveness (ITE) Challenge Grant is designed to help states and local communities develop communication and advocacy strategies to empower and support effective teachers and create tools that United Ways across the system will be able to use. Communities in North Carolina, Texas, and Florida have received the grant. United Way of Forsyth County joins its counterparts in Iredell, Lee, and Rowan Counties as recipients of the award in North Carolina.

(More)

The Pepsi Bottling Group is one of our United Way’s most generous partners and supports a wide variety of community activities.

Pepsi annually conducts one of Forsyth County’s top United Way campaigns thanks to extraordinary leadership by Fran O’Rourke, Vice President, Pepsi Direct; Dan Stempkowski, Vice President, Business Services; Jim Hughes, Human Resources Director and Kathy Windham, Technology Site Manager.

In 2009, Pepsi received the prestigious R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Community Service Award.

From 2002 to 2008, Pepsi’s campaign grew at a compounded annual growth rate of 16 percent. Their 2009 campaign produced over $342,691, a 16 percent increase over last year. Pepsi has 99 Leadership Circle members, a nearly 300 percent increase since 2002, and 19 Women’s Leadership Council members, 7 more than in 2008.

Pepsi executives annually don costumes and act out a new campaign theme at their kickoff. Past events include “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth-Grader,” “The Gong Show,” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” The events demonstrate the Senior Leadership Team support for the effort and are a focal point of the campaign that follows.

Pepsi employees are active volunteers. O’Rourke sits on United Way’s board of directors; Stempkowski and O’Rourke sit on the board of the Winston-Salem Urban League; and Windham sits on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Pepsi also provides corporate support for Big Brothers Big Sisters’ annual Bowl-A-Thon, and fields 14-18 teams each year. Twenty-nine Pepsi employees are tutors in WINGS for Life, a program of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce and the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

Over the past year, United Way of Forsyth County's four Breakthrough Initiatives have produced measurable improvement in our four top priority areas of education, financial stability, homelessness, and health. By focusing resources on these areas, we are addressing the root causes of some of our community's most serious human services needs in order to prevent many problems from occurring in the first place.

Graduating Our Future: A pilot program at Parkland Magnet High School decreased the number of 9^th graders failing the 9^th grade by 21 students (20%).
The Prosperity Center and Career Connections: 1,144 enrolled for services at the Center in 2009. 207 of them got new or better jobs, and 244 individuals and families improved their debt to income ratio.
Streets-to-Home: 53 (87%) of the chronically homeless placed in permanent supported housing remained there for at least one year.
Med-Aid: Since it’s inception in mid-2008, Med-Aid has processed 11,251 prescriptions for 1,674 patients without health insurance. The value of medications, provided for free/low cost by a variety of pharmaceutical companies, is over $4,252,522.

(More)

Reducing chronic homelessness is one of United Way's top priorities. As part of that effort, on January 27, 2010, the Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in partnership with the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Council on Services to the homeless conducted our 14th annual point in time count. This one day census of the homeless population helps our community to spot trends in the demographics of homelessness.

We learned that the overall homeless population is nearly 14% above average and that the number of homeless families with children has increased by 42%.

There were some bright spots, however. The 2010 count of unsheltered homeless was down by 40% from 2009, to 41 individuals who were sleeping on the streets. In addition, there are 60 formerly chronically homeless in transitional housing in 2010 — up over 1400% from the year before — and 99 formerly chronically homeless people in permanent housing — up over 890% from last year.

United Way of Forsyth County has received a $50,000 grant from AT&T through United Way Worldwide, United Way's national trade organization. The United Way of Forsyth County Foundation matched the grant 1-to-1, and an additional $27,500 in-kind match was provided by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina and United Way. The total of $127,500 will be used to expand Graduating Our Future's Prep for Success Academy to Carver and Atkins Middle Schools, and to enhance family linkage there and at the Prep for Success Academy at Parkland Magnet High School. (More)

Seven Forsyth County organizations have won 2009 Spirit of North Carolina Campaign Excellence Awards, bringing home over one quarter of all those awarded statewide. The awards were presented at United Way of North Carolina’s Annual Meeting on Friday, February 5. Winners included:

BB&T
First Tennessee Bank
Hanesbrands Inc.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC

United Way of North Carolina presents these awards annually to organizations that produce successful campaign results while engaging in proven best practices. Best practices and measures include, but are not limited to: Leadership Giving, management support, volunteerism, employee participation and giving levels, year-round education, corporate support, incentive programs, and campaign rallies.

Look what your gift can do!

Our community is one of the most charitable in the nation. The generosity of many of its residents has made Forsyth County one of the best places in the nation in which to live.

We have a long and inspiring history of supporting our neighbors in need, and coming together to overcome the major hurdles our community faces from time to time.

This year, we face an unprecedented challenge. It’s a perfect storm: Unemployment is at a historically high level. Meanwhile, thousands of individuals and families right here in our community are facing immediate, personal crisis. Their requests for basic needs like food, shelter, financial aid, and health care are increasing dramatically.

United Way's safety net of services is here for them, and helping them is our #1 priority. And through its strategic focus on high school graduation, financial stability, and health care, United Way is creating the real, long-lasting changes that will prevent many societal problems from occurring in the first place.

We are all going to have to pitch in if we are to give local families and individuals the assistance they require in these difficult times,. Everyone needs to give.

If you’re already a giver, we thank you. Your dollars are already helping those in need. We hope you’ll consider increasing your gift by 10 percent, or at least a dollar or two a week.

If you’re not a giver, you really do need to step up and do your part. A small gift — a dollar or two a week, for example — is one that anyone can make. And it will change lives!

Together, we can provide for those who need our help today and we can shape a better community for tomorrow.

This year, let’s join together and GIVE UNITED.

"Getting and Keeping Your Home" Homeownership Summit (Winston-Salem Urban League), Thursday, August 19, 5:30pm-8pm, 201 West Fifth Street , Winston-Salem

Krispy Kreme runs a strong United Way campaign every year, and 2009 was no exception. President and CEO James Morgan challenged the employees to exceed their 2008 results. He made it clear that while Krispy Kreme, like many local businesses, was facing challenging business conditions, it was important that the company continue to honor its commitment to the community.

Krispy Kreme’s campaign committee implemented a very specific plan focusing on growing participation and Leadership Circle giving. As a result, overall employee giving was up by 56 percent, and Leadership giving was up by 32 percent including gifts from 10 new members. Participation was up 59 percent.

Based on a match of employee pledges, the corporate gift increased from $20,777 to $28,889. Krispy Kreme donated 750 dozen free doughnuts — an estimated value of $4,000 — to sweeten up the campaign meeting at other companies.

Krispy Kreme provided all materials for its Days of Caring projects at The Fellowship Home including lunch, beverages, and snacks for all volunteers and agency representatives.

The company hosted its annual Leadership Circle event at The Children’s Center for the Physically Disabled, a United Way partner agency. With a continued focus on Leadership giving, Leadership Circle dollars increased by 32%.

In addition to the United Way campaign, Krispy Kreme and its employees support numerous other programs such at The Salvation Army’s Angel Christmas Tree, Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministries, and the Autism Society of North Carolina. It sponsored Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Bikes for Kids and the Children’s Home Christmas program. Krispy Kreme holds blood drives to support the American Red Cross and food drives to support the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina.

Company employees currently serve or have served on boards of non-profit agencies including the Mental Health Association, the Autism Society, and Jail and Prison Ministries among others.

Since its founding in 1923, our United Way has met the challenge of numerous economic downturns. By almost any measure, the current recession has had a broader and more pervasive impact on our community than any economic decline since the Great Depression. United Way and its 34 partner agencies are only too familiar with the daunting personal and societal problems caused by this national crisis. While our financial resources are somewhat diminished, we are driven by the reality that everyday the number of individuals requiring our vital services grow.

Given such challenges, our United Way has acknowledged the centrality of its mission and core values as the foundation of our work. At the same time, it has reaffirmed the beliefs and example of past generations of donors and volunteers who have demonstrated that with commitment and leadership even the seemingly most impossible obstacles can be overcome.

To ensure that our United Way remains focused on achieving the greatest possible impact during this difficult period, we have taken the following important actions:

Affirmed that our first and most important commitment is to ensure provision of a human services safety net through our 34 partner agencies.
Utilized $440,000 from our Emergency and Stabilization Fund to maintain funding to partner agencies during the first half of 2009 despite a 4.6 percent shortfall in last fall’s campaign result.
Reduced United Way's operating budget by 7.2 percent.
Collaborated with the Kate B. Reynolds Poor and Needy Trust and The Winston-Salem Foundation to create an Emergency Response Fund of up to $500,000 to provide temporary transitional assistance to agencies providing safety net services such as food, health care, shelter and emergency financial assistance.
Continued United Way's strategic focus on addressing the root causes of chronic societal problems through four breakthrough initiatives: high school graduation, financial stability, homelessness and assistance with medications.
Initiated a five-year plan to shift United Way’s funding emphasis from intervention to prevention programs.

For additional information, please contact Eric Aft at 721-9358 or eric.aft@uwforsyth.org

Welcome to the United Way News Room - a quick reference section that provides you with links to the latest press releases and news articles about the company.

If you require additional information or would like to interview one of our staff members, please contact:

John Conrad
336-721-9311 (Office)

E-mail: john.conrad@uwforsyth.org.

One of United Way of Forsyth County's top priorities is to reduce child abuse and domestic violence in our community. We have teamed up with four of our 34 partner agencies to do so. They include:

Scott Craver, deputy director of Exchange SCAN, provided an overview of this critical issue: "Nationally, almost 3 million children are harmed or endangered by maltreatment each year and children with disabilities are nearly four times as likely to be abused or neglected. The potential long-term effects of child maltreatment can include relationship dysfunction, depression, sexual victimization, post-traumatic stress disorder, and partner violence. Additionally, children suffering from maltreatment are more likely to have poor academic performance and higher rates of substance abuse, and are suicide.

Locally, the number of reports of maltreatment has risen dramatically (nearly 60%) over the last ten years. The rise in reports of child abuse and neglect mirrors statewide rates. A particularly disturbing trend is the fact that nearly half of the children substantiated for maltreatment or in need of services were between the ages of 0-6 – the most vulnerable population. A 2008 report (Child Health Report Card) produced by Action for Children and North Carolina Institute of Medicine gave the state of North Carolina an ‘F’ regarding 'confirmed child deaths (33) due to abuse.'

While there are many reasons for child maltreatment, research indicates that poverty is perhaps the greatest indicator of potential abuse or neglect, “as parents who earn less than $15,000 per year are 44 times more likely to maltreat their children compared to parents earning more than $30,000” (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy). More than 51,000 people (14.9% of the population) in Forsyth County live in poverty (2008 census estimate). The potential for maltreatment has never been greater. It is the collective responsibility of the community to protect our children.

During April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, we ask that everybody do their part to help raise awareness about the issue of child maltreatment."

Receive special recognition for running your campaign between June 21 and August 31! (More)

Hunters Hill in West Salem (Hutton Street), has received its certificate of occupancy as of today! Congratulations to F.L. Blum Construction and all their subs; Ken Bell, Architect; NC Housing Foundation and all our collaborating partners, the Experiment in Self-Reliance, Center Point Human Services and the Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness (United Way of Forsyth County). Thanks also to our funders: NC Housing Finance Agency (Housing 400 funds), City of Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and the Winston-Salem Foundation.

For those of you who don’t already know, Hunters Hill is a supportive housing complex for extremely low income individuals with disabilities (mental and/or physical). It is permanent, affordable, energy efficient, rental housing and will be owned and managed by the NC Housing Services and Management Company, a local nonprofit group. Nine individuals are ready to move in during the next few weeks. Three more need to be approved.

Six of the individuals have no furniture and we are looking for new (small) sofas, mattresses and other items. We have chairs and lamps, donated by Partners for Homeownership as it closed down, but need other items. Donations would be wonderful but we need new furniture. If you have any suggestions and/or contacts, please contact Andrea Kurtz at United Way (721-9373).

We will be looking for some folks who like to garden who might enjoy coming over to Hunters Hill to assist the tenants and simultaneously build social capital by working together to grow veggies and/or flowers in the two raised garden beds. There will be an outdoor sitting area, picnic table and hopefully a grill so we can have community get togethers.

Hunters Hill is a great success and an attractive asset for our community. The Collaborating Partners are very proud of the development. We hope you will put the Open House (April 28 from 3-5 p.m.) on your calendar. We will be sending out more information on the Open House in the near future.

(This news item provided by Jane Milner, retired executive director of Partners for Homeownership.)

The Pepsi Bottling Group is one of our United Way’s most generous partners and supports a wide variety of community activities.

Pepsi annually conducts one of Forsyth County’s top United Way campaigns thanks to extraordinary leadership by Fran O’Rourke, Vice President, Pepsi Direct; Dan Stempkowski, Vice President, Business Services; Jim Hughes, Human Resources Director and Kathy Windham, Technology Site Manager.

In 2009, Pepsi received the prestigious R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Community Service Award.

From 2002 to 2008, Pepsi campaign grew at a compounded annual growth rate of 16 percent. Their 2009 campaign produced over $342,691, a 16 percent increase over last year. Pepsi has 99 Leadership Circle members, a nearly 300 percent increase since 2002, and 19 Women’s Leadership Council members, 7 more than in 2008.

Pepsi executives annually don costumes and act out a new campaign theme at their kickoff. Past events include “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth-Grader,” “The Gong Show,” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” The events demonstrate the Senior Leadership Team support for the effort and are a focal point of the campaign that follows.

Pepsi employees are active volunteers. O’Rourke sits on United Way’s board of directors; Stempkowski and O’Rourke sit on the board of the Winston-Salem Urban League; and Windham sits on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Pepsi also provides corporate support for Big Brothers Big Sisters’ annual Bowl-A-Thon, and fields 14-18 teams each year. Twenty-nine Pepsi employees are tutors in WINGS for Life, a program of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce and the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

March 2010

April 2010

June 2010

United Way of Forsyth County board of directors has elected new officers and directors for 2010. R. Michael Wells, senior partner at Well Jenkins Lucas & Jenkins, will serve as chair. He replaces Edwin L. Welch, Jr., president of I.L. Long Construction, who served a two-year term.

Founded in 1885 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) has 133,000 employees in more than 1,300 locations serving customers in more that 130 companies. The Battery Division in Kernersville, NC, employs 269 partners and runs three shifts.

Johnson Controls has become a leader in community outreach under the leadership of Plant Manager Dick Pryor and his team. Employees tutor students at Petrie Elementary School and have on-going food drives for the Second Harvest Food Banks in addition to strongly supporting the United Way campaign. Their entry in last year’s United We Can event provided over 12,000 pounds of food and household goods for the Food Bank.

The 2009 United Way Campaign at Johnson Controls was exemplary. Employee Campaign Manager D.D. Adams led a 10 member planning committee comprised of employees from throughout the plant. A slide show of United Way events streamed continuously in the lunch room and “Burma Shave” type signs were posted beside the entrance driveway throughout the campaign.

Per capita giving increased by 15 percent with an average gift of $249. Participation grew by 41 percent to 73 percent, and Leadership Circle giving increased by $13,396 (90 percent). Johnson Controls also provides a generous 1:1 corporate match for employee gifts to United Way.

One of United Way of Forsyth County's top priorities is to reduce child abuse and domestic violence in our community. To do so, we have teamed up with three of our 34 partner agencies including Exchange SCAN, Family Services, and the Legal Aid Society.

Scott Craver, deputy director of Exchange SCAN, provided an overview of this critical issue: "Nationally, almost 3 million children are harmed or endangered by maltreatment each year and children with disabilities are nearly four times as likely to be abused or neglected. The potential long-term effects of child maltreatment can include relationship dysfunction, depression, sexual victimization, post-traumatic stress disorder, and partner violence. Additionally, children suffering from maltreatment are more likely to have poor academic performance and higher rates of substance abuse, and are suicide.

Locally, the number of reports of maltreatment has risen dramatically (nearly 60%) over the last ten years. The rise in reports of child abuse and neglect mirrors statewide rates. A particularly disturbing trend is the fact that nearly half of the children substantiated for maltreatment or in need of services were between the ages of 0-6 – the most vulnerable population. A 2008 report (Child Health Report Card) produced by Action for Children and North Carolina Institute of Medicine gave the state of North Carolina an ‘F’ regarding 'confirmed child deaths (33) due to abuse.'

While there are many reasons for child maltreatment, research indicates that poverty is perhaps the greatest indicator of potential abuse or neglect, “as parents who earn less than $15,000 per year are 44 times more likely to maltreat their children compared to parents earning more than $30,000” (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy). More than 51,000 people (14.9% of the population) in Forsyth County live in poverty (2008 census estimate). The potential for maltreatment has never been greater. It is the collective responsibility of the community to protect our children.

During April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, we ask that everybody do their part to help raise awareness about the issue of child maltreatment."

The Women's Leadership Council held its annual Spring Celebration last evening at LJVM Coliseum and recognized its top 2009 performers. They included:

Outstanding Project Volunteer: Peggy Brown, BB&T
Outstanding Volunteer Leader: Carol F. Polk, Bell Davis & Pitt, P.A.
Outstanding Youth: Casey Ferris, Student Philo Magnet Academy
Outstanding Family Member: Rita Scott, and family Chris & Danielle, Strengthening Families Program participant
Outstanding Corporate Partner: BB&T
Outstanding Educator: Sarah Clawson, Teacher, Philo Magnet Academy

Membership in the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) has grown to 825 with members raising more than $350,000 in new dollars that will go toward projects helping improve the high school graduation rate in Forsyth County. This school year, the Council focused on Philo Magnet Academy students and their families.

Ed Welch is president of I.L. Long Construction Company, a large, general contracting firm with projects in more than 20 states. In addition to his many business commitments, Ed gives generously of his time, talent and resources to numerous worthy causes.

A native of Winston-Salem, Ed graduated from Wake Forest University. He also holds the first-ever honorary degree conferred by the North Carolina State University College of Engineering.

A long-time United Way volunteer leader, Ed served as chair of the very successful 2005 United Way Campaign, which raised $16.4million. That year Ed was also recognized by the United Way of North Carolina as the statewide volunteer of the year.

Ed also served as chairman of the United Way board of directors for 2008 and 2009. In recognition of Ed's outstanding service to United Way and its 34 partner agencies, in 2008 Ed received our United Way's most prestigious honor, the Alexis de Tocqueville Leadership Society Award.

Exemplary of Ed's exceptional commitment to community service, during that same period he also chaired the Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce board of directors and co-chaired Forsyth Technical Community College's capital campaign.

He has been active with numerous United Way partner agencies and other human service organizations, including Exchange SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now), Salvation Army, YMCA, Senior Services and Hospice. And in early May 2010, he was honored with the Boy Scouts Distinguished Service Award for his invaluable assistance.

Ed is a champion of education, having served on the board of North Carolina State University's Engineering Foundation and on the Wake Forest University Babcock School of Management's Board of Visitors.

Ed has also chaired the local Better Business Bureau and served on its national council.

He is a past chairman of the board of trustees of the Children's Home of the United Methodist Church. He also serves on the board of Arbor Acres United Methodist Retirement Community.

Even more remarkable than his impressive resume, Ed has remained faithful to a philosophy of servant leadership. Servant leaders have an enlightened understanding of their role and impact. They always serve, never preside. They achieve results by giving attention to the needs of their organization, especially its volunteers, staff and, most importantly, the clients whose lives they are dedicated to improve.

Ed consistently acts as a humble steward and takes a caring and empathetic approach in all his relationships.

For those of us fortunate enough to work with United Way, Ed's example and consistent encouragement serves as an inspiration in all we do and is the source of deep satisfaction for knowing that our efforts truly do change lives

Kelly S. King, chairman and chief executive officer of BB&T Corporation, received the Paul Fulton Tocqueville Leadership Society Award at United Way's 2010 Annual Meeting. It was presented by Susan Ivey, chairman, president and CEO of Reynolds American, and the 2009 recipient.

The Paul Fulton Tocqueville Leadership Society Award is presented annually by the Society to an outstanding community servant who has demonstrated untiring commitment, visionary leadership, resourcefulness and creativity in meeting human needs here in Forsyth County.

King has a long association with United Way. He served on the board of United Way of Wake County, chairing a successful campaign in 1994. A long-time member of the Tocqueville Leadership Society, he chaired the society in 2006 and 2007.

Before his election to CEO, King served as BB&T’s chief operating officer from 2004 to 2008. Joining BB&T’s management team in 1972, he has served in many roles.

He currently chairs the Piedmont Triad Leadership Group and serves on the boards of The Clearing House, The Financial Services Roundtable, N.C. Chamber of Commerce, and the Triangle Community Foundation Leadership Council. In January 2009, he was named a director of The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

King received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and his M.B.A. from East Carolina University. He also attended the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.

He is a former teacher and small group leader for Men’s Bible Study at the First Baptist Church of Winston-Salem.

King is married and is the father of two children.

Wake Forest University received the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Community Service Award at United Way's 2010 Annual Meeting on May 14. Daan Delen, chairman, president and CEO of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company presented the award.

Established in 1997, the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Award commemorates that company’s caring legacy and annually recognizes another organization with a history of strong United Way and overall community support.

Wake Forest University embraces the values of service, compassion, and attention to others, seeking excellence in both intellectual pursuits and community support.

Wake Forest University exemplifies its motto —pro humanitate — through enthusiastic participation in the annual United Way campaign. The late Dr. Thomas K. Hearn, president emeritus of Wake Forest University, established United Way’s Leadership Circle in 1986, and the relationship between Wake Forest and United Way has continued to flourish.

After a record-setting 2008 campaign, President Hatch — a United Way board member — felt even more could be done in 2009. Thanks to his leadership and Wake Forest’s strong steering committee, led by Tim Snyder, the 2009 Campaign raised $326,266, a 13 percent increase. Participation grew from 67 to 74 percent, and the number of Leadership Circle members was up 15 percent.

Faculty, staff, and students were all represented at the kickoff where they were treated to a special "rapping" performance by Dr. Hatch and Provost Jill Tiefenthaler, creating a united effort that allowed them to exceed their campaign goal.

Wake Forest provides volunteer support for United Way’s Graduating Our Future educational initiative, Project Homeless Connect, Helping to Overcome Physical Expectations (HOPE), and Project Pumpkin. Wake Forest’s 2009 Holiday Food Drive netted 8,500 cans of food; students, faculty and staff donated over 400 pints of blood in 2009; and 500 students and 50 faculty and staff participated in over 40 Alternative Spring Break trips.

Sale flier

Don't miss this chance to purchase top-quality Hanesbrands products at the lowest prices imaginable! All proceeds go to support United Way of Forsyth County.

Saturday, October 2, Weeks Plant parking lot (Hanes Mill Rd across from Nature Science Center)
Saturday, October 16, 3304 Old Lexington Road

Hours for both sales are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mark your calendar today!

Show Your Support for United Way at the

2010 Campaign Kickoff

Saturday, September 11, at BB&T Field

Competition is open to all corporations and organizations.
Contestants are asked to create a banner exhibiting their United Way spirit.
Banners will be displayed throughout the area in and around BB&T Field on game day: Saturday, September 11, 2010.
The winning banner will be prominently displayed in the stadium and will receive recognition during the game.
Banners should be designed on a standard shower curtain (72” x 72”).
Banners should be designed using paint, permanent markers, glitter, etc. No professional printing.
Banners must be complete by Tuesday,September 7, and electronic photos submitted by 12 noon that day. Online voting will begin on Tuesday, September 7 at 5 pm, and will end on Friday, September 10, at 5 pm.
For additional information, please contact your United Way representative or John Conrad at 721-9311 or john.conrad@uwforsyth.org

LIVE UNITED BANNER CONTEST FLIER

Summer Success Academies at Philo Magnet Academy and Mineral Springs Middle School helped prepare rising sixth graders for the transition to middle school by exposing them to their new schools and classes and providing refresher work after two months of summer vacation. Both are funded by United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council.

Instituted in 2008, the 2-week program at Philo has been instrumental in a dramatic increase in the number of students passing their End of Grade Tests. The number of Philo students passing the End of Grade Test has improved by 120 percent in math and 96 percent in reading since 2008.

Because this program has proven its ability to improve academic performance, it was expanded to Mineral Springs Middle School this year.

Media coverage

Education, Financial Stability, and Health are the building blocks for a good life and the focus of innovative United Way programs. New data continues to show dramatic, measurable results in all three areas.

Education

We’re working with a number of community partners to improve education in Forsyth County. Since we rolled out our Breakthrough Initiative — Graduating Our Future — at Parkland Magnet High School and Philo Magnet Academy (Parkland’s largest feeder school) in 2008:

The number of students failing the 9^th grade has dropped by 42%
The number of students passing end-of-course tests at Parkland has improved by 60 percent
At Philo, the number of students passing end-of-course tests has improved by 67 percent in math and 63 percent in reading

Financial Stability

Health

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ACC Athletes LIVE UNITED!