Each year, local businesses and industries run workplace campaigns, raising funds to support local United Way efforts. Donors contribute generously to ensure our vision: “To united people and resources to build a stronger, healthier Granville County.” Through donations, workplace campaigns and volunteering, Granville County United Way is able to fund and support local agencies with proven service delivery that matches our community’s needs.
On Thursday evening, April 11, 2019, Granville County United Way held its 2019 Annual Meeting and Awards Recognition Dinner to recognize these donors and volunteers.
Award recipients:
Gail Warren received the Heart of the Community Award. Gail has served on the Granville County United Way Board of Directors for 6 years (two years as Treasurer), served on our annual Allocations and Review Panels, Nominating Committee and Day of Caring Committee. Gail was recognized for her outstanding, compassionate commitment to the underserved in our community – stepping up selflessly to fulfill the United Way promise: to work throughout the community to make children and youth successful, families stronger and neighborhoods more vital.
Gene Purvis, Vocational Counselor at the Masonic Home for Children – Oxford was awarded our 2018-2019 Volunteer of the Year Award: Gene has served on our Board of Directors for 12 years. His service includes Vice President of the Board of Directors, Executive and Finance Committee member, Allocations and Review Panel member, Paper Chase volunteer, Nominating Committee member, By Laws review committee and, most recently, site coordinator for our Granville Athletic Park partnership with Granville County. Gene led the team who planned and built the pergola/outdoor classroom at the GAP, coordinating volunteers from the Masonic Home for Children – Oxford and Bridgestone Commercial Solutions. His generosity and willingness to help are unrivaled.
2018-2019 Largest Campaign Award and Largest Per Capita Awardswere presented to Altec Industries in Creedmoor. This year, Altec employees donated $250,512 to our United Way. How awesome is that! Sandy Whitfield and the Altec team are always eager to help out. They lead our annual Community Projects and Day of Caring, volunteering in amazing ways to affect change in our community. This team has created a wonderful project at Granville Athletic Park including a sound garden complete with a life - sized xylophone that all can enjoy and striped pickle ball courts. Altec administration and employees serve our community for selfless reasons. Their motivation is not to be recognized for what they do, instead to make lasting changes for those who desperately need changes in their lives. Granville County United Way is proud of our partnership with Altec and pleased to honor Altec employees.
2018-2019 Employee Spirit Awardwas presented to Suntrust Bank. This campaign, led by our own Charlene Keeton, is always exciting and informative. Charlene shares Granville County United Way events, needs and successes with Suntrust employees and stresses the importance of investing in our community through United Way. Congratulations to Charlene and Suntrust employees!
Our 2018-2019 Corporate Spirit Awardhonors an organization in recognition of a strong workplace campaign. The leadership team at Granville Health System, led by Rachel Pennington/Director of Harold Sherman Adult Day Center, understands the impact their efforts have in our community. Rachel and the Granville Health System campaign volunteers ran a terrific United Way campaign emphasizing their commitment to our community.
Finally, our 2018 Beacon Awardhonors Dinah Carter from Granville County Public Schools. Dinah has ben one of Granville County Schools’ internal United Way campaign coordinators for many years. This past year, Dinah took this task on by herself, raising nearly $10,000 to support local United Way efforts. Dinah coordinates fundraisers (chili cook offs, bake sales, Paper Chase competitions) to enhance individual donations from GCS staff. She is loving, nurturing and sincerely committed to making positive change in our community. Dinah and her husband Bruce, also a United Way volunteer, are active in their church and with their children (Shawn and Kelly) and their grandchildren.
2019 Nominating Committee Chair, Lorie Coley, shared our 2019-2020 Slate of Officers and recognized 8 community members who will join our Board of Directors.
Slate of Officers:
Immediate Past President – Jeff Grigg/Bridgestone Commercial Solutions
President – Donnie Boyd – Granville County Fire Marshall
Vice-President – Gene Purvis – Masonic Home for Children/Oxford
Secretary – Charlesetta Cheatham-Smith- Retired/Granville County Schools
Treasurer – Lorie Coley – NC Department of Transportations
New members to our Board of Directors include:
Jerray Battle/Bridgestone Commercial Solutions
Reverend Bruce Beck/West Oxford Baptist Church
Jason Brand/Granville Health System
Donna Bowling-Critcher/retired Granville County Schools
Carlyn Davis/Preferred Communications
Paula Kolarov/Owner, Cedar Grove Acres
DL Page/Events Manager at Thorndale Oaks
Visit granvillecountyunitedway.com to learn more about Granville County United Way and the work we do in our community.