Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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Expressing gratitude for the efforts of donors raising more than $1.9 million, United Way held an annual meeting and awards banquet Tuesday night at the J. Smith Young YMCA in Lexington.
“I consider this to be a successful campaign even though we haven’t quite met our goal yet,” United Way of Davidson County President Lee Jessup said following the banquet. “We still feel confident we might meet it. It might be late spring.”
Coming close to meeting the goal has been a challenge for the United Way of Davidson County. From 2000 to 2006, the Thomasville-Lexington Area lost 7,500 textile and manufacturing jobs as many companies permanantly closed their doors. Several of those companies were once large contributors to the United Way’s campaigns.
“The reason [this campaign] is a success is because people worked harder than what they did last year,” Jessup said. “In difficult times, donors step forward and do even more work to get the dollars. Our United Way is moving forward and we do even more work to get the dollars. We are still playing catch up because of what has happened in the last five years with manufacturing jobs.”
Bringing home the highest recognition award — The Donna H. Black Award of Excellence — from the United Way was Davidson County Schools. Jessup said the United Way has been impressed with the school system because teachers have frequently held bake sales, yard sales and different events to raise dollars in their schools. School personnel have also given a great deal of money.
DCS Superintendent Fred Mock, along with more than 25 teachers, was on hand to accept the award.
“I’m proud of our organization and what they have done,” Mock said. “I think our employees see the role agencies play and we don’t have to push them hard to step in and help. Some of our children are going through economic difficulties.”
The City of Thomasville received the Campaign Chair’s Award, sharing the recognition with the City of Lexington. Representing Thomasville were City Manager Kelly Craver, Personnel Director Martha Hancock and Garage Supervisor Jim White.
“We felt like the two municipalities have just gone way above the norm,” Jessup said. “The norm is passing out the pledge. These cities were doing picnics and raffle tickets. They went the extra mile to raise dollars.”
Other award recipients included:
Pacesetter Companies: Bank of North Carolina, Chesapeake Printing & Packaging, Dantherm Filtration, Inc., Davidson County Community College, Davidson Sash & Door, Fidelity Bank – Lexington, Fidelity Bank – Thomasville, First Bank – Thomasville, Lexington Memorial Hospital, Mountcastle Insurance, PPG Industries, Inc., Thomasville Chevrolet Buick Pontiac, Inc., and Turlington Company, LLP.
New Campaign: Facility Logistic Services, Unilin Flooring, N.C., LLC, and Wolverine, Proctor & Schwartz, Inc.
Highest Per Capita: Bank of the Carolinas, Charles W. Taylor, CPA, PA, Fidelity Bank – Thomasville, First Bank, Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce, Parrot Insurance & Benefits, American Red Cross/Lexington/DC Chapter, Davidson Medical Ministries, Inc., Family Services of Davidson County, Hospice of Davidson County, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc., Lexington Housing CDC, Positive Wellness Alliance, The ARC of Davidson County, The Workshop of Davidson, Inc., and The United Way of Davidson County.
Greatest Percentage Increase Awards: North State Communications, Smith, Lanning and Bundy, DDA, PA, The Dispatch, Belk of Lexington, Chesapeake Printing & Packaging Co., Parkdale Mills – Thomasville, Dantherm Filtration, Inc., Emerson Network Power, Lexington City Schools, Lowe’s Millwork #973, Thomasville Medical Center, Unilin Flooring NC, LLC, Whitewood Industries, Inc., Davidson Medical Ministries, Inc., Fairgrove Family Resource Center, J. Smith Young YMCA, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc., Lexington Housing CDC, Meals on Wheels – Lexington, Special Olympics of Davidson County, The Workshop of Davidson, Inc., Tom A. Finch YMCA and The United Way of Davidson County.
Largest Campaign Gift: Kimberly-Clark Corporation ($124,000)
Spirit of Davidson County Awards: Atrium Windows and Doors, Bank of North Carolina, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Lexcom Communications, Lexington Home Brands, Lexington Memorial Hospital, NewBridge Bank, PPG Industries, Inc, Stanley Furniture Co., Thomasville Furniture Industries, Inc., Turlington and Company, LLP and William/Transco Gas Pipeline Station #155.
President’s Award: Davidson County Employees.
Alex de Tocqueville Society Awards: Tim and Teen Timberlake, Robin and Katherine Team.
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.